Training A Horse When Its Anxious

Have you tried training an anxious horse? Have you been riding that hot, spooky horse that is just not listening? Did you wonder what you should do? The answer is to stop training your horse, as the horse cannot learn or absorb anything while it is anxious or scared. You need to help the horse calm its mind and connect with you before you attempt to teach it anything. I use a form of join-up with my nervous horses to get them to focus on me and calm themselves down. I show you how I do this with Rihanna, an anxious and reactive mare.
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• Training A Horse When ...

[@BasicHorseTraining]

If you take one thing from this video, let it be that trying to "train" an anxious horse is pointless as they don't have the capacity to absorb anything.

[@Cathan1856]

My daughter bought a horse and we would put him in the lunge yard and all he knew was run like a bat out of hell. He must have been chased to ‘wear him out’, not sure how long that would take! It seemed to do more harm then good, like you said, his mind was somewhere else. Love your teaching, you do make me laugh, so down to earth. 😊

[@kimberlyclark3028]

Another take away from the video, at least for me, is how patient you are and even if she didn't do exactly as you asked you did not lose you kept calm.

[@malinforreal4050]

Excellent video, I hope more people will start respecting the horse's mental state and emotional integrity like this

[@BasicHorseTraining]

🙌

[@karenmiller129]

You're amazing the way you work with horses Josie. I just love watching all your videos. You show such kindness and your ways are so well explained and easy to follow. Thankyou so much! ❤

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Thank you for your kind words 🙏🏻

[@Cluckgirl913]

I just rescued an Arabian gelding who goes into a total panic state if I separate him from his chosen buddy. I have been at a loss at what to do to improve. I briefly tried ground work but quickly realized there was no point. He was in such a state of panic he was almost unable to be handled. This is extremely helpful and gives me guidance on how to get through to him. He is a completely finished horse by the way. Well trained and and a gorgeous mover. Just get separated from his brain if his buddy is out of sight. Looking forward to trying this today!

[@BasicHorseTraining]

I hope it helps you both 🙏🏻

[@beklandfarm16]

One of my Morgan's was high strung her bloodlines may of been a factor. Lots of energy. Keeping her calm took hours of practice. Spending hours with her in stall and cross ties getting her to relax, certainly helped when working her in long reins. She had 2 years of show training (high pressure Park Harness) getting her to relax was difficult. The day I brought her home, I removed the weighted shoes the trainer's put on all their show bred horses. They also add kick chains while the horse is stalled. I absolutely hate those methods. She was tossing her head like this mare. We called in a chiropractor. Once a month, to relieve the pain she was having after the first visit, she only tossed out of habit. Which eventually stopped after the third visit. She became one of the best Morgan's I owned. Very loving, super smart, and a great broodmare . Thank you so much for your videos. I am certain they help hundreds if not thousands of owners out there that need help addressing issues.

[@patriciolopez8420]

Awesome video as always Josie! thanks a lot, and btw what a beautiful and energetic mare 🥰🐴

[@BasicHorseTraining]

She is a beautiful mare isn’t she. I fell in love with her the minute I met her ♥️

[@Sorraiamustang]

I have an unbroken 16 year old stallion Standardbred pinto cross that acts just like this in the round pen . Years ago I did the round pen work and backed him once and he did very well. I never continued on with his training having a very nice well broke horse to ride . He has had it very easy looking pretty and being a pasture mate for my other horse . Just recently started back w his training . He is fine until it comes time to do something he doesn’t want to do . It’s like the spoiled 30 year old kid living at home ( not contributing )and asking him to go get a job . Been doing lots of ground work with him and he is coming along quite nicely but the other day I put him in the round pen for the first time in years and he acted like Rihanna . Gets all worked up . The disconnect and unable to learn in that state is so true . I think round penning him when he was younger caused Post Traumatic Stress and now means run away as fast as possible . Soon after entering the round pen I asked him to back w my lead and he did a little rear up after my asking . The horse knows how to back he was just being obstinate . With his head up high and snorty I let him loose to let off some steam cause I knew he was not going to listen . I did the typical round pen work calmly directing him and teaching him to turn in . After he wore himself out he listened very well and did everything very well except turn on the forehand where he still walks forward . Common with pushy horses who are still unsure who the boss is . I plan to use a stick and flag to make sure my cue is more clear . I did take him back to the round pen yesterday and he did much better . I did not let him loose this time . Thank You for posting this video for it was very helpful for me and the timing could have not been more perfect .

