Franklin Levinson's
Horse Help Center
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"Sending"your horse
Hi Franklin,
I have recently discovered your website. I think you have a lot of very useful information and guidance, but I'm totally lost when you tell your writers to "send" their horse through gates or around trees and such things. Could you please explain what "sending" a horse means? Thank you for your assistance. I am currently trying to re-train a coming 5 year old gelding that was gelded late (shortly after Easter last year) and is very headstrong and determined. One day he knows what stop means and the next day he doesn't have a clue. Usually he is very laid back, but last Sunday I took him to a horse show and he totally went spastic on me. I have my hand full with him. Again, thank you for your help.
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
'Sending your horse' somewhere means having him go ahead of you. For instance, I do not like to lead a horse into a trailer. I much prefer to have the horse go in ahead of me, on his own. The same goes for stalls, certain types of gates, small entrances and some enclosures. A little two horse trailer can be dangerous for a human to go into ahead of a horse. Much better to 'send' the horse in first and then hook him up. To teach a horse to be 'sent' somewhere you first get him good at lunging. Then, at some point, rather than having the horse move around you in a circle, you begin to walk by his flank and move in a straight line. Do you understand? Doing a lot of ground games with your horse will help you set boundaries with him. Back him up a lot and get him really nice and smooth at changing directions either at liberty on a long line. Remember you are the leader of the dance. If he ignores your requests or disrespects your boundaries, he is leading you. This is no good.
A round pen will really help your training program. Do you have access to one? It is a great tool for training horses. But, like any tool, it is only as good as the person using it. Please consider the possibilities. Thanks for your question and let me know if I can be of additional assistance.
Sincerely, Franklin