| © 2004 Andy Curry | | | | Lastly, I'm a big advocate of being |
| All Rights Reserved | | | | careful how you talk to your horse. |
| To the uninitiated, voice commands for | | | | If you use commands that sound |
| the horse are nothing more than words. | | | | threatening (by yelling a command), you |
| But to the horse they are only sounds. | | | | can actually increase your horse's heart |
| Obviously, horses cannot speak our | | | | rate, frighten and confuse him, and he |
| language. Since they cannot speak our | | | | may take longer to learn. |
| language we should think through what we | | | | For instance, a popular command to teach |
| say to them when we want certain | | | | a horse is the word "step". When driving |
| responses from them. | | | | a horse, using this command means for |
| Take the word "whoa" for instance. I | | | | the horse to move forward...take a step. |
| have no doubt this is the most abused | | | | When teaching it, be careful not to yell |
| word in the human/horse language. When | | | | the command because it may be perceived |
| the rider says "whoa" then the horse | | | | by the horse as a punishment. |
| should know to stop. | | | | But if you calmly say "step" you will |
| But the problem is this. Often the word | | | | get better results than if you yell it. |
| "whoa" is said when the rider wants the | | | | Often times, when a horse isn't "getting |
| horse to slow down...not stop. Before | | | | what you want", there's a tendency to |
| you know it, the rider has conditioned | | | | get frustrated and thus, mad - and your |
| the horse to slow down at the word | | | | voice volume can escalate. Then you're |
| "whoa" instead of stopping. Then the | | | | back to sounding threatening and perhaps |
| rider can't understand why the "stupid" | | | | your horse will take even longer to |
| horse won't stop when he says "whoa!". | | | | understand what you want. |
| Telling your horse a command when you | | | | I've seen where horses were being taught |
| mean for it to do something else is | | | | to drive where the owner taught the word |
| lying to your horse. You never lie to | | | | "step". When teaching it, he would |
| your horse because the results you get | | | | loudly say "STEP!". It wasn't long |
| will not be what you want. Jesse Beery, | | | | before the horse was actually balking. |
| a famous horse trainer from the 1800's, | | | | Then the owner was getting frustrated |
| knew this well and was the first to say | | | | and kept repeating his command even |
| "don't lie to your horse". | | | | louder...as if the horse couldn't hear |
| Thus, when you say "whoa" to your horse, | | | | him. |
| you must only say it because you want to | | | | It reminds me of a show I once saw on |
| stop...not slow down. | | | | television. One english speaking man was |
| Also, when using voice commands be sure | | | | talking with a spanish speaking man. The |
| to use simple words with as few | | | | spanish speaking man knew no english. |
| syllables as possible. | | | | The english speaking man was trying to |
| Thus, if you want a horse to back up | | | | communicate with the spanish speaking |
| then say "back". If you want him to walk | | | | man. After a minute of obvious |
| then say "walk". If you want him to trot | | | | noncommunication, the english speaking |
| then say "trot". | | | | man spoke slower and louder. |
| Next, when using voice commands be sure | | | | Unfortuantely, the spanish speaking man |
| to associate an action with the command. | | | | didn't understand english whether or not |
| For instance, let's say you're teaching | | | | it was spoke loud, soft, fast, or slow. |
| your horse to gallop at the command | | | | In summary, use short words. Use the |
| "gallop". So while in the round pen you | | | | word when you want a certain action - |
| use one of your aids to teach him to | | | | only say the word when you want that |
| gallop. So first you say "gallop" then | | | | particular action. If you want your |
| bring in the aid to motivate his | | | | horse to slow down then say something |
| movement to a higher speed. | | | | like "easy". (Don't say "slow" because |
| If you want to teach your horse to walk | | | | he may take it for "whoa".) |
| then start your horse around the pen in | | | | Next, associate actions with commands |
| the opposite direction from which you | | | | and calmly talk to your horse. Horses |
| taught him to gallop. When he's gone | | | | can hear very well and yelling command |
| around several times, stop him, and pet | | | | will not make the command any more clear |
| him. If he goes too fast use the word | | | | - if anything, it will frighten and |
| "walk" and have him go slower by making | | | | confuse him. |
| a slight move to the front of him. | | | | |