There is an exercise to
teach your horse to go forward to a soft feel ... It's really very simple. And actually,
there are a couple of different ways which are equally good as one another.
1. Stand facing your horse's shoulder with the lead rope in
your left hand. Hold the lead about 4" from the ring on the halter.
2. Hold a stiff crop with a tassle at the end in your right
hand.
3. While pulling forward gently on the lead, give the horse a
couple of tap-taps with the crop on the rump. Tell him/her "Walk on".
4. If the horse doesn't move, increase the tap-taps to
tap-tap-tap-tappity, as an irritant rather than a smack ... all the while putting pressure
forward on the lead.
5. The INSTANT the horse even leans forward, release the
pressure and reward with a click, a verbal "Good!" and a treat of some sort.
Repeat the above in small steps until the horse is readily
moving forward.
To ask the horse to whoa, bring the crop between you and the
horse to hold it across his/her chest and at the same time pull gently up and back on the
lead while verbally telling him/her to "whoa". When the horse stops, release all
pressure, click and treat (or verbal "Good!" and treat.
Repeat both exercises until the horse is complying 100%. I
guarantee that if you use the "click" and "treat" the horse will
respond with the correct behavior 3X faster than without the c/t.
I find that when holding the lead it is easier and more
effective (during the above exercise) to take the lead in an overhand grasp rather than an
underhand one. This is easier on the elbows! *g* It is also easier to teach the horse to
go onto the trailer by himself when holding the lead this way.
This also is a MUST for teaching the horse to stand quietly
when tied. The horse, after being trained this way, will feel the pressure of the ties
when he pulls back and will step forward instead of pulling back. I highly recommend that
the first few times you tie a horse that has been "tie shy" that you stay with
it for reassurance and also ready to click and treat for that step forward.
Hope this helps.
