Make progress with your horse Training.

You Should Reward Your Horse

photo credit: dirkjanranzijn

How do we as riders get a 1000lbs horse to jump jumps , canter and halt on command. If you can understand their personality and psychology it will help you with your training. We hold the key to the power and leverage to make horses do what we want by a simple squeeze, voice or rein.

You have to remember they cannot reason like you and I can. Once you understand and develop a bond with your horse and reward him for trying they will be a willing partner.

Any training based on force, fear and punishment will result in dangerous horses and bad riding.

Reward Your Horse

I believe in positive training methods and rewarding horses and trainers for a job well done. Taking short cuts with gimmicks and harsh treatments aren’t our style. When you reward your horse for trying, they will be more willing to try again.

Here is my 5 step training system:

Horse Training Step 0 – They didn’t try

Reward your horse

This is the first step in all horse training. As if you had a green horse and they are not paying attention or acknowleding you are doing something. When you ask or cue them and they don’t respond. More than likely they just plain don’t know what to do. Don’t despair keep trying and get their attention by talking or by patting them.

Horse Training Step 1 – They tried something but didn’t do it

For example asking them to reinback and they shift their weight backwards. This is an important step to acknowledge. In their minds they are doing something. As riders starting our horse training, we must reward and accept their ability to ‘guess’ the right thing. A Simple ‘good’ or a scratch on the neck is necessary. AND the all important reward ~ Stop asking them to do what ever it is they were doing ~ Let them stand quietly.

Horse Training Step 2  – They tried something but is was the wrong thing

To me this is the the most important step. If we as riders and trainers do not acknowledge our horses for remotely trying we will not progress. An example would be if you asked your horse to reinback but they went forward instead. This step is important and acknowledging the horse is very important. they must know and be acknowledged for trying. It can be as simple as a scratch on the neck or ‘good’.

Horse Training Step 3 – They did it but rushed and were worried about it

And not linking the request with the movement, for example rushing backward without thinking. This is the reactive stage. The reward at this stage should be greater than you think . Lots of ‘good’, scratches and stop asking for the reinback as soon as the horse;s feet start to move.

Horse Training Step 4 – They performed movement with errors

At this stage we can, as horse riders and trainers, start to perfect the movement. This stage the horse should understand the link between request and what is required and makes the performance with errors, for example rein back but stops and shuffles at times, or goes crooked. Reward with lots of scratches/pats and stop asking for the movement and let the horse stand quietly.

Horse Training Step 5  – They performed movement beautifully

When horse training, if you reward your horse accordingly you will be further ahead then not have any reward at all.

How do you reward your horse for a job well done?