Even thougt he is no longer out in the public eye, Go to the Ponyboy.com web site.
His training is great with trust and respect issues.

Whenever I start working with a new horse, (if I am uncertain about it's past experiences) I usually go back through all the steps I would take if I was backing a horse from the beginning. Sometimes I might progress through all the steps in one session, or it make take a few weeks.
I would begin with grooming in the cross ties. I often keep a lead clipped to the bottom ring of the halter and only clip one tie on at a time until I'm certain the horse understands them. The lead allows me to keep the horse focused while I'm grooming them, and often allows me to stop a problem before it starts.
I would then progress to lunging the horse. I like them to learn that they are working, and not that it is play time. I will lunge at first in just the halter, then progress to a bridle, surcingle, and finally a saddle (this usually takes a few days to a few weeks depending on the horse). Lunging sessons are usually between 10 and 15 minutes. After, I will stand with the horse in the middle of the arena and practise rubbing the lunge whip over them, and the lunge line, progressing to the point that I can throw the lunge line over the horse and reel it back while they stand still. Will each of these things, start rubbing them on the neck and shoulder, slowly working your way back. If your horse starts to walk away, allow a step or two, but keep rubbing the whip etc. on them, then ask them to stand again. Eventually the horse will learn to accept it, and most of the time, they enjoy the time together.
When the horse in lunging with a saddle on, I will take the mounting block to the center of the arena and practice moving the stirrups around, slapping them on the rump (incase I accidentally nudge them getting on), using my toe to nudge their girth area, and eventually putting a bit of weight in the stirrup.
When the day comes to finally get on, I have a helper come hold the horse. By this point they are usually so used to my bouncing around them, they could care less that I am sitting on them. From the saddle, I will also rub my legs on their sides and wiggle my seat a little to further desensitize them.
I have seen this method work for countless horses from my trainer and have used it myself to great success. Hope it helps. and good luck

Building trust is a difficult and time-consuming thing. It took me this whole summer to get to know my 5-year-old and now he waits for me at the gate! What I would suggest is spend time with him, don't make sudden movements ever. Giving him his favorite treats always helps. And stroking him while he eats his grain will help him figure out that you are a good thing. Park out in your lawn chair a few days a week and read up on your Horse Illustrated or training book and just let him see you. Before you get on, I would suggest longing him in each direction until he knows you are in control but you won't harm him. Groundwork is help for everything! And when you put your foot in the stirrup and he doesn't like it or gets scared, go back to some more groundwork. When you do get on without a fuss, pat him, and dismount and treat him or pet him where he likes it. Then you can try again. He will eventually get over it but it will take time and effort.

Please have patience. It is so key.

Horses are 'respect' animals. They dont love, they respect and with respect comes the bond we all want with our 'best friend'.

If your horse respects you, it will trust that you will not lead him in to any danger.

(This however, does not take in to account serious psychological issues such as abuse)

Quiet timid motions will make a horse nervous. It is important to remember to be open and clear with your movements, making your movements OBVIOUS.

People get so caught up with being so super gentle and so over the top about buying a horses love with treats etc but really the horse is learning that they can get food from you if they execute particular behaviours. THEY are calling the shots, "i want a treat from that person, so if I do this, they will give me one."

You are not winning the animals respect. If you dont have a horses respect, they wont trust you. If you can show them that you can be a leader and that you call the shots then they will bond with you, follow you, want to be with you, want your attention.

Too many people have romantic ideals about horse ownership. I personally blame fictional tv shows/books such as The Saddle Club for this.

Spend time with a horse breaker/starter, and you will learn just how tough horses are, and just how much 'tough love' you have to issue.

Well, yes it is - but its what we humans feel for our horse, not the other way around, and I think thats where people get mixed up.

I never said they dont feel emotions. I have seen anger and fear and contentment and a miriad of other emotions. I just said they dont have the same concept of love like we do as humans.

People have killed horses with what we believe is love, by overfeeding, letting them get away with naughtiness so they end up as useless rides and end up at the slaughter house. By putting them in big green pastures where they founder and have to be put down.

Horses respect. And that is as close to love as they can give. A horse will follow someone they respect. If you dont put yourself at top of the food chain with 'fair and just' control and attention and the occassional reprimand, they will walk all over you.



-- Edited by sedonasilver on Wednesday 3rd of November 2010 12:40:21 AM

Well i think we will have to.

It would be nice if you could provide some logic to your arguement, as I'm sure you have some very valid points, and I am very interested to hear them :) I'm always open to ideas and I love reading about horse behaviour.

As always, it is each to their own, and Im not saying you should agree with me. I was just correcting you as you I never claimed that horses dont feel emotions.

These are all great advices offered. All I can offer is my own experience with my baby. Dollar didn't trust any humans and didn't like to be touched at all. He was a champion show jumper who had been left in a stable in which the stable hands used him for racing, since he is a very fast horse. The used whips and sticks to get him to win. You have to understand, this isn't the US and animal abuse is more prevalent here. I've seen horses at that stable with more than 6 brandings.

When I first brought him to my ranch, I couldn't even sit on him. He would buck, rear, and throw me off. He would barely let me touch, only to put his halter on. I knew I had to earn his trust. He let me go into his stall so I would bring in a stool and sit there for and hour or two and just talk to him. I would take him to the small, round paddock and put a chair in the middle and sit there with a book. I would read it out loud while Dollar grazed and walked around. If I stopped reading, he would walk closer to me to get me to start speaking again. Apparently, listening to my voice was soothing to him. When he began to nudge me for stopping speaking, I knew I could then start touching him. Once he was comfortable with me touching him, I would lean against his sides (sort of like I was hanging off of his back, with my head laying on his back). He grew comfortable enough so that when we were in the paddock he would come and lean on me while grazing. Every step had to be taken in the stall (his comfort zone). With the stirrups, while he was saddled in the stall, I started put weight in the stirrup with my hands (so I could jump away if needed) then one foot.

Surprising, all of this did not take much time. Dollar became quite affectionate with me within just 2 months. Granted, I spent a lot of time with him during each day of those 2 months. Does my horse love me? He feels something. I know he needs me and usually respects me (though lately has been pushing it a bit). When I was in the hospital then bed rest 2 months ago, the stable hands called to ask me to come out one night because he was throwing a "temper tantrum" and tearing his stall apart. They were afraid he would himself. The vet was on his way to sedate him, but I arrived there first and as soon as he heard my voice, he calmed down. I guess he was angry I was away too long.

Good luck with earning his trust. I'm sure you do it and it really is worth the effort if you can put in the time.

As he was broke by the Amish, I think that has a lot to do with trust. They tend to use a lot more force than just training. They hook them up to a horse that already drives and off they go to work. Just take your time and do a lot of work with him. Spend extra one on one time grooming him and going over the basics more than you usually would. Good luck with him.

A lot of the Amish are nasty with there horses I have seen them poking them in the ribbs with anything they have in there hand when ever the horse does the least little thing wrong. That could be why your horse does what he does when you go to mount it brings back very painfull memories. Time, patience, respect and love is what he needs. Good luck with him.

I purchased a 5year old 18.3hh percheron that was abused on a menonite (amish) farm. He had A LOT of trust issues from the day he stepped off the trailer. With time, consistency, routine, patience he has become the gentle giant nature intended.

The best tip I can give someone working with a formerly abused animal is this:

Do not make special allowances for their past experience. Treat them like any other horse. By being honest in your training and not sugar coating you will set them up for success.
Don't make allowances for poor behaviour based on history. Horses don't understand "Woe is me" they understand the here and now.