Training

The Hows and Whys of a Winning Position

Many riders learn the “hows” of riding, but often miss out on the “whys.” It’s a shame, because if we could grasp the logic behind the skills, and their future application, we would be more motivated to master them. In …

5 Steps to Building a Positive Partnership

Recently, the ‘alpha theory,’ where the human is dominant (‘alpha’) and the horse is submissive, has become the accepted way to establish relationships with horses. While this type of relationship can make the horse easier to work with, it does …

The Mounting Drill with Steve Rother

If you have ever watched people attempt to mount their horses, you may be surprised by how difficult this seemingly simple task can be. Often, the rider positions the horse and then scrambles to mount before the horse moves off.…

How Can I Teach My Horse to Stand Still in the Cross-ties?

A key to understanding horse behaviour is to realize how much horses learn by associating one thing with another. This is called classical conditioning. They associate a certain environment with the place something significant happened or typically happens.

Could your …

Shaping: Learning in Baby Steps

A grey Andalusian stallion gallops at liberty across the Cavalia stage, comes to a sliding stop in front of his handler and dances with her in a breathtaking choreographed sequence. A grand prix dressage horse seems to skip effortlessly through …

How Can I Get My Horse to Stand Still for Mounting?

Horses move when being mounted either because they are unbalanced, in pain or being ridden has not been a good experience for them. As with most behavioural problems, check that all your tack fits your horse properly, that his teeth …

Tips for Bridling a Head Shy Horse

Building trust and confidence with a head shy horse takes time, patience and consistency. Treat his head and neck with great respect, never pushing, pulling or hitting him there. When you are grooming him or just hanging out, take the …

How Can I Cure “Girthiness?”

To prevent (and hopefully cure) girthiness/cinchiness, be polite as you get it tight. You may just eliminate one reason not to stand in the cross-ties!

If you’ve ever been surprised by the point of a dental instrument, you know it …

The Lightness of Being

In previous articles, we have discussed many ways in which you can influence your horse’s mind. This time, we will talk about the physical aspects of manoeuvring your horse’s body in order to achieve an even greater level of balance, …

Preventing Spooks with Steve Rother

A horse’s focus can shift in a heartbeat – transforming him from a willing, on-task partner to one who is concerned only with self-preservation. At times, his flight instinct can override his training. The moment your horse becomes scared or …

How to Neck Rein with Finesse

Initially trained to speak “direct rein”, as the horse advances in education you’ll begin to communicate with a curb bit and introduce pressure on the neck.

Artificial Aids: Supports or Shortcuts?

The use of training aids – such as spurs, whips, draw reins and martingales – is a polarizing subject among decision makers of major equine associations and riders alike. Some say they are useful tools in the hands of an …