Horse training – looks easy! It’s not! All horses need this to a greater or lesser extent. Do you have the time?

So you order furniture from ikea. It says easy to assemble

You unpack the box, get out your tools, maybe read the directions. Maybe not. Then you start.

Not long into it you realize you have the left side on the right. The screw you need you used for something else. Or it’s rolled way and you can’t find it. You start to scratch your head and start to wonder why you bought this in the first place

Let me tell you- this process can be very much like training a horse! The – do A then B and you are sure to get C doesn’t usually work!

There are plenty of videos, books, on line courses, but many of them focus on the steps but leave out the subtleties- which are a crucial part of the process

Why do that?

Well first of all it can be really hard to teach.

It’s also really hard to learn

It doesn’t fit neatly into a package or paragraph or even a few hours. It’s the feel, the connection, the trust. The timing That’s often learned over years of working with many horses. And the great horse people out there will tell you- they are always learning. Even 20 years into it, really their whole lifetime -the horse will still be teaching them.

Also…

There’s a difference between a trained horse and a solid horse.

We have had two shelters built. One by just an amazing craftsman. The other by someone who was just a wreck. Both licensed insured and working in the industry. But there is absolutely no comparison.

Because a horse has received training- does not mean well trained. Solid. Knows there stuff day in and day out. Those solid horses received training that was appropriate for their way of going and the job or discipline that’s suited for them. And that training was maintained. I can’t begin to describe how much time and effort goes into a horse like that. That’s a whole different post.

So learn to look at horse training for what it is. For how it’s presented. Learn to ask good questions from people you admire that have horses the way you would like your horses to go.

Also look at how they got there horses there. Sometimes the horses who seem so great are actually shut down. They do as they are told, nothing more, nothing less. That’s not good at all from the horses viewpoint.

And seeking advice can be equally tough. 20 trainers and 20 opinions. So jumping from source to source can be hard on you and hard on your horse. But do some research, go to shows, look online, get a general view on the methods then seek out someone or a source that corresponds w your goals and values. For you and your horse!

And don’t forget to have fun with it. There’s a tendency to rush. We all get so excited. But rushing usually backfires. And the horse has no timeline so our enthusiasm can put undo pressure on them without us realizing it.

Enjoy your horse. Love them and all of your time together where ever that may take you!