Training Tip: Invitation Only

The only way the horse is allowed into your personal hula hoop space (what I call an imaginary 4-foot circle around you) is if you invite him in. You’ll only invite him into that 4-foot circle if you know you can get him out of it. Think of how you want your neighbors to treat you. You might like your neighbors, but you never want them to just barge into your house. You always want them to walk up to the door, knock and ask to come in. At that point, you can invite them in or you can ask them to come back at another time. You always want the option to turn them away. You don’t want your horse to act like a nosey neighbor and barge into your space. When I first meet a horse, it’s very important for me to immediately establish my personal hula hoop space. If I can touch any part of the horse with my Handy Stick while my arm is stretched out, he is too close, and I’m in danger of getting hurt if he should react. I always play it safe until I know I have the horse’s attention and respect, I can control his feet and I can trust him before I invite him into my space. I never assume a horse is safe; I always make him prove it to me.