Training means much more than just teaching the equine to be driven or ridden. It also means being responsible to the equine athlete to develop his body correctly, so he can safely do the things you ask of him. Therefore, you must be willing to go slowly enough at each stage of training to develop the muscles, tendons and ligaments over a good frame (proper equine posture). This does NOT start in the round pen, but on the lead line. This is where correct posture and proper muscle development begin. Showmanship work on the lead line helps to establish strength and balance on the flat in a controlled situation. Leading over obstacles adds coordination to strength and balance before they go to the round pen to learn balance at all three gaits on the circle. If you begin in the round pen without spending the proper amount of time on the lead line, it’s likely that your equine will have difficulty and exhibit bad behaviors during training.

Physical loss of balance is the most prevalent and produces most bad behaviors in mules and donkeys. When the training program takes into account the details of correctly developing muscles, tendons and ligaments over an aligned frame, and provides an adequate period of time for this to actually happen, the equine (horses included) will recognize that the handler is actually making them feel good all over and will be more willing to comply. Truly bad behaviors become non-existent, and simply annoying behaviors are no worse than those of a child testing his limits. It takes years to grow and develop properly, so be fair and considerate to your equine by setting him up for success. Give him the benefit of patience, kindness, respect and plenty of time to develop. Condensing the training program to teach “things” to your equine, with no regard for the time it takes to build muscle over a correct frame at any given stage is abuse and will produce bad behaviors.

Subject:

As Seen On RFD-TV
Assessing Mule?
Baby Mini Resisting Halter
Backsliding in Training?
Classical Dressage?
Colt Missed Imprinting
Do You Train for the public?
Draft Mule Won't Canter
Dressage, Jumping, Three-Day
Eliminate Buck/Kick After Canter Transition
Frightened Mule
Ground Manners and Kicking Prevention
Hard to Leave Home
Horse Jealous Of New Donkey
How Fast Can I Train My Mule or Donkey?
How To Vet The Resistant Mule
Ignoring Reins
Incorrect Lead in Canter
Love Your Training Methods
Mule Leans with Shoulder
Mule Resisting Halter
Mule Runs Off During Training
Mule Spooked by Dogs, Lost Confidence
Nipping Donkey
No Time to Train
No Whoa!
Offended By Training Methods
Overdoing Obstacle Leaps
Problems Getting Into The Lead
Quarter Horse Rears when Ridden
RE: As Seen on RFD-TV
Recommend Trainer?
Saddle Slips
Safety Helmet Spooking Mule
Side Passing Mule
Slow Lope
Stand Still To Mount
Start at 3?
Stubborn Donkey
Teach an Old Mule New Tricks?
Tongue Over Bit
Training a Mule
Training An Abused Animal
Training In A Pasture
Training Orphan Foal
Untrained To Tame In 5 Days?
What Level Rider Am I?
When to Saddle Train Quick Learning Mule?
When To Start Under Harness
Where to Get an Elbow Pull
Where to Start?