Philosophy

My outlook on horse training has always been shaped around this particular saying.

This saying is especially true when it comes to horses, they are creatures that I’ve learned can never be rushed into anything, especially when it comes to training. When I first began my journey with horses, I would always try to make them do things according to my timeline, which resulted in frustration on both my end and the horse’s.

Over the years I’ve learned that it’s best to do everything on your horse’s time rather than your own and this is most prevalent with training young or green horses. Just like people, every horse is a different individual with a separate personality, thought process, and response to certain training methods.

For example, some horses will respond very well to more aggressive training methods while others require a much more sensitive and gentle approach, such as a rescue horse or abuse case. When I first began working with horses, I thought that each horse would respond the same way to the same training methods, however I quickly learned through trial and error that this was not the case at all.

My older gelding, Raj, requires a very firm hand and tone of voice while my two-year-old filly, Chihiro, needs a much gentler approach as not to distress her. I have also worked with a rescue mare, Ginger, who was very sensitive and required a very delicate hand so as not to overwhelm her.

My view on horse training, to put it shortly, is this:

Begin by observing how your horse interacts with you and the environment around them, try different things and see what works best for your particular animal. I will never, ever rush a horse through training as this will lead to dangerous complications such as the horse feeling unsafe or unable to trust their handler.

Instead of simply focusing on the result that you want and pushing your horse to accomplish it on your time, take a step back and work with him or her step-by-step, making sure he or she understands every part of what you are trying to teach.

Earn your horse’s respect through positive reinforcement, rewards, and making the right thing easy and the wrong thing more taxing. Through showing your horse that you are listening to them and making sure they feel secure, their confidence will grow along with their respect and trust in you. Only then will you have a secure, safe, and confident partner who will happily comply with what you are asking of them.