How to Desensitize your Horse with a Tarp

A lot of people ask me how come they don’t see my horse reacting. Some people even think I’m working with already trained horses!
Watch this video to find out the truth behind my "quiet horses" and how most trainers get it wrong.

Want a Steady Horse? For a limited time get my Gradual Desensitizing DVD for only $7 (over 75% off)!

[amberblyledge]

A few tips for those coming here to learn how to do this.
1. Horses need to see it with both eyes. If your horse is perfect on one side, that doesn't mean that they will stand for the otherside.


2. If you want to start out with a less noisy flappy, I use an English saddle pad. It gets them used to the big motion without the death bag sounds.


3. Do this in the rain, the snow, the sunshine, when it's yucky, when it's perfect, and when it's windy. Working with horses in all conditions *WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO* Helps make a very reliable mount. If something happens and you get caught in the rain, you really don't want your horse to act up because it's different, especially if it suddenly starts downpouring or gets muddy, icey, or slippery. I rode my mare in a hurricane that slightly came into my Alabama. I only rode for about 10 minutes before I decided to get off and start feeding so I didn't get drowned, but she rode in the hurricane. There's nothing much more severe in temperature, air pressure, and severity than a hurricane. This is an extreme example. Don't do this. But it shows what working in "all" weathers can do.
you can start with going out in the rain and putting a halter on your horse, and walking around in a relaxed circle once.


4. It's a bit off topic, but adding rewards such as a few grains of feed, or a sugar cube makes them relax their jaw and chew. When they relax their jaw, they relax their poll, when they relax their poll, they relax their topline.

[gerrycoleman]

Nice job of using pressure and release with appropriate timing, rhythm, and feel.

[zacharysarver]

This is good horsemanship though he moved slowly not a bad job at all. But he needs to do both sides of the horse