First Groundwork Session with a Nervous Mare

[@heatherjones1489]

I know nothing about horses , but I am in TOTAL AWE of you Barry, I love watching and listening to all your videos,you are what we need more of in this world.Compassion is in short supply for people & animals,but you have it in bucketfuls.God Love you my dear xx,😊

[@AnnaJennings-z5c]

I note that she is constantly turning round, in a classic case of trying to keep Barry in her left eye - as that is often the only side people work their horses. Barry has very quickly reassured her and taught that she is able to be safe in tolerating him working with her on her right side.

[@christielawrence4640]

I never got "my horse", but at 63 I cannot stop studying. With you, Sir, I feel privileged to be learning from a craftsman. Many thanks, for your style, sense, love,.and the sweey empathy you have for all behaviors that you encounter.

[@limonaad345]

This came at such a right time for me. A little over a month ago i got a little five year old fresh off the track standardbred and she was so uptight that up until now i just had this anxious shell of a horse. Now, thanks to a lot of groundwork and her getting to live the proper life that a horse is supposed to live, her personality and that young horse's curiosity has started to bloom. I watched all of your videos where you work with anxious horses and listened a lot of your instuctions and one thing that has helped us the most is the gentle firmness you use and teach. Firmness as in "listen and trust me, nothing is gonna hurt you" not in a way that "you must obey me". She still has her moments where she loses herself and doesn't really want to listen to me and i've found that taking her a step away from the thing that triggers her and telling her firmly "stand still" helps her a lot more than just baby talking her and trying to calm her down. First she was a little taken back from that but now she looks at me for mental support and THEN when i sweet talk her, she relaxes and takes in the scary thing more sensibly. It's as if she sees that if i'm not worried, she doesn't need to be worried either. I have no idea if any of it made sense bc english is not my first language lbut yeah, i have been watching your videos for years and now, when i have a "problem" horse myself, your advice has been the most helpful. So if one day my dream comes true and i can start competing in endurance riding with her, i owe you a big thank you haha!

[@erikatowle8695]

Keep up the great work! Rick on his channel Think Like a Horse has a lot of great tips on training horse with out cruelty & explains pressure & release.

[@joycee5493]

Notice the lick and chew when the “stand still” command registers. She is learning a combination of self control and respect. Well done!!!

[@jeanviarengo231]

I so love that you are bringing out your archives. A wealth of information for us all to observe, and hopefully learn.

[@gailomahony2101]

This was really lovely to watch!!!

[@erikatowle8695]

She is a beauty, she probably would have calmed down sooner without out the filming crew there. Calm voice & patience goes a long way 🐎

[@melaniehellum1281]

Nice little mare. She is a thinker and trying to understand. Good job .

[@scunningham7173]

Love the term 'Duvet voice' 🤣. Made me chuckle. Nice work with her, what a sweet little mare. I love watching your videos, I used to drive but not for a while now but just the hoof beats in the intro takes me right back. Thanks for sharing your archive, I always learn something and greatly appreciate your attitude and skill.

[@chelseavuchinich4859]

❤🙏🏻

[@broda1824]

I recently came across this video and I’m so grateful that I did. I have bought a new horse who is a lovely person but can be quite rude and also rather nervous. After watching this video and trying to emulate what you were demonstrating, I was able to see real progress with him. I has also taught me that I need to take things down a notch, be patient and not get myself stressed out too! I don’t drive but I’m enjoying your videos so much as good horsemanship is good horsemanship regardless of what you do.

[@jasonparsons1306]

A horseman! No flags and round pens, just we’ll do until you do it right, true horsemanship.

[@comesahorseman]

😄 Barry, I just had a very tough day at work & was feeling about as uptight as that mare. Watching this video has helped me settle down, and I want to thank you for posting it! Be well! 👍

[@aileen694]

Beautiful to watch, Mr. Hook ! A sweet little mare and we could easily see her softening to your training. Thank you so much!

[@emilily1991]

That was pretty awesome!!! you could see her thinking it through and with consistency and patience you got what you were looking for. That was a beautiful thing to see her go from nervous to calm.

[@DianeStPeter]

Barry, your videos just keep getting better! I like this video very much. It is very helpful. Never think things like this are boring to us because they are not. They are so helpful to see how the horse reacts and how you handle it! Well done! These foundation trainings are so important to see!!!

[@nicolassmith1278]

Hi pretty lady. How are you doing today? And how is the weather over there??

[@limitedtime5471]

Really great demonstration, i appreciate videos like this very much

[@randybutler4772]

Listening so much better. Thank you for sharing the learning experience.🐴

[@WadeDog5208]

He had me Relaxing along with that Mare! You Sir are an Artist! Thank you

[@annamcknight2573]

Wonderful! Just what I have been wanting to see. Problem solving. Taking over as herd leader and putting her mind at rest. Gentle but firm.

[@KimParkerAdcock]

Beautifully done.

[@jenniferlehman326]

Foundation again right barryhook2? Have a good solid one of that, uptight as that mare was in the beginning to how she was at the end, shows the beginnings of TRUST. And with that? They'll work their little hearts out for you!! Best Regards and Stay Safe to everyone working at HDP!! From Ontario, Canada, Jenn. 💖 💖 🇨🇦 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

[@lindaliestman4397]

I like to see a trainer work with a horse in their stall. So few do it, or admit to doing it. If used to being in a stall, It is a place where most of them feel safe, unless they have been abused in their stall. I start many phases and pieces of training in the stall, then move to a lane or alleyway, then to a square pen and then a larger arena. I train mostly riding horses, but plan to start another driver in a few months. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and wisdom.

