Baby Steps
Written by: Diane Sullivan

If your horse will not let his ears be handled but will allow you to pet his nose or face, start by petting his nose and being positive about it.

One of the most important concepts of the John Lyons method of working with a horse is the idea of breaking everything down into small increments. If your horse is having a hard time accepting some aspect of what you want or need him to do, it is important to take time to step back and assess the situation. Ask yourself, "What part of this task can I get the horse to perform successfully?" Start over again from a point where you can successfully get the horse to perform, and then build on it with small baby steps.

EXAMPLE: If your horse will not let his ears be handled but will allow you to pet his nose or face, start by petting his nose and being positive about it. Then, as you are petting his nose, quickly and lightly run your hand up his face toward his ears, then back down to his nose. The idea here is to be so quick and light that the horse has no time to react in a negative way. Continue petting, repeating this scenario until the horse reacts as if to say, "Oh gee, that really wasn't so bad. I guess I don't have to pull away." Gradually work your way in this manner toward the horse's ears. Work with one ear at a time. Be sure that when you actually touch the ear it is so quick and light at first that he has no time to react negatively. Then you can progressively make the touch longer and heavier. Any time the horse reacts by pulling away, go back to the previous step and work there some more.

This is a method that you can use in any aspect of working with a horse. Start where you can be successful, then make a progression of baby steps toward your goal. If you are still not having good success, find a way to break down the steps even further. Each horse is an individual and each situation will be different. What worked like a charm on one horse may not necessarily work on the next horse. Stay flexible and creative in your work and you can make each lesson a success story for you and your horse.

 

Article written by and reporduced with permission by Diane Sullivan of Diane Sullivan Horse Training. Diane is a certified John Lyons Trainer residing in Chugiak, Alaska who places an emphasis on teaching people to teach their horses.

To contact Diane. phone: (907) 688-2250 or email stable@mtaonline.net