| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Lastly, I'm a big advocate of being careful how you |
| To the uninitiated, voice commands for the horse are | | | | talk to your horse. |
| nothing more than words. But to the horse they are | | | | If you use commands that sound threatening (by yelling |
| only sounds. | | | | a command), you can actually increase your horse's |
| Obviously, horses cannot speak our language. Since | | | | heart rate, frighten and confuse him, and he may take |
| they cannot speak our language we should think | | | | longer to learn. |
| through what we say to them when we want certain | | | | For instance, a popular command to teach a horse is |
| responses from them. | | | | the word "step". When driving a horse, using this |
| Take the word "whoa" for instance. I have no doubt | | | | command means for the horse to move forward...take |
| this is the most abused word in the human/horse | | | | a step. When teaching it, be careful not to yell the |
| language. When the rider says "whoa" then the horse | | | | command because it may be perceived by the horse |
| should know to stop. | | | | as a punishment. |
| But the problem is this. Often the word "whoa" is said | | | | But if you calmly say "step" you will get better results |
| when the rider wants the horse to slow down...not | | | | than if you yell it. Often times, when a horse isn't |
| stop. Before you know it, the rider has conditioned the | | | | "getting what you want", there's a tendency to get |
| horse to slow down at the word "whoa" instead of | | | | frustrated and thus, mad - and your voice volume can |
| stopping. Then the rider can't understand why the | | | | escalate. Then you're back to sounding threatening and |
| "stupid" horse won't stop when he says "whoa!". | | | | perhaps your horse will take even longer to |
| Telling your horse a command when you mean for it | | | | understand what you want. |
| to do something else is lying to your horse. You never | | | | I've seen where horses were being taught to drive |
| lie to your horse because the results you get will not | | | | where the owner taught the word "step". When |
| be what you want. Jesse Beery, a famous horse | | | | teaching it, he would loudly say "STEP!". It wasn't long |
| trainer from the 1800's, knew this well and was the first | | | | before the horse was actually balking. Then the owner |
| to say "don't lie to your horse". | | | | was getting frustrated and kept repeating his |
| Thus, when you say "whoa" to your horse, you must | | | | command even louder...as if the horse couldn't hear |
| only say it because you want to stop...not slow down. | | | | him. |
| Also, when using voice commands be sure to use | | | | It reminds me of a show I once saw on television. One |
| simple words with as few syllables as possible. | | | | english speaking man was talking with a spanish |
| Thus, if you want a horse to back up then say "back". | | | | speaking man. The spanish speaking man knew no |
| If you want him to walk then say "walk". If you want | | | | english. The english speaking man was trying to |
| him to trot then say "trot". | | | | communicate with the spanish speaking man. After a |
| Next, when using voice commands be sure to | | | | minute of obvious noncommunication, the english |
| associate an action with the command. For instance, | | | | speaking man spoke slower and louder. Unfortuantely, |
| let's say you're teaching your horse to gallop at the | | | | the spanish speaking man didn't understand english |
| command "gallop". So while in the round pen you use | | | | whether or not it was spoke loud, soft, fast, or slow. |
| one of your aids to teach him to gallop. So first you | | | | In summary, use short words. Use the word when you |
| say "gallop" then bring in the aid to motivate his | | | | want a certain action - only say the word when you |
| movement to a higher speed. | | | | want that particular action. If you want your horse to |
| If you want to teach your horse to walk then start | | | | slow down then say something like "easy". (Don't say |
| your horse around the pen in the opposite direction | | | | "slow" because he may take it for "whoa".) |
| from which you taught him to gallop. When he's gone | | | | Next, associate actions with commands and calmly |
| around several times, stop him, and pet him. If he goes | | | | talk to your horse. Horses can hear very well and |
| too fast use the word "walk" and have him go slower | | | | yelling command will not make the command any |
| by making a slight move to the front of him. | | | | more clear - if anything, it will frighten and confuse him. |