condition—backing up one step—he finds the answer. You need this information to effectively teach your horse.
THE ABSENCE OF PEACE When a horse cannot find peace, he feels help-
less and frustrated. For instance, if a horse yields to bit pressure and the pressure is not released, the motivator is lost. One of the most difficult things to do when train-
ing a young horse is to let go. However, it is through the absence of pressure that the horse learns. Te teaching pressure is important and must be gauged correctly, but without a release of pressure, the lesson is lost. In this reader’s situation, the horse “does not like” going backward. I’m guessing the horse was met with more bit pressure. To improve a response, continue showing him
that he is correct by releasing/rewarding oſten, in small teaching steps. Your horse cannot be drawn to peace if it doesn’t exist. A horse that actually does take a few steps and then rears tells us he is trying to get away from the pressure, but he becomes frus-
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When the rider’s body is braced and the hands are pulling, the natural reaction from the horse is to brace as well, causing a defensive posture. Back-up steps may happen, but the quality of response is poor and fails to set the horse up for a relaxed “give.”
“MY HORSE DOESN’T LIKE TO BACK UP.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET HIM OVER THIS?
WHEN WE BACK MORE THAN A FEW STEPS HE STARTS REARING UP.”
B Y S E A N PA T R I C K • P H O T O S BY A L I S H A PA T R I C K
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