How to Train a Horse to Follow Visual Commands

Horses can pick up commands at a variety of levels. You can also train your horse with visual, voice or physical commands. Once you have taught your horse to respond to these types of commands, you will have a better riding relationship with them.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Make sure your horse is comfortable when you are first teaching him the commands. Practice using hand signals with your horse. Devise a signal and train the horse to execute the intended action.

2. Place your hand on your head when you want your horse to rise off the ground. Do it and then physically help your horse rise off the ground. Repeat it over and over again until she understands.

3. Put your hand on your chest when you want your horse to trot around the field. This move might take some time for your horse to learn as you cannot push him to trot. You can make the movement and then walk with him. Stop and try again.

4. Create a large amount of visual commands and work on each one until the horse begins to respond to them and act on the signal. Practice one every week to help her understand.

5. Try not to overwhelm the horse and confuse him with too many visual commands. Allow the horse to take in each visual command and learn as he goes.

Tips & Warnings

• In the past, trainers would use visual commands with horses when filming movies because voice commands would interfere with the film.