How to Train a Horse to Have Ground Manners

Horses that exhibit difficult behavior such as pulling away when being handled, biting or refusing to stand still for grooming make it difficult for owners or trainers to enjoy spending time with them. If not curtailed, this behavior could escalate from being a mild nuisance to becoming a dangerous situation. Horses with good ground manners are easier to manage, more pleasant to be around, and easier to sell.

Instructions

    • 1

      Set aside a regular block of time for the training. As with most animal training, repetition and consistency are key factors for successful results. Begin the training with small, attainable goals in mind, and don't expect the horse to obey for long periods of time.

    • 2

      Choose an area free from distractions at the beginning. The goal is to have the horse concentrate solely on its trainer during the session. Remain calm and authoritative during the sessions. Horses understand tone and body language and may test your authority until they feel they can trust you to lead. Be assertive but avoid losing your temper.

    • 3

      Teach the horse to respect your space. With the horse haltered, ask the horse to walk next to you, stop when you stop, and step back when you do. Reinforce this using a rope halter, gentle taps with a whip, voice commands, and even an assistant. Be consistent in your voice commands and your body language. Constantly remind the horse how to behave -- whether you are walking to the stall or the arena. Do not allow people to lead your horse who cannot properly discipline bad behavior.

    • 4

      Use the same cues consistently to help the horse understand what is expected. If using the pressure and release method, for example, to train the horse to turn its head to the right, pull the halter in that direction and keep gentle pressure on it until the horse turns in the desired direction. If the horse obeys, release the halter and offer praise. If he resists, do not release the pressure. Follow the same steps every single time to avoid confusing the animal.

    • 5

      Ask your horse to stand in cross-ties for short amounts of time. When the horse stands quietly for a few seconds, put it in its stall for the night and repeat the lesson the next day. Do this after the horse has been exercised and isn't waiting to be fed.

    • 6

      Tighten girths slowly on horses that won't stand still or that bite. Praise your horse each time you tighten it another notch without an incident. Consider using a soft girth cover until your horse becomes more accepting of the girth.

    • 7

      Use soft brushes on horses who won't stand still to be groomed. When the horse moves away from you, slowly and calmly move with it. Teach the horse that it cannot (and should not) move away from gentle brushing, and that it should only move away from stronger pressure (such as when you want the horse to give you more space). If the horse wants to put down his foot when you are cleaning it, start with shorter sessions. Hold the foot up for a few seconds, then let it down. If the horse tries to jerk it away from you, hold the foot as close to the horse's armpit or elbow area as possible. This will give you more leverage. Release it immediately once the horse has stopped struggling and give praise.