" Horse Training 101"
Let's face it just about every horse owner knows how to train a horse. We have all heard it before. Get them soft, teach them how to move their body parts, release pressure when they do what you ask, and do this time after time with consistency. However like several things in life it is better to let a professional with the knowledge, timing, patience, and experience handle that for you so you can enjoy the end result. Although our primary focus is on reining and cow horses the main goal of any horse in training is to build a proper foundation and build upon it in steps, and that is all reining is, the foundation polished to a high degree.
All horses in our program are treated like individuals and trained accordingly Some excel and progress faster than others while others are a little slower to catch on ,but those horses can excel if giving the time and patience. All horses are worked with 5 days per week to instill the proper foundation.What does this foundation consist of? A willing, quiet, relaxed, soft, and responsive horse. So if a horse is aimed at being a reiner, a cow horse, or a trail horse we believe this foundation must be in place for the rider or the horse to be successful.
Let's face it would you drive down a busy highway in you vehicle without a steering wheel, brakes,or an accelerator in you vehicle. Then why would you want to ride your horse that way? Most problems such as won't go, won't stop, won't turn, won't guide, buddy sour, bucking, running off, rearing, etc. seem to disappear with proper training, and if they do occur they can be controlled and fixed with the tools that a proper foundation gives you to work with.
We don't like to apply labels to our training such as Natural Horsemanship. We have yet to see a foal born with a rider and saddle on his back. Our philosophy is to ask softly and apply as much pressure that is needed to receive the results we are after. Now that does not mean we are harsh, but you can only ask so much before you have to tell some horses. Keep in mind that you can not force a thousand pound horse to do something, but you can help convince them, that it is their idea and if they think it is their idea they are more willing to do it.