How to Train a Rescue Horse

If you have the patience, knowledge and time to train a rescue horse, you can do a world of good. Follow these tips for safety and effectiveness when working with any rescue horse.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Lunge Line
• Grooming Supplies
• Saddle
• Bridle

1. It's always better to build trust on the ground. Always start to train a rescue horse on the ground. You should never hop in the saddle on a horse you don't know, but a horse with a painful past can be especially dangerous. Instead, work with him on the ground until you gain his trust. You can do this by grooming him and lunging him daily in a round pen.
2. Follow general safety precautions. For one thing, you should never put your right foot in the stirrup until you've settled when mounting a rescue horse. If he bucks, rears or takes off, you'll want to bail in a hurry. Also, slow movements and calm tones are necessary to keep him calm.
3. Make repetition your mantra. Rescue horses often learn slower than other horses you might have trained. You might spent two weeks teaching him how to stand while you mount him, but that's okay. Once he's mastered one thing, move on to the next, but don't overload him with too many things at once.
4. Ride in a safe and quiet environment. Rescue horses are flighty and spook easily to begin with, so don't add to this volatile combination. Ride in a place where other horses, people, cars and commotion won't distract either of you.
5. Praise lavishly. Rescue horses thrive on your approval, so give him as much as he can stand. Even if his accomplishment is as simple as not spooking at a halter on the ground, he deserves all of the rewards you can give him. He's earned it.
6. Stop frequently. As mentioned above, rescue horses can easily become overloaded with information. To avoid a "freak out", stop frequently to pet and reassure him. Long walks in between trotting and cantering can work wonders.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask for help. If you're concerned about something or have a questions about training a rescue horse, never hesitate to ask.
• Give him time. A recently rescued horse probably won't be ready to work for several months, so exercise patience. Give him a chance to settle into his new surroundings - and to figure out that no one will beat him.
• It's safest to only ride these horses when another experienced adult is present.