Using obstacles to gain respect on the ground.

Controlling your horses feet is one of the best ways to gain respect. You should be able to control them on the ground way before you are mounted. Round pen work at liberty is by far the best way to achieve this but using obstacles can break the monotony. I have a basic trail patten set up, with a few ground poles and a log to walk over, a low wooden bridge and poles made into a ground square. Horses, lazy in nature, would rather not walk over poles and bridges. Making them walk this pattern establishes dominance, I am making them do what they would rather NOT do thus making me the alpha or the boss. Respect is always given to the Higher Archy. These subtle changes will build a good relationship with your horse. He will become willing and behaved.

Another good exercise is to teach your horse to turn on his haunches away from you. This is a typical showmanship maneuver, that really requires ultimate respect.

Begin with a ground square, four poles 8 ft long laid out into a square, this gives you a goal! Lead your horse into the square and ask him to move away from you, turning him in a 180 degree turn. If he tries to over walk you, he will not be able to turn completely inside the square. Keep him pushed back and turning. A good tip is to be somewhat aggressive with your signals, let him know you are pushing him with your body language. Don't move too slowly or he will try to over take the situation. Keep practicing this and you will get it!

Another great exercise for a more advanced horse and handler is to make a turn on the haunches inside a tractor tire. If you have one available this is a great respect gaining, exercise. Make sure your horse is comfortable waking through the tire. Lead him up to it, let him smell it and proceed! It may take some coaxing in the beginning but once he realizes he can walk through the tire he should catch on pretty quickly.

Once he walks through smoothly, stop him when both back feet are in the tire. Now ask him to make a turn just as you did in the square. A good tip is to only ask for a few steps, not a whole 180 degree turn right away. As he gets better at moving around it, ask for more, until he can do a 180 degree turn. When he turns with ease and you are satisfied reward him by walking out. Keep practicing until you can do a 360 degree turn. I think a horse can see this concept and figure out what you are asking pretty quick!

Using a lounge line is always a good way to gain respect but working a horse at liberty is the ultimate! If you have access to a safe round pen, preferably about 60 ft in diameter, working your horse over obstacles will let him know you are in charge. It may be best to start the horse on a 30 ft line, until he gets the concept. Set up a course in his path, I like to use what ever I can find. A blue tarp is great! Make sure you bury the outer edges with earth. If you can find some empty card board boxes, they too make good obstacles. If you can get them big enough you can make a jump over. I like the card board for my youngsters, if they hit it, it is pretty soft and won't hurt them. Ground poles are always good too. Start basic and you can add stuff as he gets better.

First walk him through everything, make sure he has become familiar and comfortable with the obstacles. Now when asking him to travel over the obstacles be aggressive as you were with your turns. Stay at his drive line (right at his hip) stare right at it and push him on, only use your whip for pressure. Be persistent and really praise him if he goes over! As you both get better add more unique obstacles. When you really feel he has mastered it, unsnap the lead shank and ask him to travel over it at liberty. Really be sure to let him know he did well if he does it right. Treats and praise are fine when deserved!

You should notice a real difference in your horse after these exercises. Not only are these fun, they ar every beneficial.