Training Horses

Horses have been an important part of human history for thousands of years. Used by man in wars, for transportation and as working companions, horses have proved invaluable to nearly every...

The Spanish walk is a movement where the horse walks forward lifting his front legs in large, high, proud steps. Baroque breeds like Andalusians and Lippizaners are noted for the movement, but any...

The piaffe is a trot-like movement that a horse performs on the spot, and looks like a dance. A competition-quality piaffe takes years of training and strengthening for the horse to lower his...

The Tennessee Walking Horse is a gaited breed known for its smooth running walk and typically placid disposition. However, as with any breed, a young or untrained Tennessee Walking Horse may be an...

When you're training a horse, you might not always get the ideal personality to work with. Horses can easily become bored, unfocused, fearful or skittish. According to Catherine Bird, an...

In horsemanship at halter classes (also called showmanship or showmanship halter classes), the handler is judged and not the horse. However, the horse plays an indirect, yet vastly important role...

Miniature horses or ponies are smaller versions of full-sized horses. To be considered a miniature, an animal must be no taller than 34 inches. In 1978, the American Miniature Horse Association...

Just like any other baby animal, foals can be mouthy and nippy. They may just be trying to test their boundaries, or they confused a hand with a carrot. Whatever the reason, if this behavior is...

Miniature horses can be house-trained with positive reinforcement and dedication. Potty training a miniature horse is a project best suited to experienced trainers who don't mind cleaning up a few...

A sliding stop is a beautiful movement to watch and is the crowning glory of the equestrian sport of reining. The horse runs down the length of the arena, then, at a simple cue from the rider,...

Reining is an equestrian sport that requires the horse to perform sliding stops, circles at different speeds and sizes, spins, flying changes and rollbacks in one of the 10 patterns developed by...

A horse that won't stand still while you are trying to mount or dismount (get on and off) is very dangerous. Your saddle could slip. You could fall and get caught in the stirrup, then dragged. You...

Fitting a horse with a full cheek snaffle is an easy task, provided the horse is accustomed to the bitting process. As this process is applicable to nearly every bit, except for some complex gag,...

Most people who have shown horses have run across the horse who performed perfectly at home only to explode in the show ring. This can be a frustrating experience for horse owners and horse...

Riding bareback gives horse owners a real sense of freedom, and there is nothing like the feeling of galloping through the field without a saddle. It is important, however, to prepare your horse...

A horse that braces or lugs on the bit can be frustrating to ride, and if your horse has learned this bad habit, it is important to deal with it as soon as possible. Once a horse has learned to...

Morgan horses are typically intelligent and eager to please, making them ideal for riders willing to spend time exercising a horse at least three times each week. A bored or discouraged Morgan may...

"Over the river and through the woods...the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh" except in this case, we'll be asking our horse to pull a simple sled. Once your horse gets...

Dull horses, those that move slothfully when being ridden or are slow to respond to driving aids such as your legs, spurs or crop, are referred to as "behind the leg" by dressage riders. The key...

Saddle breaking a pony is much like saddle breaking a horse, but there are some important differences to be aware of and some unique challenges to overcome. It is important for trainers to be...

If you are planning to train your own horse you may think you need all sorts of expensive equipment, but in fact some of the most effective training methods are also the least expensive. Investing...

If you are a fan of dressage, jumping, Western riding or reining, you know the signature of a well-trained horse by a smoothly executed lead change. A rider with subtle cues can direct her horse...

If you have always wished you could have been a knight in medieval days, joining a jousting club can be the next best.thing. But there are some things both you and your horse need to know before...

If you are looking for a new challenge for you and your horse, roping can be an excellent choice. Roping was an integral part of the Old West, and it is still a major part of both the rodeo world...

Having a round pen or arena available can make starting a young horse or retraining an older one easier, but the good news is that everything that can be done in a round pen can also be done...

If it has been some time since your horse was ridden on a regular basis you may face some training challenges as you get back into the swing of things. Horses are creatures of habit, and they get...

If you have a horse and a lawn you probably have wished you could have your equine companion double as a heavy-duty lawn mower. But that is not as easy as it sounds. Simply turning your horse...

All effective horse training starts with a solid foundation, and it is very important to lay that foundation when working with a beginner horse. Ideally, your training should begin right after the...

Whether your goal is to become the next Roy Rogers or just chase some cows around the pasture, teaching your horse to rope can be a rewarding experience. Roping is a great sport, and knowing you...

The flat spin is the basis of many advanced maneuvers, from lateral work to classic reining patterns. At first blush teaching the flat spin can seem like a big challenge, but breaking the move...

A horse that spooks or bolts can be dangerous to ride and dangerous to work around. If your horse tends to let fear get the best of him, it is important to deal with that behavior. Exercising...

Training a horse to load on a trailer can be a big challenge, but helping a horse overcome a fear of horse trailers can be even harder. If your horse has been through a trailer wreck or similar...

Whether you are starting a horse under saddle or teaching a younger colt or filly to accept a bit, a quality snaffle is the best bit to work with. A snaffle is a gentle way to introduce your horse...

Many people mistakenly believe that a round pen is a good place to tire a horse out, thus making them easier to train. Horses are permanently injured every day because of this archaic thinking;...

In this article i will tell you how to teach your horse respect.first off if you don"t have respect on the ground you will not have respect in the saddle. Gaining your horse's respect is a...

Trailer loading can be a challenge for any horse owner, but when you are dealing with a claustrophobic horse, the challenges can be even greater. Many horses are naturally afraid of closed-in...

It is important to be able to handle your horses hooves. The hoof is the gateway to health in a horse since they spend 99% of their lives standing. Here is a guide to correctly teach your horse to...

Horses that are wild can be trained to do just about anything other horses can do, though it may take a longer amount of time. While wild horses can't run in races at official racetracks since...

Most top notch hunter jumper horses are high energy animals that need that energy to get over big fences. When an ordinary horse has extraordinary energy, however, this can create big problems for...

Breaking and training your own horse can give you a real sense of accomplishment and help your equine companion get off to a great start. The right early training can create a safe mount who will...

Becoming a successful horse trainer requires a significant amount of time and a commitment to education. Obtaining a college degree, whether it be from a two- or four-year institution, lends...

There is a bit designed for every manner of issue a horse can have. The two basic types have innumerable varieties themselves. It is best to find the mildest bit that your horse will listen to.

Training a horse using traditional methods can take several months or more. That is just too much time for some situations. It is possible to train a horse in two weeks or less using a combination...

Teaching your horse to pull a sled can be a very rewarding training exercise and a very useful one as well. Whether your ultimate goal is to open your own sleigh ride business or just go for fun...

Since man first domesticated the horse around 6,000 years ago, he has sought ways to control an animal that is several times larger, heavier and stronger than himself. The earliest means included...

Horse jaw bones and teeth damaged by bridles and bits were found at a 5,500-year-old Botai site in Kazakhstan in 2009. Since the Bronze Age, man has controlled horses with bridles to carry or pull...

It's a common scenario: You want to take your horse to the park for a trail ride, but he refuses to get in the trailer. If you can't get him to cooperate, your plans will be ruined, and if you are...

John Lyons is famous for his conditioning methods when training horses. The basis of Lyons' technique hinges on creating a bond with the horse and developing solid ground manners. Standing still...

Are your horse's brakes not so good, or not there at all, but the gas pedal's great? Don't pull the reins harder, read this article!

Done properly your young foal should be leading by the halter in no time!