How to Sack Out a Horse

Before you train your horse to ride, you must help him adapt to strange noises and objects to keep him from spooking. A spooked horse is a danger to himself and his owners. The process used to introduce the horse to new sights and sounds, called "sacking out," will benefit every horse. Be reading on to learn some easy techniques and with a lot of patience, your horse can be as sound as you like.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Take your horse to a small corral or a round pen for training. Let him become accustomed to the area and calm down before proceeding. He needs enough room to run away but not so much that you can't catch him again.

2. Work with your horse at his own speed. Sacking out is a long process and your horse will be afraid at times. Don't tie him up. He needs to understand that he is free to run away if he is frightened. Eventually, he will stay because he knows he is not in danger.

3. Choose a soft cotton rope to start. Drape it over your horse's back and let him walk around like that. As he becomes used to it, move it to his neck, rub it on his face and under his belly. Finally, wind the rope around his legs making sure he can jump free if needed. You are teaching him not to panic when a rope tangles around him.

4. Assemble a variety of brightly colored items and introduce them one at a time. Roll a ball across the corral or tie a plastic sack to a stick and wave it around. Always allow your horse to inspect the item at his own leisure to assure him he is not in danger. Even a saddle blanket looks like a horse-eating monster until your horse realizes it is safe.

5. Proceed with a new training item only after your horse is completely comfortable with the previous one. Take the time to praise your horse when makes progress by giving him a bit of an apple, some sweet feed or brushing him down.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a soft halter and a short lead rope to hold your horse while you sack him out. If he bolts, release the rope immediately.
• Horses are dangerous animals. With the correct sacking out, you can teach them to react in a safer manner, but you should never totally trust a horse. Always take precautions and don't allow children around horses without adult supervision.
• Start young. Even though you can sack out a horse at any age, and you should, young horses are quick to learn and will benefit from the procedure during their entire lifetimes.