Horse Training Basics

Any horse that is in the vicinity of humans must be trained for the safety of all involved. Since horses are huge and powerful animals, they need to know where their boundaries lie. That being said, horses are also wonderful and cooperative companions and if you plan on riding, you will learn to become teammates.

You can easily train your horse with just a little common sense and the use of the 3 p's. The three p's are patience, persistence, and positive reinforcement. Most professional horse trainers are aware of these important concepts and use them. They should be considered and used no matter what level or type of training is taking place.

Additionally, the basic steps of training a new or untrained horse or one that needs reprogramming will make sense if you know some simple horse psychology. First, a horse is a prey animal so you must never act in such a way that the horse sees you as the scary predator. Always approach your training sessions with a sense of calm. Your horse is very sensitive to your frame of mind.

You will need to remember this sensitivity when taking the first steps in horse training; approaching your horse, catching your horse and leading your horse. Teach your horse basic safety manners for everyone's sake. You'll find your experiences with training much more enjoyable if you have come to an understanding with your horse about such things as love bites and stepping on your toes or crowding you. At first you will need to remind your horse not to invade your personal space bubble. Allowing your horse to see you as the leader of the herd is one of the most important ways in which you can get him to follow your cues and become a pleasure to train; he will want to please you and will cooperate during training if you remember this tip.

Good manners can be accomplished with the use of some basic and simple ground exercises. Important bonding takes place by simply spending time with your horse, while grooming, leading and performing some straightforward exercises such as lunging. Done properly, you and your horse will learn crucial trust and he'll learn to read your cues. You'll be glad you took the time to create a solid foundation for present and future.

Remember that your horse is a major investment and as a horse owner you have certain responsibilities. These include ensuring that both of you are safe during training exercises. Always wear the correct attire for the job at hand, look after your saddlery and tack, and remember to arrange buy horse insurance with a reputable company like Animal Friends Horse Insurance who know what they are talking about when it comes to protecting your investment.

If you have any tips or advice for our readers when training horses, keeping their horse or donkey fit and healthy or even how to become a better horse rider, Animal Friends Equine Insurance would love to hear what you have to say. Please post your comments below if you would like to share your opinions with other members of Animal Friends Horse Community. Thank you and enjoy exploring the site!