Training Tip: Don’t Get Greedy When Training Your Horse

Your first order of business when you’re teaching your horse anything new is to establish a starting point. If you’re teaching your horse to sidepass, for example, that means getting one or two correct steps from your horse when you cue him to move laterally. Don’t get greedy and ask for 20 steps right away. If you ask for too many steps initially, the horse will get discouraged and feel like he can’t win. Two steps will turn into three steps, and three steps will turn into five, and so on. You’re after quality, not quantity. Horses are very smart, but you have to break information down for them to learn. Always keep in mind that two good steps are better than 10 bad ones.