Once you have introduced your horse to a variety of things, it is important to try and give the objects a purpose or make them part of your play.

This is were you get to be creative and think of ways you can incorporate your ground and riding cues into challenging games that can test your communication, build confidence, and ultimately build a better
partnership.

Some ideas:

v Instead of just walking over a pole, try having your horse halt halfway over

v Try getting your horse to put all four feet on the pedestal

v Have your horse walk sideways over a pole

v Have your horse do a haunch/forehand turn while keeping their hind/front feet in a hula hoop

v Send your horse over various jumps from the ground (either free jumping or online)

v Get your horse to put one foot on a tire

v Back your horse through a set of pylons or flower boxes

v Do a figure 8 pattern around barrels, flowers, or buckets (use different objects as markers)

v Have your horse walk in-between to benches, poles, or jumps – see how narrow a space your horse will walk through (great
for trailer loading practice)

v Walk over a tarp or shower curtain

v Trailer load – can you load your horse halfway into a trailer? What about all the way? What about backwards?

Use these 5 tips when spending time with your horse and you will be well on your way to building a bombproof partner that will trust your through anything!

By Lindsey Forkun

www.LFEquestrian.com

Lindsey Forkun Equestrian is dedicated to promoting positive partnerships through humane natural horsemanship for ALL equine disciplines. Lindsey Forkun Equestrian provides a
variety of natural horsemanship products and services to help you on your journey.