Training means much more than just teaching the equine to be driven or ridden. It also means being responsible to the equine athlete to develop his body correctly, so he can safely do the things you ask of him. Therefore, you must be willing to go slowly enough at each stage of training to develop the muscles, tendons and ligaments over a good frame (proper equine posture). This does NOT start in the round pen, but on the lead line. This is where correct posture and proper muscle development begin. Showmanship work on the lead line helps to establish strength and balance on the flat in a controlled situation. Leading over obstacles adds coordination to strength and balance before they go to the round pen to learn balance at all three gaits on the circle. If you begin in the round pen without spending the proper amount of time on the lead line, it’s likely that your equine will have difficulty and exhibit bad behaviors during training.

Physical loss of balance is the most prevalent and produces most bad behaviors in mules and donkeys. When the training program takes into account the details of correctly developing muscles, tendons and ligaments over an aligned frame, and provides an adequate period of time for this to actually happen, the equine (horses included) will recognize that the handler is actually making them feel good all over and will be more willing to comply. Truly bad behaviors become non-existent, and simply annoying behaviors are no worse than those of a child testing his limits. It takes years to grow and develop properly, so be fair and considerate to your equine by setting him up for success. Give him the benefit of patience, kindness, respect and plenty of time to develop. Condensing the training program to teach “things” to your equine, with no regard for the time it takes to build muscle over a correct frame at any given stage is abuse and will produce bad behaviors.

Subject:

As Seen On RFD-TV (1/27/03)
Assessing Mule? (10/9/03)
Baby Mini resisting halter (10/31/03)
Backsliding in Training? (7/31/05)
Can you teach an old mule new tricks? (9/15/02)
Classical Dressage? (1/18/05)
Colt missed imprinting (7/23/03)
Draft Mule Won't Canter (3/27/05)
Dressage, Jumping, Three-Day (2/5/04)
Eliminate Buck/Kick After Canter Transition (6/25/05)
Frightened Mule (11/30/04)
Ground manners and "kicking" prevention (8/23/05)
Hard to leave home (5/12/03)
Horse Jealous Of New Donkey (4/3/05)
Horse Jealous Of New Donkey Part 2 (4/4/05)
How fast can I train my mule or donkey? (8/27/02)
How To Vet The Resistant Mule (07/25/07)
Ignoring Reins (3/27/04)
Incorrect Lead in Canter (5/29/05)
Love your training methods (6/19/03)
Mare Suddenly Rearing (1/21/04)
Mule Leans with Shoulder (1/21/05)
Mule resisting halter (7/25/04)
Mule spooked by dogs, lost confidence (5/25/05)
Nipping Donkey (5/16/04)
No time to train (3/11/03)
Offended By Training Methods (12/20/03)
Overdoing Obstacle Leaps (4/4/04)
RE: As Seen on RFD-TV (2/19/03)
Recommend Trainer? (3/2/05)
Rectangular Round Pen? (2/17/05)
Saddle Slips (12/12/05)
Safety Helmet Spooking Mule (8/30/05)
Separation Anxiety (2/1/04)
Sidepassing Mule (1/6/05)
Slow Lope (12/1/02)
Stand Still To Mount (6/11/04)
Start at 3? (11/21/02)
Stubborn Donkey (8/26/04)
Train for the public? (1/6/03)
Training a mule (4/29/03)
Training Abused Animal (2/10/05)
Training Orphan Foal (07/25/07)
Untrained To Tame In 5 Days? (1/11/04)
What Level Rider Am I? (1/28/05)
When to saddle train quick learning mule? (5/12/05)
When To Start Under Harness (6/14/05)
Where to Start? (1/2/05)