Desensitizing your horse is probably the single most important thing you can do to ensure the safety of both you and your horse. I use the word "safety" here with caution, because in my humble opinion, the words "safe" and "horse" shouldn't be used in the same sentence very often. Even the most dead-broke, experienced horse can be dangerous, in the right.....or wrong.....circumstances.

Having said that, there are things that can be done to expose your horse to all of the "horse-eating" obstacles that are out there, and ensure more safety than one might otherwise have.

One of the keys to desensitizing a horse is knowing when to release. Releasing at the wrong time can cause the opposite effect and one can inadvertently teach a horse to react to a particular object. Sometimes this can prove difficult if a horse is particularly fearful. One has to be able to recognize the slightest bit of tolerance or acceptance, and then proceed to build on that.

Some of the tools that I use to desensitize a horse prior to the first ride are tarps, ropes, slickers, a plastic jug filled with rocks, plastic bags and just about anything else I can think of. If I discover that a particular horse is bothered by a certain object or noise, I will try to focus a little bit more on that item.

I get them going over obstacles on the ground and work hard to build confidence in the horse, so that he doesn't feel the need to worry about whatever he might encounter. A confident horse is a much less fearful horse in general.

Site last updated February 5, 2008

Training Home | Youngsters | Desensitizing | Beginning Saddlework | Everything Else
Lazy S Morgans | Theresa Sheridan Enterprises | Site Map

Website created and maintained by Theresa Sheridan Enterprises
Copyright © 2002-2008 Theresa Sheridan Enterprises