Horse Psychology & Training

Horse Psychology & Training and Intermediate Horse Training are consecutive courses taught in the Fall and Spring Semesters. A group of approximately 15 – 20 long yearlings and two year olds are brought in from the University’s breeding program and students are assigned one or two horses. These horses are typically hunter/jumper, western pleasure or ranch horse prospects.

This is a colt starting class. Students spend the first half of fall semester teaching their horses ground manners, response to pressure, clipping and bathing, trailer loading and sensitizing and desensitizing. The horses are then started under saddle. Students are typically riding their horse prior to Christmas break. 

During the second semester, the horses continue to be trained and exposed to a variety of stimuli. The two year olds are taught to be soft in their faces and to respond to leg and seat aids.  The hunt seat prospects are started on ground poles and caveletti. The ranch horses are exposed to ropes and a mechanical steer. All horses are ridden in the arena, the pasture and in the woods, and are exposed to cattle. The students also produce the annual Sealed Bid Sale and exhibit their horses to prospective buyers.

ANS4218L allows students an in depth examination into the methods by which horses communicate, learn and are trained. Students will be assigned a yearling or two year old. Horses will be trained to lead, tie, longe, drive, trailer load and accept handling for routine management practices. These horses will also be started under saddle and bridle, receive first rides and be carried as far as time and expertise will allow.

Course Objectives

• Upon completion of this course students will have an nderstanding of logical progression in a training program.
• Students should have a stronger ability to understand a horse’s personality and develop a training program to fit that
  personality.
• This course should help students learn to adjust an individual session, when necessary, as it progresses.
• Students will learn visual communication and the importance of body language when dealing with horses.
• Students will learn techniques to develop mutual respect with a horse.
• Students will develop the basic skills necessary for starting a horse under saddle.

Intermediate
Horse Psychology & Training

ANS 4239L allows participants to continue the training of a recently started-under-saddle horse. Each individual will exhibit the horse to potential buyers and assist in the production of the Annual Sealed Bid Sale.

Course Objectives

• Different training programs used to start young horses under saddle.
• Develop skills to continue training green-broke horses.
• Evaluate young horses as individuals and design a program to strengthen each horse both mentally and physically.
• Handle training problems encountered with the development of young horses.
• Marketing through the development and execution of an advertising plan and the management of the sale of horses in this course.