J Randol horse training

Here are some phrases that are always helpful when dealing with horses. Most came from old school cowboys and I absolutely love their carefree outlook on horses. I have the utmost respect for those fellas! Here we go!

1) When riding English and learning to post, if you were lucky enough to have an instructor tell you these magical words you were taught right!

“Rise and fall with the leg on the wall”

2) when asking an old cowboy if the horse he’s trying to sell you loads, don’t be surprised when he tells you this.

“Well it wasn’t born here and it wasn’t rode here”. (My favorite!)

3) when the beginner asks the old cowboy if it’s hard learning to ride, and he replies with these fine words of wisdom.

“Hardest thing about riding is the ground”

4) when you fall off and look at the old cowboy for sympathy. Hes looking around like he doesn’t understand the emergency, then tells you this golden phrase.

“You’ve got two choices. Hospital or get back on!” (Here, you better be dying if you choose to not get back on lol)

5) and lastly, when breaking out a colt the old school way, the old cowboy hands you this hooligan horse and says these words that you cherish because they might be your last.

“It’s not hard stop over thinking. Get on and stay on that’s it”

Well folks there you have it I hope you enjoyed these fun phrases!

Keeping your horse relaxed depends on you. If you’re anxious or nervous so are they. Relax, listen to calming music, don’t rush and don’t keep track of time. Barn time has no clocks just you and the horse.

When riding I strive to keep my horse relaxed. Lots of stopping and standing before asking for a new training expectation helps them to absorb what they just learned before moving on. Keeping them bending and focusing on you helps keep them engaged and not distracted. If you notice your horse lifting its head and looking around, ask for a circle to get the attention back on you. Don’t do tight circles. Always gradual circles just to keep focus on work not his barn buddies.

Don’t ride hard every time. End your rides on good notes. End after just one breakthrough even if you’ve only ridden for twenty minutes. This accelerates their learning more than the long rides. The next time you work them they will try harder so they can be rewarded sooner by being done. When you end your lesson the horse knows he’s pleased you. That’s all he wants to do now your both happy 🙂

* Don’t feed your horse grain in the horse trailer it’s a common cause of choke.

* Try not to leave halters or blankets accessible or within reach of the stalled or pastures horse they most likely will find it and chew on it.

* Be patient with your horse and don’t be greedy with your expectations.

* Stay consistent no matter what you’re teaching them

* Remember every time you work with your horse they are learning. They are sponges.

* They also can sense your mood. Clear your mind and let your horse be your therapy. Tell them about your day. Your voice is soothing to them.

* Fun fact! Horses don’t understand laughter! If you laugh by your horse look at their ears. You’ll see one forward and one facing back. That is their confused look 🙂

* Fun fact! Horses get embarrassed! If they slip, fall, trip etc they will usually play it off with a buck or if they end up on the ground they may start to roll as if it was all planned! They are funny 🙂

* Don’t look at your horse while leading it. It’s trusting you to lead it safely so you need to watch where you both are walking.

* Always put the halter on while standing with your right shoulder to their left ear. This prevents the opportunity for the horse to get away.

* While leading don’t hang onto the clip on the lead. Horses need more room to move. Hold your lead about a foot from the clip.

* Don’t tie your horse too loosely. The horse can easily get its head under the lead rope and feel trapped if it lifts its head. This may cause the horse to panic and pull back. Tie them the same distance as your forearm. Measure from your finger tips to your elbow if you’re unsure. This way the horse has room to move but not enough to get into trouble.

* Lunge your horse before riding even if it’s just a few laps each way. This will help you see what kind of mood your horse is in. You can see if they are stiff, sore or limping, agitated by something or just not concentrating. Knowing these signs you can decide if you want to ride that day or not. If I see any of these signs I give them the day off and groom them and spend time hand grazing and bonding instead. We have off days so do they.

* When visiting the pasture horse don’t always expect to catch it and ride it hard. This may lead to your horse not wanting to be caught. Go in the pasture with your brushes and just love on your horse in their natural state. This will help strengthen your bond and gain your horses respect.

* Always be patient, understanding and keep a sense of humour with these animals they really do try their best for you.