You sir, are a hero. I have been trying to find a teacher for this but everyone wants to get paid and I just cannot afford it. I don't have the means to get decent lessons and all the others on youtube do not give away all the information. They just show 10% and try to sell us the other 90%. Alot of us cannot afford that. So thank you sir, from the bottom of my heart.
Tomas E ... *Have you ever seen Sam Van Fleet’s video’s? She’s an Amazing Teacher on how to proper train a wild horse (she specializes with American Mustangs)!*
Ian I’m running cattle and horses in the white rock mountains in the Ozark national forest in Arkansas Your training methods for teaching real horses what to do is a lap ahead of the rest Really appreciate what you do Thx
The beauty of you videos is that we great to see the real start of whatever lesson you are demonstrating. That is a rare opportunity on you tube, as most trainers do some work first off camera then demonstrate their partially trained horse. No disrespect for those trainers, but it does make one appreciate your videos allowing us to see the how we can initiate each part of training and deal with the responses we may face. We all seem to have a good idea of what the result should look like, so your sharing how and where to start is a gem many of us treasure. Isn't it strange that any video on horse training brings out harsh critics, when the bond we have with horses is so special. I can think of no other sport (I don't actually look at riding as a sport) that is so critical of people learning and the mistakes they make. It takes courage and confidence to post a video on horse training and I am very pleased you have both. Please keep posting videos. Your voice reminds me of a John Williamson song. All the best from NZ.
Hi Ian Just read your comment and I have to tell you that's the reason I came to this video is because so many others I looked at showed horses which were already trained up. Nothing like what I am dealing with. Thanks this helped.
Thanks Ian, I'm working with a mare who is pushy/assertive with her shoulder but also very flighty. I was trying to figure out how to get her respect without hurting myself. This has been most helpful. Not only do I feel safer on the ground, I jumped back on her after working on this and she is a much nicer ride for it. Really appreciate the time and effort you've taken to share your knowledge.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I'm going to put this into practice this evening. We've bought a 2 year old and 1 year old to start ourselves so we know what we're getting.
Just want to say, I've watched a lot of videos on how to start a horse without a round pen and this is the best one by far. I have a spoiled 5yr old that I've been putting off on starting cause I couldn't find anyone to help me or someone who wouldn't charge me over 1,500$. I've never started a young horse by myself and this helped me a lot with her today. I work her for about 30 min each time just to get a feel of her and so that I don't overwhelm her at the same time. Awesome video, thank you!
ya know. The very last comment said it all. never hit the horse, no kiss kiss sounds just pure body language, and presence. "He's come a long way in a short time" I like your no wiggle waggle backup theory- about teaching backup, I don't like the thought of a horse harming itself while tied because it triggers itself to think it's being asked to backup. everything else you've taught in this video will be added to my database of working with horses.
Thanks for this video - any horse work I ever do will have to be in a riding school so seeing someone actually do a full session of ground work on a lunge line is very helpful.
What a great video. I have an older horse that has never been asked to work on a circle without a round pen. He practically clings and leans on me l when I ask him to move out. This seems very simple for me to understand to I can get started with that guy. Thank you!
Hi Ian, thank you for your videos I really enjoy watching them over and over to study them. These groundwork lessons are working great with my new horse. I still have a lot to learn and I am looking forward to seeing you at Kilmore in May.
Hi Ian thanks for your time and showing your knowledge in horse training I myself along with thousands around the world do appreciate it so a big thank you and I myself have tried a few things shown on your videos and have worked great so thank you. To your last comment I agree with you if there are people out there that don't like what your showing or disagree with the way your doing things, and cant say something nice then yeah let them put up there own videos so we can all learn together. KEEP UP YOUR GREAT VIDEOS . Elle
First time I see something ( and I have seen so many) that I will try to do with my horse... Thanks for sharing this great and understanding video your a great teacher.. will look forward to seeing more from you. Best regards from Denmark. Ulla
Thanks for posting a video about "no round pen" training! I have a rising yearling and I have a round pen…but it is made for riding in so it is really big!
Thank you Ian for this video. I am working with my cousin's mini horse. And I LOVE that you show from the beginning with any resistance that you may meet and how you work through it. Do you have a course or DVD series? I am just starting with ground work basics. Like being able to move to her side or putting a rope over her head. So a step by step would be phenomenal. This is exactly the approach I am looking for when training. I only have mild experience and most of it comes from Heartland the TV show and what research I have done years ago. I love the way you talk us through. If you don't have a series or a book, you definitely should. You are awesome!
That was very helpful! i have one that keeps coming in at the shoulder at me and i think this will help ie shorter line and the way you send off. Thanks!
