How to Teach Your Horse the Spanish Walk

[@delanaatwater5416]

She did this perfectly! Absolutely amazing. This isn’t abuse she’s gentle. Patient with the horse something a lot of “Professional horse trainers” don’t have

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Oh thank you so much for Delana! Sometimes I consider taking this video down because I get the haters. Thanks for the kind words :)

[@summereellsmusic]

Thank you for showing the actual training. There are so many videos on horse training that show them "training" a horse that already knows how to do it. It always makes me feel like I'm doing it wrong because my horse doesn't react like theirs!

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You're welcome! Exactly! I have an online course now as well where I will continue to go through the process of training my new Andalusian, and then use the one from this video to show what it looks like over time. You can find it at www.shadetreestables.com under "MEMBERS"

[@LittleGrey242]

Such a beneficial video! It’s wonderful to find a tutorial that also shows the progress towards the final goal. I think this provides a great opportunity for sharing the “troubleshooting” or correction that happens along the way.

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Thank you so much! So far the response has been positive. I worried a little about haters pointing out what's wrong along the way, but so far, so good! Feel free to share. Getting these videos out there will help me keep the channel going. Thanks for watching!

[@beverlywilcox4349]

Nice - the time-lapse videos are great and make it clear what the intermediate steps look like. Thank you!

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You're welcome! I hadn't even started my KZbin channel when I started videoing. I just like to review my videos so I can see mistakes that I don't necessarily know I'm making. I find it to be a very valuable tool!

[@aliciarae4635]

I use your video and similar videos to educate people (both in person and online) who think every horse who knows a trick was abused to learn that trick. Such helpful video in multiple ways 💖🦄

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Oh thank you so much! He's definitely not abused! We haven't done the Spanish walk for a while, and yesterday I asked him for it at the end of our ride, and he was nickering the whole time. It's his favorite trick!

[@aliciarae4635]

@@ShadeTreeStables awwe thats so cute!! Im working with my mare on laying down as our first trick. I'm hoping it goes well 💖

[@ShadeTreeStables]

@@aliciarae4635 my horse does that one too! I have him doing it in my tricks video. I haven't done a "how to" on it yet. Best of luck, keep her in her comfort zone with that one for sure!

[@BudgetEquestrian]

That's awesome, and I love the photo at the end 😍😍😍

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Thank you!

[@cree_VI]

so cute when you walking together

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Thank you!

[@creativemewzings5320]

Thanks so much for your disclaimer at the beginning! I’ve been having fun teaching my young horse a few tricks and was going to add Spanish walk but he just learned to smile and has been following his 80 year old caretaker around with his lip in the air. I’m going to save this video for later.

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You're welcome!

[@blkluvla]

I'll be starting this tomorrow on my horse! It just looks like a lot of fun!

[@ShadeTreeStables]

It is fun!

[@exotiicvfx9803]

I love the way you do it

[@yourstruly6514]

Just started this on a icelandic and right now it's more of a stomp or she bends her knee under herself (I've taught her to bow) but thats from a single session. It feels great though since she usually gets frustraded when she dosen't understand right away but she was happy to train today :D

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Cool! You want to keep them light in the front (I've been working to continue to improve that on mine) it comes as they get stronger and can shift their center of mass back further. Thanks for sharing how it's going for you!

[@Lietjesmarket]

I have been teaching my horse this for fun also like 5 or 10 minutes after or before a training session. And quite simular as you do it. But I use a vocal cue and my hand because I hate that I have to walk with my legs simular to the horse😂. Also the vocal cue is really handy wenn trying it under saddle. We are about a month playing with it and she does very well also under saddle.

[@ShadeTreeStables]

That's fantastic!

[@sophiatowerlock6473]

i have a little shetland pony.. she is just standing so i think i should learn her somthing more but is it good to learn her something? the only think she really love to do is smile...?

[@ShadeTreeStables]

If course it's good to learn, it's keeps them in a thinking frame of mind.

[@dopeybagchaser6760]

this is amazing i want to do this when i ride my grandpas horse when i go to his place this would be dream come true

[@goettling]

Awesome, thank you

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You're welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful :)

[@jeraldmcwilson2189]

It's great . How long will the horse take to develop this walk

[@ShadeTreeStables]

That depends on the horse, and the trainer!

[@katherinespence8995]

Hay my ho horses are quarter horses 2 years old and she only knows the normal trail riding things

[@user-xn2ze4wt8v]

I don’t even have a horse and this is interesting

[@ShadeTreeStables]

🤣 I'm glad you found value in it! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@madshorse275]

What can I do if my horse doesn’t respond and step from the whip and only responds to my hand?

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You could use your hand and pair it with a verbal cue, and then use just the verbal cue, once he understands.

