Many people have an unjustified prejudice against the use of sticks and spurs in horse training. They think that sticks and spurs are cruel and are used to punish a horse and ‘show him who’s boss’, and therefore should never be used on any horse. Some people believe that horses are naturally afraid of sticks … Read more
Asking how long it takes to saddle and ride a young horse for the first time, is like asking how long is a piece of string. I started training horses for a living more than forty years ago. Horses of all shapes, sizes and varieties were sent to me to be started under saddle. Many … Read more
Horses have been part of my life since the day I was born. My father and grandfather worked with cattle and horses all their lives and I, in turn, grew up working with cattle and horses. In my late teens, I started competing in campdrafts. In 1976, when I was twenty, I began training horses … Read more
Here are some old wives’ tales from the horse world. I’ve heard them over and over, all my life. 1. One white foot, buy him. Two white feet, try him. Three white feet, be on the sly. Four white feet, pass him by. The best horse I’ve ever ridden had four white feet. 2. Chestnut … Read more
Whenever you work with an unhandled horse or foal, the first thing you must do is get a rope around his neck. Without a rope, the horse can run away at any time. And the more frightened the horse is, the more he’ll run. Some horses will run to the point of exhaustion rather than … Read more
People write to me all the time asking for help with their horses. “My horse is barn sour.” “My horse is herd bound.” “My horse has separation anxiety.” “My horse shies.” “My horse rears.” “My horse kicks.” “My horse bucks.” “How can I fix him?” No matter the problem, my answer is always the same. … Read more
The problem everyone has with their horse is being able to walk, trot and canter when they want, where they want, at the exact speed they want and to have their horse relaxed and confident at all times. That’s it – pure, simple and uncomplicated. Problems are never about establishing your place in some horse … Read more
No matter what your horse does or doesn’t do, it’s cruel and pointless to punish him. When a horse shies or doesn’t stop or doesn’t change leads or doesn’t do whatever else the rider thinks he should do, running the horse down a fence, forcing him to run backwards, hitting him after the event or … Read more
You must have control whenever you ride or handle your horse. Control doesn’t mean being heavy-handed and it doesn’t mean that you have to dominate your horse or show him who’s boss. Control simply means that your horse tries his hardest to work out what you want him to do and he tries his hardest … Read more
Here’s a question from a reader: I am needing some help with separation anxiety in my horses. I have a five-year-old mare who I bred, and she has lived her whole life with two geldings, very happily. She’s always been independent and confident when I have taken her away from them to handle and (over … Read more