How to Re-Break Horses

Use patience and kindness if you find you have to re-break a horse.

When you break a horse you train it to follow the will and lead of the rider and to accept the saddle and bridle. If you leave the horse pastuered for months at a time, that training will diminish, which may require you to re-break the horse. This process can take days or months, depending on long the horse has been idle, your relationship with the horse, and how similar your training method is to the original.

Things You'll Need

• Treats
• Saddle
• Bridle
• Bit
• Lead rope

Instructions

1. Put the horse in an enclosed space, like a practice ring or a corral. Approach the horse slowly from the front. Speak softly to the horse, and stroke its neck to relax it. Use this time to start building trust and rapport with the horse, and continue as you proceed through the re-breaking process.

2. Put the halter and lead rope on the horse's head and engage in "ground work," which is making the horse move forward or backward, or left or right, by tugging on the rope. Praise the horse when it responds the way you want, stroke its neck, and offer it a treat.

3. Saddle the horse carefully. Watch for signs--ears laid back, teeth bared--that you should slow down or take more time to gain its confidence. Every time the horse won't stand still and allow itself to be saddled, do more ground work.

4. Weigh the saddle down with millet or heavy sacks to get the horse used to weight again. Lead it around the pen, giving praise and rewards for compliance.

5. Replace the halter and lead rope with a bridle and bit. If the horse doesn't take the bit willingly, try rubbing a little sweet feed on it. If he becomes too agitated, back up and work some more on rapport building.

6. Mount up once the horse has accepted the saddle and bridle and seems comfortable. Move slowly, letting the horse get used to being ridden again.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient. Re-breaking might take an hour, a day, or a week. If you miss a session, the horse may backslide, so be consistent. It will take as long as it takes to get the horse re-accustomed to being handled and ridden.

References

• Horsemanship 101: Saddle Breaking a Horse
• Texoma Living: Talk to the Horses