Now I understand why. 

I used to catch my horse, groom it, saddle it, ride it, put it back in the paddock.  Next day I would catch my horse, groom it, saddle it, ride it and put it back in the paddock etc, etc, etc.  Not much fun for my horse (except maybe the grooming part).

 Now I make sure that when I’m around my horses it’s not all about work.  We play games, practice tricks, have a scratch and generally hang out together. 

 To check that my horse would really rather be with me, I practice most tricks without a bridle or headstall.  That way my horse can leave if he isn’t happy with what we are doing.

 For example the other day I was teaching Trigger a new trick.  He became a little confused about what I wanted and so just walked a few steps away from me and looked back at me.  I knew he didn’t understand and so I worked on another way to explain to him what I wanted.  I called him back and we tried again.  This time he got it and he stayed with me.

There are some tricks that you will definitely need gear for and at first you will need to always work with a bridle or headstall.  Even Trigger was impossible to catch when I first got him and would run off at the slightest chance.

But after a while you will find that your horse will want to hang around you, because trick training is fun and interesting for them.  Even more fun and interesting than eating grass with their horse friends!

The book talked about how all horses could be classified under one or a combination of two or more of the following types:

Type 1. Teachable, docile, kind
Type 2. Stubborn, wilful
Type 3. Nervous, ambitious, determined
Type 4. Treacherous, ill-tempered, resentful

I think I have owned, or worked with several of all these types.  I think Type 4’s are made that way (badly treated) rather than born that way.

The book recommends Type 1. as being the perfect Trick Training horse.  My horse Trigger is definitely a Type 1. horse.  He is very dependable, docile and nothing much bothers him.  He is very trusting and trustworthy and I can present him with all sorts of new things and it doesn’t take him long to accept them.  He can be a bit lazy and prefers tricks that don’t take much effort or moving around, for example lying down

Looks like a Type 1

However I have owned a Type 3. (a thoroughbred) and it would be hard to find a horse that learnt quicker or was more responsive.  He tended to be nervous, flighty and worried about a lot of things but he was so switched on and aware of his surroundings that he would pick up the slightest cue and respond immediately.  These types of horses aren’t for beginners.  I had to be careful how I moved around him, he didn’t like being confined and I had to introduce him to new things very slowly.

I also remember a Type 2. with fondness.  She was a really good horse to work with - while she was happy doing what she was doing - but ask her to do something that she didn’t want to do and she would plant all 4 feet and just wouldn’t move.  No rearing, bucking, kicking or fuss…..she would just stand stock still and that was that.  I hate whacking horses but even a good tap on her backside wouldn’t move her, in fact she just planted her feet further into the ground.  The only way to get round her was to convince her that she really did want to do what I was asking her and then we got somewhere. 

I’ve come across quite a few Type 4. while working in various racing stables.   Horses that don’t want to be there and this can bring out some nasty habits and behaviours.   Luckily I’ve never owned one of these.  

I’ve also met or owned some that are a combination of two types.   Some traits don’t show themselves until a horse is put into a particular situation.   

Does your horse fit into one of these types?

What about a useful one?

There are so many tricks you can teach your horse.  There are all the usual ones like Kiss Me, Hug Me, Say Yes, Say No, but also have a think about useful tricks you can teach your horse.  These can make life a lot easier (and safer) around your horse.

Pick up your feet.  I just point at my horse’s foot and he will pick it up.  The farrier loves this one!

Wait for dinner.  My horse knows that he must wait till I have finished mixing his feed before he is allowed to eat his dinner.  He stands about 2 foot away from his feed bin until I say “okay”.  Horses can be very pushy when it comes to feed and this trick teaches your horse good manners.

Move away, back up.  I only need to point at my horse’s hindquarter and he will move it away.  Point at his head and he will move his front end away.  I point at his chest and he backs.  Very useful (and easy) to move your horse around.

Drop your head.  I just lightly touch my horse on the top of his head and he will lower it.  Helpful when I want to put a bridle on.

Open / shut a gate.  I only need to undo the latch on a gate and he pushes the gate open.  Or he will put his head over it, back up and close it.  I never have to get off my horse to open or shut a gate when we go out trail riding.

There are loads more useful tricks. If you learn the basics of teaching one trick you can teach your horse to do any trick.  They are all taught in exactly the same way.  You will also find that once you have taught your horse a few simple tricks it gets easier and easier.

So have a think about some useful tricks you might like to teach your horse.  We will be including some in our Horse Trick Training ebook.  If there is something in particular you would like to teach your horse just fill in the form and we will try and include it in the ebook.

If your horse is worried that you will hurt them or make them do things that can hurt them or put them in danger, you won’t have a willing partner. Your horse needs to relaxed and happy otherwise they just won’t learn much at all.

You can teach your horse to get used to just about anything….flapping bags, umbrellas, water, loud noises by introducing them slowly (and I highly recommend that you do this).  But there may come a time when they meet something they have never seen or heard before.  If they trust you and have become used to you introducing them to new things, they will deal more easily and calmly with new objects and situations.  If you show them that you believe it is okay and you are trustworthy then your horse will believe it is okay.

