When a horse understands what youre asking from them, theyre confident to work for you..

When training a horse you exercise their mind, when conditioning a horse you exercise their body.You don't exercise their body until you've trained their mind.

Each horse learns at their own pace and time...if you push them past their thinking point they don't have the chance to learn, that's when you get a horse that explodes (rear, buck, bolt, etc) Some though, need to be pushed and are bored so they will entertain themselves by doing funny things (playful buck or nip, etc). Find that happy medium and you're good to go!

A horse either reacts out of fear or attitude, but either way they will react if they aren't taught to respond. And whether they react out of fear or attitude will determine how you deal with it and help them overcome it.

The key to trust is respect, and to get respect you need to create trust.

A good trainer can get the job done but a great trainer will make a lasting impression.

Everytime I hear someone say, "that horse is so stupid" I figure the horse has simply outsmarted them ;)

It's not about the strength you have but how you use the strength you do have.

Training is about teaching a horse to grow into their own independence to create a confident horse that desires to hit the trails, not turn around a run home like a coward...that is not confidence.

As soon as you buy a horse you might as well think of it as yourself buying a training license...you're officially a trainer from that day on.

I want two eyes, two ears, and four feet ready to move when I say move so when we're stuck in a situation my horse doesn't just panic, he thinks. Yes, it could be your life on the line or you break a bone. And if that should be the case you'll think "if only I took 5 minutes to have taught my horse that then I wouldn't being lying in bed 5 days". Safety is of utmost importance...they have a mind and a react or respond kind of system. If you don't train more respond and less react their herd instincts will take over telling them to react rather than respond.


Below are a few stories of horses I've worked with and the outcomes:
This Paint dragged her owner, stepped on her and reared up at me...all in the time of leading her to her corral. After 5-10 minutes this gal was as sweet as pie. Real sweet mare with a kind eye :)
This mare was known for bucking and "didn't have a chance"...she now is a first time owner's horse :)
This paint gelding "wasn't going to make anything more than a 3D barrel horse". I'm proud to say he made a nice 2D horse and was sold to Alberta were a young gal is going to learn to run barrels on him! And he absolutely loves being a trail horse!!
This beautiful pony I bought very green broke...she now is running against tough competition with an 8 year old jockey, they're placing 1D barrels and poles!



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