Thanks Ian! I have been trying to teach a pony to lunge. We just weren't getting this. Watched your video last night. Lunged that little guy today! Once I used the correct direction, he got it right away:)
Hi there Ian Again loving these clips , But what I'd like to ask is before you start working a horse I've always been told you should stretch a horse even the neck. And in this clip I never seen you do this, I'm just asking if this is right that's all As I love the way you work the horse I just want to do the right thing for my horse that's all. Cheers thanks for sharing your work though as its really helped me, and I am sure a lot of other people. Cheers Elle
THANK YOU IAN, love your videos, and was so pleased to revisit again today. I have a gypsy (sod), sorry cob, cross who has really got me challenged at times. I know it's a respect issue, as he does like to swing his butt, and always has really pinny ears when asked to do things...... He's at he bottom of the pecking order (well maybe I am in his mind), and I don't have a round pen to get after him. So good to be reminded of moving the shoulder over and out. Will try the flag again with him, and see how we go. Thank you again for sharing, very generous, and GREATLY appreciated!!!!! I have other appy crosses, who simply don't have this attitude, so it has come as a shock. Could also be his arab other half......Wonderful work, thank you!!!! as one does become disillusioned thinking "i know what to do", and then realise, NOPE - out of my depth!!!
I love this video! It's so great to see just how far this horse comes in just one short session. I know it's been a while since it was first posted - was there any follow up videos or DVDs made on this guy?
Greetings from Canada Ian, I am enjoying your videos, but I am having an issue with leading my horse. She feels the need to be out front pulling, I applied the technique of changing direction when she does this, but it doesn't always work. Any suggestion? Thanks in advance Jeff
I've watched several groundwork videos (with and without a round pen) and I like this one the best. I tried this technique with my new Morgan-X horse, and he was sensitive enough that he did not need the stick/flag (made him very nervous and touchy) to move away. Would you recommend sticking with just one of these movements per session or the whole set of movements? Thanks for the video!
I hope that like all of us you acknowledge you have more to learn. I'd suggest you have a look at Rick Gore or Warwick Schiller and ask yourself how they could help you. Good luck.
*What about though if the horse you’re working with is wild? You can’t even get close enough to him/her to touch them? And your New horse is running away from you, pulling the rope out of your hands (giving you rope burn), or dragging you everywhere?? I’m pretty sure that you’ll NEED a round pen then; or a 8 sided pen!*
Hi Ian . I just wanted to thank you so much. I just started to train my own horse and this video. helped me so much. I do have a quick question for you. How old does a horse need to be before you start traing?
My gelding who was gelded at 3 years old likes to kick out at me and rear and half of the time he almost gets me! He's 5 now and I can't get respect at all! He knows no personal respect he will nibble u any chance u gets! He's bucked me off twice for just making him move away from his pasture mate (his mom they have been together his whole life) we have moved the mare but he gets out and goes to her! We have no round pen he's a problem horse for me! I need tips!
How did you teach him that 'hand up' means stop? I tried this today aaaand ... I could make him go quite easily, and he's nearly runs into me on the turns but I can improve that, I just couldn't get him to stop when I wanted, nor could I get him to face me.
I'm not Ian but I'll drop you a line. Maybe it's helpful :) First of all there are many ways to stop your horse on the ground. I use hand up, too but combined with a parelli method. My horse has learned that shaking the rope (softly first and more if she doesn't react) means stop and back off. I raise my hand to do this. Usually, she already backs off once my hand is up. I can use that technique while she circles around me, too. I raise my hand and if she doesn't react, I shake the rope. Of course she has to have learned beforehand (!) what the shaking means stop or go backwards. If the information is clear, most horses will react the way you want :) This method might also be helpful to keep your horse from coming in to you too much!
+GoldenLioness100 Shorten up your line put your hand up and ask with the vocal que and if he doesn't do it put yourself "ahead of him"and ask again. I don't mean in front of him, but if your lunging you should be looking midway of you horse or farther back to the hip. People say to look at all sorts of areas, but if your "ahead of him" your looking and walking at his neck/shoulder area. This should immediately catch his attention and if he comes directly at you instead of stopping give the line a flick or however many required to send him away from you (the same thing you should be doing every time he comes into your space). And keep asking, and when he does give him a second or two vocal praising and then go rub him on the head and give him a tiny break so his knows he did what you were asking.
Hello Ian, my horse(half Arabian, very stubborn) will not turn direction, he only wants to go on the left lead. no matter what i try he will not turn the other way, its like he wants to walk through me when i try, do you have any tricks or advice to help me?
Hi Ian, I understand the majority of these comments were from well over 6 months ago, the video too, no less, but I'm curious about one thing. Reading through, I noticed another commenter brought up other horsemen, Warwick Schiller and Rick Gore, and a brief response on it from you. I don't know much about Warwick, but I've watched and read a fair bit of Rick. You both seem to have a head on your shoulders, but I was wondering what you think your main differences are in comparison to Rick? Thank you very much, and hello from a fellow aussie!
Do you have any other videos of how to straighten a very problematic horse out? My mare tries charge me, she stands on her back legs, and paws at me. I don't know how to prevent it, because she could careless if she hurt me, because at the moment she thinks she is the boss, due to her last owners.