Every horse I have worked with has become very brave once they trust me.  I can ride or lead them into lots of ‘scary’ situations and show them strange objects because they believe they will be safe with me.  Sometimes I have had to get off my horse and go first, while they have walked behind me (it’s kind of funny when you have a huge 16.2hh 600kg horse asking for your protection from something that they think might be dangerous).  I tell me horses “It’s okay I’ll protect you and they will follow me anywhere.”

To earn trust you must be trustworthy.  You must be consistent in everything you do.  You cannot do something a certain way one day and then a different way the next.  Your horse must know what to expect from you.  Horses are creatures of habit.  That helps them to survive.  If something changes in their environment then they go on alert – it could be danger!

I really like to use Pool Noodles to get my horses used to things that move and brush against them.  Trigger is happy to eat his feed while these colourful noodles lightly bang against him and fly around on windy days.  This helps when I am out riding and we are moving through some thick bush – he doesn’t mind at all if branches brush against him.  He is also good when strange objects flap in the wind.

To get him used to the Pool Noodles I just started by tying up one (on a calm day).  At first he was wary of it but his feed was just there and it didn’t take him long to move past it to his feed bin.  He still kept an eye on it though!

After a few days he completely ignored the Pool Noodle so I added another and then a few more days another.  Now he is completely uninterested in them.

This is one of the best ways to get a horse used to something strange.  Introduce it gradually, into an area where they already feel safe and enjoying being (their feed area is a good place).  Allow them time to get used to the item.  No fuss.

Check out the Horse Trick ebook for some more ideas for cheap, fun equipment you can buy to help teach your horse tricks and to help make them unflappable in lots of different situations.

I thought he might struggle to learn new things.  But although it took him a little longer to get the idea in the beginning, now he understands what I am asking him and he has been picking up new tricks as quick as a young horse.

Young horses tend to be a bit more curious, which can make learning easier.  An older horse may be a bit jaded or ‘switched-off’ (they have just learnt to do the what they are asked with the minimal amount of effort).  Teaching an older horse tricks can spark their interest in learning and trying new things again.

I have tried 100’s of different treats to find the best training treat.  Most horses love carrots and there are some really yummy horse pellets that are convenient and make cheap treats.

To teach your horse tricks (in the fastest time) you need to find a treat that really gets your horse’s interest.

Trigger’s favourite treat is a little biscuit that I bake (recipe in Horse Trick ebook) that keeps for several weeks and doesn’t go soggy.   Trigger nickers whenever he sees them and I know that I have his complete attention!

There are a few rules about feeding treats to your horse.  I was always taught never to feed treats because a horse can become nippy and try and mug you for treats.  But if you train your horse correctly and teach them some manners they learn very quickly that they only get them when they do the right thing.

I also don’t suggest using sweets as treats eg sugar cubes or lollies.  When you first start training your horse to do tricks you will need lots of them and something healthy is always best. So I recommend that one of the first things you should do if you want to teach your horse tricks is to find a treat that makes your horse prick up their ears and really gets their interest.

Here is what you will find inside Part One of the ebook…..

Chapters (Part 1)

1. Introduction

2. All Work and No Play (having fun with your horse)

3. Preparation (the secret to teaching your horse any trick)

4. Getting it right (how to teach your horse to know when they do the right thing)

5. Getting it wrong (how to teach your horse to know when they do the wrong thing)

6. Rewards & Treats (my horse’s favourite part – ideas & recipes for treats)

7. Homework (some things you need to do to make training easy)

If you haven’t already…. fill out the form and we will email you a copy of Part 1 of the ebook as soon as they are ready.

Happy Tricks,

Jain & Trigger.

You can teach your horse to do any trick. You just need to know the basics of how to teach a horse trick and then you can use those basics to teach your horse anything!

It’s simple, fun and only takes 10 minutes a day.

Most tricks, even the more complicated ones are made up of a few simpler tricks put together. You just need to teach your horse these few tricks and you can teach them to do almost any trick.

You will also find it will get easier and easier to teach each new trick as you learn the principles of teaching tricks and your horse begins to understand what you want.

Trick training is a wonderful way to build a relationship with you horse.  You will find that your horse will become very keen to learn and will really enjoy these training session.

It is also great way to work through any problems you might be having.  I have used tricks to help horses get over problems with head shyness, loading onto trailers, fear of new objects and a whole host of other issues.  You just need to take your time, build trust between you and your horse and most importantly make it fun for both of you.  You will find that the relationship you have with your horse will get better and better.

My current trick horse ‘Trigger’ and I are working on an ebook that covers these basics of Trick Training and includes a step by step guide to some of the simpler tricks, basic trick equipment you will need, yummy recipes for trick treats and ideas to make learning lots of fun.

We would like to hear from you.  Just fill in the form up the top right and tell us why you would like to teach your horse tricks and as a thank you we will email you a free copy of Part 1 of our Horse Trick Training ebook titled “How To Get Started”.

If you have any issues you would like help with or any good ideas that you’d like to share then join us on the forum (click on the Forum link at the top of the page).

Have fun,

Jain & Trigger.