My horse is very responsive to soft cues but highly reactive to stronger cues. It makes him incredibly easy to work with. A tap is way too much. A touch works fine. I don't mind his hind quarters turning in my direction. He knows that good horses don't kick and bad horses never get cookies. He knows that if he is good he will get a cookie after work.
This is a great video - very helpful tips on some of the basics. I'm very new to handling horses. The horse my step-daughter rode ended up lame and can't be ridden. He's on stall rest except for 20 minute walks and light exercise. I'm trying to do things that stimulate his mind and are "fun" for him. I've noticed in much of the training videos I've watched, the trainer will correct the horse for something like "being heavy", "lack of energy in the movement", "not paying enough attention or lack of focus on the trainer", etc - I have to admit...I can't tell if our horse is violating any of the expectations or not...he does what I ask (most of the time)...but I don't have a keen enough eye to recognize the subtleties more experienced people identify. Do you have any suggestions for me? What do I look for in these exercises? How do I improve identifying if he's doing the right thing or in the right way? Thanks so much!
Hey there! I'm sorry to hear that your horse went lame, but I think it's great you are using these exercises to keep his brain engaged. They are really good for that. That's a great question! A lot of that is developing your skills in reading the horse and that will come with experience. One thing I always do is set my expectations for that individual horse. I'm not going to have the same expectations for a beginner horse as I will for my top performance horses. Our ultimate goal is for our horse to go everything off of phase 1 (the lightest suggestion). Of course, this takes time and practice. Once your horse understands the process, meaning you've taught him these exercises and have practiced them for at least 7 sessions. Then it's time to start looking/expecting more from your horse. At this stage, I would be look your horse to be responding at phase 2. If he doesn't respond, then go to phase 4 (adding rhythm or tagging). With some consistence, your horse will learn to be light and responsive from the slightest suggestion. Be sure to not drill him, but reward him often. Because your horse is in recovery, I would cut him some slack. He might respond slower and that's ok. The goal is to get a little bit better every session. I would worry less about your "not paying attention" and focus more on just getting your horse lighter. Thanks for watching! I wish you the best!
This may help too...The 4 parts of training are teaching, controlling, reenforcing, and refining. In the reenforcing and refining stages, you can expect more from your horse. He already knows the exercises well and now it's a matter of holding him to doing them with quality ("not being heavy", etc.). Things to look for in these exercises...that your horse is calm, connected (listening to you), and responsive.
Thank you so much for doing this video again with an unfamiliar horse! I'm having trouble getting my horse to move his front end on steady pressure, he backs up...any suggestions?
You're welcome! It's the release that teaches. So even if he backs up, keep the pressure on until he does what you ask. Also try giving him a little more information. Add in some rhythmic pressure (on his shoulder), if he needs little extra help.
The more I try to back mine up the more she starts laying her ears flat, raising her head and showing the whites of her eyes. Yet she follows and stops fine, and most other things. :( she starts getting more annoyed and bored appearing with the back up. Any help please?
Hey there! From your description, it's hard for me to tell if your horse is worried or bored. If she's bored, make it more interesting by backing her through gates, on to a tarp, etc. Also up your skills by working on her backing from a lighter cue can help. Sometimes horses have that reaction because to them, we are yelling (ei our cues are too big). Do a long phase 1 and then go to phase 4. If she's worried, it's a matter of practice for her to understand the exercise and learn to relax with it. Hope this helps!
Great video thank you. Do you have anything on catching a horse that keeps walking away and turning her behind on me? She is in a field with 3 other horses and I end up walking all around the field after her!
Yes, I do. I know the pain. It's hard to catch horses when they are in a field. Often times to get the relationship going, I will use grain to get them into a smaller pen where I can use the technique in this video to catch them. It works in a pasture too, but it takes a lot longer. Defiantly stay safe and out of the kick zone when you do this. Here's my video on catching: th-cam.com/video/hqgbZvrln_Q/w-d-xo.html
I start doing it with them at about 6 months old. I just scale it and keep it simple for the younger ones. I won’t work with them for more than 15min at 6 months old and no more than 30 minutes at year old roughly. Of course, I always pay attention to my horse and their individual attention span. Every horse is different.
This is very helpful for me. Thank you for starting off with the basics. I look forward to learning more and having a wonderful relationship with my horse.
I’m a going to train my filly for the first time. I learned a lot from you in such a short time. Can’t wait till tomorrow morning to start. Keep up the good work. Thank you very much.
I use these exercises everyday. You are meant to do them and keep progressing until you can do them at liberty and bridleless! Obviously, I don't do them in order and depending on my horse, I will do more drawing (like friendly for a scared horse) or more driving (backing and forequarter yields for the horse who is more dominate). Keeping it progressive and interesting for your horse is key!
Thank you so much! I love that your so calm. Definitely a reminder for me to slow down. Thanks again!
You're welcome! I appreciate you watching my videos!
love your laid back style...just goes to show you can get the job done and everybody is happy
Thank you! That's always my goal.
Just subscribed.
Finally a video of a horse that's not already ready for center stage
My horse is very responsive to soft cues but highly reactive to stronger cues. It makes him incredibly easy to work with. A tap is way too much. A touch works fine. I don't mind his hind quarters turning in my direction. He knows that good horses don't kick and bad horses never get cookies. He knows that if he is good he will get a cookie after work.
