| It's surprising to horse owners when a horse reaches | | | | bites at it. Be careful not to kick him because then he'll |
| around and bites at their foot. What the owner doesn't | | | | associate getting kicked in the face with bringing head |
| know is they taught the horse to do that. Let me | | | | his around to give to the bit. Then you'll have a horse |
| explain the message in this article. | | | | that doesn't want to give to the bit. Do you see how |
| While in the saddle, you want to teach your horse to | | | | you can accidentally teach the wrong thing and not |
| give to the bit. It's important you understand that some | | | | even know it? |
| horses will take longer than others to learn it. That's | | | | Thus, when you bring his head around and he gives, |
| just the way it is and you have to be patient with that. | | | | then release the pressure. If his head is around and he |
| Interestingly, a horse may reach around and bite your | | | | nibbles at your foot but still hasn't given to the bit yet, |
| foot while you're holding the rein and waiting for him to | | | | simply wiggle your foot. When he gives, you release. |
| give. If he does, here's what you do. Do NOT let go of | | | | That's where he'll learn what to do. |
| the rein. The reason is when you let go of the rein it is | | | | Releasing the pressure directly after he does what |
| immediate relief for him. Horses learn to do something | | | | you wanted him doing teaches him to give you "the |
| when they get relief. If that's where they get relief, | | | | right answer". Releasing the pressure teaches him to |
| when biting your foot, then they'll learn to bite your foot | | | | seek the release and he'll soon teach himself to look |
| to get the relief. | | | | for the release. Read that last sentence - it's the most |
| So what do you do? Instead, wiggle your foot if he | | | | profound knowledge in horse training there is. |