When it comes to moderately scary situations we can lead a horse from the front and show them by example with positive body language and never looking back at the horse. As discussed in the last article however, when we decide to go over or through an obstacle, we need to adopt a different approach - the DRIVING Position.

This can be learned in a practical situation by having our horse traverse a tarp. As discussed previously, we should be able to control the shape of the horse and cause it to relax before we do any bomb-proofing, as well as having respectful yields. A great way of doing this is by having our horses going on a circle, controlling their bend and gaining control of their poll. This is a form of DRIVING which is what we need to navigate an obstacle SAFELY.

The reason this is safer is that unlike leading from directly in front, the horse has to go on its own path. It is also very important to be able to turn the horse away from us, by stepping into them, asking them to yield their space to us. This is a respect and safety issue. If the horse thinks it’s ok to walk through you as it gets worried, you could very well become Road Kill du jour. We have to be able to drive the horse from the side so it can move slightly ahead of us and we have to be certain that the horse understands to move away from us when we step into it.

With any obstacle, we must identify the inherent risks. In traversing a tarp we need to be aware that it might snag a foot. When a horse moves backwards, it often drags its feet. If the horse snags the tarp it will show you how fast it can really back up. A tarp also makes noise and has the ability to move - by us, the horse, or wind

The size of the tarp and how it is laid out can affect the success of the horse overcoming it. I would start with a 20 foot tarp and fold it in half on a diagonal so it makes a triangle. For additional safety I put a plastic barrel on the smallest end for my own protection. I drive the horse over the smallest end while stepping behind the barrel. If the horse chooses to try to avoid the tarp by coming my way, I can tilt the barrel into the horse to block it. Now we are ready to start.

First I put the horse in tow and have it follow me at a distance. Then I beat the tar out of the tarp - bending over it, stomping on it, laying on it - never looking at my horse (by now the horse figures if there was anything dangerous there, you must have destroyed it - makes you look like a good leader to follow). If I have an experienced horse on hand, I could have it cross over the tarp while my green horse watches. I would repeat this several times. Now I would do a few circles near the tarp, making sure my horse is soft. When my horse is feeling good and responsive I drive it toward the tarp slowly. Should the horse stop and look at or over the tarp, I will stop and wait. If the horse looks away from it, I bring its eyes back to the task.

Sometimes the horse will back away, which I will allow. When they stop backing I immediately ask them to go forward again. They soon realize that I won’t force them. Any time they look over the object or size it up I leave them alone as they are envisioning going over it. If they look like they are ready to consider it, I will back them up a step and walk into them - yielding them away from me and the obstacle. I then go for a short walk away, to rest or rub them, then go back to my obstacle.

The point is to keep the horse moving forward when asked and always leave them alone when they move forward. If the horse advances I relax - I stop asking whenever they attempt to go forward. An attempt could be a lean, one step, or reaching over it with their head. Occasionally they will step on the tarp and retreat the foot immediately and I would have already stopped asking. If they put their foot on it with weight I will keep driving them forward because if the foot is weighted and they go backward, that is when they are most likely to snag the tarp. A horse will almost always go over the tarp at this point. It may jump, crawl or run….but when they cross I give them lots of line, never holding them back, and always staying relaxed. I then repeat my bending and releasing of the poll and drive the horse over it from both directions until it can cross easily on its own.

Generally speaking it is easier and safer to teach this from the ground than in the saddle. If I have a horse that finds this really difficult I might stand on the tarp and have it go around the tarp in a leg yield in one direction and then the other. By not paying attention to the tarp and also changing the shape of the horse in a positive way, it will be more inclined to cross it when I drive it. This technique is also a very good to use when riding. This being said, never assume your horse will be as good from a riding position as it was on the ground. Prepare every time and never assume. A tarp on a different day, different place, different tarp or color...check it out and read your horse. This technique applies to things like trailers, bridges, ramps, jumps, water obstacles - pretty much anything - and it will always work if you prepare and you are willing to be patient.