by Christine Sweet
Tim Johnston is not just a horse trainer. He also works with the horse’s owner at the same time to create a strong and productive partnership between horse and owner.
Johnston believes that without focusing on the way the handler interacts with their horse, there really isn’t much point to “training” the horse because when they go home the problems will return.
It doesn’t take Johnston long to “tune-up” the horses that are brought to him. The problems are often typical and simple fixes for him. Where the real work begins is getting the handler to adjust their ways so that the fixes stick. When people see the positive results it doesn’t take long for them to replace their old methods with Johnston’s techniques.
Johnston’s background and knowledge mostly comes from the horses he works with, but he has also learned from a variety of sources in the horse world, and the business world.
That is why he is so good with the horses and their owners. He isn’t afraid to watch, learn from people and horses, and then apply what he has learned to his program.
Johnston starts all the horses and owners that come to him with ground work. He prefers to work in a round pen, but where there is no round pen he will work the horse in any space where he can control the movement of the horse.
He teaches his students how to use the environment they live in and the tools and equipment they already have to work with their horses. This groundwork is where the expectations are defined.
Johnston points out that the little behaviours horse owners think are cute or choose to ignore are often what lead to the big problems the owners want him to fix. One of his first tasks is to educate the horse’s owner that horses don’t think or behave like humans. Many people like to humanize their horses and, as a result, the horses end up acting out because the owner doesn’t understand what their horse is trying to tell them in horse language.
One example of this communication gap is the belief that your horse nuzzling you is a playful sign of affection. Johnston points out that this little nuzzle is not affection and has the potential to escalate into a nip or a bite, or problems with leading, tying, grooming, saddling, bridling, and trailering.
These problems will inevitably transfer into the riding. The horse’s disregard for personal space can put the owner at risk of being hurt in any of those instances and it all started with an “affectionate” nuzzle.
The reason why this can happen is explained by understanding a little horse language, psychology and herd behaviour. When the horse is nuzzling you, he is putting himself above you in the herd’s pecking order.
If you’ve ever watched horses in their herd environment, I am sure you have witnessed the nuzzling and grooming of the horses turning into a bite, and then possibly a kick. This is how the horses remind each other who is in charge.
This interaction between the owner and horse, from the perspective of the horse, is no different than the interaction between that horse and his herd mates. Johnston teaches his students (both horse and owner) that it is the owner’s role to be the leader and direct the horse’s behaviour – not the other way around.
Another method Johnston uses in his program is ensuring that the horse is calm and relaxed so it can do the work required of them. Horses and riders are not effective if they are not in a calm state to begin with.
Johnston believes that any horse in any sport will be more successful if it knows how to manage its own fear and remain calm and that is what he teaches the horses he works with.
Johnston explains that the energy a horse uses up before they are in the ring because of fear and anxiety could have been used to do the required tasks in the competition, but as they prance, or buck, or rear, or run away, all this energy is wasted and no longer available for the real work.
The horse needs to learn to channel the energy into the work and when the work is done, return to being calm and relaxed. That is the reward for a job well done.
Tim Johnston’s common-sense training approach is effective for the horse and owner. He empowers the owner to take back the leadership role and define the rules of engagement with their horse. The result is better communication between the owner and their horse.
Tim Johnston divides his time between Okotoks, High River, and Red Deer, Alberta. He is currently training horses and riders on weekends at Drogheda Farm just outside of Strathmore.
If you are interested in learning more about Johnston’s methods in a training session or clinic, you can call him at (403) 816-9173 or email: pol8465@hot mail.com.