Lucky lol
Clear and excellent. Thank you!
This is a great video - very helpful tips on some of the basics. I'm very new to handling horses. The horse my step-daughter rode ended up lame and can't be ridden. He's on stall rest except for 20 minute walks and light exercise. I'm trying to do things that stimulate his mind and are "fun" for him. I've noticed in much of the training videos I've watched, the trainer will correct the horse for something like "being heavy", "lack of energy in the movement", "not paying enough attention or lack of focus on the trainer", etc - I have to admit...I can't tell if our horse is violating any of the expectations or not...he does what I ask (most of the time)...but I don't have a keen enough eye to recognize the subtleties more experienced people identify. Do you have any suggestions for me? What do I look for in these exercises? How do I improve identifying if he's doing the right thing or in the right way? Thanks so much!
Hey there! I'm sorry to hear that your horse went lame, but I think it's great you are using these exercises to keep his brain engaged. They are really good for that. That's a great question! A lot of that is developing your skills in reading the horse and that will come with experience. One thing I always do is set my expectations for that individual horse. I'm not going to have the same expectations for a beginner horse as I will for my top performance horses. Our ultimate goal is for our horse to go everything off of phase 1 (the lightest suggestion). Of course, this takes time and practice. Once your horse understands the process, meaning you've taught him these exercises and have practiced them for at least 7 sessions. Then it's time to start looking/expecting more from your horse. At this stage, I would be look your horse to be responding at phase 2. If he doesn't respond, then go to phase 4 (adding rhythm or tagging). With some consistence, your horse will learn to be light and responsive from the slightest suggestion. Be sure to not drill him, but reward him often. Because your horse is in recovery, I would cut him some slack. He might respond slower and that's ok. The goal is to get a little bit better every session. I would worry less about your "not paying attention" and focus more on just getting your horse lighter. Thanks for watching! I wish you the best!
This may help too...The 4 parts of training are teaching, controlling, reenforcing, and refining. In the reenforcing and refining stages, you can expect more from your horse. He already knows the exercises well and now it's a matter of holding him to doing them with quality ("not being heavy", etc.).
Things to look for in these exercises...that your horse is calm, connected (listening to you), and responsive.
Thank you so much for doing this video again with an unfamiliar horse! I'm having trouble getting my horse to move his front end on steady pressure, he backs up...any suggestions?
You're welcome! It's the release that teaches. So even if he backs up, keep the pressure on until he does what you ask. Also try giving him a little more information. Add in some rhythmic pressure (on his shoulder), if he needs little extra help.
Liked the way you were talking. I thought I were watching a mature professional trainer. Than you for making this video. God Bless.
Thanks for watching!
Nice!
The more I try to back mine up the more she starts laying her ears flat, raising her head and showing the whites of her eyes. Yet she follows and stops fine, and most other things. :( she starts getting more annoyed and bored appearing with the back up. Any help please?
Hey there! From your description, it's hard for me to tell if your horse is worried or bored. If she's bored, make it more interesting by backing her through gates, on to a tarp, etc. Also up your skills by working on her backing from a lighter cue can help. Sometimes horses have that reaction because to them, we are yelling (ei our cues are too big). Do a long phase 1 and then go to phase 4. If she's worried, it's a matter of practice for her to understand the exercise and learn to relax with it. Hope this helps!
Great video thank you. Do you have anything on catching a horse that keeps walking away and turning her behind on me? She is in a field with 3 other horses and I end up walking all around the field after her!
Yes, I do. I know the pain. It's hard to catch horses when they are in a field. Often times to get the relationship going, I will use grain to get them into a smaller pen where I can use the technique in this video to catch them. It works in a pasture too, but it takes a lot longer. Defiantly stay safe and out of the kick zone when you do this. Here's my video on catching: th-cam.com/video/hqgbZvrln_Q/w-d-xo.html
Ar what age do you start doing this for them, i am new and first time horse owner. He is just under a year old.
I start doing it with them at about 6 months old. I just scale it and keep it simple for the younger ones. I won’t work with them for more than 15min at 6 months old and no more than 30 minutes at year old roughly. Of course, I always pay attention to my horse and their individual attention span. Every horse is different.
My horse is having trouble with the hind leg yield. It used to come easy, but now I can put all my pressure on her hip and she won't even budge.
Remember to suggest, ask demand in that order. If she won't budge then bump here rear end until she does.
This is very helpful for me. Thank you for starting off with the basics. I look forward to learning more and having a wonderful relationship with my horse.
Awesome! Glad to hear it! Best wishes to you on your horsemanship journey!
I’m a going to train my filly for the first time. I learned a lot from you in such a short time. Can’t wait till tomorrow morning to start. Keep up the good work. Thank you very much.
How is she now? :)
This is an awesome video!!! Thank you
Love Parelli's 7 games
How often should these exercises be done?
I use these exercises everyday. You are meant to do them and keep progressing until you can do them at liberty and bridleless! Obviously, I don't do them in order and depending on my horse, I will do more drawing (like friendly for a scared horse) or more driving (backing and forequarter yields for the horse who is more dominate). Keeping it progressive and interesting for your horse is key!
Thank you so much for listening to us. Thanks for the video.
I appreciate the recommendation! I'm glad you liked it!