How do horses learn commands?

[Emma_H]

Hi

This may sound dumb to people in the know, but I am curious about how you teach a young horse the commands to Walk, Trot, Canter and Gallop? How do they know when you ask them what to do? I am not about to try and teach this to a horse to all the people who are going to flame me about it but i would really like to know. It's like it's a secret!

[shandy84]

When teaching my youngsters - it helps if theyu're bright- but I started by walking them in hand and saying the command, firmly and confidently I have done this for over a year and it does sink in as they understand it a bit better I reiterate what I have taught them on the lunge, so they have to listen to the command and not be prompted by me speeding up or slowing down.

You can also use clicker training to instill cmmands too

[Mehitabel]

you start off physically encouraging them to do it, and also using voice, as shandy says. so you tug on the headcollar, walk yourself, and say 'walk on'. same for trot, once they've gotten the hang of following the pressure on the headcollar and you in walk and halt, and folowing through turns etc.

when you're starting to break in, you normally lunge, by this time the horse knows voice commands for walk and trot.

when yo uget on, just the same, voice first, then as the horse gets used to carrying you you will introduce leg and rein and seat aids combined with voice, then gradually phase out the voice.

to canter, i generally go out with another horse and have my babay following - it's the natural thing to follow when the horse in front canters, so as they do it you say 'canter' and i keep saying it again and again as we canter along. eventually you ask before itis doing it and praise as it goes on, and agian intro legs gradually.

[shandy84]

Es - you always explain things I'm trying to say so much better :)

[Emma_H]

thank you both for getting back to me, it's definitely a lot clearer now!

[galadriel]

General voice commands:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/200-voice_commands/

Specific voice commands:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/250-voice-stand/
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/275-voice-stand_for_mounting/

[Emma_H]

Originally posted by galadriel
General voice commands:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/200-voice_commands/

Specific voice commands:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/250-voice-stand/
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/275-voice-stand_for_mounting/

Brilliant! thank you very much-i've saved them as word documents :)

[virtuallyhorses]

Repetition and timing - the same way that they learn leg aids or to move over when they get poked in the ribs :)

If you are just starting and the horse already knows to trot when you crack the whip (or whatever you do) simply say 'trot on' then do your trot aid and same for canter and walk. The horse will quickly trot, canter etc when you say the word rather than waiting for the whip or whatever other signal you currently use.

Remember not to repeat words though - like trot on....nothing happens.... trot on....nothing happens ....trot on ... you flick the whip and he trots - that would teach the horse - ok I only trot after she says it 3 times :)

[katefarmer]

In a nutshell - the horse learns when you STOP asking.

When the request stops, the horse remembers what it did just before the request stopped, so that was the "right" thing. Hence, when training a horse it's crucial to be very clear about what you want, and ask until the horse tries to do it - then STOP immediately the horse tries.

eg. Getting the horse moving forwards on the ground. First I bring up my own energy and show the direction we're going. If the horse does not walk off with me, I swing a rope behind it until it moves. Immediately it moves, I stop swinging. Same principle applies to everything. When riding, put your leg on - the horse moves, take your leg off immediately.

Loads of examples and different scenarios on my website - so feel free to browse!

Kate
www.harmony-project.net