The 10 Step Groundwork Checklist
Whenever I do an evaluation on a horse, it always starts with groundwork. And usually if there are issues, these 10 items will flush them out really fast. 99% of the horses I deal with cannot do all 10 of these. Many of them can’t even do 2 or 3 of them. I believe it…
Crosby The Rescued Kill Pen Horse
[Scroll Down For Video] Last year at Black Friday Horse camp a participant brought her horse named Crosby. She told me that she had rescued him from a kill pen, and he needed help getting past the trauma that happened to him while he was there. I was happy to oblige. Crosby was very bothered…
How To Deal With A Rearing Horse
If you have a horse that rears, or want to prevent your horse from turning into a horse that rears, there are a few simple exercises you can do. I do this on every horse I ride. The first thing to check is what you have on his head and in this mouth. If your…
Respond vs React – The Key to Desensitizing Your Horse
Just because a horse is responding to something does not mean he is afraid of it. I look at desensitizing as a tool to help a horse know to RESPOND to something instead of REACT in fear. Just because a horse responds, does not mean he is afraid. Like when we squeeze to get them…
4 Reasons People Get Bucked Off
One of the most common stories I hear goes something like this: “Well, I was out just riding my horse along on the trail the other day, and a branch fell out of the tree (or a squirrel ran by, or the other horses started going faster, or there was a sudden loud noise, etc.,…
3 Keys To A SOLID Horse Human Relationship
1. Have confidence in yourself as a rider. When you present an idea to your horse – ask him to go forward, back up, turn – whether on the ground or under saddle, do it with confidence and leadership. Know what you are going to ask before you ask it. If you are unsure, your…
Is Groundwork Really Necessary?
The Groundwork Debate — Is it hype or should I buy my horse some toys? Groundwork is one of those subjects that horse people have really differing opinions about. Some believe groundwork is the key to everything. Others think it’s a bunch of hype and that it serves no purpose at all. I’ve heard all…
[Free Download] The Trailer Loading Flowchart
Some horses load into a trailer just fine. And some don’t. So I put together a step-by-step flowchart to show you how to load a scared or unwilling horse into the trailer. It will walk you through every step (literally) of the process. It will even show you what to do if your horse acts…
When And Why To Transition From Hackamore To Bit
Hackamores and snaffle bits serve the same purpose. They are both used for starting horses. Some people prefer snaffle bits and some people prefer using a hackamore. My personal preference is to start horses in a hackamore. (If you want to see why, you can watch this video I made about it). But every horse…
Building Confidence In A Horse Scared Of Crossing Water
Got A Spooky Horse? I’m Doing A Free Online Training That Reveals How To Cure Spookiness By Building Confidence Into Your Horse And Keeping Their Focus On You Instead Of The “Scary Monsters” Using Un-Trained Horses As Demonstrations. Click Here To Register To Watch This Free Training.
