My definition of horsemanship is being able to connect the horse with the human.
I constantly have conversations with many very, very good high-level trainers, clinicians, and equine professionals from all over the world, and yes, even real cowboys! We talk about what tack to use. We talk about methods used by various trainers.
We talk about types of horses and their behavioral aspects. We talk about everything from diagonals, to flying lead changes to counter bending. We talk about Western vs English and barrel racing vs hunter jumper.
So, where do I fit in?
I feel I have primarily one mission. That mission is to make sure horses find and keep a good home. To do this, I need to connect the horse with the human so that both stay safe, and hopefully have a great relationship. Once this very basic thing is accomplished, then we can talk about bigger and better things.
I am more than happy to help someone with anything from dressage to mounted shooting however, to me, nothing is more important than establishing that basic connection between the horse and the human, and THIS … is who I am!
Things that concern horses the most are things that move and things that make noise.
During certain holidays, particularly News Years and Independence Day, people may celebrate using fireworks. Many horse owners become very nervous and concerned about their horses when loud noises such as fireworks are active nearby. It is around these holidays I get horse owners asking for advice.
I would argue that unexpected loud noises can occur at anytime and anywhere. I’ve been out working with my horses ten miles south of BFE and had trees suddenly fall, lighting strikes, firearms being discharged nearby by hunters (I assume) etc. I never fear these things, I see them as a training opportunity! So, my best short answer is this……
Train Your Horse
Train your horse! The more you teach your horse new things, the more they are required to THINK! The more they think, the less reactive they become. There is no such thing as a “bomb proof” horse, however, you can mitigate the horse’ natural reactions to a good manageable level.
Desensitize your horse as much as possible at every opportunity. Never shy away from something that your horse is worried about. Whether it is lawn mowers, bicycles, or anything else, take the time to work with your horse with that object.
Lastly, just as I would during a hurricane, if possible, I leave my horses out in a wide open pasture. Horses feel much safer in the open and not inside a confined area. In the pasture, they also have the freedom to move around.
I could probably write a book on all the things I’ve encountered with my horses. The potential for unexpected noises is endless. I would say, if fireworks are active, go work with your horse during that time, be with them. Train them. Teach them to trust you. Be their safety blanket!
Are you prepared in case you encounter injury or medical issues such as Colic that requires urgent attention? Remember, you are the first responder to your horse’s medical needs!
First!!! I am not a veterinarian! This article is to increase the awareness and need to prepare for urgent care regarding your horse! I strongly encourage horse owners to consult with your veterinarian and develop plans and materials that fit your program and needs.
If you have been a horse owner for more than ten minutes, you probably understand why we jokingly speak of wrapping our horses in bubble wrap! How many times have you walked out to the pasture and realized your horse looks like the looser at a bar fight! If you’ve decided to be a horse owner, you might as well be prepared.
As with many of you, we, here at Realtime Horsemanship, often deal with these issues not just with our horses but with clients’ horses as well! There seems to be an endless parade of cuts, scrapes, bruises, bites, sore muscles, bruised soles, Laminitis, white line etc. not to mention other medical issues!
My Mobil First Aid Kit
I decided a long time ago to prepare a “horsey” first aid kit. Although commercial kits are available, I decided to build my own kit customized with items I feel I need in various circumstances. I actually keep two kits, one small kit I keep in my truck and a larger kit I keep at the barn.
There are too many items to mention here that one could use in a first aid kit, and additionally, each owner will stock their kit with what they prefer. I suggest you research a little, ask your veterinarian for advice on this subject.
Every horse owner, and other professionals who work with horses, should build a kit customized with what works for you and keep it handy!
There are three reasons professional horse trainers are hired. Either the owner does not have the time or desire required, the owner does not want to take the inherent risk involved, or the owner does not possess the expertise.
Develop a Good Relationship First!
Time – Training horses is “labor intensive” and requires time. Most horse owners have a primary career/job that requires most of their time, not to mention additional social/family time. Just feeding and cleaning stalls can take up what spare time may exist! Professional trainers take the time a horse needs to properly learn without physical or psychological harm to the horse.
Risk – Not everyone wants to (or should) take the risk involved working with untrained horses. The wrong move by that 1200lb cutie can put you in the hospital quickly, or worse. Too much pressure used on a highly reactive horse can cause serious injury to the horse, not to mention the new hole in your fence.
Expertise – Let’s assume you have plenty of time on your hands and you have great medical insurance. Do you have the correct knowledge and experience to reach the goals you want with your horse? Most professional trainers have years upon years of experience working with hundreds, maybe even thousands of horses. These trainers, more than likely, have paid their dues and spent tons of time with more experienced trainers to develop their skill.
What makes up a trainer? – There are many horse trainers out there. Some with familiar names, some relatively unknown. Some have fabulous marketing packages, some are known from television exposure and some are just at the ranch down the street. But I will tell you this, every successful trainer has one thing in common, they possess a keen understanding of the horse and the ability to effectively communicate with the horse!
If you want success with your horse, you will need to learn to speak their language and how to communicate in your horse’s world…not yours!
