How To Lead A Horse The Safest Way Possible

[@StableHorseTraining]

Here is that video talking about my safety circle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGmXlmCClLWMhc0

[@martineinfrance]

Good to show it, thank you👍

[@pennywebb867]

Yep! This is the one I was talking about in my comment.

[@pilatesfitinbalance]

two of the horses we care for are quiet large Ex-Jumpers - first thing we practiced was leading 😊 otherwise my - compared to them - tiny 9year old daughter could never walk with them, nor would i let her 😅 We do both, having them with a little or more distance behind (when they totally relax and let us do all the thinking ;)) or with a little or more distance beside us - then it's more like 'let's explore together' - but we're in the lead of course. I find they are more 'awake' then and really actively working and excercising, more 'smiling and proud' with what they're doing. BUT they are absolutely 'light-leading', with the mare we can even go for walks without a leadrope, hand for signals is enough. But here espacially i like her next to me rather than behind - it's easier to maintain comunication then :) Just a few days ago we were in their open area, there are 4 horses on each side that live together, and the mare got pestered by another horse (which would normally have sent her off) i was standing less than 2m away and she started a littler sidejump but stopped somehow and kept a little distance to me. I was happy to see that again, because - well, yes it showed she respects my space and would never run into me :) Then i sent the other guy off (who is by the way the male mirror of Gracey 😅) to thank her for her attentiveness :) I absolutely agree with you, distance for safety is the first important thing, but if you continue working and get to know your horses better, over months and years - different forms of leading are possible AND safe too :) Of course one has to be sure about how they would react in certain situations - mostly help them to get as calm as possible with everything - but you never know what might show up, so it's good to test carefully every now and then how their reaction would be :)

[@StableHorseTraining]

All good thoughts! glad you're very concerned about safety too, especially for children. Thanks for sharing all that!

[@pilatesfitinbalance]

i just remembered, some time ago there was a big silver sparkling woodtruck taking trunks out, thundering through the forest and we had no space to go to really because the track wasn't even wide enough for that truck... bushes/thick trees left and right but we went in there, couln't go far because it was so thick... the moment that truck was passing us, our mare glued her muzzle to my temples - otherwise dindn't move a leg - and i knew all i could do in this situation was find the calm deep lake inside me and give her that feeling - she was searchig for it i guess...

[@StableHorseTraining]

wow.... good for you! Yes, horses will look to us to see how we feel about a situation. Calmness ALWAYS goes a long way

[@pilatesfitinbalance]

@@StableHorseTraining yes actually :) one shouldn't go for long walks in areas where big scary things could show up when you're not convinced that your horse friend really listens to you - i have experienced that lots of times - they ARE searching for that connection to our mind and heart - if they get it - everythings fine. Of course some horses when you start being with them are in no condition to listen and connect. But it's really their nature, usually it doesn't take long until they start searching and that's the wonderful thing :)

[@Stormheart8]

i can't get over how despite being entirely different limbs, lena's forelegs and your legs look exactly the same when you guys are trotting at around 0:20, it's mesmerizing

[@StableHorseTraining]

It's amazing right! Comes naturally to horses (and people if you think about it) when they sync up mentally

[@tracysavage3703]

Love watching Lena. Very she gives me a smile on my face. Thank you 💕💕💕💕💕

[@lauraalbertson7821]

Good Morning 😇 This was a great video and just what I needed today. I took your advice awhile ago on leading and it paid off that very day . It was so muddy here and I was pressured by others to take Little Bear out . I was remembering what you said about leave lots of room between me and my horse. Coming back Bear started to run a few steps and slipped in the mud . He fell . It was scary . We walked some more to see if He was ok., Gary actually led Him awhile longer and Bear acted like it never happened. I was never run into . Went home in the same car I came in 💁🏻‍♀️ Today is Bear’s first Vet visit. So if she wants me to lead Him out , I feel safer because of your teaching ! Big Hugggs and Huge Thank you. And have a wonderful Day up there in Snowy Canada 🇨🇦 Laura 💜Bear

[@sarahthomson8183]

whoa! glad it worked out.. i always think horses are so sure footed-but they do occasionally slip or trip.. good reminder.

