As you’re acquiring your equestrian horse back riding training knowledge and getting enthusiastic about practising your horse training – you need to organise your tools and training areas so they’re on hand and available when you need them. Just as cricket players wouldn’t train or play amongst briars or on scrubby pitches and practise in specifically designed nets to improve their focus, you also need to have access to a variety of practise areas, so as your comfort and confidence increases with your horse back riding and horse handling skills training – you can then graduate to larger areas – WHY?- because until you’ve calmly and gently proven to your horse that you are in fact the leader, if they know they have the advantage and you let them show disrespect to you by the horse not stopping, or slowing when asked or they take off with you on their back unasked, they have gained leadership and won’t feel the need to demonstrate respect to you.

Areas you need access to are:

A yard;

A 22 ft round yard;

A 40 x 60 ft arena or fenced area of a size similar to that;

One acre;

Larger acres, a track or trail.

Remember – your horse doesn’t have the same view of YOU that you do – when you walk into a paddock of 9 horses, there is a pecking order – number 1 is the boss and number 9 is lowest ranking – when YOU walk in the paddock they ALL SAY here comes number 10! That’s right they think they can boss you! – That’s why learning the art of gentle communication and leadership is so important. When your horse is comfortable, you are confident and comfortable with your training and know that you have leadership, riding on the trail is relaxing for YOUR HORSE and you can practise a training move every now and then, get it right and go on enjoying the trail.

Many horses that have trouble with the bridle and bit prefer and respond kindly to the “Natural Hackamore”, as they soften in the body and all of their stiff unwanted muscle memories due to ‘opposition reflex’ to the bit disappear and they look forward to their work. NOTE: You need to learn about the “Hackamore” and demonstrate effective use and skill at directing, stopping and slowing your horse using the “Hackamore or halter” in the round yard and arena before attempting to use it on the trail.

Tools that you need for effective training are:

A natural halter with knots – like one by Nungar Knots;

A natural Hackamore with reins;

A loose ring jointed bit snaffle bit – a sweet iron bit is nicer for your horse;

A plain bridle with No Cavesson or dropped nose band – this is replaced by effective training;

Sports mans reins;

A 12 and 22 ft lead rope.

The 12 and 22 foot lines allow your horse to respond to you from a distance and show you respect, or if frightened to move away impulsively but still have a connection with you. These tools allow you to communicate to your horse in a way that builds the horses comfort and allows you to also build your comfort levels when you train your horse and advance your equestrian horse back riding skills.

By: Suzanne Garrard

About the Author:

galloping_beauty456 asked:


i have a 9 year old Morab who hasn’t been worked very much over the past year and a half because of bad habits and disrespect.

this has put an halt to our riding. i asked her to canter while lunging and she bucked and bolted right at the cue. (is this normal?)

a problem i often have while lunging her is she gets very close to me while i’m standing in the middle. and she used to only do this at a walk but now at a trot she is making small circles around me. i want her to fill the round pen and ride on the fence. she never does.
how can i get her to get out of my space and onto the rail?

she also is very disrespectful when it comes to hoof picking. she won’t pick up her foot and always puts up a fight. when i get to her hind she usually kicks….

and in the saddle:

she is distracted and always is paying attention to the other horses who are grazing or in their paddocks. she always wants to ride the side closest to them. how can i get her to be more focused?
_________________________________________________________

side note: i also would love to take her on some trail rides but how she’s acting in the ring, on the ground, and in the round pen i’m afraid that that would be a mistake. whats a good way to introduce a horse to trails who has problems such as my mare’s?
_________________________________________________________

thank you for your two cents and advice. i will take everything into consideration to how to fix her problems.

sherriehi asked:


I just bought a horse from a friend who says the horse is great except he occasionally crow hops. Like when he’s kicked or when he is first ridden if its been a while. He said he just jerked on the reins to get his head up. The horse is six and trained on cows some and has my friend has used him on field trials so he’s been around a lot of noise. He has a lot of good points. I have had him a month and I started ground training him in a round pen first to gain his respect. He has shown a little disrespect but over all he is a real sweet horse. But now I am second guessing buying him. Im getting back into horses after children and had a compression fracture three years ago from a green horse and don’t want to get hurt again. I used to love spirited horses! Help.