Western Trail Horses * Sales * Training * Clinics * Lessons

Develop and maintain feel, timing and balance
Get with the feel of the horse to get the horse to feel you
Teach and practice patience and calmness
Build trust and respect
Establish leadership
Be forgiving of lack of experience, but don't tolerate disrespectful behavior
Be relaxed, ride relaxed, stay relaxed
Don't try to do too much, too fast
Ask and release (the release of pressure is the horse's reward for attempting or completing a request from you)
Have a clear mental picture of what you want the horse to do and present it to him in a way he can understand what he's supposed to do.
Think in terms of "help him do it" not "make him do it"
Riding is controlling the direction and speed of the horse's feet.
Experiment with lightness (See how little pressure is required to achieve requested movement.)
Practice frequent stop and back sequences
Practice three speeds of walk (Slow, medium and fast)
If a horse becomes scared or excited, keep the feet moving in a controlled direction at a controlled speed.