The mistake people make (including this guy) I not to move oneself to the proper positions. You have to move around to do this. As for round pen, it is a lot safer not to be joined to the horse by a rope. I’ve used a round pen as well as a lead rope. And a round pen is far better. Another useful technique is to work with a wall or fence in support. This way you can use a lead rope and achieve the same result as a round pen
Here is a horse with some more on it. I would encourage anyone to assess what works and what doesn’t by how the horse responds and where it ends up rather than what they think the handler should be doing. Let the horse be the judge. That’s what experienced horsemen do. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aW4ysIx0bBo.html
I have a 4 year old spoiled horse and she is not trained she's broke but she is green and she just won't show me any respect and I can't seem to gain her trust
Daniel Thomas knowing how to use where you focus and how to encourage the horse to learn to follow a feel better may not look too much like the kind of relative body position you have in mind. Here is an article that explains what I am doing in greater depth. Maybe you can elaborate a little more on where and why I didn’t get what I was asking. This is not a trained up horse but a first time learning with a horse that’s a little bracey and rushy. ianleightonhorsemanship.com/importance-body-language/
Most of this was very good - except the part where this trainer shows people how to get killed by their horses! Being in that horse's face, in range of his front feet, yanking on his face like that before he even knows what it means to give to pressure? That's one huge recipe for disaster and a lawsuit! That's incredibly reckless to show the public at large your method for getting him to back. Wow. Dislike.
***** Yes, I was waiting for you to get nailed and think that's a very good horse that he didn't. I would, and have, shown horses to move off the halter pressure by using a 30 foot lunge line and moving it around their hindquarters and gently pulling them off in a circle. No danger of getting kicked and the horse gets used to following his nose around without getting stressed out.
***** I'm not interested in a flame war with you. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. David is never anything but safety first, as am I, so I was more than a little shocked at your method and reacted more than anything else. I am glad you've never been kicked doing that head-grabbing move. It's a credit to the horses you work with. I stand by what I've said about letting the horse move off in a circle while they learn pressure and release. I didn't film the last horse I taught ground work but he is past it now anyway. I don't do it professionally anyway. That is why I saw your video; I am always looking to learn more. We will disagree and if you want I will take down my "disdainful" comment, I do think you are going to get someone hurt, someone who might not have as much experience with horses, and you will feel pretty bad when that happens, I'm sure.
***** He was in a "safe area" of the horse when he rocked the head. In the end he had more control over the horse being close like that than using a 30 foot lunge line which are really pointless really.
***** Hi Shelley replying to your comment.No1 firstly if you look at the pro's in horsemanship tell me 1 that doesn't stand in front of the horse to make it backup?No 2 please tell me where Ian is right in the horses face Yanking on his face, I've watched this video 4 times and have not once seen Ian yanking on the horses face? I did see Ian holding the horse under the chin very closely moving the head from side to side NOT ONCE YANKING.Everyone has there own way of training if you don't like something someone is doing then don't watch it and pick at it, like Ian said for those who don't like his training do us all a big FAVEOUR AND DO A VIDEO OF your own and put it up so we can all learn and help each other. As we can all learn from each other no matter how good people think they maybe there is always someone better out there that we can all learn from. Cheers
IN THE FIRST 18 SECONDS OF THE VIDEO YOUR HORSE LOOSES FOCUS AND YOU YANK ON THE LEAP ROPE WHEN THE HORSE MAKES A SOUND!! WHAT IS IT, YOUR FIRST DAY SEEING A HORSE!? Watch Warwick Schiller's video on how to gain respect and how to make your horse focus on you and not other things so it'll be a little bit harder for you to mess up! Also, NEVER loop the lead rope around your hand when you're holding a horse, because if it runs, the lead rope will be around your hand! I learnt that on my first day handling a horse. SERIOUSLY. Not to count the fact that you're mumbling the nearly the whole time. So learn some of the basics before you go teaching the wrong things to newbies, ok?
I'm not an expert, I'm not old enough to live on my own yet. I'm social (believe it or not) and have friends from different countries and I know different accents, it was just a little hard to hear you clearly. I'm just fed up with living any longer, that's why I raged in the comments a month ago.
Hi from NZ horsewolf; As you have probably figured out by now, everyone has a slightly different method to achieving the end results. It doesn't make any of them wrong, it is just a matter of different folks and different horses. I am sure you could pick a few techniques from each of the top trainers, that will make sense to you, and work best for you. What counts is that all of these trainers, including Ian are treating horses well and paying attention to how the horse is communicating to them. There are some even more gentle and patient trainers out there that might suit you; I am not sure if their techniques are better or more effective, but to choose the right method for you. If you watch Ian's video again, you will notice he was communicating in a way, that the horse could figure out the answer, and he was consistent. All the best horsewolf.
