| Picture this. You're late for work one day. You look at | | | | getting him to come to you. |
| your watch and notice you have about three minutes | | | | Here's a good one many people don't know. When |
| to feed your horse before you have to leave. Plus, it | | | | you go to feed your horses whistle loudly if you can. If |
| seems to worsen every day. You notice your life | | | | you whistle a certain way and if you're consistent in |
| getting busier and you have little time, if any, to spend | | | | the way you do it...then you can usually call horses in |
| with your horse. | | | | from an open field and they'll come a runnin'. |
| Should you sell him? Should you keep him? What do | | | | Want another tip? Try this. |
| you do. | | | | Before you feed your horse, approach him and pet on |
| It depends. If you only want a pet that eats a lot of | | | | his withers. Assuming you are standing on his left side |
| hay, then you can keep him if it is affordable. If you | | | | poke your finger into his flank (around the rib/hip area). |
| want to ride him but you know you won't have time | | | | Hold it there. If he doesn't move, increase the pressure |
| then consider selling him. (Ouch!) | | | | and hold it. If he doesn't move, increase the pressure |
| However, if you know you will eventually have time to | | | | even more and hold it. Repeat this process until he |
| ride then you can keep your horse "tuned up" by doing | | | | moves away from the pressure. |
| some "quick and easy to do" horse training maneuvers | | | | When he moves reward him with a petting on the |
| on him. | | | | forehead. Do it a couple more times then repeat on his |
| For instance, you have about two minutes to feed | | | | right side. |
| your horse before you go to work. So you rush | | | | Doing this teaches the horse a couple things. First, it |
| outside and get some hay for him. Just before you | | | | teaches him to move away from pressure. Since |
| feed him you get beside him and practice his backing | | | | pressure is a tool we use to communicate with the |
| up. | | | | horse, we want him to know how to move away |
| Backing him up is a great way to keep him "tuned up". | | | | from it. |
| Why? You get your horse to move. When you get | | | | Secondly, you are doing ground work of teaching your |
| your horse to move you earn more and more of his | | | | horse to move his hindquarters away from you. Thus, |
| respect. Getting a horse to move is using the horse's | | | | when you sit on the saddle and apply pressure with |
| psychology to get it in his brain that you are the boss. | | | | your boot in that same area, you have primed him to |
| The chief. The head-honcho. | | | | move away from that pressure - he moves his rear |
| There are more exercises to do than just backing. | | | | end away from your foot. |
| Say you have a horse that won't come to you. The | | | | This is a tremendous tool to not only disengage a |
| reason he won't is likely because of fear or doesn't | | | | horse's hindquarters, it is also part of how to teach a |
| trust you. | | | | horse to sidepass. |
| But for the next few weeks go feed your horses with | | | | There are more "quick to do" horse training tips you |
| a halter and brush in hand. Horses love to be brushed. | | | | can do. These are but a few examples of what you |
| Once you get it in his head that seeing the halter | | | | can accomplish even if you have just minutes a day. |
| means pleasure you will almost never have trouble | | | | |