| A buddy sour horse during a trail ride can be | | | | will trot all the way around until they reach the back of |
| aggravating, as well as potentially dangerous. If the | | | | the line. At this time, and no sooner, the next horse -- |
| lead horses takes off, your horse could follow, taking | | | | or the new lead horse -- will begin their trot. After |
| you somewhere you and your horse can't handle, or | | | | everyone is successfully controlling their horse, you can |
| maybe at a speed you are not comfortable with. | | | | move to phase two. Phase two, if you haven't |
| Many horses find it difficult to resist the temptation to | | | | guessed, is exactly the same, except all the horses will |
| take off with the others. It is a natural instinct for them | | | | procede in a trot and the lead horse will LOPE to the |
| to follow the herd. This is how horses in the wild | | | | back of the line. That's it. |
| avoided danger. If one horse goes to break away the | | | | Right now The Game may seem too simple to be of |
| others say, "Something must be up; I will go along and | | | | any use. As easy as it sounds, you would be surprised |
| ask questions later." Although you can hardly blame | | | | how many horses have a hard time with this. |
| them for their behavior, you don't have to just live with | | | | Especially if you get several anxious horses all |
| it, either. I'm going to tell you about a fun little game I | | | | together, their nervous energy is very contagious. If |
| play at all my horse-and-rider clinics which can help | | | | these are 4H or show horses, this is an valuable tool |
| with this problem. | | | | to get your horse used to riding in close quarters with |
| "The game," as I call it, is especially great for kids. I | | | | several other horses. For the horse that may get |
| always use it for the 4H clinics I conduct. It is really | | | | startled by something coming up behind them, this is |
| simple, yet before they realize it, the kids have spent a | | | | great practice for them, too. |
| lot of time in the saddle. Obviously, the more time | | | | So the next time your 4H group gets together or just |
| spent in the saddle, the better rider they will become. | | | | you and some friends, give The Game a try. You |
| You'll need a fairly large arena to play. The actual | | | | could end up having many hours of fun in the saddle, |
| arena they will later be showing in will be perfect. All | | | | while teaching your horse the self-control needed to |
| the riders get in a single-file line around the arena. | | | | make your next show or even trail ride more |
| Everyone goes around the arena at a nice controlled | | | | enjoyable. |
| walk. On my cue, the lead horse will begin to trot. They | | | | |