Where can i find out about how to Back a horse naturally?

Question

i have just bought a 3yo haflinger horse. she was still with her mother in the paddock where she was born. never been ridden. where do i start. we are looking to do this naturally

Answer 1

search on google there will probably be something there or wikipedia.

Answer 2

Get the horse familia to being with you and being around people. Then you have to get him halter broken.

Answer 3

here

Answer 4

I don't understand what you mean by naturally unless you mean without aids like a crop.

You need to make sure she is halter broke.  If not, that's where you need to start.  Being able to halter her and have her follow you.

Once that is accomplished...I would turn and face the horse...but off to the side.  I would apply pressure to the lead rope towards her chest.  You want the head to lower and bend, putting her weight into her hindquarters for a backup.

Just light pressure and using the 'back' word...until she steps away from the pressure.  Even one step is correct in the beginning.  Even if it's just 'escaping' the pressure.  If she takes even one step back...release ALL pressure and rest a few seconds and praise her.

If she doesn't back up, keep the pressure on the lead rope and push on her chest or tap it with your hand.  Always using your back command.  Don't release the pressure on her leadrope until she moves away from it.  Even one step away from the pressure is correct movement.  Reward it by all release of pressure and praise.

You stand to the side...because some horses will lunge forward because they don't understand moving away from pressure.  They feel 'trapped' and will lunge forward to escape.  That's why you start with light pressure until the horse can figure out what you want.

Answer 5

This is the most natural method that works.... use a rope halter with long lead (8 to 10') with the loop attachment (no metal)  since you'll have better results and control, and you can use this rig for tons more groundwork as you progress....I never use anything else for training anymore.  In this rig, you can begin by standing in front and slightly to her left side.  With about 2 feet of length on the lead, shake it the way you would if you were casting with a fishing pole, with a snap to your wrist.  Your hand should be directing her straight backward.

You keep doing it until she moves a foot, then reward her by stopping and patting her nose.  Do it again and again, rewarding her with each step she takes.

Not only are you teaching her to back, but this begins her training to respect your space.  Eventually as she gets to know what you want, one slight shake will move her back.  When you lead her, you'll be able to give a little shake to back her off of you if she tries to crowd you.  Always keep your hand 2 to 3 feet away from the halter on the lead rope.  This relaxes her and gives you the ability to use the ripple of the lead to shake signals to her.

Another advantage...this rig is incredibly strong and give you considerable leverage if she is pulling back, unlike most halter and leads with metal rings and clips.

Add:  I forgot....you can also use the end of the lead shaken in front of her to reinforce your signal.

Answer 6

Your question is very vague..is she halter broke?

What you can do is lead her into a space (as long as you trust her...enough that she isn't going to spaz out) lead her into a space that she has no choice but to back out of ..and give her the voice command 'back' and press on her chest...and pull down on the lead rope......or if you don't trust her THAT much..walk her between like to poles..like large ones..that she can get over if she REALLY tries if she were to freak our..and lead her between them..and do the same commands..eventually dropping the chest pressure...and sticking with the command that you choose.

Answer 7

Depends on how you want to learn:

Like to read?  Check out various books on Western Horseman's website - there's good ones by Mike Kevil and Curt Pate and many others.

- Books are available on line, at book stores and such on different "natural" horseman websites and amazon.com or even Tractor Supply Company.

Like to watch videos?  Check out the videos on those same sites, find them at Horse Expos, and watch your trade catalogs like Valley Vet supply, Country Supply, State Line Tack - lots of them.

How about TV- There are series by the nations top "natural" trainers like Pat Parelli, Craig Cameron, Chris Cox, Dennis Reis, Clinton Anderson and many more on RFD-TV that talk about all sorts of these issues.

There is a LOT to learn about the 'natural' way of training.  The basic premise is that one must understand the thought processes of a horse, which is a prey animal as compared to the thought process of us humans, which are predators.  Additionally, the basic idea that horses are in-capable of acting anything other than honest - they can't lie, cheat or anything that we humans can do to cover up our perceptions of what we are thinking or feeling  - and adverse reaction or a problem with a horse comes out directly as a result of emotion or pain or something the horse expects or experiences that is negative.  The horse cannot fake pain - if they look like they're in pain, they are - they cannot do this for sympathy.

So - as a human you must learn to communicate with your horse on his level.  He doesn't know your words - although he might be able to pickup that a certain word always results in a certain thing, they don't ever actually understand.  You must "speak" to them in horse language as another horse would - by using your body space against theirs and so on.

I think it's wonderful that you wish to learn these things - but I also think that people think it's easy if it's natural - when it isn't because we are predators, we simply don't naturally think in the way a horse naturally does - we must use our superior knowledge to figure out how to communicate with him and work with him on his own terms.

I would also suggest you purchase a couple of books - that is, if you like to read, by Buck Brannaman - "Faraway Horses" and "Believe" are wonderful books - they are easy reading books as well and are full of buck's experiences through life and sessions with horses - those books will show you how your life affects your abilities, opinions and those set the stage for your strengths and weaknesses you will encounter when working with horses.  From reading them, I have found that my biggest issues working with my horses stem from my two biggest weaknesses - lack of patience and a desire for perfection.  these books are as much -self help in their outcome as information on "how to " do things the natural way with a horse (or how not to do the bad things) - though I don't know that they were inteded as self-help books.

Finally, don't expect changes overnight and don't expect to learn a few paragraphs or stories then you'll have it all figured out - it's a long, hard road that takes time and patience - there isn't a person here who could answer a 3 line question like the one above with a paragraph answer - the answer depends on your ability, your attitude, the attitude and experiences of the horse.  We can all give you little tips here and there, but not a complete answer that solves your question once and for all.

For a starter, assuming you are working from the ground - do two things: push on her chest while giving backward pressure on her halter.  Give 2 ounces of pressure and even can use the "back" cue.  If not result within a second, give 4 ounces pressure and request again but do not release pressure from the first - it's a progressive thing from 2 ounces of pressure to 2 lbs of pressure - a figurative statement to say "start with light pressure and increase the pressure consistently until you get the result you are looking for" then immediately release the pressure and praise her. - do not expect her to back even a full step.  If at first the pressure results in her just leaning and beginning the movement backwards - release the pressure (the reward) and praise her.  Then try again and expect more - now she must actuall begin to lift a foot off the ground - apply the pressure increasingly until you get a result and release the pressure (the reward).

This also works from the saddle - but it assumes the horse understands pressure - young horses naturally go THROUGH pressure as a result of fear - you must first teach them what pressure is and what you expect of it.

Good luck.