Training Tip: Always Bring Your Horse Back to the Barn Relaxed

Let the horse walk the last hundred feet or so of the ride so that he returns to the barn relaxed. You don’t want him running back to the barn thinking that the faster he gets there the sooner you’ll get off his back. The best saying when working with a horse is, “A tired horse is a good horse.” I’ve never seen a tired horse give anyone any trouble, but I’ve seen plenty of fresh, reactive horses give people lots of trouble. You’ll be surprised at how you might leave on a horse that’s spooky and jumpy, and come back on one that’s calm and relaxed. Remember, the secret to getting a broke horse is long rides, wet saddle pads and concentrated training. You need equal doses of all three.