Horse Leader MANUAL
therapeutic horsemanship
3160 N Custer McKinney, Texas 75071 469-742-9611
Thank You to Our 2021 Champion for Volunteers:
Table of Contents
Purpose and Responsibility of the Horse Leader………… 3 Emergencies………………….………………………………………. 4 Grooming & Tack …………………………………………………… 6 Horse Behavior ……………………………………………………… 7 The Lead Line ……………………………………………………….. 11 Leading the Horse …………………………………………………. 12 Transitions……………………………………………………………… 13 Maneuvering the Horse ………………………………………….. 13 The Mounting Block ……………………………………………….. 14 Do’s and Don’ts ……………………………………………………… 15
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Purpose of the Horse Leader
To ensure the safety of the rider
To model excellent horse handling skills for the riders
To make the horses job easier
To handle the ManeGait horses in a highly consistent manner
To give the horse confidence and rider confidence
Responsibilities of the Leader
Safety is our number one priority
Work closely with the rest of the team: the Rider, Instructor and Sidewalkers
Catch the horse from field or stall, groom and tack safely, timely and correctly
Leading the horse from the cross ties to the mounting area
Leading the horse during the lesson - support the riders’ capabilities without interfering with their progress
Cooling out the horse and providing post riding care
Removing the horse’s tack with help of riders and side walkers
Horse leaders should be focused on the horse, side walkers are responsible for rider communication.
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Emergencies
“Unplanned Dismounts” If you are attached to the horse, calmly bring the horse away from the rider; making sure that the horse’s rear is not facing the rider. Remove the horse from immediate vicinity. Halt the horse and wait for further instruction from a ManeGait staff member.
If you are not attached to the horse and rider, calmly walk in front of the horse, to grab lead rope, or reins. DO NOT RUN at or behind the horse. Once the horse is in-hand, follow above procedure.
If another rider in the arena has an unplanned dismount, your primary concern is still the horse that you are leading. Halt your horse and wait for further instruction from a ManeGait staff member.
“Spooking” with rider on If you are attached to the horse, try and redirect the horse into a large circle, if possible avoid tight turns (as this may unseat the rider). Try and speak calmly and reassuringly to the horse.
If you are not attached to the horse and rider, calmly attempt to walk in front of the horse, to grab lead rope, or reins. DO NOT RUN at or behind the horse. Once the horse is in-hand, wait for further instruction from the ManeGait staff member.
Pulling back in the mounting block or with rider If the horse starts to move backwards quickly while in the mounting block, regardless if the rider is on yet or not, follow the horse backwards. DO NOT pull on the lead rope, as this may escalate the situation.
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Unexpected weather IF POSSIBLE try and bring your horse to the center in the arena, so that the instructor can dismount the riders. After the rider is dismounted, remove the horse from the immediate vicinity, so that the side walkers can return the riders to their parents. If there are no side walkers available, the instructor will be responsible for the riders and you are responsible for the horse.
If you are unable to lead your horse to the center of the arena, halt your horse and wait for the instructor to dismount the rider – Follow above procedure.
Fire If there is a fire go away from the fire. Please do not run into burning buildings or endanger yourself. There are fire extinguishers located at letters P and V in the arena, and also in every building. Follow staff member directions on what to do if you are holding a horse while there is a fire.
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Grooming Tools
Rubber Curry: Usually shaped like an oval or circle, has soft rubber "teeth". This is used to break up the dirt and dust.
Dandy Brush: Stiff bristled brush. This is used in a flicking motion to flick the dirt off.
Body Brush: Soft bristled brush, usually made of horse hair. This is used to gently get excess dust off.
Hoof Pick/Brush: The hoofpick/brush combo can be found at most tack stores. This is used to pick mud and rocks out of the hoof.
Mane Comb/brush: We ask volunteers not to brush manes and tails daily due to the high volume of people who groom our horses.
Tack
Sidepull: Leather headstall without bit that is used in most classes.
Western Saddle: Western pleasure or trail saddles, primarily used to support the rider.
Dressage Saddle: English saddle with a deeper seat and longer billets which require a shorter girth and a large square pad.
All purpose/Jumping Saddle: English saddle with a flatter seat and shorter billets which require a longer girth and a square pad.
Bareback Saddle: Thick pad that attaches to the horse using a western cinch.
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Horse Behavior Communication is Key
People have a tendency to assume that horses think and feel the same way that we do. That however that is not the case, horses think like horses; now horses do have some similar feels as humans such as affection, fear, pain/discomfort and playfulness. As horse leaders we have to learn and understand how horses feel and think in order to properly communicate with them. 1.) Horses are prey animals. Since horses are not predators, this means that their natural tendency will be to flee from whatever might pose a threat to them. This is where the term “spooking” comes into play. 2.) Horses are herd animals. This means horses find safety in numbers. Since horses are herd animals they will typically have a leader of the group and the other horses will be more submissive. Horses need for leadership is very useful when trying to train or just when working with a horse. 3.) Horses communicate through body language. This is what makes horses so sensitive to how humans working with them are feeling, and they will usually react accordingly. A good indicator as to how a horse is feeling, is looking at their ears, eyes and tail.
