How To Stop A Horse From Becoming Frightened

 

From: Charlie Hicks

http://www.HorseTrainingResources.com

 

Before you take a young colt out it is important to train him to understand and accept strange sights and sounds around him. Even if you are perfectly calm the first time out, if he isn’t trained properly, he could become frightened and difficult to handle. A common mistake is to assume that since he was good the first time out he will be the same every time. This is because the first time can give a false impression as his mind was so taken up with the touch of the saddle or shafts of the vehicle behind him, that he gave no attention to objects along the road, which later may probably frighten him.

 

It is best to give this lesson in the enclosure with nothing but bridle, lines and surcingle on the horse. You have no use for the rein, for you want the horse to have free use of its head that it may see, hear and touch objects freely.

 

Stand the colt in the center of the enclosure with the lines on the ground straight behind the colt and have an assistant keep a couple feet behind the lines.

 

Now you start from the rear, about twenty feet from the horse, and swing back and forth a few times, like a pendulum, repeating the command, “Whoa,” every two or three steps; gradually increase the arc until you make a complete circle around the colt. This accustoms the colt to your command from different directions and concentrates its mind upon standing in its tracks. Your assistant meanwhile, has done nothing except, if the colt started, grab the lines and give it a set back.

 

After the colt obeys you from any angle, take an old tin pan or anything with which you can make a noise, and start from the front of the colt in the same circle as before. Start the racket very carefully at first,  only going as fast as the colt can understand it. At first, go in a circle, gradually draw closer, until you are standing at the colt’s side. As you get directly behind the colt go very carefully, for you are passing the point where he gets the impression from the other ear and eye. It is best to lessen the noise, and if the colt is very nervous, stop the noise until you pass this point, then start the noise again, gradually increasing as you near the front. Increase the noise the second round, and this time you will not have to entirely stop the din when you reach the rear but ought to ease up a little. The third round the colt ought to stand in his tracks while you make all the noise you can. Your assistant has, during this time, allowed the lines to lie on the ground, except when necessary to grab them to enforce your commands.

 

After the third round you can run around as fast as you please and your assistants may go entirely away from the colt. This training of the colt to noises can be done in two or three minutes, if done as instructed, and as soon as he pays no attention to the noise, there is no need of prolonging the time, for it would only be lost as far as training the colt is concerned.

 

You are now ready to train the colt to endure the sight of different objects. This and other essential training techniques can be found at http://www.HorseTrainingResources.com.

 

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