Here's Your Balking Quick Fix

Welcome to your next issue of "Horse Class," your how-to source for equine tips, tricks and solid foundational training brought to you by horsemanship101.com and John Lyons Certified Trainer Keith Hosman. Last time we dealt with horses that freeze up while you're riding. In this issue we deal with horses that freeze up while being led. So, if your horse drags on the lead rope or won't walk through a gate without a fight... Keep reading! You'll find "Leading Your Stubborn Horse" sampled below. To read in its entirety or to print it out, follow the links provided. If they don't work or you're not getting the emails properly, see the bottom of this page. - - - Previous horse-training articles can be found 24/7 at Horsemanship101.com/Articles. Each can be printed out and saved for easy access later. - - - Get themed article emails each day for at least a week! (Examples: Steering, Stopping, Attitude & Attention). Sign up now (Total cost $0).

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Leading Stubborn Horses

How many times have you begun to lead your horse through a gate, only to have him freeze up a few steps before it? Or maybe he stalls out while you're leading him, plants his front feet and refuses to take one more step? Does he do these things? Uh-oh. In the words of John Lyons, "You ride the horse you lead," so stubbornness and attitude in situations like this suggests that you have bigger problems than you might think. Let's fix these things - but let's also begin seeing them for what they are: Warning signs. If your horse doesn't walk with you smoothly and willingly, if he drags on that lead rope or otherwise thumbs his nose at you, you need to deal with it right then and there. (This goes for young and old, green or experienced.) If you're leading your horse out to the arena, trail or what-have-you to ride - and your horse balks - and you ignore it - then not only have you missed an opportunity to improve your relationship with your horse, you've ignored potential danger. Your horse has just told you "I'll go along with you only so far." Worse, he's told you he's ready to rebel to get his way. It doesn't take a genius to see that such rebellions (whether in the horse's mind or acted out in the real world) can lead to some major doctor bills. Now, don't get me wrong, balking is part of horse ownership for a variety of reasons and is to be expected. A few examples: Leaving a horse out in the pasture for any length of time is going to dull his manners. Young horses are going to test you repeatedly in new and unfamiliar situations (a new trail course, his first show, etc.). Experienced lesson horses are going to test inexperienced novice riders and so on. Even the well-trained show horse of the most accomplished equestrian is going to test the boundaries occasionally. It's natural in the same way... keep reading this article

Can't Even Get the Halter On?

Here's an excerpt from an earlier article called "Haltering Horses." It dovetails nicely with this month's featured article ("Leading a Stubborn Horse," above): "Halter breaking a horse begins like this: If your horse is in a stall and he turns away from you, then you'll want to annoy him until "something" (an ear, a head, a body) turns toward you, however briefly. Be super careful and stand well away from those kicking feet. A full "horse length" is a good rule of thumb. Standing back, you'll rap the wall, clap your hands and basically make a racket till the horse turns and looks at you. Stop and pause, telling the horse that this is what you were looking for, then continue to build on that. Noise. Turn. Pause. If he laughs off your attempts..." Read the entire article by following the link or by visiting Horsemanship101.com/Articles. - - - More recommended material (for ground control): - "Cinchy Horses" - "The First Thing I Do" - "I'm Scared of My Horse" All articles are online and available 24/7.