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How horses learn: Horses learn through negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement. o Negative reinforcement: the release or taking away the pressure o Positive reinforcement: adding a reward (verbal praise, scratches) Training a horse basically comes down to CONSISTENCY. Consistency is probably one of the most important factors to keep in mind and apply when working with horses. Creative Corrections
Horses respond to the release of pressure: Pressure is the continuous physical force exerted on or against an object (the horse) by something in contact with it.
o Example: Lead line pressure downward to the chest
Every horse has a different threshold to pressure Some are more responsive to pressure than others Different levels of pressure: The pressure scale 1.) Show 2.) Ask 3.) Tell When applying pressure, you ALWAYS need to start with the lightest pressure first. Use a pressure scale from 1-5, which goes as follows:
1-3: pressure scale would be showing the horse what you want.
4: on the pressure scale would be asking the horse
5: would be telling the horse
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The importance of a “half-halt” Half-halt: slide your hand up the rope, apply pressure and then release pressure, not yanking, just applying downward tension and then release. Half-halts keep the attention on you and not the other elements in the environment. This leads to effortless transitions and keeping both rider and volunteers safe.
Correcting Behavior IN CLASS Establish these pressures before class, such as “whoa” and go pressures, before the rider mounts. Keeping your horse’s attention in class is essential for subtle corrections. o -Keep your horses attention through half-halts - Transitions within the walk - Large circles o -Remember the pressure scale (if your horse is not responding, increase the pressure until you get an appropriate response).
When unattached, minor assistance may be necessary o -Monitoring spacing o -If correction is necessary, step in and help the rider - -Corrections need to be subtle as to not unseat the rider - -Utilizing the pressure scales of 1-3 will cause the horses to be more responsive but less reactive - You may need to verbally redirect the rider, as we want them to be as independent as possible in controlling their horse.
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The Lead Line – Assertive Hold and Leading : The red hold 6 “ from halter – Active hold and leading: The yellow hold 12” from halter – Passive Hold and leading : The Green hold 18” from halter – Never grab the snap on the Lead Line when leading the horse – Spotting with Line Tied Up – Spotting with Line Removed – Total Independence: Yea!!
Red= Assertive Yellow= Active Green= Passive
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Leading the Horse
Position yourself between the horse’s eye and throatlatch.
Move with the natural stride of the horse. Maintain good posture and keep your eyes up in the direction you want to go.
Using your body, take a step forward and offer a verbal cue for the horse to walk on. If the horse does not, apply pressure as needed.
Be sure you do not rest the weight of your hand/arm on the lead line, only put pressure on the lead line when you’re asking the horse to do something.
The rest of the lead rope should be looped over (not wound up in a circle) in the hand furthest away from the horse.
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Transitions Up Transitions o Walk on- take a step forward and use verbal cues using rope only if horse does not respond to the first time. o Trot- walk faster staying at horses jaw using the verbal cue “trot” and pressure from the rope as needed. o Make sure you are staying next to the horse and keeping them in your vision and not dragging the horse behind you. o Do not kiss or cluck at the horse as many of them are trained to canter at those sounds!
Down Transitions! o Slow your stride, using a verbal cue asking the horse to “whoa” or “walk.” Apply pressure as needed. o Remember the horse will take a step or two longer than you to stop.
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Maneuvering the Horse
Turning o Turn head and shoulders to the direction you want to go. If horses do not listen to body ques, guide rope under horses chin to apply pressure in the direction you want to go.
Backing o Facing horse, apply light downward pressure to the chest on the rope, and use verbal cue “back”
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The Mounting Block
Turn towards the horse and invite them into the mounting area
Stay on the offside of the horse to keep the horse as close to the block as possible
Halt horse when their shoulder is even with the top step
Square horse using light pressure with your hand on red
Stay on off side of horse during mounting and do not grab the halter
After rider is mounted, continue walking backwards until all 4 hooves are clear of the steps
Go slowly and stay present! The mounting block is the most dangerous part of the lesson! Do’s and Don’ts
DON’T touch the horse’s noses.
DO scratch them on the neck or shoulder when it is appropriate.
DON’T stand directly in front of the horse.
DO stand off the side slightly.
DON’T do things you tell your rider not to do.
DO feed horses treats out of carrot holders or feed pans.
DON’T pull on the horse if the horse is going backwards. Do walk calmly with the horse.
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Continued Education
If you ever would like refresher, please go to http://www.manegait.org/continuing- education-at-the-gait/ and watch your favorite barn manager and instructors provide great reminder videos.
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