Learning to Ride a Horse

From John Lyons Trainer Keith Hosman

Round Pen First Steps [Downloadable PDF version]
A Downloadable Book

A sample from Day 5:

Teaching your horse to next lift its feet by simply pointing is more than a neat trick. Recall how the horse learns to lean on us: We lift the leg, offering 2, 5, or 10 pounds of support and he quickly learns to lean with 3, 6 or 11 pounds. Simply put, when you expect less you get less. Expect the horse to lift his own leg and we'll never get into this situation.

I do this very simply. Take a dressage whip, kiss (to say "move something") and tap the inside of the horse's front leg, near the "knee joint" until the horse bends his leg, shifting his weight. Pet him and repeat the process. Each time he advances his understanding, ask for a bit more "of a lift." If he stalls out at a certain height, don't stop your tapping, keep at it until the leg moves higher. You might try taking your lead rope and wrapping it very loosely (so that it would drop off should he walk off) around the very bottom of his leg. Apply a little pressure to this rope, suggesting that he lift his leg as you kiss then tap. This often helps speed up the process. Also, when you tap, hold your arm and dressage whip as if you're pointing. When the horse consistently lifts his foot to the tap, drop the whip, but hold out your arm as if still carrying it. Kiss and move your arm as if tapping. Of course, the first few times you'll need to revert to using the whip to back up your request - but that's where a light tug on the rope can help out. Be careful to look for very slight improvement at first, maybe he just shifts his weight or bends at the knee. Reward every little improvement and your horse will soon be lifting his leg following a kiss and a point.

- Print out from home
- 5 Days, 5 chapters
- Learn at your own pace

Just $6.99

For more info:
this course | all courses

Available Downloads:
"Stop Bucking"
"Rein/Speed" (for Nervous Horse Owners)
"Round Pen First Steps"
"Trailer Training"
"Your Foal: Essential Training"

Lyons Training 101 Issue Number:  Three Building Your Foundation written by Josh Lyons & Keith Hosman

Print This Article for Free
(This is a large file and it might take a moment to load. Note: The article might be paired with another.)
 

See Complete List of Horse-Training Articles

See related articles & products
 

Tell A Friend (Click to send them an email)

Link to this Article (Click for code and instructions)

 
Find this article faster next time:  

Issue Three, Part 3 of 3

What To Do With
Horses That Want To Bolt, Buck or Blow Up

Let's say your horse decides he want to blow up or have a wreck. Well, there's nothing magical about a snaffle bit - it won't keep the wreck from happening - but it will allow you to pick the place where it happens. If your horse says "I'm going to blow up here and buck you off," you can say "Uh, no, the ground here doesn't look soft enough. I thought I saw a softer spot over there." And so you ride over a few feet and your horse says "Okay, now I'm going to buck you off." But I say "Nope, I was wrong, you were right. That spot over there was a whole lot softer. Let's ride back over there."

So I ride back to the other spot and keep changing directions. I keep asking and he keeps saying "Alright, alright, we'll have our wreck over here." I continue moving him around and pretty soon he decides it's too much trouble to blow up. If I had picked up on two reins and tried to control that energy, then I would have been begging him to blow up. No, I tell him to go - and to keep going.

Nothing else matters in those situations. It doesn't matter if other riders are near you or where the horse wants to get to. The more the horse wants to think about something else, the more you'll give him to think about. This is not punishment, don't see it that way. See it as learning: You're learning that you can avoid a wreck - and your horse is learning that acting up is just too much trouble.

Bottom line: If your horse bucks, if he bolts, whatever he does, as soon as you look at the ground at where you think you're going to hit, that's where you're guaranteed to land. So stay on top of your horse, look at your horse, ride your horse. Don't be a passenger. Work. Ask him to do something.

***

Read previous article: Teaching Your Horse To Stand Still

Read next article: Give Your Horse A Want-To Attitude

See Complete List of How-To Articles

***

Related Products and Articles
 

To see articles and training products related to the article you just read, see the following topics:

Aggression
Attention - Getting it from Your Horse
Bolting
Bucking
Calm Down Cue
Confidence
Control
Emergencies
Fear - in Horse
Hip Control
Jig and Jigging
Nervous Horse
Nervous Rider
Replacement Concept
Safety
Spook in Place and Shying

See over 300 equestrian-related training topics

***

Related Letters
 

See related Questions & Answers (letters from readers like you)

back to top

***

Disclaimer: Equine training can be a hazardous activity which may subject the participants to possible serious injury. Keith Hosman, his associates, and other trainers listed on this site will not assume any liability for your activities. Our newsletter, books and videos provide general information, instruction and techniques that may not be suitable for everyone. No warranty is given regarding the suitability of this information, the instructions, and techniques to you or other individuals acting under your instructions.

All Rights Reserved (TM) 2012, horsemanship101.com
No part of this website, including newsletter material and photos, may be reproduced without our express written permission.