By: Lyle Jackson

One of the most difficult parts of training reining horses and cow horses is learning when to pull the reins and when to push with the leg. This is timing, and riders fail at training horses usually because they get it wrong.

The knowledge of when to pull, when to push, and when to let go is the difference between creating a trained performance horse that gets better with time and lasts for years, or a sour, resistant beast that is best to get rid of.

Most everybody that rides in our industry has read and heard about countless training methods. Direct rein, indirect rein, bump with the leg, build a frame etc. etc. And all these things work for the professionals, in a lot of different ways. There is no one, magic system; they all work for some people.
continue reading "Pushing & Pulling"

By: Peter Campbell

You’ve haven’t bought a horse before, but you’ve been itching for a while. Now you are ready for your very first horse! A lot of thought needs to go into this, but here are a few helpful hints.

Why do you want a horse?
Do you want to trail ride, show, race, or breed? Take a moment, sit down, and write all the things you would want to do with your trusty steed! Look at the right horse for the task – a little Quarter Horse may be better if you are interested in cutting, rather than a leggy racehorse!
If you are a beginner, consider the older horse that’s been around the block once or twice. The seasoned horse may have some age on him, but is a great starter horse for you to gain confidence and understanding.
continue reading "Buying a Horse"

The author describes how basic pole arrangements can be adapted for every aspect of training a wide variety of horses from the basic training of the young horse, to schooling hunters and jumpers and equitation riders, to more advanced dressage movements.

Schooling with Ground Poles is not just another training textbook, but is an inspirational springboard from which all riders, instructors, and trainers can develop ideas to suit their own horses and training regimes, and to add variety and interest to schooling sessions and lessons.

Author: Claire Lilley
Publisher: Trafalgar Square Publishing
ISBN: 1-57076-264-3 Price: $27.50 USD
Hard cover / 192 pages / color photographs, drawings & illustrations
To order: Call (802) 457-1911, write to Trafalgar Square Publishing at Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, Vermont, 05053, USA, or visit www.horseandriderbooks.com

by: Nicole Brown

It is a “must back, now” response called “get back” that I feel is crucial in developing a great stop. In my program, it is imperative that a horse feels a “sense of urgency” to get back. This means he must be willing to respond immediately to the signal by rocking back over his hind end and stepping quickly back.

Most importantly he must back up with clean steps and in the correct frame, as frame in the back-up directly relates to the frame in the stop. Unfortunately, this is not a precise step-by-step process. Sometimes, the steps overlap each other to compensate for the horse’s response.
continue reading "The Great Stop"

by: Chris Irwin

In the horse industry, we now live in an age of political correctness where there is an unwritten law that professionals should not be critical or outspoken of the training techniques used by other horse trainers with which we may disagree.

In other words, if we can’t say something good about how a trainer works with a horse, then we shouldn’t say anything at all.

Go to a horse exposition with more than one “natural horsemanship clinician” giving presentations and the underlying message is often that we trainers should just agree to disagree and not criticize each other because we believe in using a different technique.
continue reading "Finding the Right Technique"

by Caroline O’Jay

As a professional in the horse industry, I put my integrity on the line every time I’m asked to help a client find the perfect horse.

First of all I need to identify my client’s goals, which sets the stage for beginning this process. Do you want to pleasure ride, compete in the show ring, or become an Olympic rider?

Another consideration is to know how much knowledge and experience the rider has in regards to understanding the true nature of horses. Talent, dedication, riding experience, and physical condition play an important role in my decision-making.

I would also like to mention something that is often overlooked: a client’s personality. Are they timid, confident, assertive, or bold? Choosing a horse that best suits their personality will go a long way in forming an ideal partnership.
continue reading "Matchmaking 101"

by: Daryle Schmidt

I’ve been starting colts for over 20 years. The more I train horses and teach others, the more I realize that starting the training process at a young age is one of the keys to making it easier and safer.

Take every opportunity you have to touch and handle your foal before halter breaking. If you are fortunate enough to be around when your foal is born, take this opportunity to rub him all over. This will go a long way in quieting him down when he is at this very impressionable stage.

I like the foal to have confidence in being around me before I start the process of halter breaking. Once the foal is used to me coming up to it and scratching him here or there I’ll then go to the next step.
continue reading "Training the Young Horse"