How to train horse

(January 29, 2010)

Horses are different from other pets that you may have. This will be evident from the way you train your horse. Unlike a dog or a cat that can be easily trained from the time they are puppies, the training of horses begins with the evaluation of your relationship with the horse.
If you are not at ease with your horse when you are riding it, you should reexamine your relationship with your horse. Horses are wild creatures, and not every one of them can be tamed easily. When you are trying to train your horse, you may discover that the horse is extremely willful. However, it is important to be patient with the horse. It is possible to train any kind of a horse, but a lot depends on the kind of relationship you share with the animal.

While training your horse, the first thing to do is to lay down the ground work. The first step you should concentrate on is lunging. This simple move can be taught to any horse, regardless of what kind of previous training the animal has had. To make your horse lunge, first draw a lunging line along which you want your horse to move. A long rope can be used for this purpose.

After you have attached the lunge line to the horse’s halters, walk your horse to the middle of an open area, and make it move around you in a circle while you still hold the lunge line. After the horse has moved a few circles, get it to move in the opposite direction. If your horse is used to being ridden, it may be a little frustrating for the animal; you may need some perseverance in such a case.

Lead the animal and allow it to follow your lead. The entire purpose of the exercise is to get the horse to follow your lead. Get the horse to listen to what you are saying. The horse should learn to understand the changes in your voice and the commands that you give to it. You can give your horse some cues which are single words. These cues can help you lead the horse when you are riding it.

Horses are smart animals and are able to both pick and follow such leads. Horses are sensitive to cues and respond very well to them. When your horse has taken your lead and responded, always follow it up with a cue so that the animal is able to understand it and obey the command even when it is given outside of a training session.

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