Horse Training
Horse training starts with earning a horse's trust and then learning to apply logical pressures that will guide the horse's behaviour. This pressure can be a verbal command or something physical, such as using your legs to apply pressure to the horse's sides. The most effective horse training programs revolve around positive reinforcement and praise, rather than using punishment to correct bad behaviour. Horses view punishments as the actions of an enemy and will become less responsive.
If you're about to go horseback riding for the first time there are a variety of programs that can make you feel at ease about this new experience. Interactive CD-ROMs, videos, e-books, and other training manuals are available to demonstrate the basics of horsemanship such as the correct way to mount and dismount, gaining the horse's trust, making the horse walk or stop, and reading the horse's body language.
For the experienced rider or trainer there are courses on a wide range of topics including barrel racing, dressage, eventing, ground training, hunter-jumper training, reining, and trail riding. Programs are also available to train "working" horses such as race horses or horses that help herd cattle and other farm animals. Other programs are designed to assist with a specific breed of horse or a particular riding style. Training may be taught on campus, or by correspondence from various schools, at a stable, or through your local horse association. A number of professional trainers and Olympic level horseback riders also post training tips and tricks on their websites for free or offer newsletters you can subscribe to.
Most horse owners need to employ a professional horse trainers at some point in their horse's life. To choose the right trainer visit horse shows and stables to see horse trainers in action and observe the horses they've worked with in the past. Experts suggest judging a trainer on three main qualities: Personality, is the trainer someone you can communicate with? Reputation, is the trainer known to treat horses humanely and achieve positive results? And finally, the condition of their barn. Does the barn area look clean, are the horses healthy and do they have everything they need? Experts also suggest arriving 30 minutes early for your first interview with a trainer. This allows you to observe the trainer, horses and work area in their natural state, rather than as they are when the trainer is putting on his/her sales pitch.
For those wanting a career in horse training there's more than one way to get started. In most cases a horse trainer's success is built on reputation so formal education isn't always necessary. Many people who have successfully trained their own horses go on to become professional trainers without obtaining a degree or diploma.
If you are seeking a formal education, many colleges and universities offer certificates, bachelors or even masters degree programs in horse training, and a number of online courses are available as well. Once their education is complete, most students go on to apprentice themselves to a professional horse trainers for one or two years to build up their reputations. Therefore, programs that offer work experience as part of the course work may be preferred.