| To the uninitiated, voice commands for the | | | | |
| horse are nothing more than words. But to | | | | Lastly, I'm a big advocate of being careful |
| the horse they are only sounds. | | | | how you talk to your horse. |
| | | | |
| Obviously, horses cannot speak our language. | | | | If you use commands that sound threatening |
| Since they cannot speak our language we | | | | (by yelling a command), you can actually |
| should think through what we say to them when | | | | increase your horse's heart rate, frighten |
| we want certain responses from them. | | | | and confuse him, and he may take longer to |
| | | | learn. |
| Take the word "whoa" for instance. I have no | | | | |
| doubt this is the most abused word in the | | | | For instance, a popular command to teach a |
| human/horse language. When the rider says | | | | horse is the word "step". When driving a |
| "whoa" then the horse should know to stop. | | | | horse, using this command means for the horse |
| | | | to move forward...take a step. When teaching |
| But the problem is this. Often the word | | | | it, be careful not to yell the command |
| "whoa" is said when the rider wants the horse | | | | because it may be perceived by the horse as a |
| to slow down...not stop. Before you know it, | | | | punishment. |
| the rider has conditioned the horse to slow | | | | |
| down at the word "whoa" instead of stopping. | | | | But if you calmly say "step" you will get |
| Then the rider can't understand why the | | | | better results than if you yell it. Often |
| "stupid" horse won't stop when he says | | | | times, when a horse isn't "getting what you |
| "whoa!". | | | | want", there's a tendency to get frustrated |
| | | | and thus, mad - and your voice volume can |
| Telling your horse a command when you mean | | | | escalate. Then you're back to sounding |
| for it to do something else is lying to your | | | | threatening and perhaps your horse will take |
| horse. You never lie to your horse because | | | | even longer to understand what you want. |
| the results you get will not be what you | | | | |
| want. Jesse Beery, a famous horse trainer | | | | I've seen where horses were being taught to |
| from the 1800's, knew this well and was the | | | | drive where the owner taught the word "step". |
| first to say "don't lie to your horse". | | | | When teaching it, he would loudly say |
| | | | "STEP!". It wasn't long before the horse was |
| Thus, when you say "whoa" to your horse, you | | | | actually balking. Then the owner was getting |
| must only say it because you want to | | | | frustrated and kept repeating his command |
| stop...not slow down. | | | | even louder...as if the horse couldn't hear |
| | | | him. |
| Also, when using voice commands be sure to | | | | |
| use simple words with as few syllables as | | | | It reminds me of a show I once saw on |
| possible. | | | | television. One english speaking man was |
| | | | talking with a spanish speaking man. The |
| Thus, if you want a horse to back up then say | | | | spanish speaking man knew no english. The |
| "back". If you want him to walk then say | | | | english speaking man was trying to |
| "walk". If you want him to trot then say | | | | communicate with the spanish speaking man. |
| "trot". | | | | After a minute of obvious noncommunication, |
| | | | the english speaking man spoke slower and |
| Next, when using voice commands be sure to | | | | louder. Unfortuantely, the spanish speaking |
| associate an action with the command. For | | | | man didn't understand english whether or not |
| instance, let's say you're teaching your | | | | it was spoke loud, soft, fast, or slow. |
| horse to gallop at the command "gallop". So | | | | |
| while in the round pen you use one of your | | | | In summary, use short words. Use the word |
| aids to teach him to gallop. So first you | | | | when you want a certain action - only say the |
| say "gallop" then bring in the aid to | | | | word when you want that particular action. |
| motivate his movement to a higher speed. | | | | If you want your horse to slow down then say |
| | | | something like "easy". (Don't say "slow" |
| If you want to teach your horse to walk then | | | | because he may take it for "whoa".) |
| start your horse around the pen in the | | | | |
| opposite direction from which you taught him | | | | Next, associate actions with commands and |
| to gallop. When he's gone around several | | | | calmly talk to your horse. Horses can hear |
| times, stop him, and pet him. If he goes too | | | | very well and yelling command will not make |
| fast use the word "walk" and have him go | | | | the command any more clear - if anything, it |
| slower by making a slight move to the front | | | | will frighten and confuse him. |
| of him. | | | | |