[@lauraalbertson7821]

Watched this again and again . Bear is stopping a lot now . Every few steps as we head for the pasture and then home again. We Must have a gap in our leading. I’m sure this will help . AGAIN 😁 Laura 💜 Bear p.s. HI Lena

[@StableHorseTraining]

Take your time, you'll get there :)

[@maritaandcats]

This makes so much sense to me! One of my teachers told me that walking at a *horse’s* shoulder-with their head actually ahead of you-was safest because if they spooked forward, they wouldn’t run you over. The poor pony we were working with was so confused. She kept trying to fall in step behind me. Your method seems much more natural to the horse *and* safer.

[@StableHorseTraining]

Yes, I've both heard and seen that theory waaaayyyy too much. So many people get run over anyways because they put the horse ahead of them in the position of "point" so that they encourage the horse to lead the human. It's counterintuitive in the beginning due to that doctrine out there, but if we consider the idea that the lead horse is ahead (unless driving), then we must consider what they think when we allow (and more importantly don't deter) them taking the lead. It's 99% psychological as we certainly can't physically contain them.

[@maritaandcats]

@@StableHorseTraining 100%. And by observing your horses and others (including the pony I mentioned), I’ve learned that if they’re paying attention to you as they would another horse, they will almost never run into you, regardless of where they’re standing.

[@PennyLane66]

Lena is such a sweetheart & a perfect demonstrator 🙂

[@DANdan-co9ux]

What a clever girl, Lina❣️😍

[@algypsy17]

Lena's so lovely, what a good girl 🥰, when you did the slow walk with her I got overwhelmed with admiration. She makes it look easy. I will have to try this, absolutely ! And the drone shots are awesome !

[@StableHorseTraining]

Thanks! Yes, she's just about perfect at this so it gives me a good opportunity to show her off :)

[@susanchaney5059]

Thank you for reminding me about leading. I get lazy so gonna practice this next time at the barn!!

[@martineinfrance]

Excellent pedagogical video Graeme, thank you 👍 Lena is the perfect horse to make someone feel secure. Nobody ever told me how to lead a horse properly, so I often found myself at the same level of his head, which I realize now was wrong. Following your videos, I can see a retrospective of all my mistakes by ignorance or wrong teaching! I think, thanks to you, I would be better today than I was! I also realize how the education I received was wrong or absent. If horses were aware of their size and power, would they be so docile with us, I wonder..

[@literallyanangrymoose7717]

Definitely being grateful that horses likely aren't aware of just how powerful they are.

[@StableHorseTraining]

They know exactly how powerful they are, you can see that at playtime. It's that they choose not to do or in some cases choose to do things that hurt us. It all depends on us.

[@StableHorseTraining]

Thanks Martine. I was really thinking on how I would teach this one without being boring or just another one of those "locked off shots of some guy and a horse". It's really important to me to put the image in people's heads of where their horse should be as there are SO MANY videos of the opposite. Even pony clubs teach kids to hang on as close and tight as they can and it's just crazy... Having space is the only thing that can give us an actual chance of not getting hurt as it allows us extra time to react. And we need it... humans are incredibly slow compared to horses.

[@martineinfrance]

@@StableHorseTraining thank you. Common sense too. Space is key as a protection when dealing with large animals. Once a horse put his (shoed) hoof lightly on my foot, my fault as he was too close to me. The invisible circle or fence works with dogs too, not to trespass a limit.

[@martineinfrance]

@@StableHorseTraining yes, we are so small and vulnerable. The way they play together avoiding to hurt their horse friends is amazing, indeed.

[@maureenstringer4362]

I wish your videos and ideas had been available when I was young, they are so practical and sensible. What a great understanding of horses you have. Lena is adorable 😁

[@StableHorseTraining]

thank you!

[@terridinneen8870]

Me too!! No one knew this back in the '60's. I was taught to hold horse right by my side. They didn't know anything about space, energy, bad bits and all the horses had shoes!!

