Hi! I have been a horse owner for about 52 years, and the advice that I still follow after all these years is that when you're headed home from a trail ride, dismount, loosen up that cinch, and lead your horse home the last mile or so. It means a lot to your horse. It allows for time to cool off, time to mentally relax, and time for some bonding. I may not walk a whole mile these days, but I still lead her home..a very good thing to do, indeed! I am now in my mid 60s and have never had much of a problem with barn-sourness doing it this way.
That's a good one! I've heard this one from another RUclipsr (Rick Gore. Full disclosure: if you don't know him, you're either going to like him, or hate him...just the kind of guy he is, but he knows horses, and is a great advocate for the horse).
That’s a good one. It’s something I do at the end of the trail ride before getting to the trailer. It helps the horse not develop the attitude of wanting to rush to the trailer. If they ever act like they want to rush to the trailer then I will let them, then work them hard at the trailer, ride away and when they are calm then get off, loosen the girth etc. They are never allowed to be in a hurry for the end of the ride, whether on a trail ride, arena or at home.
I never ride my horse back to the barn. On a 'good note' I get off right where I am, loosen the cinch and lead her back to the barn. I never feed treats at the barn, unconsciously giving the horse another reason to be 'barn sour.' After untacking, I release her and let her follow me, or not follow me, back out to the paddock to get her treat there. Ground driving is so important because she can learn so much without the interference of my, sometimes, badly balanced riding, and without putting myself in harm's way. I try to let her determine the length of the lesson. If she's engaged and trying to listen, we may just do thirty minutes. If she's not cooperating, it may take longer. But when I get the cooperation I'm looking for, we call it a day. Thanks, so much, for your awesome videos! I'm learning lots!
My favorite reminder: Ride the horse you HAVE........ not the horse you WANT. Helped me immensely to analyze the situation and break it down for my horse. Thanks for your videos-very helpful!
The rule I use every time I work with a horse is deal with the horse I have at the moment. Not what he/she was before. Just what he/she is at the moment. And also leave on a good note
I lease a horse from a riding instructor whom left to find herself. So I’m kinda the caregiver so to speak. I pay the majority of the boarding fee and have full lease rights. He’s an 12 year old ex reining competitor with skills I couldn’t touch. I don’t touch those buttons because I’m still learning to ride. This horse is a better instructor than a lot I’ve had. If I open my mind and listen, every time I ride him, I learn something. One thing that’s interesting is I’ll give him a cue and I might inadvertently give him another, that he knows as a sequence of cues to start an reining move. He will start a weight shift or rate and then pause waiting for me to catch up. I just tell him, not yet buddy, maybe in a year or two. But I’ve seen him figuring me out all along, learning what I’m wanting, and giving it to me. Sometimes I’m sitting outside drinking a cold beer, remembering the day, and I’ll say, damn, he was watching my back when we did this or that. Man that horse is smarter than me!!!
My number 1 rule is Patience. I don't ever want to be mad on the back of a horse. Horses are blessings and those really difficult ones can teach you more about yourself and them than a real calm one can. Thank you for your videos Tim - I enjoy them!
I won't say that this is my #1 rule, but just something I try to keep in mind. A visitor that used to have horses some years before said something in one sentence, just off the cuff, that clicked with me. He put together 2 things that I "knew" but putting them together made a difference. And that sentence was, "A horse has a long memory but a short attention span." I try to remember that every time I'm doing anything with or around one of my horses. Just a thought.
Tim: Interesting that you came to horses later than many. May help explain the obvious empathy you have for those you teach. Good thoughts and good video as always.
Thank you! I’m 58 and living my childhood dream. I’m probably and advanced beginner. Had some lessons, know ALOT about caring for my horse but I have ever come my fear of getting hurt and confidence as my horses leader. Your videos have been a lifesaver for me. I have a palomino quarter horse 17 years old, broke under saddle but I’ve had to work very hard on her ground manners, as she may have had some abuse or neglect, and needed a strong leader My biggest challenge is she is very anxious as we ride around the farm. She seems to react to every noise which makes it difficult to trail ride her as I’m not sure how she’ll respond. So like you said, I’m doing the boring things to try and make that happen. Thanks again.
Great advice. I admire your willingness to help every horse. I have worked with horses and dogs my entire life. I am still learning. I have one rule . It has made my life better. I am number one. Working with that horse or dog, has to make me happy. They don't have to be the best. They just have to make me happy. Life is good!
