Clinic Clips: Working Through Aggression Toward Other Horses When Under-Saddle
Sometimes, horses will display aggression toward other horses when under saddle. In this clinic clip video, Jim has riders do an exercise to work through that aggression.
Sometimes, horses will display aggression toward other horses when under saddle. In this clinic clip video, Jim has riders do an exercise to work through that aggression.
Have you watched the extended Part I yet? If not, you can watch it here. Then take a look at Part II for the inside-the-trailer perspective!
We might be eager to go somewhere with our horse, but our horse isn't always eager to hop in the trailer. Here, Jim walks you step-by-step through his trailer loading process with a hesitant horse.
Want to head out to Montana with Bar T Horsemanship? Here's your chance! We're partnering with Montana Mountain West Outfitters to offer an all-inclusive pack trip on horseback through the backcountry of Northwest Montana. Specifically, the West Kootenai National Forest, west of Eureka, MT. This includes lodging, food, horse rental, etc.— everything except your airfare and your "Free Day" activities. You'd fly into Kalispell (FCA). There will be four nights in cabins at the lodge and three nights in tents in the back country. Here’s the itinerary: Day 1: Arrive (meals and board and at RiverStone Family Lodge) Day 2: Pack
“It’s all about helping a horse shape up to a feel. And when I say shape up, it’s from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. It’s not about just turning the head in or the shoulder in, it’s about the whole body picking up that shape.” In this video lesson, Jim continues his work with training horse Sandy, an 8-year-old quarter horse who was started under saddle a few years ago but ridden very inconsistently since. He runs through a few little evaluation exercises before swinging a leg over the saddle.
In this video lesson, Jim works with a horse who is having a difficult time accepting the rear cinch during a lunging exercise. "Closeness just gives us the ability to have a better conversation with our horse. Distance and feel in the lead line is like distance when trying to talk to somebody across the room or the arena. The closer I can get that person to me, the better they understand what I’m saying. The closer I can keep this horse to me on this lead line, the better she can understand the feel of what I’m offering up
Why is it important to turn in? You never want to turn a horse away from you. You never want the horse thinking that the relief comes from the outside of the circle-- relief should come from you. It also translates well outside of the round pen, especially when you go to catch your horse! In this video lesson, Jim explains why he prefers most horses to make their turns toward him when round penning instead of away from him. He teaches Sandy, a quarter horse who has been allowed to turn to the outside, to turn to the inside.
In this clinic clip Jim Thomas talks about picking up a shape, proper suppling techniques, and the benefit to this exercise for the horse and create softness within the horse.
Riders often come to me for advice because they’re having a hard time getting their horse’s mind and body soft and willing when they go to work in the arena. I always respond with the same question— “How do you go about your lesson with your horse?” Their response always seems to be the same. “I catch my horse, lead him to the barn, put him in cross-ties, groom and saddle, lead him to arena, get on and hit the rail for our warm-up.” Usually, they go on to say that the horse starts pushing through all directions once they
As I reach between my shoulder blades, I can still feel the results of a missed warning— “a shot across the bow”— from a few weeks ago in the Netherlands. I’ve replayed the video a few times for friends to show that the missed signal will always develop into something bigger! In my daily activities of working with horses both from the ground and under-saddle, I don’t know of a time the horse didn’t give me a clue of what might happen next if I didn’t take their concerns with some level of importance. Horses are no different than people