Basic Obedience Training For Your Horse
Ask yourself the following questions to find out if you need basic obedience training for horse. Does your horse display aggressive behavior when you try to turn her out? Does she like dragging you to the paddock or try to pull free from her halter and run? Maybe she tries to kick you in the face before steamy off into the distance?
By following some simple steps you will be able to correct this type of behavior while still being friends with your horse and creating a strong relationship.
Encourage Good Manners in the Stall
Try to distract your horse if she becomes excited when you enter her stall. Give a treat to chew on while you sneak the halter on her. She might try to run off right after you have placed the halter. If she does pull the lead rope firmly and quickly then immediately release the pressure. Keep in mind that this is not punishment; it is simply meant to focus her attention on you. Before you open the stall door and she is standing still, offer her another treat as a reward for being patient and focused. You might have to go through this process several times, but eventually she will learn to be patient because she will be rewarded for it.
If your horse has a habit of pulling on the lead rope when you are leading her then you can use a chain with the lead rope. Hook the chain on the halter ring on her right side, bring the chain over her nose and hook it through the halter ring from her left side. Now when she tries to pull the lead rope, the chain will make her feel uncomfortable. When she stops pulling, the chain will loosen and the discomfort will be gone. Before you attach the chain, give her a treat so she associates this action with something good. While you are doing this, talk soothingly and calmly to your horse to help her understand that you are a friend and that you must be respected.
Maintaining Control As You Lead Her To Pasture
If you are leading her to pasture and she begins to pull the lead rope, refocus her on you by performing a couple quick pulls on the rope. When she stops, give her praise to encourage her not to pull on the lead rope. Although you may be tempted to give her a treat at this point, do not! If you do then you are teaching her to stop on the way to pasture so that she gets a treat.
You will also have to continue this training process for a while until she learns to lead quietly. If you are using a chain, you will find that you not need it very soon.
Releasing Your Horse on Your Terms
Lead your horse through the gate into the field and make her face you while you close the gates to the field. Offer her a treat and talk to her calmly while holding the lead rope in your hand. If she misbehaves make sure that you use a quick tug at the lead rope to remind her that her behavior is unacceptable. Soon, she will realize that you want her to wait patiently. Offer her a treat when she behaves and use the opportunity to take off the halter. If she is calm throughout, then give her another treat to encourage the behavior.
By doing this, she will no longer have a reason to run away since you have encouraged her to stand still by offering rewards. Eventually, you will be able to give her fewer treats and still get the desired results.
Using Equine Instincts to Catch Your Horse
Following are some points you should consider if your horse runs around the field and will not let you catch her. Horses are both inquisitive and jealous animals and by knowing this, we can control their behavior more easily. So let’s make her jealous. If she will not let you catch her, try approaching another horse. Give the other horse a treat and give him attention, while ignoring your own horse. Your horse will be watching and will soon become annoyed and come to you for attention.
When she arrives beside you, give her a treat and put the halter on her. You can also loop the lead rope around her neck so she cannot wander off while you attach the halter.
Sometimes, it is a good idea to ask someone who does not ride your horse to catch her. Also, make sure that your horse does not associate being caught with having to do work. Once in a while, just approach her with a treat and affection, then leave her alone. That way, she will not know if you are catching her for work or for treats, so she is more likely to stick around in the hope of getting a treat. If you found this article useful, then you will enjoy the article on natural horse training.
Amanda Spring recommends the Horse Training Secrets Revealed course to anyone who wants to learn how to train their horse properly and effectively. This course has helped thousands become better horse owners and trainers — check it out right now.
