How to Train a Horse With a Flag
Flags are used to desensitize horses to frightening stimuli. This training technique called "advance and retreat" is used in natural horsemanship, a training style that uses the horse's culture and mode of thinking to shape desired behavior. The flag teaches the horse to stand and consider spooky objects rather than panic and bolt.
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Instructions
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Attach the cloth or plastic to the end of the stick or lunge whip ("flag"). Begin by introducing the horse to the object -- allow the horse to see it. Stand away from the horse as if about to lunge the horse (do not stand directly in front of the horse).
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Slowly drag the flag towards the horse. Immediately withdraw the flag when the horse becomes anxious. Be sure to read the horse and remove the stimulus before the horse moves or jumps. Watch for wide eyes, weight shifts off the forehand, tense lips and shaking.
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Continue to drag the flag toward the horse, advancing and withdrawing the flag until the horse relaxes in the flag's presence.
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Begin dragging the flag closer to the horse to illicit anxiety as in the first approach. As the horse becomes used to the flag, begin touching the lower legs with the flag. Only add to the stimulus when the horse relaxes -- you are building and systematically increasing the desensitization.
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Eventually the flag can be rubbed all over the horse's body. As the horse relaxes to the movement of the flag around its body, the flag can then by waved around and above the horse.
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Tips & Warnings
Never push the horse beyond the anxious state. This is a slow (depending on each individual horse's temperament) and systematic process.
Working with horses can be dangerous. A frightened or overstimulated horse can spook and trample or kick the handler. It is important to be able to read horse behavior and to stay out of strike, kick or bolting zones.
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