I have been teaching people to ride horses for years. But it has recently dawned on me that a perfect example of how to teach people to use the reins properly is to tell them not to shout at their horses. You know how, when you use all caps in an email it is considered shouting at someone? Ever considered how sensitive your horses hearing is when they notice someone coming down the trail before we do? Or perhaps how they spook at something we don’t even see? The point is they can hear and see things long before we do. They have finely tuned senses, including their mouths! Did you notice how your horse ‘feels’ the grass and grabs it with his lips before he crops it off? Have you noticed how your horse feels objects with his muzzle and lips? That is how he uses his ‘fingers’ . So consider how sensitive his lips, tongue, bars of his mouth, corners of his mouth and roof of his mouth is to the touch.
Do you pull or yank on your reins to get results from your horse? If so, you are shouting at him as if you were screaming into those highly sensitve ears that can hear a bird fly away before we even see it. Will you get results? Of course you will. A horse will either turn into pressure or turn away from pressure. Their first inclination will be to turn away from pressure and if that doesn’t work they will go with it – for a while. Ever had your horse pull on the bit, toss his head, tighten his jaw, grab the bit and keep going? That’s because you taught him to do that by pulling or yanking on the reins. Remember, if you keep pressure on, the horse will find a way to escape that pressure or worse, learn to ignore you.
So, here is the fix. Learn to ask, yes, I say ask, your horse to respond to your hands on the reins. Next time you ride, use very light pressure on one rein by squeezing that rein like a sponge until your horse does something. Something like move his ear, move his body, head or anything that lets you know he is getting the message. As soon as he responds, no matter how small the response, stop squeezing! You just taught your horse to respond to your question. Then make a game of it until you have taught your horse to direct rein left, right, back and gain speed control with as little pressure on the reins as you can possibly use. Don’t get frustrated if your horse does not respond right away. Don’t force the issue, stop if you find yourself getting frustrated and wanting to pull or yank. Walk away and try again latter.
THERE IS NO NEED TO SHOUT AT YOUR HORSE TO GET HIM TO RESPOND! Let me say that again. There is no need to shout at your horse to get him to respond. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK! All you have to do is ask and wait for the right answer. It is like teaching a kindergartner to write his ABC’s. Start with little steps, a soft voice, lots of praise and be patient while he is learning. Before long, like your child, your horse will be wrting in cursive.