Early Training - Desensitisation

Throwback to the summer, when we were all going around in t-shirts in the sunshine - and Red the Dartmoor Mare was staying with us! She now lives at Wellgate Community Farm, but here she is during her training, getting used to things that she might not see out an about, but will help her cope with the things she does.
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[@cherylalbright2086]

The horse world needs more trainers like you!!! Your old school, correct, common sense knowledge is what is lacking all over the horse world. I wish the younger generation of horse owners would get a clue, but unfortunately they think they know-it-all.. Great horsemen/women, never think they know it all, they are always learning and teaching.. Thank you for your incredible service to the horse field!!!

[@brianleonard6025]

I agree with you Cheryl this world needs trainer's just like Barry!!

[@gerrycoleman7290]

Not.

[@cherylalbright2086]

@@gerrycoleman7290 You really should educate yourself on horse trainers before posting a negative comment, regarding my positive one about great trainers like Barry. Why don't you watch the video of him driving 3 horses down a public road, and those 3 horses happen to be 2 stallions and a mare "in season/heat", all 3 horses expertly trained by Barry. There are very few trainers who could do that, let alone not get killed in the process. There is no perfect trainer, but what I've seen of Barry's work, is a real consistency of well mannered horses that are safe.

[@pamwaller6726]

Gerry Coleman p

[@RevyTwoHands2K11]

All horses need to be taught like this. So many horses that freak out over silly things and end up causing massive accidents. All because people are trying to avoid frightening them rather that teach them there is nothing to be frightened of. Great work Barry.

[@kirsteenh.mcculloch8501]

This is very informative.Thanks Barry.I think you are the best trainer.Thanksfor showing your training.xx

[@collettaward1830]

After my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer in October last year, I decided that life was too short me being 60 years of age, that you really should do your own bucket list. Harness driving was always a dream of mine. Over the years our two girls competed at pony club, jymkanas, showjumping and agricultural shows, I was always a tireless behind the scenes, Mum. Both girls are grown now but still compete on their horses. So, in these dark days I bought a little black Shetland mare, 16, but a very experienced harness pony, who I called Manni. I could ride but was a complete novice at harness. In order to learn more about harness driving I trolled the internet and I found a wonderful horseman called Barry Hook. I have become an avid watcher and devoted follower to say the very least!!!! I cannot thank you enough Barry! I have learnt so much watching your videos. I love the way you talk to the horses and your consistent patient way you handle the horses. I love your common sense which is sometimes lost on the youth of today. Love Old Time Tuesdays! (Though I remember a lot of these items from my youth)! Colletta from Australia

[@barryhook2]

Lovely to hear our channel has helped you, Colletta. All the best and enjoy your driving pony!

[@AnnLambert-j8w]

Brilliant training.

[@annamcknight2573]

That scary man would have me running, never mind the horse! I wish all riding horses could have your training too. Quite amazing. What a Master Horseman you are!

[@honesttraitorbear3527]

What I'm noticing is you train horses to the standard I expect from a dog. It's opened my eyes to the possiblities.

[@FoxDragon]

We do such fun and odd things to our beloved horses XD And bless them, they still come back for cookies.

[@rossarmit9964]

Top video again from a top team.

[@susanbrown2909]

Good idea the more horses are desensitised,the better the horse. Thanks Barry.

[@mancheezethegreat8617]

Hahaha. They look so cute with the whirly toys spinning around their heads.

[@kathynichols4905]

Love how you talk to the horses ❤️

[@jackmiller999]

Thanks Barry for sharing information on the tools and methods your team uses. People only need to experience a runaway once to see and appreciate your training methods.

[@blossomherd3921]

Love this. Such great training. The pony so comfortable. You can see the trust.

[@gailjackson]

Thank you Barry for such an interesting video, as always. Also, thank you for letting us know about the new home and wonderful new life for this pony.

[@skyrocketcoast219]

Well done. All 100% spot on: good training: safe , confident and not stress is sooo important!

[@giles8373]

Thankyou

[@janedmunds4218]

Can you train the anxiety out of me, please?? 😆

[@martialme84]

Thank you for the noise warning! Good thinking. I managed to turn down my volume in time but had you not warned me, i would have woken up my neighbours.