I've never had the chance to train a horse. I did get an English Shepherd pup when i was 14. I read everything i could. It was going really well. He was a great dog, anxious to learn, wanted to work. My dad said, remember, if you are training a dog, you've got to know more than the dog. I couldn't always tell if he was serious or joking. So that phrase just stayed on scales of truth, tilting back and forth. I knew the goals I had with that dog, and we met them. He had instant recall, heeled perfectly off lead. He was my guardian angel, and i surely needed him. You are right, be safe keep learning
Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. That's my main "rule" I guess. I also like, make you be the comfort zone. Have a good relationship with your horse. I can teach a horse as long as he is happy to look to me as his comfort zone. If a horse doesn't like people, is resentful of them, hates being with them... then nothing works well and you can never fully enjoy your time
Ok. This is a little different. I live in SD, where winters can be brutal. So the horses get some time off. I spend time reading, watching videos and I make a plan in writing about what we are going to work on as soon as the winter weatter breaks.
Good morning James Floyd was a smart man. You need a foundation to start. If you can't learn to read the horses and balance your goals, you come in frustrated or deflated and they pick up on the confusion. Always center myself with feedings and chores connecting with the horses before starting. They can have bad days too. Adjust your goals and grab some success and stop on that. Woke to a blanket of snow and sleet here. Have a great weekend.
I definitely work on myself to learn how to ask for whatever it is I’m trying to teach my horse. I often feel like it’s the blind leading the blind. However I am getting better at feeling progress even if it isn’t exactly right. One thing I do is start out doing maneuvers I know he can do and I feel any resistance we don’t progress to the hard thing until he is softened up and agreeable. Then we will work on the maneuver (currently this is turn around) then after a few good ones we will go play on the obstacles or go for a trail ride around. So basically I start out with the warm up, then the training goal, then the cool off (fun relax). That is my general plan, of course we all know things don’t always go to plan. Thanks for the video.
Howdy..my three rules at the moment are observe, listen and learn. Your three rules are a few grades up from mine but in time I will adopt your rules. Thankyou for sharing your knowledge with us.
Hi! I have been a horse owner for about 52 years, and the advice that I still follow after all these years is that when you're headed home from a trail ride, dismount, loosen up that cinch, and lead your horse home the last mile or so. It means a lot to your horse. It allows for time to cool off, time to mentally relax, and time for some bonding. I may not walk a whole mile these days, but I still lead her home..a very good thing to do, indeed! I am now in my mid 60s and have never had much of a problem with barn-sourness doing it this way.
Hi Barbara. That is excellent advice. Thank you.
That's a good one!
I've heard this one from another RUclipsr (Rick Gore. Full disclosure: if you don't know him, you're either going to like him, or hate him...just the kind of guy he is, but he knows horses, and is a great advocate for the horse).
That’s a good one. It’s something I do at the end of the trail ride before getting to the trailer. It helps the horse not develop the attitude of wanting to rush to the trailer. If they ever act like they want to rush to the trailer then I will let them, then work them hard at the trailer, ride away and when they are calm then get off, loosen the girth etc. They are never allowed to be in a hurry for the end of the ride, whether on a trail ride, arena or at home.
I never ride my horse back to the barn. On a 'good note' I get off right where I am, loosen the cinch and lead her back to the barn.
I never feed treats at the barn, unconsciously giving the horse another reason to be 'barn sour.' After untacking, I release her and let her follow me, or not follow me, back out to the paddock to get her treat there.
Ground driving is so important because she can learn so much without the interference of my, sometimes, badly balanced riding, and without putting myself in harm's way.
I try to let her determine the length of the lesson. If she's engaged and trying to listen, we may just do thirty minutes. If she's not cooperating, it may take longer. But when I get the cooperation I'm looking for, we call it a day.
Thanks, so much, for your awesome videos! I'm learning lots!
Such a cozy, safe, lovely barn! Blessed horses live there!
A 10 minute session that ends well is better than an hour session that doesn’t.
Absolutely
My favorite reminder: Ride the horse you HAVE........ not the horse you WANT. Helped me immensely to analyze the situation and break it down for my horse. Thanks for your videos-very helpful!
The rule I use every time I work with a horse is deal with the horse I have at the moment. Not what he/she was before. Just what he/she is at the moment. And also leave on a good note
My favorite sauing to learn from:
"Do less first"
"Fix it up and wait"
"Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard"
I lease a horse from a riding instructor whom left to find herself. So I’m kinda the caregiver so to speak. I pay the majority of the boarding fee and have full lease rights. He’s an 12 year old ex reining competitor with skills I couldn’t touch. I don’t touch those buttons because I’m still learning to ride. This horse is a better instructor than a lot I’ve had. If I open my mind and listen, every time I ride him, I learn something. One thing that’s interesting is I’ll give him a cue and I might inadvertently give him another, that he knows as a sequence of cues to start an reining move. He will start a weight shift or rate and then pause waiting for me to catch up. I just tell him, not yet buddy, maybe in a year or two. But I’ve seen him figuring me out all along, learning what I’m wanting, and giving it to me. Sometimes I’m sitting outside drinking a cold beer, remembering the day, and I’ll say, damn, he was watching my back when we did this or that. Man that horse is smarter than me!!!
Sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime!
My number 1 rule is Patience. I don't ever want to be mad on the back of a horse. Horses are blessings and those really difficult ones can teach you more about yourself and them than a real calm one can. Thank you for your videos Tim - I enjoy them!
My favorite is "reward the slightest try"
Excellent!
I won't say that this is my #1 rule, but just something I try to keep in mind. A visitor that used to have horses some years before said something in one sentence, just off the cuff, that clicked with me. He put together 2 things that I "knew" but putting them together made a difference. And that sentence was, "A horse has a long memory but a short attention span." I try to remember that every time I'm doing anything with or around one of my horses. Just a thought.
Tim:
Interesting that you came to horses later than many. May help explain the obvious empathy you have for those you teach. Good thoughts and good video as always.
Thank you.
End on a good note. Be present all the time.
Thank you! I’m 58 and living my childhood dream. I’m probably and advanced beginner. Had some lessons, know ALOT about caring for my horse but I have ever come my fear of getting hurt and confidence as my horses leader. Your videos have been a lifesaver for me. I have a palomino quarter horse 17 years old, broke under saddle but I’ve had to work very hard on her ground manners, as she may have had some abuse or neglect, and needed a strong leader My biggest challenge is she is very anxious as we ride around the farm. She seems to react to every noise which makes it difficult to trail ride her as I’m not sure how she’ll respond. So like you said, I’m doing the boring things to try and make that happen. Thanks again.
Great advice. I admire your willingness to help every horse. I have worked with horses and dogs my entire life. I am still learning. I have one rule . It has made my life better. I am number one. Working with that horse or dog, has to make me happy. They don't have to be the best. They just have to make me happy. Life is good!
That is great advice!
I've never had the chance to train a horse. I did get an English Shepherd pup when i was 14. I read everything i could. It was going really well. He was a great dog, anxious to learn, wanted to work. My dad said, remember, if you are training a dog, you've got to know more than the dog. I couldn't always tell if he was serious or joking. So that phrase just stayed on scales of truth, tilting back and forth. I knew the goals I had with that dog, and we met them. He had instant recall, heeled perfectly off lead. He was my guardian angel, and i surely needed him.
You are right, be safe keep learning
I learned years ago that you are always getting a horse ready for their next home.
Very helpful suggestions. Thank you.
Ride the horse you have today, not the horse you had yesterday.
Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. That's my main "rule" I guess. I also like, make you be the comfort zone. Have a good relationship with your horse. I can teach a horse as long as he is happy to look to me as his comfort zone. If a horse doesn't like people, is resentful of them, hates being with them... then nothing works well and you can never fully enjoy your time
Yes all great rules to ride by.
Ok. This is a little different. I live in SD, where winters can be brutal. So the horses get some time off. I spend time reading, watching videos and I make a plan in writing about what we are going to work on as soon as the winter weatter breaks.
Good morning
James Floyd was a smart man. You need a foundation to start.
If you can't learn to read the horses and balance your goals, you come in frustrated or deflated and they pick up on the confusion.
Always center myself with feedings and chores connecting with the horses before starting. They can have bad days too. Adjust your goals and grab some success and stop on that.
Woke to a blanket of snow and sleet here.
Have a great weekend.
Great advice. I recorded that a couple days ago, today is cooler. Today I have on a long sleeve shirt. Lol.
That IS great advise! Thank you
Move his feet. Ride the horse you have today. Dont forget One ruin stops.
Sure enjoy your videos!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!
Seek for 1% improvement, everyday.
#1. Never blame the horse.
#2 Never ride while angry or upset. It will translate to them. (Ask my mare)😎
I definitely work on myself to learn how to ask for whatever it is I’m trying to teach my horse. I often feel like it’s the blind leading the blind. However I am getting better at feeling progress even if it isn’t exactly right. One thing I do is start out doing maneuvers I know he can do and I feel any resistance we don’t progress to the hard thing until he is softened up and agreeable. Then we will work on the maneuver (currently this is turn around) then after a few good ones we will go play on the obstacles or go for a trail ride around. So basically I start out with the warm up, then the training goal, then the cool off (fun relax). That is my general plan, of course we all know things don’t always go to plan. Thanks for the video.
That is a good plan. Many people do not put enough thought into the warm up or cool down.
You’re in good company
Howdy..my three rules at the moment are observe, listen and learn. Your three rules are a few grades up from mine but in time I will adopt your rules. Thankyou for sharing your knowledge with us.
Those are good rules too.