A good trainer will always keep an open mind and always be willing to listen and entertain new methods and ideas. Personally, I have spent time with many, many trainers, some locally, some known worldwide. As I learn from each of these trainers, I add more tools to my toolbox.
Ultimately, good trainers will become a “conglomerate” of all the trainers who taught them. They will use what works for them and leave behind what does not. They will develop their own style and their own methods and ultimately become their own unique trainer.
There are always many ways to get there, the only question is …. how do you want to get there.
I was watching an NBHA Barrel race when at the first barrel, the rider came off. To everyone’s relief, the rider was ok, but the horse continued to run the barrel pattern. To my amazement, the horse ran the complete pattern pretty dang good…. Without the rider. I’ve seen parents put a small child on a seasoned barrel horse and let go. As the child was screaming and crying, the horse did a decent job at running the pattern.
I hear barrel racers say, “I need a trainer to put “The Pattern” on the horse”. I think, ok…. in barrel racing the pattern is the same (given the left-right-right or right-left-left turns). Sooo, what if I took my mounted shooting horse to a barrel racing trainer and said, “Put the pattern on my horse”. Of course, in mounted shooting, there are 40+ different courses (patterns), at least four of which are used at each competition! I would probably get a strange look from the trainer.
Bolo riding Mesa with Pistols
As a trainer, I get problem barrel horses. Without getting in too much detail, I find there are usually two basic issues, 1. The horse is sour (See Performance Horses on this subject), or, 2. The rider has allowed the horse to make all the decisions and the rider basically has lost fundamental control. When I get a problem barrel horse, the first thing I usually must do is get the horse’s focus back on me and not just on the pattern. This way, I decide when and where I want to enter the course, I can make adjustments as needed etc. without the horse balking when I give my cues.
Before I get death threats, I fully understand, and agree, that performance horses should know their job, and I also understand that you want some things to be “automatic”. However, in my opinion, the “automatic” should never override what the rider tells the horse. In other words, the rider can allow the trained horse to perform certain moves on its’ own, but the rider should always be able to shut off the autopilot and guide the horse at any given time.
A question that is often asked is…when can training begin with foals? The answer is, the sooner the better! As with most equine subjects, this area is subject to varying opinions. There is a well-known involvement with foals called imprinting. If you have the time, it is well worth spending as much time early with a foal as possible. This will improve the bond you have with your foal. A word of caution, a one-day old foal can put you in the hospital, so treat this young horse with respect at all times!
As far as training goes, the sooner you get busy working with your foal the better! Be sure to have an experienced person handle the mare while initially starting with the foal. Once the mare trusts you, she will allow you more and more latitude with her baby.
Working with Foals
All the same training philosophy is valid with a foal or a horse at any age for that matter. The thing you must consider is to temper the activity based on the horses’ age, fitness etc. In this case, obviously, you cannot train with the same intensity as a five-year-old. The corrections must be much softer and the training periods should be very short. Things like desensitizing to water and spray bottles, flexing and pressure and release with a halter can be done with little exertion on the foal. Going for a nice walk around the ranch allowing the foal to experience new things is always good.
So when it comes to begin training with your new foal, get started early. Don’t be afraid to seek out professional or more experienced assistance with a young horse as this is a very important and impressionable time in their life, make sure it is a good impression!
How many conversations have been about horse “trainers”? We joke about how it seems that everyone thinks they are a horse trainer! Even professional trainers sometimes shake our heads at some who profess to be a “trainer”. Well…. while each person has their own level of ability or desire, the simple fact is this……. Anyone who handles a horse is training that horse!
This training may or may not be correct, the result may or may not be good, or the person may not even realize they are sending bad messages to the horse at all, but the fact remains that anyone who spends any time with a horse, such as barn helpers who simply need to move a horse from the stall to the pasture, the person doing this chore is, for good or bad, training the horse!
Horses are always learning from you..for good…or bad!
A horse’s awareness is extremely acute. The problem is the human doesn’t maintain that same level of awareness regarding the horse. Horses are paying attention to you even though you may not be paying attention to them. For example: many “trainers” stay focused in the training pen but are very complacent walking the horse to and from the training pen or, the casual trail rider tends to drift along chit-chatting with fellow riders and NOT paying attention to what their horse may be telling them along the way. In these cases, the horse may be receiving conflicting messages from the handler/rider.
When I take on a boarding horse for training, I make it a point to be the one moving, handling, feeding, grooming and washing the horse etc. This way I know the horse is getting consistent messages. This in turn, makes the training go much better. Training doesn’t begin and end at the round pen or arena gate, training is a continuous effort. Training mode begins whenever I make first contact with the horse for the day and doesn’t end until the horse is turned out. Remember one of the basic requirements needed to successfully train a horse is consistency. If you tell your horse to do one thing in the training pen, then send a different message outside the pen by not being consistent, you are not being fair and will confuse and frustrate the horse. This will seriously affect your goals.
A good rule to remember…. anytime you are spending time with your horse, leave your mobile device in the truck, don’t engage in conversations with friends or any other activity that would interfere with good consistent communication with your horse.
