Are some horses impossible to train?

I wonder how many desperate horse owners key this question into their internet search engines? It popped up among the many queries which bring people to our website this month. Of course the question itself conjures up all sorts of other questions – how much experience has the owner got? How old is the horse? Is the horse young or an older one with bad habits? Has the owner tried asking an expert to help?

Are some horses impossible to train, then? I believe only very few are and probably for physical rather than mental reasons. However, many people will find it hard to train certain horses. The vital thing is to know when to throw in the towel, give up and call in the help of an expert. It’s safer for the rider and kinder for the horse. If a horse is behaving badly, the first thing to consider is whether he or she is in pain. It’s worth asking a vet and a dentist to check to see if there is anything seriously wrong.

An intelligent horse learns quickly but this is not always a positive because he learns bad habits as quickly as good ones if he thinks he can get away with them. Horses are herd animals and feel secure if there is a definite pecking order. This means that the rider should be Number 1. A leader, or boss, horse will keep trying to take control so be ready for this. The Monty Roberts Join Up method works well to establish this. See www.montyroberts.com for more.

I have often found nervous horses to be easier to manage in the long run than boss horses but they can be very difficult until they settle down and learn to trust their trainer. I have a nervous pony at the moment who came from a difficult background where he was obviously treated roughly. He doesn’t trust humans as a result and shows no affection whatsoever. It has taken me a long time to catch him and get him calm enough for experienced children to ride. Interestingly, once he starts to work, he is very good. He loves jumping and he recently tackled a cross country course for the first time and jumped everything except the coffin fence. But at home, he is still nervous and difficult to catch, even now. He needs a lot of time and TLC.

Partnership combinations to avoid

• Boss horses and nervous riders – (the horse always wins this contest!)
• Nervous horses and nervous riders – (who frighten the life out of each other)
• Young horses and beginner riders – (neither has enough experience to teach the other)

If you feel you have a horse which is impossible to train, don’t blunder on expecting him to change – get help fast! It’s amazing how many seemingly difficult horses can change immediately when an xperienced trainer takes over. Learn what works for your horse and you can then apply it yourself.