[@barryhook2]

Glad you didn't wake the neighbours! I do most of the video work with headphones in so I was concerned about blowing out the eardrums of people who watch them with headphones too!

[@corruptedchaos0073]

I'm pretty certain, after experiencing that little tidbit, that that little mare is better desensitized than I am, lol!

[@honesttraitorbear3527]

Using the loud, scary, blow-up was amazing. I spazzed myself. Increadible. Sometimes you have to see something to believe it's even possible. This was one for me.

[@Robby334]

He gives off vibes to his horses that's for sure

[@leisapatrick4529]

Fantastic training methods, I cant ever get enough of this mans videos and knowledge amazing how even the two beautiful bays in the background aren't bothered by all this going on ,keep up the good work !!!

[@hannahambler1993]

I love the desensitisation stage 😂 my lads been subjected to a lot of random things, tarp, streamers, balloons, flags on a string, big flappy flags, cones, brightly coloured poles, colourful plastic flowers shoved in his mane, headcollar etc, I make a point of showing him and touching him with everything and anything that could be potentially scary, I’ve had fog horns going off, a big brass band playing right behind him once when I took him to the local fair as he was one of the “attractions”, he’s had kids screaming and running around him, I walked him around a bouncy castle while kids were playing on it and literally nothing phased him, not even a jump or a slight spook at all. He’s so laid back, I think he’s put his trust in me as I’ve had him from a foal and he will happily accept anything I do with him, I’ve chucked my young son up on his back and he’s not even broken to ride; and he’ll happily stand there with my son on him, will even go for a little potter about with my partner leading and me holding my son. If you do the ground work right and put the time in and take it at the horse’s pace you’ll reep the rewards.

[@mancheezethegreat8617]

Red is a beautiful pony, very sweet eyes with a bit of trouble in them.

[@barryhook2]

She is a bit cheeky, yes! But there's no badness in her :)

[@normanwheatley14]

EXCELLENT VIDEO BARRY, THANK YOU

[@gillianmulcock8419]

I just love how you handle, talk about and treat horses. Never forgetting that they are horses, not people in horse suits. Do you do all the desensitising work with blinkers and without?

[@barryhook2]

A lot of people do seem to struggle with not humanising their horses and it often causes problems! We do some with, some without, depending on the horse. Once trained, the horse should accept things both with and without blinkers.

[@gee-gee-cat]

Lol. Real. Patience. Repetition. Insistence. Persistence. And love.

[@skairaven7401]

red is a lovely horse. who i have worked with before and she is wonderful but gets in a mood sometimes.

[@silverkitty2503]

she is such a darling!

[@Shandougla]

Great information. Well done.

[@jackieleonard2853]

I soooo want That Pony!💕💕💕

[@barryhook2]

Red now lives (and works!) at Wellgate Community Farm in Essex, so you could always go and visit her!

[@Firebird894]

Iv'e been doing similar for years teaching mojo to stand, wait and calling him off food for a short time to stand or walk with me not even a halter or rope nothing but my voice and movements and it amazes people and they ask why i do it, but he is the most trusting loyal pony you could want for it teaches them patience because he could get very forward under saddle and not listen now i can hop on after a long break bareback in a halter or just rope around his neck. I just figured it would help with all sorts of things and situations.

[@55magicponies]

So nice. Thank you.

[@janicerosenthal8798]

Barry lovely video again my friend. Do you think you could do a video on feeding and bringing these ponies & horses into good shape & health ,like too thin or too fat . All your knowledge of horses are very important to e just really interested how you get them in working shape . Than you Sincerely Janice

[@barryhook2]

We'll certainly consider it, Janice!

[@jeanviarengo231]

your scary man had my dogs up and howling! lol And Ive build my arsenal, if you will, with noise makers and whirly things.

[@cbronco92]

I love this , I would love to know how you prepare them specifically for having something behind them that they are strapped to. I have done tons of noise and paper bags and balls that I can throw at my pony but he is still afraid of stuff behind him.

