How to train horses at home, rules and tips, books

The organization of horse training has many features. To teach an animal basic skills, it is worth studying its individual characteristics. The correct choice of the age of the training is of no small importance. Thanks to this, it will be possible to obtain excellent results and not injure the pet. In addition, it is recommended to organize the correct reward system when conducting training.

At what age should an animal be trained

The training of young horses begins, as a rule, at the age of three. In the first months of the animal, it is recommended to provide the most gentle regimen. The first step is to start working with light riders. Their weight should not exceed 60 kilograms. By the age of 4, the load should be gradually increased. At 5-6 years old, the animal can be taught to jump over logs. The use of the correct technique allows the horse to be active and healthy up to 20-25 years.

How to start training a horse

First of all, it is important to win over the horse. To do this, it is recommended to take certain actions that contribute to better understanding with the horse and provide it with self-confidence. This will create an excellent basis for learning.

Let's get to know each other better

At the time of the beginning of training, it is worth getting to know the horse better. In the presence of bad habits, it is recommended to carry out appropriate work with the animal, which is aimed at weaning from them. In this case, it is worth using soft methods of education.

It is not recommended to use harsh techniques or frequent punishments. They won't produce the results you want. To teach an animal to stand on a candle on command, it is recommended that it work with one person.

Immediately after the acquaintance, the horse may feel timid and distrustful. This is becoming a common cause of learning problems. To be successful in training, you should definitely overcome shyness.

At this stage, it is important to provide the animal with rewards and to perform attractive actions for him. This will gradually increase the horse's confidence and provide a good rapport with the handler. During life in the stable, the horse weaned from external odors, therefore it is recommended to gradually accustom it to them.

Addiction and sympathy

Horses get used to being part of the herd. Horses usually occupy a certain level in the hierarchy of power. They also include people in such a system of relations.Therefore, it should be borne in mind that the horse is able to identify the trainer as a competitor in the struggle for an increase in status. This can lead to a certain amount of aggression. Usually this problem occurs when the animal is not rewarded enough. As a result, it begins to bite rather than bow. All actions of the animal are recommended to be divided into several groups:

• important actions;
• useful actions that need to be taught - it is recommended to immediately encourage the animal for this;
• bad actions - in this case, the animal is recommended to be punished immediately.

To teach a horse to perform certain actions, it needs to provide the right education that combines gentleness and perseverance. The coach must be armed with a number of qualities - calmness, patience and firmness.

In this case, it is important to be able to take the place of the animal. This ensures a better rapport with the pet. If irritation occurs during work, you should definitely take a break.

Basic training stages

It is recommended that you act gently and persistently to ensure that your pet is properly trained at home.

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Taming your horse to a halter

This type of training is carried out for foals under 1 year old. For an adult animal, using a halter can cause shock. In such a situation, subsequent training is difficult. Foals should begin to teach movement at the moment when the mother is nearby. A nearby native object helps calm the animal and prevent stress. With such training, the person should be to the left of the foal, sitting at the level of his shoulder. It is recommended to start leading a young animal in the bit behind the mother, after which - near her or in front.

Line work

During the same period, you can train the animal to work with a bit and a bridle. In horses of two years of age, the musculoskeletal system is not fully formed. During this period, it is forbidden to ride animals on horseback. However, at this stage it is necessary to accustom the horse to an empty saddle.

We teach a horse to ride

Horse riding training includes a number of successive stages. In this case, it is worth following certain rules.

Saddle addiction

It is recommended to train horses to saddle at 2 years of age. In this case, it is permissible to use a simple technology:

• place a saddle on your back without stirrups;
• wait for a certain time.

It is worth removing the saddle from the animal after it has calmed down. This is done as a reward. When the horse realizes that the new accessory is safe, it is okay to start tightening the girth. It is recommended to pull it up by 1 fastener each time. When the horse has adapted to the girth, it is allowed to start riding with a saddle on the lane.

Leg use

This allows you to control the horse's hindquarters, make turns, maintain balance and move forward. It is forbidden to use the leg to beat animals. It is also not recommended to uncontrollably knock your heels on the sides. For the send, it is permissible to press your legs tightly to the sides.

