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Book

BUY THE BOOK!

Working with Wild Horses
Second (Improved) Edition
A Handbook of
Gentling and Training Tips
By Nancy Kerson

Paperback $22 or
Downloadable E-Book $7.50

For more information about the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Program, please call (866) 4MUSTANGS or Click HERE

or, Create a Petition

OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
WILD HORSE GENTLING:

"Ground Work With Challenges":
De-Sensitizing, Gaining Courage, Developing Trust

What's the point of obstacle training?

One reason is to desensitize the horse to fearful things. There's no such thing as a completely "bomb-proof" horse, but the more experiences they have learning to handle things, the better they will be able to handle new challenges that may turn up on the trail, in a parade, or whatever.

But it's much more than that.

The Mud Hole Obstacle	YUCK!!!
When you challenge a horse in a safe, controlled environment, you "bring out the real horse" - you see how the horse will react when things get tough. Then you can safely work on those responses, learning how to handle the horse when it is scared, learning how not to let it get out of control. The handler earns a great deal of self-confidence by successfully leading a horse through a difficult experience. The horse, too, learns to trust your leadership in tough situations. S/he realizes that you are in control, which allows him/her to relax, knowing you will take good care of him/her. The only reason the horse "blows up" in the first place is that it thinks it has to in order to survive. Once it trusts your leadership, it no longer needs to act that way.
The Bridge & Bouncing Balloons: No Problem!
The "Waterfall" of flying plastic strips: Major Problem!	But look at this! He did work through it!
Over the barrels:
NEXT: FIRST RIDE

BENNY | Ruby - BLM Wild Mustang Filly | SILVER - half-draft | SPARKY - Mustang Colt | Dawn & Bert Burros | Eleanor Mule | Max | Piney the Pine Nut Pony | Lewis & Clark  

Sparky 2001 - Adoption | Gentling Sparky | Sparky Settles In | Sparky is Sick | Sparky Spring 2001 | Sparky - Summer 2001 | Sparky In School | Sparky in School, pt 2 | Sparky's First Rides | Saddle Training 2 | Sparky 2006 | Sparky 2007 | Sparky2008

counter installed February 22, 2005

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Disclaimer: Horses are inherently dangerous. Use the information contained within this website at your own risk.

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