[@BasicHorseTraining]

You are welcome 🙂

[@raulgc9454]

Thanks for your videos. You are amazing.

[@ademirj241]

👋👋👋 Very good Miss Josie.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Thank you! 😃

[@MrNoraharb]

Thank you so much for this video. I always love watching your videos for how well you explain everything whether in riding or training horses. I noticed one thing the mare in the video does that my mare also used to do - that is tossing her head up and turning it. Is this one way of showing anxiety? My 5yr old mare did that when I first got her and I didnt understand why. I was told it was just behavior and nothing physical.

[@aponinaapu2973]

Oh you are life saver, really huge thanks from me. I have accident year back with my horse, she love me, but under saddle we are bad, like i am scared and she react on any emotion :( she is fresh mum now and i learning with you, apply on her and little girl and all working

[@BasicHorseTraining]

I am glad that you are finding my videos helpful. Thank you for letting me know 🙏

[@jenz4524]

My senior gelding is like this. He is in his mid 20s, not exposed to anything except being in the pasture, and treated not so good by humans. When I adopted him, he had gone through 4 months of up and down training at the rescue, but nothing consistent. It has been a year and a half of working with him and he is getting better and better. I am going to use your techniques to help refine my round pen/yard work because I feel I get too aggressive and rush the process, which is very easy to do. Thanks for this awesome video.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Call me back and let me know how you go. 😊

[@KingsMom831]

Holy crap! I’m first, for once!!!!😊

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Oh yay!! Couldn’t think of anyone better to be first 🥰

[@KingsMom831]

@@BasicHorseTraining Aww, it’s a honor😊

[@BestHorseInTheStable]

Might be a random thing to say, but it's so nice to see a tail not chopped ridiculously short, as is the latest fad... so thank you for that, on top of thanks for showing the bad with the good in your videos. Would you happen to know anything of getting a purebred Arab to stand up (in the completely unnaturally stretched out position, as is custom)?? I can get his feet right, but I can't get him to visually focus on a point and keep his mental focus there... Any help??

[@KingsMom831]

Thanks for the show Rihanna!😂

[@BasicHorseTraining]

She’s a show off! 😆

[@KingsMom831]

@@BasicHorseTraining Fancy pants 😂

[@BasicHorseTraining]

😆😂

[@beklandfarm16]

A couple of questions: what is the mare's age ? And what breed ?

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Rihanna is a Warmblood and she is 9 years old (I think). 😊

[@huubboschker2956]

❤❤❤❤

[@joannam9232]

Josie, how big is your round yard? Ours is 50 feet across and I worry that it's too small

[@kmsch986]

Hers looks 50-60ft. You can tell by taking length of panels which look about 8’ and multiplying. I’m guessing 8’ because when the horse is standing next to one it looks similar to length and most average thoroughbreds will be around 8’ long.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

This one is 18.5 meters across

[@bethdondunlap4379]

My 9 yo mare is like this when alone outside. Also becomes elevated when other horses start being led in for the night. I have been working with her for almost 2 years. Gets frustrating after all this time.... my presence still isn’t enough for her to remain calm.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

It is frustrating. How I think about it is when they are in the paddock and not with me there is nothing I can do about it so I have to let it go. Rihanna can be a fence walker when something stresses her and she is in her paddock. I can’t do anything about that unless I want to go and “work” with her. I focus on what I can do and not what I can’t. That helps me with the frustration I used to feel.

[@alisalarson4196]

@@BasicHorseTrainingwhat do you suggest when they are in their paddock but get frightened? My mare sometimes runs up and down the fence and will eventually cut her neck. I can’t get her to focus on me to calm her. Any suggestions?