Method

This section contains the entire method behind Simple Horse Training. It's lengthy but an easy read and should be read thoroughly before viewing the training examples. In fact, just reading the Method section alone is sufficient for learning how to train your horse, but examples from the Training section will help build on your understanding. As a member, you can contact me if any explanation is confusing, and I will do my best to make it more clear.

Training

This is the current content in the training section:

1. Safety:
   • Being safe around your horse.
   • Teaching your horse to be respectful of your space.
   • Safely managing feeding time.
   • Changing the behavior of an aggressive or dominant horse.
2. Essential Training
   • Gaining the trust of a horse that is untouchable.
   • Getting a horse comfortable with being touched.
   • Teaching a horse how to handle his fear of scary things.
   • Safely getting your horse used to his front and back legs being handled.
   • Teaching your horse what his reponse should be if he ever becomes entangled in something.
   • Teaching your horse to pick up his feet for cleaning, trims, and general hoof care.
3. Ground Training
   • Teaching your horse to stand perfectly still.
   • Teaching your horse to back up.
   • Training your horse to lead without a halter and lead rope; no strings attached.
   • Stopping your horse using multiple cues.
   • Getting your horse to accept a halter.
   • Teaching your horse how to respond to physical pressure.
   • Leading your horse with a halter and lead rope.
   • Training your horse to move sideways.
   • Getting your horse used to back pressure in preparation for a rider.
4. Riding
   • How to know if your horse is ready to accept a rider.
   • What are the seat cues for communicating with your horse. (the ones I use)
   • Teaching your horse the seat cue for moving into a walk.
   • Teaching your horse the seat cue for turning.
   • Teaching your horse the seat cue for stopping.
   • Teaching your horse the seat cue for backing.

Also, in addition to the training steps to follow in each training exercise, the majority of training examples contain sections on:

• Required previous training—this section contains a list of links to other training that you must first go through before proceeding with a specific training exercise.
• What your focus should be so you know when and how to respond to your horse.
• How to build upon what you are teaching your horse.
• How to clean up unintended cues & isolate intended cues.
• Troubleshooting

What this site assumes:

• This site assumes that you are just as trainable as your horse, that you will read the instructions and reflect on what you read before applying the method within your own training. All horses are trainable, but some people are not. This site requires that you, the reader, be open to new ideas in horse training.

What this site does not assume:

• This site does not assume that you are already experienced with horses. This site also does not assume that you are starting out with a horse who is already well-behaved. You may have a new horse that won't let you near him, or you may have a horse that behaves aggressively towards you. It doesn't matter what your experience is or what type of horse you are starting with; this training method will take whatever your current relationship is with your horse and build up from there.