By Paul Dufresne- Training for Courage clinician

Would you like to have your horse:

·        reach deeper levels of relaxation and release the tension in the topline

·        improve body control and balance

·        achieve a smaller base of support to power out of into collected movements

·        gain confidence in your leadership and be more courageous?

I have found a good way to accomplish this with the use of a prop such as a box. To get the most of this we really have to think outside of it. What is there that is more than just a horse climbing on a box?

To many of you this may just appear to be another trick, but it can be so much more. I will explain to you how it can be used safely and how it can improve your relationship and your horse’s performance. As far as equipment a good halter, leadline, and 3.5-4 foot whip come in real handy. These are all extensions of the leader and must be used as such. For the purpose of this article we will use a box approximately, 4 feet square by 8-10 inches high.

The handler should have the horse’s respect and attention, if not this lesson will let you know where you stand in this department. The horse should understand yielding to pressure in all directions. Having some relaxation cues established like a head down cue is also helpful. Now if you have the horse at the box, ask it to move forward with gentle steady pressure on the leadline and drawing it forward. Then gently reach with your whip towards the lower hind leg and tap gently but firmly till the horse makes an attempt to move forward to or on the box.  As long as the horse makes an attempt, even unweighting a leg thinking forward I would reward the horse with a” good” (a clicker could be used here as well, I prefer using my voice). Then I will calmly walk away from the obstacle go for a short little walk and go to some other exercise or come back to the box and repeat again. If I keep focusing on the box and driving the horse forward, assisting with light forward pressure on the halter, the horse will attempt to start putting weight on the box. It may paw it, bang it put weight on it and back off.  Some may want to walk up on it. As soon as the horse makes a bigger attempt than the previous attempt, I acknowledge the try, reward the horse by backing it up slowly and walk away in a calm relaxed manner. If a horse is absolutely terrified, as soon as the horse tries I would say “good” and offer a tiny piece of horse crunch. When the horse starts to understand that there is something in it for them they often change their attitude about trying. Many horses are reasonably confident so I won’t use a treat unless the horse is stuck. As soon as the horse gets a pretty good idea what I am asking, I will acknowledge that with the word “good” and then reward with a rub, especially the first time the horse puts two feet on the box. If I allow the horse to rest on it with two feet they usually start to look around enjoying the view from up there. I like to have the horse back-off under control before it has the desire to leave on its own. Note that I specifically said back up, as this is the more difficult way to get off the box. Horses often want to step on it and run off of it. I try to discourage this by building it up a step at a time repeating part step,1 foot, then 2, and so forth, and always backing out of it. When the horse starts to expect this and is calm and balanced backing up then I might ask the horse to step down forward one foot and then back-up back onto it, and then back off of it. If it is concerned and wants to panic forward, I don't force it to stay but slow its forward progress and then immediately come back to it and mount again. Remember: only reward what you wan, otherwise you will reinforce what you don’t want.

As the horse gets more comfortable with this allow it to stand on the box with two feet, then for some time while petting it all over. If you use a whip you should also use the whip to show affection, it is an extension of you. When you attach friendly language to your tool(s) the horse will perceive it as part of you, if it is intended to drive and persuade the horse to try moving in the direction asked it would have controlled energy. The horse that overcomes a challenge that had it somewhat concerned or fearful will then go into a deeper state of relaxation. Usually the head starts to drop with signs of licking.  The horse is on a smaller space reducing its base of support and it is rounding and releasing its topline and getting its legs underneath itself just by doing the task. This becomes a great stretching position, particularly if you were to ask the horse to then get on an even smaller box or to move only the hind feet further forward (building one little try at a time). You will need to halt the horse’s forward progress with your leadline in a low position or you could lift it up elevating the base of the neck. Then you could ask it to get the back legs under itself, then by releasing it as it attempts to do so you allow the horse to feel good. You can develop this to the point where the horse has the entire topline stretched from head to tail. As this is accomplished the horses becomes very relaxed. When the horse feels good it is more difficult to get anxious, thus it is in a much more Courageous frame of mind.

In doing this exercise there are some obvious physiological changes happening. Without getting into the technical aspect, we are inducing or facilitating a state of relaxation that the horse can’t help but participate in. You can teach a horse to do all kinds of things on the box from just standing there to doing high school maneuvers. You can also have tiers of boxes going to higher and higher boxes, smaller tops, combinations, and trailering. In trying to use your imagination you will exercise and improve your leadership skills. Your horse will learn to trust you even if you ask it to do challenging things. Physically your horse will develop better balance, more body awareness, flexibility, and most importantly learn to relax the whole topline ready for the strong engagement of the ring of muscles . Horses like to hangout with leaders that show them how to feel good by considering their feelings about things, and helping them find the ability and courage to execute challenges positively.