The main task of the leg is to send forward. In this case, the rider presses 2 legs closely. It is recommended to do this directly behind the girth. The leg behind the girth at a distance of 15-20 centimeters helps to control the movement of the hind legs when turning. Also, this movement allows or prohibits movement to the side. The horse must respond to any instructions from the rider. It is recommended to use spurs and a whip for insufficiently driven animals or to strengthen the team. They are used as additional controls.

It is recommended to use the whip when the animal disobeyes the leg sending. However, hitting a horse is prohibited. It is enough to gently slap her on the rump or shoulder.This will help draw attention to the team. Spurs are considered an additional means of sending legs, but inexperienced riders are prohibited from using them.

Treat rewards

In horse breeding, various delicacies are actively used. They help not only to pamper the animal, but also to consolidate the acquired skills. The horse associates getting a treat with delicious food. It creates pleasant associations.

With a certain number of repetitions, such an association is fixed in the subconscious. Thanks to this, the animal willingly obeys commands.

The following are used as delicacies:

1. Salt. It is this product that horses love most of all, and therefore willingly eat it from their hands. Salt contains a lot of sodium. It has a beneficial effect on the work of the digestive system and helps to normalize the water balance in the body. In addition, salt helps to accelerate the recovery processes in muscle tissues after difficult physical exertion.
2. Carrot. Horses eat this root crop with great pleasure. The vegetable has a distinct taste and contains many vitamins that are of great benefit to the body.
3. Crackers. This delicacy does not bring much benefit to the body. At the same time, horses are very fond of dried bread.
4. Apples. It is recommended to cut the fruit into 4 parts beforehand. Thanks to the use of apples, it is possible to strengthen the immunity of the animal and saturate its body with valuable substances.
5. Sugar. Refined sugar cubes help to lift the horse's mood. At the same time, it is not recommended to give her too much sugar.

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Stopping and descending from the horse

Stopping and proper descent are considered important points of training. The safety of the rider and the minimization of the discomfort of the animal depends on this. For the correct descent, it is worth doing the following:

1. Grab the animal tightly by the mane and hold the rein in parallel. Some instructors allow a grip on the front of the saddle. But it is important to consider that it can turn on its back.
2. Lean forward. In this case, it is not recommended to weaken the grip.
3. Carefully throw the right leg over the animal's back.
4. Smoothly lower yourself to the ground and pull your left leg out of the stirrup.
5. Descending is allowed only to the left of the horse.

Other areas of training

There are other areas of training:

1. Race training. The main goal is the development of agility and endurance. During training, the animal moves in 3 main gaits - step, gallop, trot. It is important to achieve a stable and fast canter. It's called a quarry.
2. Long run training. Long-distance racing is considered a serious challenge for animals and humans. Only strong and healthy horses are allowed to compete. Most often they are chosen based on the results of short distance races.
3. Jumping training. There is an equestrian discipline called show jumping. Its essence lies in overcoming obstacles with a rider on his back. Obstacles vary in height and width.

Warnings

Training is considered quite difficult. A beginner should only train a horse under the supervision of an experienced instructor. The more complex the character of the horse, the more skills the trainer should have.

When training, it is worth observing precautions and some rules:

• no need to give the animal too much stress;
• it is recommended to train a horse systematically, adhering to a certain scheme;
• any training should be completed with a step - this will help the animal calm down and dry out.

Training tips

In order for training to be successful, it is recommended to adhere to these rules:

1. It is forbidden to strain the animal too much. This is especially true for young horses.
2. The duration of the workout should be 45 minutes.There are many observations that confirm that it is this time that the animal can be in concentration and adequately perceive commands. A trained and trained horse can be trained for longer.
3. It is important to create a training program. Training should not be spontaneous. It is recommended to plan it clearly. The animal gets used to a specific course of action.
4. It is definitely recommended to finish classes in steps. This is especially important if the animal is tired and sweating. A calm step will help the horse recover.

Useful literature

For training to be effective, it is recommended to read the following books:

• V. Muzeler, "Riding Textbook".
• R. Klimke, "Dressage of a Young Sports Horse".
• J. M. Dillon, Equestrianism. Jump technique and style ”.

Horse training is considered challenging and exciting. To succeed in this matter, it is worth following a number of rules and recommendations.