The Training Philosophy/Approach

Step 1:  Asserting Dominance

Goal(s): Remove Herd Behavior or Alpha Female behavior in horse.  Assert Dominance over horse to show that in the round pen the trainer/handler is the dominant and the horse is the submissive. The Handler will want to achieve Latch on/Join up and follow up.  The Handler will also want to attain follow up in all directions.

Approach: Create Movement either with or without a longe line. This creates a press or an “Advance.” A release or “retreat” is then used once the horse becomes stressed.  The trainer then gives praise and comfort to relieve stress.  The horse will then soon “join up” and then “follow up.” The degree to which the horse allows itself to become submissive can be seen in licking and chewing, dropping of head and length of time to which the horse will follow and in what directions.  Movement should fall in line with voice cues to stop, slow or increase gait and to continue or move in any direction. “Spot” training and exercises (as often used with a yearling) can assist in relaxing of the horses pole, shoulders and hips.

Step 2:  Desensitization

Goal(s): Once the horse is trusting of the trainer, the horse now needs to be trusting that any object the trainer holds, uses or places on or around the horse will be seen as not being a threat.  Objects include all tack, various obstacles that could be found along a riding path, obstacles to step over or to walk across and obstacles such as tarps or bags that could spook the horse. The horse should be able to accept all obstacles with confidence in trainer and without significant movement (movement of hips away from handler, movement backwards away from handler, etc.).

Approach (also see “4-Step Desensitization Technique”): Start with simple touching all over body on both sides.  Pick up feet, rub horse with hand.  Move to gloved hand and then to various tack and tools including brushes, lariat, longe whip, long rope, lead rope, etc. Next, move towards cinch, saddle blanket, saddle and halter/bridle.  Once horse is accepting of saddle and all tack, aspects of step one should be revisited to make sure that movement can be achieved in all directions with horse fully saddled. This exercise of movement, join and follow up should be performed in round pen before any riding to always show dominance and to show horse where he/she can find comfort (in trainer’s care).  Once horse achieves desensitization to tack, etc. Use bags at the end of a carrot stick and tarps to allow horse to gain comfort when pushed to the limit.  Horse should allow and be fine with being touched with bag all over body and should be able to walk across a tarp. In all of the desensitization aspects, constant press and release is used. When any object is brought towards the horse, the horse is allowed to smell it, to lick, etc. If horse shows any fear at any object the object is removed and praise is given to show that when spooked or stressed by an object, the trainer will remove the object and the horse will be fine.  This will not only allow desensitization but will also strengthen the bond of the horse to trainer as the trainer starts to become a greater “comfort blanket” which will lead to trust under saddle.  Once the object/stressor is removed, it is brought back and the “advance/press” and “retreat/release” is continued with the object until the object no longer is a threat or stressor to the horse.  Finally, various objects of any kind can be brought into the round pen. The objects should be obstacles to go around, over or under to gain trust around foreign objects.  Again, press and release is used here.

It is of paramount importance to not rush the desensitization of the horse. It is within this step that trust of the horse to trainer/handler is gained. Rushing through or skipping any of the steps in the desensitization process will most certainly lead to elongated time in saddling and any future work.

Step 3:  Saddling and Mounting

Goal(s): Saddling Horse, Putting pressure in both stirrups, and eventually, mounting horse and being able to sit on horse without horse rearing, bucking or spooking.

Approach: The horse is now trusting of the trainer in ground work and in general. Most horses, as a prey animal, are most feared by anything climbing on their back.  This is their greatest instinctual fear.  Once saddled and moved in round pen and brought into a calm state with initial advance and retreat work, the horse, on a lead line, is asked to allow the trainer to touch over and under the saddle with hand.  Pressure is then given in both stirrups with hand pushing down and then, when possible, with putting a foot in the stirrup for a few seconds and then allowing a release. It is important to not rush this step of putting pressure in the stirrups as this will create a great deal of stress.  Simply give a few seconds with foot or with hand pressure then praise and repeat until the amount of time that foot pressure can be placed in the stirrup increases dramatically. This should always be done on both sides switching off from one side to the other so the horse feels comfortable with pressure from either side/either stirrup.  Once horse is accepting to pressure in stirrups with foot and full weight, trainer will start to work on creating pressure not only in stirrup but also, at the same time, on the saddle itself by leaning over the saddle with the chest/stomach applying the pressure.  Again, at this moment, both extreme caution and extreme patience must be used with a great amount of verbal and physical praise.  It is good to have an assistant holding horse on a lead line to avoid injury to rider/trainer  Horse needs to trust trainer applying pressure and weight to back.  Once horse shows willingness to patiently wait and stand in a “box stance” with pressure applied to both stirrups and also to back, trainer can now mount. Mounting should be done starting from the horse’s left side. Simply mount horse and then immediately get off. Again, press and release and then praise.  The horse needs to know that even though you are on his/her back, you are not creating pain nor are you a predator.  Verbal praise during and after along with physical praise should be used.  Horse should be “indian-mounted” (mounted from the horse’s right side) as well as the left to make sure that both sides are learned as a comfort. Gradually increase the amount of time that the horse is under saddle without dismounting to allow the horse to gradually learn that the trainer on the back is not a stressor.

Step 4:  Movement Under Saddle

Goal(s): Once under saddle, creating movement, controlling turns with yields and horse following yields and being able to increase, decrease and hold all gaits under physical and voice commands.

Approach: Once horse is under saddle, the same movement techniques with the same advance and retreat from step one is used with the obvious difference that trainer is now in the saddle as opposed to moving horse from center of round pen. Always start at a walk and achieve 1) following of all yields, 2) direct and indirect reigning, 3) following of voice commands and 4) movement in all directions, stop and start.  Once walk is attained, move to trot then lope.  Once all three gaits are maintained, work on increase and decrease in gait with voice commands and half-halts if necessary. Horse should only increase or decrease gait or stop or turn at trainer’s/rider’s commands/yields.  This work at a walk should be handled in the round pen.  Trot and lope should be worked on in an arena and finally in an open field.

Final note: Always perform a few minutes of advance/press and retreat/release with verbal and physical praise before riding.  This will allow join up and follow up and will allow the horse to feel comfortable around the trainer/rider while also giving both a good warm up before each ride.  Horses will not become “bored” with any continued round pen work as the work in the round pen gives them a feeling of comfort and allows them to receive praise. For the trainer, the horse is reminded before every ride that the trainer/rider is the dominant being and should and can be followed. The horse learns that the trainer/rider is not only dominant but will also not place the horse in a situation of distress or harm. This will limit spooking and will allow for rewarding rides each and every time.

All Training is Performed at Academy Stables in Erie, Colorado.
Please visit www.Academystables.com for more Information