2. Porcupine Game
Horses naturally push into steady pressure, moving against it or barging through it. It’s part of their programming for survival. In order to develop a partnership with your horse, you need to help him overcome his fearful,...
1. Friendly Game
The Friendly Game is the first of the Seven Games because nothing beats a good first impression. When you want to meet someone, how would you first approach him? I like to think about introducing myself to...
Stacy Westfall and Whizzard's Baby Doll performed bareback and bridleless during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo: Leslie PotterPatience in Training Horses
When working with horses, we all know it’s important to have patience,...
When working with horses, we all know it’s important to have patience, but sometimes it can feel like a struggle. In most cases, you will find one of two causes for running out of patience: a lack of knowledge...
When a horse loses confidence, the most important thing to do is retreat.
Retreat from…The threshold
The obstacle
The maneuver
The objectiveThis is really hard for humans to do! It doesn’t seem logical. We want to encourage, we want...
Q: I recently bought a 15-year-old mare. She seemed so sweet but when I brought her home, she became a completely different horse. At feeding time, she rears and kicks or turns her back end toward me and threatens...
Q: I have worked with my 5-year-old mare for two years now. However, she’ll still spook out of the blue and jump sideways, and spin out from underneath me. I’ve tried desensitizing her, but it doesn’t seem to be...
Trainer and clinician Jonathan Field demonstrates how to develop a partnership with your horse and keep him focused on you, even when distractions arise. For more on this topic, see the Natural Horsemanship column in the February 2012 issue...
Q: I recently bought a three-year-old mare. The first time we had the farrier out, she immediately became nervous and wouldn't cooperate with them. The farrier's assistant put a chain over her nose, which didn't help at all. Now...
If your horse is young or green and hasn't spent much time on the trail, you might be apprehensive about leaving the arena. In this video, trainer and clinician Jonathan Field instructs a rider on how to prepare for...
