The Basics of Training a Horse

 English or western, it's handy to have a horse that can both direct rein and neck rein. It's also fun to teach your horse unique tricks, and even non-horse people enjoy watching horses perform them. Two simple tricks are giving hugs and kisses.

Note: If your horse tends to be a bit mouthy and nips, teaching a horse to give a kiss upon the cheek might not be safe, so find an alternative that keeps the kisses away from the handler's face.

Common Training and Behavior Problems

Behavior problems can stem from a number of different reasons. For instance, there's no point in putting a tie down or martingale on a horse to solve something like head tossing, when its mouth hurts because its teeth are too long and sharp.

The important thing when tackling any problem is to understand why the problem exists in the first place. Each of these problems is solvable with fair and consistent handling. Patience is key. And remember, you can work with your training coach for safety.

What You Shouldn't Teach Your Horse

When your horse is misbehaving, and you're a beginner rider, it is wise to get advice from an experienced rider or a trainer. Some behaviors like rearing, bucking and balking can be dangerous if you don't know how to deal with them. There are some things beginners just shouldn't attempt, at least not alone.