[@vivienleigh4640]

This is not at all related but I'd like to share it with people I think would understand. My mother's a disaster, she's not a people person what so ever. She's scary, or at least she used to be, bitter, judging, changes the world to mess up your (mine) perception. I was fed and dressed, the home was clean but she can be very very scary. She scared the shit out of my father, he wanted me to protect him "thanks a lot!" But there is a place where my mother and I could meet, animals. She doesn't care much for people but she has an understanding for animals, or they understand each other rather. To be honest, I prefer animals to people, in general. Relations between people tend to get messy. (I've lived with, and loved, my husband for almost 30 years now,, so I'm not a total disaster). Yesterday I went to see my now elderly mother. She still has edges but she's softening up and around 3 am, I was there, thank God, she fell - and sat there, bleeding and unable to get up by her own. I'm not used to see her this weak. I had to get help. This afternoon, when I was leaving, I looked out the window, she has a balcony - and could see birds coming and going. She had put sun seeds and peanuts in bowls for the birds (It's winter here in Sweden), and that's one thing, but what's remarkable was that she'd placed a peace of thick sheet of paper on the window, and I realized that she'd put it there so you couldn't stare at the birds when they're getting their food from the bowls. She didn't want them to get scared. That's my mother, too and it makes me happy that we share that. Sorry for rambling.

[@deedeedavid1116]

Such a sad but sweet story. Your tenderness and compassion toward your mother is truly touching. Thank you for sharing it.

[@deedeedavid1116]

Hope you see my reply which may have gotten lost somewhere.

[@StableHorseTraining]

Wow... thank you for sharing such a personal story. I'm sorry it's a sad one but that ray of sunshine of connecting via animals is a good thing I think. Great idea on the piece of paper too.

[@rzpotts4]

Lena is just precious. No wonder Roni is smitten with her. 🐎.

[@pariahmouse7794]

So beautiful show with you she is, I am going to try to give a bit more rope, I always let there be a "smile" in the rope coming from the halter to my control hand, but not nearly as much as you do, I try to give them at least 8 or so inches of rope at the very least... And I am curious about HOW you hold the rope in your control hand, I need to go back and see how you had it, I usually run it through my hand like reins, between the same fingers- I love that even you have a horse you love so much you kind of break the rules to be affectionate, I feel that way about the horse I ride, the big grey one in my photo- he can be pushy with some people on the ground, but he usually respects my space- it's hard not to cuddle him, though, I love him so ridiculously, I wish he was mine! I love what you do, you provide some great learning resources!

[@StableHorseTraining]

I hold the rope with my thumb forward and the rope in my hand very light. I feel for the tension coming off my pinky finger, or how much "smile" is in it.

[@mm25937]

WoW ... You are in good form... 😂😂😂

[@ingridblohm-hyde805]

Thank you for this valuable information Graeme. The tid -bit about using the end of the rope as a tail is a gold nugget. My Friesian horse is all over me; that long neck towers over my shoulder and his front hooves sometimes touch my heals. The steed is glued to me and I can't get him off. I am not the type who holds him tied, I leave two feet of rope between him and myself. This will be a nice challenge for me to keep him one foot to my side and two feet behind me.

[@StableHorseTraining]

My pleasure!

[@joycefranco8852]

Sweet Lena

[@bangsterbaby998]

I really understand your point of why this is a safer way of leading because you don't want your horse to step on your feet. But, us humans have the eyes in front and I would have to turn my neck every three seconds to check the mood of the horse. I prefer to see the head (and especially ears) next to me so that I can anticipate their actions depending on the body language, which I wouldn't see if the horse was walking behind me. Or am I overlooking something here? I don't have my own horse, I'm at a stable where I work with several horses and they are taught to walk shoulder to shoulder. I do try to keep them at least one arm length away from me because I don't like being stepped on either. But for some horses I have to keep the leadrope short or else they would just start grazing and then ignore me because I need to react as soon as they peer at the grass to keep their attention on me. Or do you think that this is all a matter of correct training?

