Our top Horse Training Tips to guide you towards a successful training programme for you and your horse

The goal of these horse training tips is to provide some clarity and focus on the initial assessment and planning stage of your training programme

As you have probably discovered, there is a bewildering number of horse training methods and training techniques available to you - so having a clear vision of what you are trying to achieve, or what obstacles you may need to overcome, can set you up for success!

Training Tip 1

Make sure you have CLEAR and SPECIFIC goals for what you want to achieve with your horse...

• “I want to hack out safely on my own or in company”
• “I would like to compete at a local show and jump a 2’9” course/complete a novice dressage test/ride a 2’6” cross-country course/...”
• “I want my horse to behave when being groomed/led/mounted/shod/...”

Training Tip 2

Assess your horse - be realistic in what you expect you horse to achieve from a programme of training...

• Temperament: Is your horse’s temperament calm or excitable, stubborn or stroppy, or just unpredictable!
• Education: Has your horse the level of education to achieve what you require?
• Fitness: Is your horse up to the level of fitness to be able to do what you require?

Training Tip 3

Assess yourself - recognise your strengths and weakneses and manage your own expectations...

• Temperament: Are you calm or excitable, nervous or confident, laid-back or impatient?
• Education: Do you have the knowledge and experience to teach and train your horse to the level you wish to reach?
• Fitness: Are you physically fit enough to be able to train your horse or ride/compete to the level you want to achieve?

Training Tip 4

Plan your training - planning your training programme in advance will ensure a greater chance of success...

• Plan your training in stages that are achievable, measurable - and most of all, enjoyable!
• The progression of your training programme will be governed by the extent of your knowledge, the capacity of your horse to learn and the amount of time available to you

Do not expect your horse or yourself to graduate from Nursery on a Monday to University on a Friday!

We hope you have found these horse training tips useful - there is more help and advice in our horse training questions section

If you are experiencing horse training problems, we have some really helpful advice and tips here to support you

Whatever you want to do with your horse or whatever level you are currently working at, if you would like Equisecrets to help you with planning a training programme or guide you through your training, please complete our Contact Form so we can discuss your specific request