[@barryhook2]

Sometimes the stall is where it all starts!

[@melissamitchell3530]

Really love how you work with your youngsters and scared horses I just bought 2 youngsters you teach people a lot thanks Barry xx

[@victoriaspira8344]

Brilliant to watch this. Such kindness, calmness and confidence. 😊

[@chelseavuchinich4859]

Beautiful work.

[@morganmunro3378]

Good girl little mare ❤️ she’s so precious

[@davidrenn6897]

Brilliant Barry, so much info in a short video!

[@deniseryan1909]

Brilliant video barry beautiful 🐎

[@fernlintner65]

Wow I am so grateful!

[@MarkRobinson-p5i]

How's tricks Barry? seems a long time since Hoff pub!

[@ldg2655]

I am glad to see this lesson. “Stand still” is something that my 2 year old still hasn’t mastered. She isn’t nervous or uptight, but an in-your-pocket girl who is also a bit impatient, and admittedly a bit spoiled.

[@Vee-zx6eh]

Hi Barry, I wish someone called me sugar plum and my darling! So beautiful. Another great lesson. Thank you!

[@Carroty_Peg]

Love love love this! thank you

[@Marcelolama1]

Estou assistindo seus vídeos aqui no Brasil. Sou um entusiasta em adestramento. Tenho um potro que está sendo iniciado na charrete. Seus vídeos tem me ajudado muito a entender o comportamento dele. Parabéns, continue traduzindo os cavalos para nós. Marcelo Lameira - Artur Nogueira SP / Brasil

[@barryhook2]

Olá Marcelo! Obrigado pelo seu comentário. É bom ouvir de alguém em um país diferente seguindo nossos métodos e filosofias! Tudo de bom com seu cavalo - A equipe HDP

[@crowznest438]

So pretty! Be fun to see an update on how that little gal is getting along.

[@BonnyCurless]

Beautiful!

[@rossarmit9964]

Great job 👏

[@Ceretrea]

So nice to see you don't just walk in there all grabby and flapping a flag about like some trainers. Refreshing

[@AndreaDingbatt]

Totally 💯 Agreed!!

[@abigray8585]

Such a beautiful horse though, wow.

[@richardgreen7811]

Love her ... Guaranteed she has major talent. This girl can take a very high fence and never let you down if she trusts "you". A relationship with a girl like this is greater than any woman.

[@danielwatson8778]

At 8.40 that old mares brain nearly fell out as she got it…well done

[@veronika-nikasamsa810]

❤❤❤❤

[@arnhemseptember2009]

You are right.

[@brendareed8412]

Thought she had a strange sliding set of white spots in her coat! Realized it was sunlight! Oh, well, we all start as beginners. :)

[@brendareed8412]

She seems to think as soon as you leave her head, the "stand still" time is finished. Why, Barry?

[@barryhook2]

This being the first time she has started to learn this command, she probably just doesn't quite understand what is being asked yet and her focus is easily broken once Barry moves away from being directly in front of her.

[@brendareed8412]

I see. Thank you for the explanation.

[@JuliaHall-ww8bw]

Hi Barry How do you reduce the type and strength of a traditional metal driving bit to the type you use I've been driving couple of years so very new in comparison to you and many others ?

[@barryhook2]

We only drive in rubber and any horse that comes to us goes straight into rubber. To increase the strength of a rubber bit, you could use a flexible rubber Liverpool bit or similar, but we use loose-ring snaffles.

[@JuliaHall-ww8bw]

@barryhook2 Dylan is in a metal driving bit but I'm wondering what I can use / and how to work towards using a gentler softer bit, when all he's ever driven in is the bit I bought when I purchased him and his harness

[@janellroehr4142]

So let's say she just wouldn't stand still , how long should u work with a horse before trying again later ? Or the next day ?

[@barryhook2]

Depends on the horse and the day! Can't say for sure, that's where experience comes in. It can be hard to judge when to end a training session and even we don't always get it right!

[@tessastonier]

How did he get the headcollar on in first place

[@barryhook2]

She came with it on, but if she hadn't we'd have got it on using the same philosophies to get her to trust us.

[@susanbrown2909]

The right stuff ..barry.

[@debtompkins5363]

unbelievable people would send something so 'untame' for driving training....She needed to spend a month with Warwick Schiller or Steve Young first so she wasn't afraid of people. Don't they understand how far behind this poor mare is.... so sad

[@AndreaDingbatt]

@debtompkins5363 Neither of those trainers are using the soft rubber bits. S.Young is good, but uses the metal bits. I'm sorry you don't want to learn more here, because Barry is the most Humane of horse handlers and trainers out there! I hope that you change your mind and I think that you will if you watch more of Barry's uploads. Namasté 🙏🕊️ Andréa and Critters. ..XxX....

[@lucinaramsey4705]

She has no idea what your saying, she’s standing still because there’s no space to move.

[@barryhook2]

Of course she doesn't understand yet - this is her first groundwork session! But what she is doing is learning; through trial and error and through praise. As for space, as demonstrated in the first minute of the video she has room to move away in our decent sized stable. This lesson starts small with as few distraction as possible (the camera crew not normally being present of course) and later moves to somewhere with more distractions, for example outdoors. We do not set our horses up to fail by giving them too many things to concentrate on at once.