KBR Horse Training Information Exercising Body AND Mind Using Boat Bumpers to Train Horses Part Two

Two bumpers on one side

Once the horse is settled with respect to packing the bumpers we'll change their location, put two on one side, then two on the other, put two on both sides, add simple obstacles such as ground poles to focus the horse's concentration, etc. We want the horse to get used to a number of permutations of these bumper drills and not bore him to sleep by repeating the same thing over and over once he is used to it. Next we'll have the horse wear a saddle and attach the bumpers. We often start by placing the bumpers behind the stirrups so the horse will feel them. Then we'll move them forward. If the horse is doing well, we'll "ride double" by hanging one set of bumpers over the stirrups and another set behind the first pair. The horse should comfortably work through the various longeing maneuvers and not be distracted by the appearance and feel of the bumpers. Please note the following safety issues. Maintain control of the horse's lead. If he startles, you want his head staying with you and his hind end swinging away from you. But at the same time don't stand directly in front of the horse. If he startles and bolts you want him to run by you, wherein you control his head and direct his movement into a longeing circle. If the horse seems overly reactive, back off and return to desensitizing him with a thumper or similar technique. We don't want the horse to believe he's resolving this situation by bolting away. He needs to be calm, think, and realize that none of this stuff is going to hurt him. Provide positive reinforcement whenever necessary but don't put yourself in a position where the horse can knock into you if something stirs the bumpers before he's desensitized to them... and he bolts. Don't ever push the horse past his rational tolerance. This exercise should be a challenge but not be unbearably frightening. Your objective is to establish a response pattern in the horse that if he stands still and/or moves quietly to your cues, he's going to be just fine.

Bumpers on the saddle "Riding double" At speed the bumpers can really bounce

Once we've completed these exercises we still want to engage in our traditional "pre flight checks" before mounting up and asking the horse to deal with all the stimulation involved with packing a rider. However if we desensitize our horses in ways that develop confidence and trust, we have a greater probability that our animals will accept and be comfortable with whatever it is that we ask of them, so long as what we ask is reasonably sensible.

Slapping the stirrups

Moving to the next level

The ultimate objective

Return to Part One

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