I have often been asked about the best point to begin to work with horses. Whenever I am asked this specific question, I answer, "Begin at the beginning". I know my response confounds the question askers, but then I go on to give them some clarifications.
Whatever you want to do with a pony, you begin by getting its trust and respect. If it trusts and respects you, you can train it without agony to do what you need it to do, and your teachings will be permanent. If it does not trust and respect you, it will be particularly indisposed to do what you need it to, and you are going to find yourself forcing it to act in accordance with your expectations, which isn't a good thing in any way. The concept is really extremely simple: your pony functions best when it is walking beside you, not when it is being pulled or pushed by you.
You must keep the horse in control, of course, but you do not have to resort to a regime of punishment to do so. It's a regrettable fact that horses are like children: go easy with them and they are going to climb all over you. Give them an inch and they are going to try to take a mile. Horses may also be disobedient, and that is why the stick does not work with them as well as the carrot does. For all of their rebelliousness, though, once they give you their unrestrained faithfulness, they'll never waver.
From the start, you ensure your horse doesn't take you for granted. You make sure you don't ignore any of his mistakes: if he steps on your foot, you make it clear to him that is not done. If he pushes or nudges too much against you, ensure he understands you don't like it and he isn't to repeat it. In no circumstances can you afford to let him get the impression you're a pushover.
So start by teaching your pony exactly where the line that he just cannot cross stands. Horses are meant to have a developed sense of social responsibility and discipline due to their herd mentality: every pony in a herd is allotted a place and sticks to it. The hierarchy is clear, positions on the totem pole are clear, and there isn't any bickering about 'status'.
This is the sentiment you have to exploit. A horse's instinct is to obey his herd leader and the herd seniors; you take their place when you are with him. Once your pony knows clearly where he stands with you, you can train him to near perfection without being cruel with him. The formula is simple; give him a reward every time he does just what you wanted, show your discontent at his failing to perform by making him do it again, and again.
Horses are smart enough to understand most things fairly quickly. They also keep things they learn for an extended period of time, Ssmetimes until their deaths. After you start them off right, they do not go bad.
You can train them to do virtually anything the right way. But those are later chapters.
The first chapter is to coach your pony to accept that even though you and he are equals, you are more equal than he is.
Whatever you want to do with a pony, you begin by getting its trust and respect. If it trusts and respects you, you can train it without agony to do what you need it to do, and your teachings will be permanent. If it does not trust and respect you, it will be particularly indisposed to do what you need it to, and you are going to find yourself forcing it to act in accordance with your expectations, which isn't a good thing in any way. The concept is really extremely simple: your pony functions best when it is walking beside you, not when it is being pulled or pushed by you.
You must keep the horse in control, of course, but you do not have to resort to a regime of punishment to do so. It's a regrettable fact that horses are like children: go easy with them and they are going to climb all over you. Give them an inch and they are going to try to take a mile. Horses may also be disobedient, and that is why the stick does not work with them as well as the carrot does. For all of their rebelliousness, though, once they give you their unrestrained faithfulness, they'll never waver.
From the start, you ensure your horse doesn't take you for granted. You make sure you don't ignore any of his mistakes: if he steps on your foot, you make it clear to him that is not done. If he pushes or nudges too much against you, ensure he understands you don't like it and he isn't to repeat it. In no circumstances can you afford to let him get the impression you're a pushover.
So start by teaching your pony exactly where the line that he just cannot cross stands. Horses are meant to have a developed sense of social responsibility and discipline due to their herd mentality: every pony in a herd is allotted a place and sticks to it. The hierarchy is clear, positions on the totem pole are clear, and there isn't any bickering about 'status'.
This is the sentiment you have to exploit. A horse's instinct is to obey his herd leader and the herd seniors; you take their place when you are with him. Once your pony knows clearly where he stands with you, you can train him to near perfection without being cruel with him. The formula is simple; give him a reward every time he does just what you wanted, show your discontent at his failing to perform by making him do it again, and again.
Horses are smart enough to understand most things fairly quickly. They also keep things they learn for an extended period of time, Ssmetimes until their deaths. After you start them off right, they do not go bad.
You can train them to do virtually anything the right way. But those are later chapters.
The first chapter is to coach your pony to accept that even though you and he are equals, you are more equal than he is.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers go here
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers go here
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