How to Train Young Horse

(February 2, 2010)

Horses have always been a pet of elegance as much as they are very functional and helpful. Over the years horses have played a significant role in, not only the great battles of yesteryear, but also have proved to be very useful in performing comparatively boring tasks such as drawing carts and for basic transport. Horses are very loyal creatures when taken care of properly and training is a very essential aspect when an owner wants to get the best out of the animal. As a natural trait, horses are herding animals and, in most cases, one stallion will head the herd of a number of mares. However, it is not uncommon for the ‘lead mare’ of the pack to decide where the herd actually goes. Horses are rather timid creatures and are relatively scared of strange people as well as animals. This is mainly because when a stranger first approaches a horse, the animal has no way of knowing the individual’s intent and will closely watch the person’s actions and body language in order to make up its mind about whether to run or stay.

Because of this character trait, horse training tends to be a very gradual process and is structured almost entirely in getting the animal to see you as its ‘lead mare’. Horses that have a natural leader character are generally harder to train – a common sight with most stallions. While most horses are not formally trained up until the age of about 2 years old, the foals are able to pick up their behavioral traits around people from a very early age. The owner must try and spend as much time as possible around the horse during this period as it will then become comfortable around you as well as other people.

The primary object of most horse training is to get the horse to accept being ridden and respond correctly to the rider’s signals. The first step of this training is known as longeing where the trainer remains on the ground and trains the animal with a long rope. This ‘longe rope’ is fastened to horses halter and allows the horse to canter in circles while the trainer teaches it certain commands. It is important to allow the horse to warm up before every training session while also practicing something the horse already knows to get the horse in tune both mentally and physically. Whenever you are trying to get the horse accustomed to some new piece of equipment, always take it off after a few minutes and re – introduce it a little later before taking it off again for a certain period of time.