Training a green horse to move forward willingly is a task that requires a blend of understanding, patience, and skill. Kick and hold on that so many do is not the best way. This blog discusses a much more natural way by using a cow to pull the horse forward.
Understanding the Horse’s Nature and Background
Before beginning any training, it’s crucial to understand the horse’s nature, temperament, and current training level. For example, a horse with only a week of riding is still adapting to the basics of being ridden or a horse that is sour to moving forward possibly has been kicked on too much or ridden too fast too quickly in their training. Recognizing these factors is the first step in developing an effective training strategy. Before I first push a cow there are only a couple cues that I want the horse to have a little bit of a basic understanding of. The video, Foundation Training, shows those basic maneuvers.
Utilizing Natural Stimuli
Introducing Cows as Motivational Tools
Incorporating cows can stimulate a horse’s curiosity and instinctual behaviors, leading to a more animated response. This method is effective as it taps into the horse’s innate interest without forcing movement through harsh methods.
Creating a Controlled Environment
Using multiple calves in a small enclosure instead of a single one in a big area ensures they move slower, providing a steady and predictable stimulus for the horse.
Effective Riding Techniques
Tack and Equipment
Use a mild bit or even ride with a halter. You also want to make sure your reins are long enough that you can create a clear release from the horse’s bit or halter contact. Too much bit contact will distract the horse’s attention from the cow. This is a link to the halter that I like to use for this training.
Gentle Leg Cues and Reinforcement
Employ gentle leg cues to guide the horse. Too much kicking and you will sour the horse to cows. When the horse is walking behind the cow sit soft and reward the horse with a release of pressure and praise him.
Observational Skills and Responsiveness
Reading the Horse’s Behavior
It is normal that initially, the horse reacts extremely one way or another, either very aggressive or very apprehensive. Either way, it is the rider’s responsibility to encourage the apprehensive horse and manage guidelines and control for the aggressive horse. The article, An In-Depth Guide to Understanding Your Horse’s Language, can help you with reading your horse’s body language, and the article, Building Trust and Confidence With Your Spooky Horse, can help you if you are getting big negative reactions. The playlist, Mryna, is a series of videos of a horse that started out terrified of cows but shows the steps that I took with her and she became very good and liked moving cows.
Adjusting the Approach
Ask the horse to move the cow in very short intervals at first, initially basically just walking through the group of cows and walking out. As the horse becomes more confident you can keep him pushing the cows longer but you always want to stop and give him a break while he is pushing the cow. Never push very long and never stop and give a break when he leaves the cow. Always initiate the break when he is moving behind the cow.
Progression and Patience
Celebrating Small Wins
Acknowledge and build on small victories, such as a more energetic walk or a willing trot.
What to Reward and What to Discourage
Design training sessions to be light and engaging. You want the horse to learn to use facial expressions to tell the cow to move. That can be a hard eye or pinning ears. Recognize when the horse is doing that and reward those actions. You don’t want the horse to bite the cows so discourage those actions.
Additional Expert Tips
Leg Position and Timing
The way you use your leg, the timing of your aids, and the independence of your aids are essential in getting your horse more responsive and moving forward. Use this as an opportunity to show your horse that all of the rein and leg cues have a purpose. Often when the horse learns this purpose they become much more willing partners. Use proper leg position for the movements you are asking for and the correct timing of applying and releasing pressures are crucial for the horse’s learning.
Positive and Negative Reinforcement
Combine positive reinforcement, rewarding desired behavior, with negative reinforcement, discouraging unwanted behavior, to foster a complete learning environment. Both are necessary for learning.
Consistency and Patience
As in all of horse training slow and steady is best. Don’t do too much at one time and reward tiny victories. This fosters a clear learning environment for the horse and builds his trust and confidence.
Conclusion
Training a green horse to move forward willingly combines understanding the horse’s nature, using natural stimuli, employing gentle and effective riding techniques, and being observant and responsive to the horse’s behavior. By incorporating these methods, trainers can effectively encourage horses to move with purpose and enthusiasm. The key is to ensure the process is enjoyable and stress-free, fostering a positive learning experience for the horse. You can watch me using these techniques for a low-stress way to teach a newly started under saddle horse to trot in the video, Using Cows to Get This 2 Year Old Horse to Trot.
My horse training journey has brought me from winning world titles to now trying to make every horse the best they can be and to help you improve your equestrian knowledge.