Horse Training Techniques

by:- Nathalie Kruger

There are many different horse training techniques available. Some owners are more than happy to have a horse that carries them at a leisurely pace down a trail while others want a horse that can perform in competitive events.

For a horse to be successful in whatever task you wish him to perform, they must be receptive and able to learn. The most widely used horse training techniques uses a horses natural responses to perform tasks. Teaching horses specific tasks is fairly simple procedure but one that is often mishandled in spite of good intentions. Horses basically learn through trail and error and by responding to certain cues. When the horse has responded to a cue, the trainer must recognize the response and reward the horse.

Here are a few tips in horse training techniques:

1. Plan your training sessions carefully. Because horses have off-days, it is important for the trainer to have an alternative plan available.

2. Warm up your horse physically and mentally before starting training

3. Give simple cues with immediate rewards.

4. Use positive and negative reinforcement during training

5. Recognize when the horse is trying to make a correct response and reward small portions of the desired response.

6. Know the lesson you are trying to teach and be persistent with that lesson.

7. Another great horse training technique is to finding ways to keep your horses attention on you. Changes in movement, direction and tempo are good ways of keeping your horse's attention on you.

8. Horses live in the present. They don't worry about yesterday or tomorrow, so if you think that you might have made a mistake, simply fix it and continue to work.

Also remember that healthy, happy horses with correctly fitted tack will give you the best performances. So take good care of your horse and he will respect and obey you, making the horse training techniques much more effective.

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