We welcome guest blogger, Brittany Early, to share her knowledge of working with young horses. Brittany has a long history with horses. She started riding at the age of 8, competing in the hunters and later in the jumper ring. Around the age of 20, she fell in love with dressage. She has had her horse Ravi since he was born, and has completed all of his training to date. She has found working with Ravi to be a most rewarding experience.
Much of Brittany's young horse experience has come from working on her family’s sport horse breeding farm as a young lady, and being a veterinary technician at the prestigious Tufts Large Animal Hospital. At her family’s farm, she worked with foals through adolescent horses. At Tufts, she had to interact with all kinds of equines. In an environment that could be quite stressful, the hospital situation taught Brittany a lot about how to handle horses in a calm and correct manner.
Brittany is currently chasing her dreams of becoming a professional dressage rider and trainer. She is currently working for USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist Nancy Later Lavoie in Ashby, Massachusetts, where she is expanding her skills and knowledge in all areas of horsemanship. Brittany is thoroughly enjoying all that Nancy is teaching her.
We at The Simple Equine have had the privilege of witnessing and observing Brittany work with both young and difficult horses. We have rarely seen someone who can be so calm and at the same time command the attention and respect that she does when working with a horse. It is these observations which led us to ask Brittany to share her tips on working with young horses. Let’s hand it over to Brittany -
“Working with young horses is something I have always enjoyed. They have a lot to say, and really depend on a confident leader to be successful at their job. It’s extremely important to be clear, positive, and patient. I have learned many important lessons over the years from handling and training young horses. I also love learning from the many talented trainers and experts out there, and observing different points of view, whether it be from the rider, trainer or horse’s perspective. Here are some tips I would like to share that have made a difference for me in my training and ability as a rider that might help you and your horse to both be successful.”
#1) BE THE LEADER
It is vital to be your horse’s leader. Be sure you are completely confident in your actions when asking for a correct response from them. Do not ask something and then accept an incorrect response. Keep asking until they give you the right answer, then reward with lots of praise. It is very important to always follow through.
#2) KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Know the difference between when a young horse is playing and when they are uncomfortable. For example: you lunge your horse and they are consistently showing bad behavior such as bucking or bolting. First determine if this behavior a.) due to pain b.) the horse is acting playfully and/or c.) the horse is conducting themselves in a disrespectful manner. Search to find the root cause by asking questions. Is the horse always like this? Is the behavior getting worse? Do they look uncomfortable somewhere in their body? Were they sensitive in some spots when you were grooming them? Young horses are great for testing your confidence and patience. It’s important to know your horse and know the difference between behaviors.
#3) THE ROPE HALTER
I highly recommend handling a young horse in a “rope halter”. If used correctly, handling a horse in a rope halter for a period of time before graduating to a leather or breakaway halter is a great way to establish solid ground manners. It is helpful to both of you to avoid using unhealthy pressure from a chain lead rope. With a concrete foundation, you can easily accomplish many objectives while working with a horse in hand.
#4) YOU ARE IMPORTANT
The horse needs to focus on you, as in, you need to be the most important thing in their mind when training, especially if the horse is in an uncomfortable situation. These situations can be unexpected, so it is critical to maintain their concentration. You can practice with some planned minor distractions before going to a show or big event. It can be a dangerous situation for both of you if your horse is allowed to ignore you and go off of their basic instincts. Never forget they are fight or flight animals. Constantly keep them thinking by change exercises, routines, and expose them to new and different situations. Be a constant force of encouragement and keep the focus on you and not on the distraction.
#5) HAVE PATIENCE
The young horse journey is a very long one, and with young horses everything comes as it comes. It is never an easy or fast process bringing one along, but if done correctly it can be extremely rewarding. Always praise the correct response, no matter how small the intent. Appreciate the progress as it comes. And be patient. But not overly patient.
#6) BE CONSISTENT
Have realistic expectations and try not to change them. Clear communication, given the same way each time, is key. Have the right mindset when working your horse. Do not start a training session if you are flushed with emotions. Try to stay calm and relaxed so you do not overreact. Over reacting can cause confusion. Have a clear mind when working with your horse and try to tune into their body behavior, and take notice each session. This will help your progress and gain more of a connection in your partnership.
#7) HORSES ARE SMART
Sometimes we don’t give credit where credit is due. Horses are intelligent. Though young horses may take time to come into their own and respond correctly to a training exercise, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t constantly absorbing additional information. Always keep it in mind that they are like a sponge when they are young. Every moment is a learning and teaching opportunity for them.
8.) KEEP TRAINING SESSIONS BRIEF
Work on a few very specific exercises for a brief period, and then move on. Praise the correct behavior, and always try to end on a good note, but don’t fry their brain. A young horse is learning so many new things, so don’t be repetitive. If you ask for something and they answer the first or second time with the correct response, move on to something different. It’s important to not keep asking the same question until they answer incorrectly. Remember results are important and get better with time and practice.
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