[@horsebabyhehe]

Does Barry have a video about how to teach "stand still"?

[@barryhook2]

Not a full one but we could do one!

[@horsebabyhehe]

That would be extremely helpful. I'm really struggling with my miniature gelding teaching stand still. He drives beautifully, very brave, not spooky at all. But he will not stand still for me while not in harness. It's very frustrating and I can't seem to find the hole I left in his training. :/

[@brendareed8412]

That pony appears to think you are eccentric. :)

[@geneg5870]

What a wonderful channel. If possible, could you feature more donkeys? Thank you.

[@barryhook2]

If we get any in for training, gladly!

[@geneg5870]

@@barryhook2 thank you.

[@marilynmcclintock2974]

Isn't she a sweet one! Grandma Sue in central Indiana and Izzi Too

[@brianleonard6025]

Fantastic demonstration! Excellent video! I like to blow up scarecrow! Is there a place online we can buy one, maybe you can point is in the right direction to find one. I love your educational videos on driving extremely helpful! I wish Berry was in the United States training! Thank you from Binghamton, New York

[@barryhook2]

Yes there is - I'll try find the name of the company for you.

[@williamoneill9699]

Hi barry, i have an unbroken three year old chestnut mare that won't stop sucking on clothes or my hand, if i want to pet her she does it and won't stop, and is very pushy, I plan on working with her in two weeks, would ground work with her calm this down, or is certain visitors that I caught this week feeding her the cause, thanks William.

[@dshe8637]

Great sense, Barry. You're looking trim nowadays, if you don't mind me noticing?

[@clwest3538]

Barry, you stated you have horses come in for 6 weeks training - how much time per day do you actually spend training (besides the daily stuff - stand still, back, etc etc) ie, how much time in your "special' yard, how much time desensitizing, how many miles to start? I understand you want to 'end on a good note' but do you just read the horse to see what they are understanding ? Hope you get what I am asking - not specifics, just generalizations.

[@barryhook2]

Good question, difficult answer haha Obviously first off, each horse is an individual. Some horses take to some obstacles / desensitisation very quickly and require less time 'getting used to' those, but may then have other issues to overcome. You're right when you say we 'read the horse' and judge from there whether it will need more time on a certain section of training. Our training process is not linear, often we bounce about between training in the carriage, groundwork, desensitisation etc. Miles-wise in the cart, that also depends on the horse. If they are already quite fit, they can usually physically manage quite a few miles, but it's our job to see if they are mentally ready for the distance. Starting small and building up, as with any fitness program, is important, though some horses will be ready to do further sooner depending on the exercise they already get and work they do at home. Baz often says 'miles make horses' which means the more they can get out and see, the safer, more confident and happier they will become, however he also often says there's no point tiring a horse out completely and then saying it is 'bombproof' just because it is too exhausted to react to something it normally would - a reason we often trailer ponies into town for heavy traffic training. Also for this reason, we often pair horses up in early training (usually with one of our own to begin with) to build their fitness and allow them to see lots of different things but without too much strain on their part. Saying that, some horses are more suited to going single the first time they are introduced to the cart, so we do that too! Hope that helps, although I know it doesn't really answer your question. Put simply: it really depends on the horse!

[@kayBTR]

What is ‘mealy mouth.’ Why do Dartmouth ponies have runny eyes? Thanks so much for another great video.

[@barryhook2]

Mealy mouth is lighter colouring around the end of the muzzle and around the lips and nostrils. Not all Dartmoors have runny eyes - but a lot have very dark eyelids which can make them look that way. Hope that helps :)

[@charlottegerlack1260]

Lol 😂 🤣

[@gerrycoleman7290]

You are not providing release in a timely manner. The horse (pony) learns on the release of pressure.

[@dshe8637]

Nonsense

[@elihop9419]

Gerry Coleman I think Barry’s many videos of horses and ponies that he has trained speak for themselves. He can obviously train horses just fine without your input 😉

[@rowanphillips3497]

He’s not training. He demonstrating how well he desensitized her

[@joycee5493]

I think he has already done that. This is the end result