| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | You're standing beside your horse at approximately |
| There's an old horse training saying. It says "your horse | | | | the neck area. You're on his left hand side. |
| should have the feel." | | | | You hold the lead rope in your right hand and point |
| Basically, that means if you're leading your horse with | | | | forward. (That's an alert to the horse that something's |
| the lead rope, does he follow you with virtually no | | | | about to happen). |
| tugging on that lead rope? | | | | Then with your left hand you twirl the end of the lead |
| As part of the breaking process a horse is taught to | | | | rope and lightly tap him with it. |
| lead. That's a natural part of how to train a horse | | | | More 'n likely, that'll get his atten- tion and cause him to |
| when you're a horse trainer.when he does, the goal is | | | | move. |
| to have him step in sync (and stop) with you. | | | | So you'll point, take a step, and tap him with the rope. |
| When you step, the lead rope has almost no "pull" on it. | | | | Walk a little ways. Stop. |
| That's the goal (in leading, anyway). | | | | Wait a few moments and let him soak it in. |
| When your horse "feels" that pressure from the lead | | | | Do it again. |
| rope, he should move. Thus, he has the feel. | | | | You'll find as you repeat this you soon won't have to |
| If you've ever seen someone leading their horse and | | | | tap him with the rope. He'll see you point and he'll know |
| they're tugging and pulling, the horse obviously doesn't | | | | to step. |
| have the feel. | | | | And not too long after that, you won't have to point |
| Little does that person know he's teaching his horse to | | | | and step because he'll know your body language and |
| not lead with him. | | | | what he needs to do. |
| So how do you get a good lead with the horse? | | | | Ultimately, he'll have the "feel." |
| There are lots of ways. | | | | Before you do this with your horse, it is assumed you |
| I'll try to describe one of my favorite horse training | | | | know him well enough that you're confident you can |
| videos that shows Paul Esh doing this. | | | | lead him close to you and he won't jump on you. |
| When filming Paul Esh for we caught him doing it like | | | | If you're not at that stage yet, better teach him to |
| this: | | | | respect your space first. |