[@princessdolly1169]

My horse hates the whip because of her past so guess I ain’t gonna be doing this

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You could do it without the whip, but I would suggest counter conditioning her to the whip. You should check out my Scratchy Stick video. You could contact ERS about getting one. They are the bulk supplier. They are trying to get companies like Smartpak and Dover to pick it up. If you are willing to pay shipping, I could send you one as well.

[@Lunar-Echo]

I’ve started my mare with just me tapping her upper leg to cue her to “release” her leg to me. Basically she just takes her weight off that leg at first, and I worked from there, to her picking up her foot for me to clean, to now picking up and holding her foot out for me. (and now the weirdo will just hold her foot up whenever she is happy)🤦‍♀️😆Then just yesterday she, very suddenly, gave her birthday present to me, it was that I jumped on bareback and in a halter, (which I rarely do) and after we walked around for a bit my foot grazed her upper leg/elbow area and she “gave” her leg to me which I wasn’t expecting AT ALL. Now I just need to teach her how to do it while walking and I’ll have a Spanish walk no whips used! (not that I have a problem with them if used properly) 😊

[@briaschalesky6628]

Desensitizing to the stick and string is what she needs. Mine was the same

[@meganpahl3612]

Follow up question: once the walk is done fluently and routinely, how do you ask for this walk while riding all of a sudden??

[@ShadeTreeStables]

They have to have a really strong thoracic sling so I would work on self carriage in riding first. Then you can cue with the sound and or tickle with the whip at the elbow, and allow your leg and seat to follow.

[@fdp055]

How often a week and a day were you out there? I'm starting mine out and I can somewhat get some participation from him lol. Great job btw

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Thanks! It's hard to say. Between work and weather, it was just when I could get to it, and then there were times that I would leave it alone for a while to let something good sink in. I kept sessions short, 5 min or so of Spanish walk and then work on something else. I'd say maybe 3 times a week on average. I hope that helps :)

[@fdp055]

@@ShadeTreeStables it is helpful! Appreciate the feedback! I'm just getting unmotivated but I'm not gonna give up

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Good never give up! We live in such a world of instant gratification horse training, that we sometimes don't understand that these things can take years! Enjoy the journey because it is more than just a destination.

[@meganpahl3612]

I have a question for you. I have an 11 year old mare who is incredibly sharp and quick learning; however, she is set in her ways and although I have her desensitized to the whip, she is still very stubborn on giving her legs or feet at any time. She is so used to touch in these area but like I said, is set i her ways. I have never liked the rope training. Is there some trick you know that could help me here?

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You could try putting a pedestal or mounting block in front of her to put her foot on. Some horses really think that's fun!

[@SweetySnokumSnuggles]

Awesome video. How can I get my horse to strech out more? And hold it out? 😊

[@ShadeTreeStables]

He's probably a bit unbalanced. If you can get him to shift his center of mass back it should help.

[@SweetySnokumSnuggles]

@@ShadeTreeStables Thankyou, She has learnt to pick them up but is still figuring out stretching the leg out, Just want to make sure I'm doing all I can to help her learn. :)

[@ShadeTreeStables]

@@SweetySnokumSnuggles it sounds like you're on the right track!

[@rickmccarthney4544]

Is this useful for a gaited horse?

[@ShadeTreeStables]

@@rickmccarthney4544 I don't see why you couldn't teach it to a gaited horse. Always let the horse guide you ♥️

[@annaleiaprince9515]

This is really adorable, I have been trying to teach my mare but she just takes steps instead of lifting it up.. any tips?

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Thank you! Did you try it against a wall first? You could also look up target training and see if that helps!

[@robertapreston4200]

awesome❤❤🤗thx

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You're welcome!

[@corinneyoung8166]

Love you and this, thanks !

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Awww, thank you so much!

[@sohappytosew1082]

Nice!!

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Thank you!

[@sophiah3966]

my horse runs to play if i show him the whip but nice job but ik if i could get my horse use to standing next to the whip lol

[@sophiah3966]

idk*

[@ShadeTreeStables]

You don't necessarily have to use a whip. You could tickle with your hand and then use a verbal cue.

[@WhatTheHellRachelle]

Thank you for showing that training can be done humanely and lovingly! Chains, ropes, and striking really upset me!

[@ShadeTreeStables]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@blqr3138]

Teach me baby

[@SachinSharma-cc2mm]

Hope it doesn,t hurt him ..

[@mackenziewood2586]

Anyone else bother by how mouthy that horse is?

[@ShadeTreeStables]

I am! He was the absolute mouthiest horse I've ever worked with! In fact the breeder told me that, and the vet that did his ppe, and the hauler! By the time he got here I thought, "oh boy, what have I gotten into?!" He's a lot better now, but that is definitely his personality, everything goes in his mouth!