How to Break In a Horse?

Breaking is a set of processes allowing an equine to accept a saddle, a net and a rider. It also consists of taming a horse towing a team, apprehending and executing orders from the rider. Separated from its peers, the young mare or stallion is dominated by the trainer.

He may be surprised, because the situation is completely strange to him. Although the horse is prey, it will try to defend itself by trying to get rid of its master or its traction. It is in this context that horse breaking methods draw all their interest.

How to break a young horse?

Before riding a horse, learn about its ethology, because this powerful mammal can cause damage if the young rider does not master it enough. For their part, young horses need experience so that riding is more pleasant and safe. Thus, breaking a young horse requires the use of techniques with regular applications.

However, taking private riding lessons from a specialized equestrian center is not necessary. The know-how can be acquired with experienced riders on a horse farm or stables. To help you successfully break the saddle, here are some tips:

Build a relationship of trust with my horse

Having a bond of trust with your animal is of capital importance when it comes to breaking a horse for leisure or under the saddle. Indeed, all horses trusting their trainer obey out of respect and not out of fear. This good relationship has a positive impact on the quality of equestrian activities such as dressage and show jumping.

To gain the trust of equines, all you need to do is take care of them daily while communicating. You can, for example, groom them regularly and feed them hay. Note, however, that building confidence in a horse can take a long time. In the case of foals gaining confidence, put them in contact with someone. Even if the young person is drunk, but doesn't know you, still establish a bond of trust.

Position yourself correctly in relation to the horse

To succeed and secure equine dressage, try to place yourself on the right side of the horse and hold yourself properly. At all times, keep within their line of sight. For example, the horse can see you if you stand on its left side near its head. When you leave his field of vision, don't forget to pet the side you're moving towards or talk to him so he can pinpoint your location.

As for actions to avoid, here they are:

• Walk behind the horse or stand in front of it,
• Sit near him,
• Kneel when cleaning hooves.

Adopt peaceful behavior

The breaking of a young horse can continue, so you have to remain patient. If your animal disobeys you, do not shout or attack it, as this risks destroying the bond of trust. Force him to perform the exercises in a calm manner and in a more dominant manner. Pull on the lead or reins if necessary, but stay gentle. If an exercise is successful, do not hesitate to reward your horse. The most important thing is to adapt your breaking in according to the horse's behavior.

Proceed step by step

Don't forget that breaking in aims to create reflexes in the young horse. Therefore, proceed step by step. Do not move on to the next step until the equine has mastered the current step. Above all, ensure that at each session, the horse's behavior becomes favorable to the mount.

How to break a horse in the harness?

The harness breaking requires good ethological knowledge of the horse from the driver and the teammate. This makes it possible to identify the equine behavior which guarantees successful and safe breaking in. Breaking the horse in the harness can last 1 month with periodic work of 5 to 6 sessions of 30 to 45 minutes per week.

Just as with breaking the saddle, it requires the establishment of a trusting relationship, habituation and generalization to maintain well-being. In fact, driving changes the horse's living conditions: new stable, installation of harness, wearing a halter, traction.

The approach by hand and on foot

This step consists of giving the horse cues using handling and grooming gestures. It includes making contact and getting started towards the work era as well as getting used to vocal ordination.

Accustomation to materials

This is a key step in breaking in which aims to accustom the horse to wearing the harness: bit, lead rope, halter, bridle, net, harness. Getting used to the equipment is essential before putting it to traction. This accustoms the equine to the friction of the leather parts during work and prepares it to accommodate the long reins.

Work on foot: lunging and switching to long reins

The third step consists of instilling the work codes in the horse without the constraint of traction. The breaker trains him to get used to the transitions on the different gaits via an action of the lead rope on the halter and stimulation with the chambering stroke, but without severity. He can take advantage of the opportunity to establish the trot vocal codes.

After which, proceed with the long reins which consist of accustoming the horse to the rear position of the leader and the contact on the bit. This stage includes physical actions on the bit and steering exercises. At the end, the horse reacts favorably to the commands and enters into total trust with its leader.

Breaking a horse: putting it in the cart

This is the final step during which the leader encourages the horse to move forward with the long reins. Then, the trainer safely puts the horse in the carriage. This step presents no danger if the habituation and generalization exercises have been understood by the equine. Finally, the leader can join the driving position and start riding.