From John Lyons Trainer Keith Hosman

Round Pen First Steps
A Downloadable Book

A sample from Day 4:

"From here, you'll capitalize on small improvements, continually approaching, petting for ever-extending periods of time, turning and retreating. Ask the horse to place two eyes on you, approach, pet for a moment longer than the time before, turn on your heels and walk away, totally relieving any pressure. Read the horse here: If you feel he'll yank his head away at three seconds, stop petting at two, turn, walk away. If he begins to move away (his feet), ask for a turn back towards you, get both eyes, and try again. Continue in this manner, slowly moving from the horse's nose to the top of his head, to his neck and so on. Make sure, especially with a green horse, that you keep well clear of those back, kicking legs, (stand just in front, and slightly to the side, of the horse's shoulder)."

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- 5 Days, 5 chapters
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Available Downloads:
"Stop Bucking"
"Rein/Speed" (for Nervous Horse Owners)
"Round Pen First Steps"
"Trailer Training"

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"Cinchy Horses," from my FREE monthly newsletter

From the Saddle Breaking a Horse Series:

"It certainly doesn't take them long to learn that a saddle on their backs means they're getting put to work pretty quick - so it's no wonder that so many bad habits develop along this point. They weren't born yesterday: You approaching with a smile on your face, a saddle in one hand and "Riding for Dummies" in the other can only mean one thing: Work. It's no wonder they begin channeling the advice they've heard from their buddies: "Dance around," "Act like you're gonna bite," "Don't let him put the bit in your mouth. You get a bit in your mouth and you're done for." And, they're always trying something new, aren't they? I'd finally worked one of my mares through - what I thought was every bad habit at saddling time - only to have her lay down on me. (I cured this by being the ready the next time: The moment her legs began to buckle I screamed like a stuck pig and got her moving... anywhere. Trust me, she didn't go back and tell the others to try laying down.)

You can only deal with these crazy things they try in one way - and that's by keeping your sense of humor. They're going to keep coming like the tides - and the moment you lose your temper, they've got ya. Know why? Because your horse is dancing around, saying to himself "This is the part where he gets nuts everyday and smacks me." You lose your temper, smack the horse and prove him right. Every day. You do get the saddle on, the bit in his mouth - but each time it gets more difficult. Like the boy with his finger in the dike, new holes keep popping up."

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