“With Tricks of Compliance, the handler is earning the horse’s trust, not the horse earning the handler’s trust!”
Providing adequate leg protection, such as triple polo wraps on each leg, protects the horse’s knee and cannon bone while learning a move such as the Bow. Criss-cross the polo wraps over the knee to allow for joint fl exion.
Fasten the slide rope to the middle D-ring on the bellyband and then run it down through the ring on the hobble (at the back). T en bring the rope up and through the D-ring that is closest to the buckle—the end will go to your hand. T e rope forms a “V” and will give the horse support in learning to liſt his leg.
sessions to become comfortable with the leg being held up. Praise him each time he willingly lets his leg be lifted. The lesson is the release of his leg, not in retaining control of it. If you use food treats, be sure to offer one while his leg is up and not after he puts it down. This is “treating for position.” Increase the time that you hold his
leg up a little with each repetition. It usually only takes a few lessons be- fore the horse understands that you can be trusted to give his leg back. That he can trust you is the lesson. After the leg lift is confi rmed on the left side, teach the same lesson from the “off” or right side of the horse. Be sure to reverse your position and the rigging too. When the horse understands and is comfortable with the leg lift and hold exercise, you can begin teaching him to shift his weight to his hindquar- ters. This change of balance begins to prepare the horse for the weight shifts required to Kneel, Bow and Lay Down. The weight shift exercise can be done by encouraging the horse to take a step or two to either side with just three legs while holding up a leg with the hobble. Don’t overdo this exercise as it is a lesson in trust, balance and confi dence. Often a horse may understand
mentally what is being asked of him long before he can physically comply, which is why the hobble is needed for support.
MOVING ON If you decide to go on to teach the
Bow, Kneel, Lay Down and Sit Up, it is best to begin with the Obeisance (see June 2009 Trail Blazer), which teaches the horse to balance on all four legs while lowering his body. A horse that has learned to execute the Obeisance will have developed the balance, strength and range of motion to go on to learn additional Tricks of Compliance.
Lady “C” calmly accepts Sue holding her leg up with the rigging in place. In learning these moves the horse must
accept a physical and mental at itude of acceptance and self-restraint, which leads to our goal of a trusting compliance.
Taking Tricks to the Trail is devoted
to helping you create a more intelli- gent, adaptable and predictable com- panion horse. If you have questions or need help in teaching any of the items presented please feel free to contact us at
suesmonet@aol.com
Sue De Laurentis and Allen Pogue live in Dripping Springs, Texas, where they own
and operate Imagine a Horse and Red Horse Ranch. T ey blend modern and classical horseman- ship to make Trick Horse Training understandable and fun for horse and human. Visit online at
www.imagineahorse.com and
www.redhorseranch.net
72 June | July 2010 •
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