Training advice

Tricks:
The trick, smile: this is one if the simplest techniques to teach. Start off by picking the treat you think your horse will respond well to  (carrot or apple can work perfectly fine). You move the treat until it is above the horses top lip, while ate the same time saying "smile". They should try to reach up with their top lip, as soon as they do give the treat to them and praise them. It might take a while for their lip to strengthen up, so don't get discouraged. Consistency is the key!! The longer you work on It, the longer they are able to hold it up!!!!

The Trick, Paw: this is one of the tricks i call "natural born". Horses are born knowing how to  paw unlike smiling, bowing etc. The way to teach this is not my favorite because i feel like rewarding bad behavior. make sure they only paw when you ask them to, do not let them do it without you telling them. When your teaching this trick take your horse to where it gets bored the most. wait for the paw, praise (over exaggerate your praise) and give treat. they will catch on fast, the second time they paw say your command "paw". if you want them to paw when you paw your foot say your command and add the motion. My horse is best at this trick. :) I hope this helps and if it was confusing tell me, and i will try my best to clarify.

The trick, bow (using no ropes): start off by making sure your horses neck is nice and stretched. begin by holding your treat (I use a carrot) beneath the horse. Ask for your horse to pick up his foot, when your horse reaches for the treat pull its leg to the ground. DO NOT FORCE, if your horses leg doesn't touch the ground just keep working at it through the week. If you feel them pulling their leg back don't pull, let the have it. If you do not do this it can make the horse very frightened , and loose trust in you. Caution: be careful I have gotten my fingers bit multiple times ;)

Training advice:

Dealing with a nippy/biting horse:  every time a horse is nippy or bites they are communicating something. Since horses cannot speak the talk to us through their body language. 50% of the time when a horse bites, it lacks repect for you. It's not "the horses fault" it's simply the care taker's fault. Sometimes the horse may be in pain but, I would try these techniques maybe before calling the vet out to your place. When a horse bites we tend to leave them alone , because we are afraid. Which in reality this is giving the horse more reasons to bite. THE ANSWER IS NOT SLAPPING YOUR HORSE. You do not want your horse not doing something out of fear, but our of respect, trust & love. When a horse nips or bites Make them move their feet. If this means walking backwards, sideways, in circles just make them work. This is what I did with my horse, and it has helped sooo much!! Work on this for about a week and see if you have a change!



Have a trick or technique you want to know how to teach? Feel free to leave request in the comments!