If you expect and demand you horse’s absolute attention, (as you should), you must be willing to give your absolute attention to your horse as well.
A question I often get is …. “What is a good method to use for training and working with wild or abused horses?” Well … Here is the “magic” answer!
I have been working with wild mustangs and working with equine rescues for many years. As you might suspect, wild and/or abused or neglected horses can be a real challenge.
Anytime you’re working with any horse, you should always keep in mind the history of the horse if known. As a trainer, this gives you a better insight and will help you understand why the horse may be behaving a certain way. Unfortunately, trainers rarely get accurate information on a given horses’ background….. So, what’s a poor trainer to do?
The “magic” answer is, (drum roll…) There is no magic answer!! Crystal balls and Pixie dust just doesn’t work!
My method to work with a Mustang, or an abused horse is no different than working with any other horse! If you learn how to be FAIR to EVERY horse you work with, then you will have success with EVERY horse.
So … how do you be fair? Here’s how….
Working with wild Mustangs
There are five things every horse deserves from you as a trainer, rider or handler;
Patience – If you suck in this category, go take up basket weaving until you get better. This is the most important quality a trainer must have! The moment you get frustrated or angry, you have lost your ability to effectively communicate with your horse.
Consistency –Speak the same language all the time! Get disciplined with your body language so your horse will learn to understand you! Established a set of rules and stay with them 100% of the time.
Timing & Feel – This coincides with Pressure & Release. Understand when to apply pressure, when to release the pressure and how much pressure to apply etc. Timing & feel is essential to communicating fairly with your horse.
Dedication – Your horse deserves to be treated fairly! As a trainer, rider or handler, you owe it to your horse to educate and dedicate yourself to understanding how your horse thinks and what your horse is feeling. Are they trying to be dominate? Are they fearful? Learn how to effectively communicate with your horse.
Patience, Consistency, Timing / Feel and Dedication….. Arming yourself with these tools along with hard work and quality time with your horse will give you the best chance in making that wild Mustang you have into a great partner!
Develop a working relationship with your horse using Respect , Focus and Trust!
Before you can begin any serious training with your horse, you must first develop a positive relationship. As with any relationship, Respect, Focus and Trust are the key component!.
Develop a Good Relationship First!
Anyone who has spent any time with me training horses knows my primary philosophy….. develop the relationship first! Most trainers only provide you with training methods, i.e. how to flex, how to side pass, how to trailer load etc. Very few provide components that, in my view, are the most critical. Let’s break this down……
Respect – If the horse hasn’t learned to respect you, not only does this create an unsafe environment, but the horse simply could care less about anything you’re trying to accomplish. A horse that is pushy, has attitude, want’s to be dominant does not respect you!
Focus – If the horse is not paying any attention to you, then how can the horse learn anything from you? If the horse is more concerned about grabbing grass, other horses or the famous horse eating monkeys in the trees, how can the horse be aware of you or your cues? In order to effectively communicate with your horse, you must have the horse’s focus!
Bolo with his Herd
Trust – I could write a whole article on trust, but here’s a synopsis. I can get a horse’s respect and focus relatively quick, trust, however, cannot be forced, it has to be earned! How do we earn a horses trust? The simple answer is …. always be fair to your horse!
How do we be fair to our horses? First and foremost, be patient! Understand that you are bringing your horse into your world, not theirs! Never ever loose your temper! If you feel yourself getting frustrated STOP, regroup yourself, better educate yourself and re-approach the issue.
Next, be consistent! It is totally unfair to ask your horse to do something one way today and a different way tomorrow! How many of you have had bosses do this to you? Remember how it felt!
The most difficult things to learn are Timing and Feel. This will come with experience. Learning when to apply pressure and when to release it, in my opinion, is an art form. It requires empathy and understanding the horse. Communication is a two way street! When your horse is trying to tell you something, learn to listen!
Lastly, dedicate your self to your horse. Spend quality time with your horse! We all have jobs, social time etc., but you should never neglect your horse by not spending time with them. Horse are social beings. If you drag them out only to serve your purpose once a month, don’t expect your relationship to improve.
Just as in any relationship, with your spouse, with your kids or with anyone for that matter, there must be Respect, Focus and Trust for that relationship to grow!
I was watching an NBHA Barrel race when at the first barrel, the rider came off. To everyone’s relief, the rider was ok, but the horse continued to run the barrel pattern. To my amazement, the horse ran the complete pattern nearly perfect …. Without the rider.
I’ve seen parents put a small child on a seasoned barrel horse and let go. As the child was screaming and crying, the horse did a fine job at running the pattern.
Bolo riding Mesa in Rifle Class
I hear barrel racers say, “I need a trainer to put “The Pattern” on the horse”. I think, ok…. in barrel racing the pattern is the same (given the left-right-right or right-left-left turns). Sooo, what if I took my mounted shooting horse to a trainer and said, “Put the pattern on my horse”. Of course, in mounted shooting, there are 40+ different courses (patterns), at least four of which are used at each competition! I would probably get a strange look from the trainer.
