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Tag: Horse Training

Andrew McLean: Thinking about horses – Part 1

March 9th, 2024
“I think that we need to recognize the importance of self-carriage: when you release the reins just for two strides, the horse should stay in your speed, on your line and should stay in its own outline." Read Article 5 Comments »
 

The Principles of Horsemanship: Pressure / Release

December 2nd, 2021
The first principle is that the removal of any pressure reinforces the behaviour immediately before the removal. This is the principle of negative reinforcement... Read Article 2 Comments »
 

Re-Educating the Racehorse – Part 3

January 15th, 2015
Part two in our re-educating the racehorse series, and we look at the problem of windsucking... Read Article Comments Off on Re-Educating the Racehorse – Part 3
 

Re-Educating the Racehorse – Part 2


In the second part of our re-educating the racehorse series, Liz Owens looks at the issue of feeding the ex-racehorse... Read Article Comments Off on Re-Educating the Racehorse – Part 2
 

Andrew McLean: Thinking about horses – Part 2

January 7th, 2015
Horseman, and scientist, Andrew McLean talks about learning theory and biomechanics... Read Article Comments Off on Andrew McLean: Thinking about horses – Part 2
 

A fresh look at the Training Scale With Andrew McLean

December 3rd, 2014
  One of the refreshing things about Andrew McLean is that he is quite happy to cross-examine sacred cows, and always prepared to think outside the square. So while for most of us, the German Training Scale is very close to the revealed truth, for Andrew it is just another training method that needs to […] Read Article 8 Comments »
 

Principles of Horsemanship: Part 9 – Mentality


So important was the horse to Western civilisation in the last two millennia that all European cities are adorned with statues of the horse. The horse fought our wars, it toiled for us; it helped build much of the New World. Nowadays it fulfills our dreams... Read Article Comments Off on Principles of Horsemanship: Part 9 – Mentality
 

Principles of Horsemanship: Part 8 – The Fear Principle


The fear response is the horse trainer's greatest adversary. Fear in animals such as horses expresses itself as the flight response - the horse's attempt to flee from threatening situations... Read Article Comments Off on Principles of Horsemanship: Part 8 – The Fear Principle
 

Principles of Horsemanship: Part 7 – Self Carriage


At first, the concept of self-carriage seems simple enough. It means that the horse self-maintains his own rhythm, tempo, stride length, straightness, outline and rein and leg contact and engagement... Read Article Comments Off on Principles of Horsemanship: Part 7 – Self Carriage
 

Principles of Horsemanship: Part 5 – Shaping


Shaping is a term used in behavioural psychology and understood by animal trainers of many different species. It is about targeting and rewarding responses, then step by step adding more refinement towards the ultimate desired response... Read Article Comments Off on Principles of Horsemanship: Part 5 – Shaping