NOVEMBER 2022 THE RIDER /31 Palm Partnership Training™


Building A Partnership With Your Horse “Come To Me” Training


by Lynn Palm Horses need to respect


four major ground training commands: “move away from me,” “come toward me,” “stop,” and “back”. In this ar- ticle I will give you the steps to teach your horse the “come to me” command. Before starting, make sure


that your horse is properly equipped. He should be wear- ing a properly fitting halter, with a longe line, and leg pro- tection. I prefer using a longe line over a lead rope for ground training, but will use both terms in these articles. No matter what


the horse’s age, I introduce these


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Ross Doble Inc. 100 Hwy 7 & 12, Sunderland, ON L0H 1C0 (705) 357-3123 • larry@rossdobleinc.com www.rossdobleinc.com


commands first in a confined, familiar location like stall, round pen, or small paddock. Remove any distractions such as buckets or hay. This will help him stay focused on you and relaxed. As the horse learns, you can then graduate to teaching him the same les- sons in progressively bigger areas such as an aisleway, a round pen, and paddock. I will give explanations


of these maneuvers as if I was teaching them in a stall and from the horse’s near (left) side. Remember to teach the maneuver from both sides of your horse. Be patient when working on his off (right) side because the horse from the very beginning of his life is handled mostly on his left side.


‘follow me”


Teaching the “Come to Me” Command The “come to me” or command


teaches your horse to trust and accept you. This command, together with the “move away from me” command, are es- sential for the horse to learn respect of the handler and for safety.


With your horse


equipped with a properly fit- ting halter and lead or longe line, position him so his body is parallel to the wall of the stall. This will give you an advantage in keeping him straight as you start the ma- neuver. Keeping the lead line loose, move 2-3 feet away from him toward the middle of the stall. Stand facing him, slightly in front of his left shoulder. Don’t forget the Golden Rule to never stand directly in front of a horse. For now, don’t worry


about which hand is holding the longe. Always be organ- ized with your longe so it is loosely coiled and the line is stacked in your hand. Never let the longe touch the ground. This could lead to an unsafe situation. If there is any ten- sion in the line to your horse’s head, you will have a ten- dency to pull. One of the hardest things you must teach yourself is not to try to control the horse by pulling on the longe or lead. Start by addressing the


horse, saying in a mellow tone “come to me” or “come”. Watch his ears and eyes for signs that he is listening and responding to you. If he starts


to take a step toward you, you should back up as he contin- ues to follow you. If the horse does not respond, give the voice command again to en- courage him and add a light tension on the lead. Immedi- ately release the tension if he steps towards you. As soon as he moves, praise him in a mellow, but different voice tone than used for the com- mand. Stop your movement and stroke his forehead as he stops with you.


Your Next Step… In teaching the “come to


me” command and other ground training maneuvers, make your movements slow and soft. Be patient and re- ward any progress your horse makes. Your goal is to make each ground training lesson a positive experience for you and your horse. This will cre- ate a solid foundation for your partnership on the ground and under saddle. Until then, follow your


dreams, Lynn


For more information,


please call 1-800-503-2824 or visit www.lynnpalm.com.


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