[@StableHorseTraining]

You're asking good questions and thinking about the right things for sure. The simple answer is: yes, you're missing a whole pile of things that you haven't seen or experienced yet. But that's the simple version. Here's a more involved version of it. If I had communicated that I was worried about being stepped on, then I made a mistake in what I needed to communicate. I'm not that worried about being stepped on while walking, I'm worried about the horse freaking out about something and literally running me over. Without time to respond to that, it's COMPLETELY impossible to react in time. Here's an interesting video maybe: kzbin.info/www/bejne/naeVoaShd615hMk My point is that WHEN things go sideways, you want space. Not IF. WHEN. It will happen. You want enough time to turn and get really big so they don't run you over getting away from some stupid plastic bag or something. If you let a horse stay ahead of you so you can use your peripheral vision to see what they are doing, you are letting them take "point" position. It means they don't care what you are doing/looking at because they are doing that job. If you let them know in no uncertain terms that they don't need to do that 99% of the time, then you're stacking the deck in your favor. That's our goal. So we train them to stay back. Keep space. Respect something a lot farther than one arm length and be comfortable back there. We train ourselves to feel the weight of the rope in our hands, listen to the feet, feel the matching of stride etc. Use any other sense than your eyes. This might be an interesting video for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3K0immkZZaKopY Anyways, that's the slightly longer version, I hope that helps a bit. If you have any more questions, please let me know of course.

[@sarahthomson8183]

Fantastic! Looking good you two.

[@StableHorseTraining]

Thanks so much!

[@pennywebb867]

So funny. Right before you said it i thought, not using Luke for this i see. Bc Graeme would be saying "don't let your horse do this" every other step. LOL. And Lena is just the best! Hard to believe she was a give-away bc she had a reputation for running thru people. I haven't watched yet the video you linked but I can think of 2 examples people might want to watch to see you teach your horses this. 1) Any of the videos where you take a horse for their first walk in the park. 2) That lovely video you shot with a drone where we got to see you working a horse around you and you always kept them a certain distance from you. I think you drew circles and squares to show us your space and the horses space. I love what you are doing relating the rope end to a horses tail. Not only does it work, it gives us humans another reminder of the quiet way horses talk to and even "yell" at each other. Always an interesting & informative lesson. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I do wish I was closer! ❤🐎👏❤

[@StableHorseTraining]

It's true Penny, Luke would have just made it into a clown show. Me being the clown. Yes, that is the video I linked, just showing a space around the both of us to be safe. Thanks for the compliments and positivity as always!

[@jillsimmons110]

Really GREAT video. Thank you Graeme

[@StableHorseTraining]

My pleasure!

[@kkdoc7864]

Bet your little nostrils were flaring after that run lol. Great video. I now understand what the leading hard means.

[@StableHorseTraining]

Ironically, when breathing hard, humans use their mouth for efficiency 😉

[@kkdoc7864]

@@StableHorseTraining True. I just was playing with you always commenting on your herded drinking in air.

[@StableHorseTraining]

I know, I was too 😊

[@kkdoc7864]

@@StableHorseTraining 😂

[@StableHorseTraining]

@@slomo1716 horses will also breathe through their mouth when they really need it. I haven't seen it myself, but supposedly they do. Mostly, just the nose. Humans regularly just breathe through their nose, but some people are just naturally mouth breathers all the time.

[@literallyanangrymoose7717]

We love video with the Queen, don't we? Lena's a good training horse, that's plain from a glance. You clearly did a great job with her.

[@martineinfrance]

Lena the Queen👑 I thought you were talking about Queen Elizabeth. I saw a doc last night showing her on one of her black horses, at 95.

[@StableHorseTraining]

Thank you 🤗

[@marjoriebeaugad5620]

Lena is just the best!

[@Sara-he4dn]

Thank you for this. Just went on a walk with my mare in the snow and ice. She's nervous and skittish and wants to cling to me when we are out and about. I feel guilty putting her behind me. If I try to, she just speeds up to stay at my shoulder. This is something we will begin working on- gently and routinely. ❤

[@StableHorseTraining]

It's totally normal for a horse to want to be close. It's a good thing overall as it shows they find comfort from you. I never give them a hard time, but enough to ask for space for my safety. Always checking in with them while they are a bit far can really help them understand that both they are ok there and you are happier with them there.

