| Most horse owners are not looking to merely | | | | steps. Horses learn best by repetition, so take the |
| become friends with their horse. They also expect to | | | | time to teach him, one step at a time, repeating that |
| be able to ride that horse, and to train it to be | | | | movement until he is confident before moving to the |
| suitable for their needs. This all-important step is | | | | next. It is perfectly normal for a horse to resist |
| where you begin to push the limits of the bond you | | | | training, even when in a good relationship with his |
| have created. Once you have established a good | | | | owner. At first, your horse will not understand what |
| relationship with your horse, you can get started on | | | | you are asking. In fact, much of his apparent |
| training him. If your horse is already reasonably well | | | | resistance may be his attempts to figure out what |
| trained, this can be fairly easy. On the other hand, | | | | you want. For example, if you merely pull on the rein |
| even well trained horses can offer some surprises. | | | | to tell the horse to turn, at first he might pull back. |
| Start out with something your horse knows. Keeping | | | | This is not because he is fighting you. Instead, it is |
| the balanced relationship you established on the | | | | because he is trying to figure out what you want - |
| ground, work with your horse, practicing the skills he | | | | you pulled, so maybe you want him to pull back. |
| learned before he knew you. This will give you a | | | | Eventually he will discover that pulling back does not |
| chance to see what he is like when asked to work, | | | | relieve the situation, and he will try something else. Be |
| without the added stress of asking him to learn new | | | | patient with your horse as you train, but maintain |
| things. If your horse is resistant, you will need to | | | | your dominant role in his life. Do not allow him to |
| take some time reestablishing your lead mare | | | | disregard any boundaries you have established. Happy |
| position, showing him that you are the boss of the | | | | horse-human relationships are built from these |
| situation. As soon as he begins to accept that | | | | boundaries. Without them, you just have a big, scary |
| dominance, return to the friendly relationship you | | | | animal, who can hurt you without effort. Lastly, this |
| developed on the ground. Do not be afraid to stand | | | | simple three-step process of forming friendly and |
| up for yourself. Your horse must believe that you are | | | | professional relationship with your horse is pretty |
| the bigger, stronger, more dominant member of the | | | | easy to implement on practice if you treat your |
| relationship. This is far more important than being his | | | | horse as a partner, without being an overpowring |
| friend. Friendship comes after a horse knows his | | | | personality. Remember that the horses, just like the |
| place in the herd. It is impossible to be friends with | | | | dogs, are companion animals that understand and |
| someone you are constantly trying to dominate. | | | | respect partnership. |
| Once you and your horse are comfortable with what | | | | Lydia K Kelly is a writer for HorseClicks, classifieds of |
| he already knows, it is time to start adding | | | | horses for sale Arkansas, horses for sale California, |
| something new. All training should be done in small | | | | horses for sale Colorado and other state. |