Horse training

Horses are also trained for specialized jobs from movie stunt work to police and crowd control activities, circus entertainment, and equine-assisted psychotherapy.

However, even people who do not advocate imprinting often still place value on handling a foal a great deal while it is still nursing and too small to easily overpower a human.

By the end of a foal's first year, it should be halter-broke, meaning that it allows a halter placed upon its head and has been taught to be led by a human at a walk and trot, to stop on command and to stand tied.

More advanced skills sometimes taught in the first year include learning to accept blankets placed on it, to be trimmed with electric clippers, and to be given a bath with water from a hose.

However, waiting until a horse is full grown to begin training is often far riskier for humans and requires considerably more skill to avoid injury.

Several ground training techniques are commonly introduced to a young horse some time after it is a year old, but prior to being ridden.

While a foal or yearling can be introduced to a small amount of ground work, a young horse's bones and joints are quite soft and fragile.

Common ground training techniques include: A horse is not ready to be ridden until it is accustomed to all the equipment that it needs to wear and is responsive to basic voice, and usually rein, commands to start, stop, turn and change gaits.

Many Thoroughbred race horses have small, light riders on their backs as early as the fall of their yearling year.

There are many techniques for introducing the young horse to a rider or to a harness and cart for driving, but the end goal of all methods is to have the horse calmly and quietly allow a rider on its back or behind it in a cart and to respond to basic commands to go forward, change gaits and speed, stop, turn and back up.

A properly handled young horse that had adequate ground work will seldom buck, rear, or run away when it is ridden, even for the very first time.

However, an adult feral horse may be easier to train than a domesticated animal that has previously learned to treat humans with disrespect.

The websites of The Horse Trust and the Equine Behaviour and Training Association also provide uptodate information on evidence-based approaches.

A horse being trained on the longe line.
Effective communication and harmony between horse and rider are among the goals of proper training
Horses too young to be ridden are trained to accept a halter, taught basic skills, manners, and become accustomed to human activity. Some, like this yearling , are shown in conformation classes.
A young horse in Europe being longed with a surcingle and side reins
A young Lipizzan at the Spanish Riding School in training equipment, wearing saddle , bridle and longeing cavesson so that it may be longed prior to being ridden
Discipline-specific training can take years to perfect