KBR Horse Training Information Exercising Body AND Mind Training Horses the "Wal-Mart" Way Part Four

Using Playground Toys We've found a number of "safe" toys in the Wal-Mart Toy Department. Our favorites include the big, soft rubber balls typically found in the tall wire cages. We can toss and roll these balls around so that horses get used to different things moving around them and learn not to be threatened by them. If we accidentally hit a horse with one of these big, fat balls it doesn't hurt. In some cases we'll even bounce the balls off the horses. Naturally the horses need to be ready for such activities. We usually start out by tossing the ball around the horse and letting him get used to the movement before tossing the ball over or under him. Pretty soon this is all no big deal to the horse and some horses actually want to play with the balls. For a complete discussion on preparing horses to work with a ball, please click Here.

Playing "horse volleyball" Playing "horse soccer"

We find lots of toys and supplies at Wal-Mart that we use for training and bomb proofing. We just have to remember that the manufacturers of human toys and supplies don't design them with training horses in mind. Therefore it is our responsibility as trainers to carefully regard whatever item we are considering using, make a rational decision as to whether it is really safe to use it, and use common sense when engaging in any horse training activity. We can have fun, horses can learn and become safer, and we don't have to spend a fortune in the process however we always have to use good judgment.

Velvet "inspecting" some toys

The Ultimate Objective

Continue to Bombproofing: Producing Horses You Can Trust Return to Part Three The Bomb Proofing DVD is Now Available! Filmed at the 2004 Western States Wild Horse & Burro Expo, "Bombproofing" explains the logic of setting up a bomb proofing course, how to handle horses in the course, safety issues and more. The participants in the video are all wild horse adopters, mentors and 4-H members with (former) wild horses, and with BLM Ranger Stan Zuber and Koal the mustang ranger horse. All profits from video sales fund LRTC's non profit Wild Horse Mentoring projects. to learn more about the video. Important Note: If you take on the project of developing an untrained horse, everybody will want to give you advice. Don't act on any advice, including the ideas offered in this site, unless it makes sense to you and fits your individual situation. Your abilities and the sensitivities of your horse(s) may differ from the examples given. Be alert and rational with your actions so neither you nor your horse will get hurt. This information is offered as illustrations of what we do and the reader must apply common sense since he or she is solely responsible for his or her actions. Happy trails! Press "Back" to return to the page that brought you here Go to Case Study Section Return to Training Section Return to Wild Horse Mentors Return to KBR World of Wild Horses and Burros Go To KBR Horse Net KBR Horse Training Information, © 2005 Lamm's Kickin' Back Ranch and Willis & Sharon Lamm. All rights reserved. Duplication of any of this material for commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. This prohibition is not intended to extend to personal non-commercial use, including sharing with others for safety and learning purposes, provided this copyright notice is attached. Email us to submit comments or request reproduction permission.