Ground Manners: It's Not the Horse, It's You

Many people let their horses be strong, rude, and pushy, all the while making excuses for the horse and then commenting on how well behaved another horse is. This is completely ridiculous. The way a horse behaves is entirely dependent on how the handler treats him. If you can ask your horse in a way he understands in a consistent manner, he will do what you ask. If you react to bad behavior in a consistent manner, he will stop the bad behavior. The horse already knows how to walk, trot, stop, stand still, and lower his head. The trick is to get him to do those things when you ask. And, not until you ask.

Yesterday, Horse learned manners. As I said in my previous post, he's been largely unhandled for several months now. When left alone for long periods, like most horses, he gets rusty. He gets strong, rude, and somewhat nervous. What happened yesterday goes to show that training and manners are not something extra. Rather, it's a way of interacting.

1) Catching
Horse was at the far end of the pasture grazing and showed no indication that he was aware of my presence. I whistled and walked halfway across the pasture. He picked up his head and I continued walking toward him, letting him watch me. I stopped, turned and walked away from him a few feet, looking over my shoulder and waited. It took him several minutes to make up his mind before he walked right up to me.

I fed him a handful of grass as I want him to associate coming with good things. I want his coming to be haltered to become a habit. Nothing makes life easier than a horse that wants to be caught. Having spent hours trying to catch uncatchable horses, it's definitely worth waiting the few extra minutes for him to come to me.

2) Haltering
Horse followed me back to the gate as I'd forgotten the halter. I see a lot of people reaching up underneath, almost as if they're hanging on the horse's neck to fasten the halter. That's a good way to teach your horse to raise and throw its head. It's a real good way to teach him to be hard to halter and bridle. Instead, fasten it from above by putting your arm over the horse's poll to slip the halter on. Horse learned quick to lower his head and stick his nose out for the halter. He also has learned that being haltered is a good thing. He gets a treat (held down low) after he's stood quietly to be haltered.

3) Leading
All forward movement begins with backing up. That's what a World Champion horse trainer told me. When I started backing up before going forward, my horses' ground manners improved dramatically. Now that the halter's on, Horse is asked gently to back up. He knows the drill and we back up several steps. He stands quietly while I'm getting the gate and then tries to snatch a mouthful of grass. Pop the halter, and back up. He's not allowed to even think about eating while I'm leading him. He's strong and pushy, wanting to forge ahead. I swing the lead rope in front of me so that he'll walk into it. We stop and back up but he's high headed and nervous. I could just take a tight hold on the halter and "force" him to walk slow. But that defeats the purpose.

I want him to be light. I want a nice float in the lead rope. So, I begin to back him up, and then walk toward him, letting him pivot on his hind foot. We walk around the property, backing up, walking forward, stopping, backing, pivoting. A few minutes of this, and he's calm, light, and low headed. He's no longer trying to rush, he stops square when I stop -- I don't have to take the slack out of the lead rope, he backs up when I lift the rope. No pulling involved.

Only a few minutes of practice correcting unwanted behavior and he's behaving like a model horse. Well, except for trying once more to snatch some grass which earned him a pop on the halter.

4) Standing Quiet
I tie Horse up and begin grooming him. When I leave him to find a hoof pick and comb, he started pawing the ground. I was looking through my trunk and I deliberately did not look at him or move until he stopped pawing. As soon as he stopped, I turned, looked at him, and walked back over. The next time I left him, he began pawing but he stopped much sooner. As soon as he stopped, he got the attention he wanted.

Being tied up is boring and frustrating for a horse. But it's not only necessary, it's a valuable tool for teaching a horse patience. When they paw, they're venting and they're trying to get attention -- any attention is good attention. Only reward good behavior.

I want Horse to learn to ground tie, so after I played with him in the round pen, I took him back to my car, had him stand square, and began grooming him with the lead rope in my hand. When he moved a foot, the foot was moved back. When he lowered his head (poll below the withers) his head was brought back up. Eventually he'll learn to stand stock still no matter what I do.

Meet Horse

Horse is a 4 yr old gelding, broke to ride by me, and unridden for a long time. But I'm starting at the end.

I bought Horse three years ago. He was the meanest, nastiest stud colt I'd ever had the mis-pleasure of handling. He'd stalk you down, his head low and snake like, his eyes saying "I'm gonna get you." If you couldn't get through the fence fast enough, he would strike, bite, and do his darnedest to use your body as a trampoline. If you did get through the fence, he'd try to come over the top at you. It was three months before I could move him around the round pen without him moving me.

I started riding him lightly his two year old year. I rode him more his three year old year. He was showing a lot of promise. He became light and supple. And then, I got injured. Over the course of a year, I got several concussions, got kicked in the knee twice, kicked in my back, tore everything in one ankle, and injured my hip. Not only was I kept out of the saddle, I realized I needed a smaller saddle, and I'm still a little afraid to get back on. I'm not afraid to ride but I am afraid to be as aggressive as I know I need to be.

I still don't have a saddle. But I am visiting Horse and hanging out with him in his pasture. He is now the friendliest, sweetest horse that will follow you everywhere.