Horse training can be a relatively mysterious subject to people who have not studied it. Even more mysterious is a behavioral problem a horse has that causes his owner stress and frustration.
What many horse owners don't understand is often the handler, not the horse, is causing the problem.
That being said, that is the first consideration in unscrambling the horse's ill behavior.
For instance, a common problem riders have is a horse being spooky. In layman's terms, that means a horse is nervous and afraid something is going to "get him". Thus, whenever the horse and owner go for a ride it's not usually a relaxing moment.
As a matter of fact, both horse and rider are on edge.
So if we take the premise that the rider is causing the horse to spook, then we must ask, "How is the rider causing this."
An uninformed rider may not be aware that perhaps he is sitting tensely in the saddle. Also, maybe he's stiff as a board and has a white-knuckle hold on the reins.
Believe it or not, the horse can sense and feel this tense. When the horse is in the habit of feeling it then the horse's spookiness is also the rider's.
Picture it like this. Two deathly scared kids are walking home at night. They both hear sounds and see things. One kid thinks he saw something and nervously asks, "D-d-d-did you see that?" Seconds later the other kid hears something and cries, "D-d-did you h-h-hear that?" Together they intensify each other's fears and their anxiety grows leaps and bounds.
So it is with the rider and horse. Maybe not to that extent, but still it happens.
And since the rider is human and capable of reasoning, then he or she must be the one to interrupt the pattern of behavior. The rider must loosen up while in the saddle. Relax. Have fun. Learn to watch the horse's signals that he has spotted something - and then talk to the horse and start giving him confidence.
Soon, the horse's demeanor will change and the result will be a more relaxed, fun to ride horse.
Whether the rider realizes it or not, he or she is training the horse by just riding. The horse simply reacts to the stimuli he gets. If the stimuli is consistent, the horse's reaction will become a habit until changed. If the stimuli is tense, causes fear reactions, and so on, the result is a spooky horse.
This is but one example of how us humans can actually be the reason the horse does or does not do something we ask of him. Although it's true that the rider is not the cause 100% of the time, it's a good place to start untangling the problem because it's often where it begins.
About The Author
Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com. He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery's horse training methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com.
limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareLooking for some quick Rottweiler dog facts? Here's a quick... Read More
Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them... Read More
Dog arthritis is one of the most common diseases that... Read More
1. Accidents and medical emergencies in the home happen frequently.... Read More
1. What is heat?Heat is more properly called the estrous... Read More
Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that... Read More
For some 25 years I have alerted the public to... Read More
So what does it mean to float a horse's teeth?... Read More
You may be hearing more talk these days about "Essential... Read More
Small dog breeds are great pets, but since their personalities... Read More
If you are having behavioral issues with your dog that... Read More
There are lots of ways a horse can go lame.... Read More
Are you thinking about getting some discus then and want... Read More
Boxer Dogs Information - What Are Boxer Dogs? Boxer dogs... Read More
If you have a dog or cat that is an... Read More
These days, it's hard to know what decisions are the... Read More
Thanks to Disney's Motion Picture 'Finding Nemo,' almost everybody is... Read More
Bringing a new puppy or dog home is a huge... Read More
As we love to have a comfortable place to sleep... Read More
Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to... Read More
We have a long history with domesticated animals and even... Read More
When pondering whether my neurosis is learned or genetic, I... Read More
Pet adoption is a fabulous option if you're seeking a... Read More
When I carried him home, he was this tiny little... Read More
My dad was an avid animal lover. We grew up... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..Dogs are descendent of wolves. To study the psychology of... Read More
Dog Travel SuppliesThe shopping part along for dog travel supplies... Read More
If you are having behavioral issues with your dog that... Read More
IntroductionA long time ago, before evolution turned the primate into... Read More
1. Accidents and medical emergencies in the home happen frequently.... Read More
You've seen them in movies and on TV shows, and... Read More
Twenty-six percent of the dogs at the six Los Angeles... Read More
The performing of dog tricks, while not a necessary part... Read More
Have you noticed that doctors are now being much more... Read More
Losing a family pet can be a traumatic experience, especially... Read More
Stingrays will eat a wide variety of foods. Maintaining a... Read More
What is Canine Infectious Hepatitis?The word hepatitis refers to an... Read More
Well first of all I was always a cat owner,... Read More
Which is the noisiest species of all? Nope, not the... Read More
Clone a Cat, Go To Jail ...or at least... Read More
There are three important litter box considerations to account for... Read More
Horse training can be a relatively mysterious subject to people... Read More
Scientific Name: Botia macracanthus Other Scientific Name(s): Cobitis macracanthus, Botia... Read More
Lonely, bored, tired of eating that same old stick, then... Read More
Do you really know all there is to know about... Read More
Although many horsemen and trainers extol the virtues of the... Read More
Many dogs today suffer from itchy skin caused by a... Read More
As our horses enjoy a longer life and many live... Read More
You've made up your mind, it's the American Pit Bull... Read More
Uh-oh, it's that time again. The dreaded vet visit, and... Read More
Pet |