What does it look like when your horse says, “no”? Do you then stop that activity completely? What does it mean to ‘have a conversation’ with your horse? This video shows a simple exercise with a lot going on! Sophie is working with her horse, Lily, clicker training her on a new water obstacle that […]
Having a Conversation with Your Horse Read More »
Obstacles provide great challenges to improve your horse’s confidence and body awareness and the archway, hoop or curtain is a common obstacle in horse agility, trail classes and TREC. This video shows you how to introduce it to your horse in a way which is gentle, fun and builds your relationship. Spooky horses are scared
Horse Agility for De Spooking Read More »
Healthy movement is key to a sound and happy horse. Engagement is part of healthy movement, necessary for keeping your horse sound and comfortable. Our domestic horses get such limited movement, even with ample turnout, compared to their wild counterparts, that we need to help maintain their physical fitness through training. In order to train
Understanding Engagement as a Horse Trainer Read More »
Controlling the shoulders is important for so many exercises such as turning, circles and lateral work and improving connection with the shoulders improves your ridden communication as well as your horse’s balance and body awareness. Horses who lose balance or connection with the shoulders will often be heavier on one front leg than the other,
Moving Your Horses Shoulders When Riding Read More »
If you’re looking for a fun and varied way to improve your horse’s fitness, proprioception and connection, horse agility and obstacle training could be just the thing for you. I love to work with obstacles because they give you and your horse a clear, focused task to figure out how you’re going to get around,
Horse Agility for Despooking, Body Awareness and Fun! Read More »
Although we never want it to happen, accidents sometimes do and if the saddle slips it can easily panic the horse, making a bad situation much worse. Luckily, there are things you can train to help your horse understand that it’s nothing to worry about and even that he should stop quietly if the saddle
Teach Your Horse to Stay Calm and STOP if the Saddle Slips Read More »
Building trust with horses who have experienced neglect or abuse takes time and dedication. In this video, you’ll get to know Valiente, a pony rescued in Spain in terrible condition. CT Coach Claire Waldron worked patiently with him to help him overcome his fear and voluntarily participate in having his feet trimmed – it actually
Hoof Trimming with a Frightened and Aggressive Rescue Pony Read More »
Help your horse to overcome loading fear using these simulation exercises. They are perfect for breaking loading down into smaller steps for your horse so that you can keep the training calm and positive. You don’t even need a trailer or horsebox to do them. At Connection Training, our focus is always on keeping the
Loading Preparation and Simulation Exercises for Horses Read More »
It’s getting closer to book release time and to whet your appetite, here’s an interview we did with Tracy over on the Come Along for the Ride Podcast all about the Connection Training book. Here’s what Tracy had to say: “In this special episode I speak with Hannah and Rachel about their new book, Connection Training
Deep Dive Review of the CT book 📖PODCAST 🎧 Read More »
I was delighted to join Glenys from the Horsechats podcast again, this time discussing the steps to help your horse become happy to load and travel. We covered: Why so many horses find loading challenging. Loading preparation exercises you can do with your horse, even if you don’t have free access to a box or
10 Steps to Train Your Horse to be a Happy Loader and Traveller Read More »
This topic is all about horses choosing to be tacked up and ridden – is it possible that they actually will choose to be ridden and, if so, how can you train it? Choice is a huge part of Connection Training and giving horses a voice and allowing them to participate in the decisions you
Horses Choosing to be Tacked Up and Ridden? Read More »
There are some simple techniques you can use to help teach your horse that hosepipes, water, sponges etc are nothing to fear. In this video, you’ll see Poppy change from saying a strong, “NO!” to being bathed to actually enjoying it. That is the key to great training – changing the horse’s emotions to joy,
Hosing and Bathing: Teach Your Horse to Stand Quietly Read More »
