Gepetto Farms

The first and most basic step in horse training:
giving to pressure.
Why? This concept is at the core of all communication between horse and
rider. When riding, in order for the horse to step left, he must give to the
pressure of our right leg. When we walk forward with a lead rope, pressure
will be applied on the halter should he not follow. When a horse is tied, we
need to know that he will give to the pressure of the halter; a horse pulling,
tugging, and twisting at the end of a tied rope can result in a broken neck. The
idea also applies to your own safety, as your horse needs to respect your
space and move away from you when necessary.
How? This concept needs to be taught from the ground. The easiest place
to begin is by asking your horse to lower his head by applying a gentle,
consistant downward pull on the lead rope. As soon as your horse lowers his
head even a millimeter, release the pressure immediately and shower him
with praise! Continue this exercise until your horse wil lower his head all the
way to the ground with the slightest of pressure on the lead rope.
Next, using the same concept, teach your horse to bend his neck around until
his nose touches his shoulder. This one's harder, as they tend to turn their
whole bodies before turning just their neck. If you're having trouble, try
standing the horse right next to a fence, so that he cannot swing his hind end
away as you guide his neck toward you. You can also grab his tal and thus
prevent him moving his hind end.
When training your horse to give to pressure, he also needs to step away from
your gentle push. Start by pushing on his chest, and teach him to back in
response. Then teach him to move his front legs away from you by pushing on
his shoulder, his back legs by pushing on his hip, and his whole body by
pushing on the middle of his barrel. Your horse should perform a "leg yield"
while you walk next to him if you set your hand on his barrel as you walk.

Remember to always be patient, clear, and full of praise for even the smallest
correct response! These exercises will not only further your horse's training,
but will also strengthen your bond, with you on top in the pecking order!

Have more questions on this topic or another? Just email me and I will answer
them as soon as time allows.