“A pony is a childhood dream; a horse is an adult treasure.”- Rebecca Carroll.
You must have listened to stories of flying carpets or unicorns growing up. And by the time you were of suitable age, you understood there are no flying carpets or unicorns, but you certainly have horses. Horse riding gives you the pleasure of flying with the safety of staying on land; that’s why people with elegant tastes prefer horse riding over any other sport.
It is not enough to bring a horse home to satisfy your inner calling of horse riding, you have to learn all the essentials and unlearn all the myths. The learning process of training a horse is never easy; it requires courage and patience. Courage to face expected tantrums and anger, and patience to keep going.
To train a horse, it needs complete knowledge about its health. Supplements and medicines are essential for its training. Consulting nutritional professionals such as Fox Equine Nutrition are the answer to all its health and training issues.
The ultimate guide to training your horse is here; follow and thank us later:
Basic Exercises to Start With
When it comes to horse training, there is a thing called groundwork. The groundwork combines daily exercises you perform with your horse on the ground to build a primary relationship. These exercises will help you control the reigns of your horses and make them understand to whom they should pay attention.
Following The Master
The first exercise is leading. The key is to keep the horse near your leading elbows. If this is new for the horse, it will not follow immediately.
It might try to walk ahead, but that’s what it’s leading rope for. You will have to keep a firm hand on the rope until it decides to follow you.
Your horse may walk too slow behind you, and that’s when you can use a whip behind you to match its speed with you.
Stand At Ease
This one is a fundamental discipline exercise that we all know. In the case of horses, its use is to make them focus and pay attention. This exercise will help you take the lead and will signal your horse what the next step is based on your actions.
The way to make it work is easy. Keep the bleeding rope in your hand, face your horse, and still. Don’t pull the rope until you are required to do so. If your horse tries to take a step back or ahead, pull the rope and guide it to the original position.
This exercise will make your horse heed your instructions and help you further train it.
Feet Movements
Feet movements are a great way to discipline your horse and teach them the difference between right and wrong actions. It is also essential to make your horse understand who to follow and how to follow.
The first exercise is related to the front limbs. The movement of the front legs is the first movement the horse makes when it tries to violate your boundaries. A little pressure on the leading rope will instantly give the idea of doing something wrong.
Another foot-moving exercise is following you in a circle. Getting your horse moved in a circle around you is about you controlling its movements. The more control you have over its action, the more power you’ll have when the saddle is on.
To teach your horse to follow you in circles, keep it on the line and direct him to move forward.
Make It Comfortable
Help It Stay Patient Around You
Horses understand the vibe and will be the same near you if you are calm and peaceful. The best way to make a horse comfortable with you is to stay calm and give the animal a space to settle down around you.
The more pressure, the more resistance you have. Politely and patiently handling your horse will make you your best buddy. You can make it comfortable around you by not panicking and giving them time to learn new things and unlearn the old ones. Regular exercise and care will make them comfortable around you.
Don’t overburden your horse. Adopt a rewarding and punishment system. When it listens to instructions and completes its daily tasks, reward it with treats. In case of disobedience, you can punish your horse by giving extra work or extending the exercise time.
Make It Comfortable with the Saddle
When training for the saddle, don’t overwhelm him by putting it for a longer time. The key is to put it for short periods and remove it. The way to control this whole scenario is to put it when you want to remove it after a few minutes before it starts panicking. Do not remove it immediately; if your horse starts panicking, give it time to relax, try to soothe it and then, when it gets calm, then remove the saddle after a few minutes. This exercise will make the horse understand that only you have control over when to input saddle on or when to put it off.
Conclusion
There are multiple ways to train your horse. Training your horse depends on the type of work you expect. The essential guide is to stay calm, make it follow you and help it get comfortable with the environment.
Making your horse comfortable around you is not just about how you treat it. It’s about understanding your horse’s requirements and needs. They are not related to their physical appearance. It is about understanding your horse’s moods and body language.
To understand, sometimes, it’s misbehaving or not taking your orders due to other factors. One of the biggest reasons for an animal misbehaving can be a result of inadequate internal health. Issues like bad diet, nutritional deficiency, or disease can easily alter their mood.
It is advised to do regular check-ups with the vet in case of prolonged mood swings and, if possible, consult with nutrition specialists like Fox Equine Nutrition to resolve these internal matters.