[@erinbarrett3999]

Bless Lena! Thank you for this video. Interesting, I was always taught to have them at my shoulder. I didn’t really consider the safety element, but I’m going to re-think my approach now haha.

[@erinbarrett3999]

Okay cool, I’ve actually got a few questions and thoughts for you then, if that’s okay! I think the bit you have in your horse is as gentle as your hands. You could do more damage in a halter if you were rough with that, than gentle with a snaffle. I think it gives you a level of feel that you can’t match with any of the bit-less options on the market (atleast not with every horse). Also if you’re competing, bit-less is outlawed for most shows. Regarding the no-shoes theory. I’ve got a thoroughbred with quite delicate feet, and he is very tender without them. Also, I event, and find that all my horses grip a lot better with shoes on (and studs for xc). I know there’s a lot of momentum around the No shoes movement, but surely if it was safer and made the horse perform better then all the top riders would be barefoot? I think it’s probably fine if you’re not competing, but once you start to ask those harder questions of the horse, I really think they are a lot safer. Just my thoughts, I’m very open to yours.

[@marielcrable5170]

New Sub. Hello 👋

[@StableHorseTraining]

Hello 👋 Welcome to the channel!

[@deniseheon8842]

Hi Good morning! Lina's weight 1500 lbs Wow ! Is she the heaviest horse you own! Gracie she looks like she would weigh the least? That drone is so cool! ❤️🐎❤️🐴

[@StableHorseTraining]

Yes, she is the heaviest at the moment. Gracie is the lightest at about 930 (lighter than Joka too by about 60 pounds or so).

[@whitefluffydogs9278]

Who is flying the drone and filming? Very cool!

[@StableHorseTraining]

It tracks me and flies as it feels it needs to. Quite advanced actually.

[@reneehardy5197]

Excellent video. I use the same practices. Can you comment on a horse that runs through a lead due to excitement? I had that happen a few times.

[@StableHorseTraining]

Our job is to calm them and have them listen up. To simplify it, it means they are drawn to something else, not us. That would need to change.

[@reneehardy5197]

Thanks, I'll work on that.

[@reneehardy5197]

@Susan Marsh I agree about the vision. He was excited to get to the grass field so I should have worked with him better to stay behind me and keep calm. I was alittle nervous that day as well and he probably sensed it. Like Graeme said, our job is to keep them calm.

[@ayeda69]

Lena is a big but very nimble horse! Also a great horse to demonstrate leading (despite wanting to draw to you a couple of times :)

[@sarahthomson8183]

Loving the drone footage.. I want one! I'll have to Google on this today. What kind of drone did you get?

[@StableHorseTraining]

It's a DJI Mavic 2

[@terridinneen8870]

We all now how well trained Lena is, thanks to you! Question, how long would it take you to do this with a "new" horse ??

[@StableHorseTraining]

Depends... I usually sort it out within 30 mins.

[@suee434]

Anyone else wondering what it would be like to see Usain Bolt running with a horse?!

[@StableHorseTraining]

He'd look slow :)

[@algypsy17]

There's a little vid UB vs racehorse you can find on the internet 😉

[@susaninezforrester8102]

🧡💜💚💙🧡💜💚💙

[@annebishop9634]

Training is everything. That applies to horses and people. Lena is a sweet girl. But when I see her “Fat Bottom Girls” starts playing in my head.

[@fallbrkgrl]

"Baby got back!" is one that comes to mind when I see her big, beautiful booty. ❤️🌵☀️⛈️🌈☮️🐎

[@literallyanangrymoose7717]

That's awesome LMAO

[@fallbrkgrl]

@@literallyanangrymoose7717 I have to tell you, "Fat bottom girls" is one of my absolute favorite songs. Since I'm getting old, and forgetful, so thanks for reminding me of that song!😁