Ian Leighton HorsemanshipMeet one of Australias most popular clinicians.Ian and Liz’s Blog

Posted on July 10, 2014March 5, 2019 by Ian — 2 Comments

Should we let foals back up to us for a scratch?

One of the most frustrating problems that I see with young horses that have not been started under halter or poorly started is that of an inability to yield the hind end or an inability to learn to yield the hind end easily.

Ian's daughter Maddi working with a foal on its first handling. — Ian’s daughter Maddi working with a foal on its first handling.

Many times this is a result of the only prior contact being scratches on the rump or bum by well- meaning owners or people who have access to the foal. Often the only place they can touch a more sensitive one or one that has not been taught to be caught and face up is on the bum while it is having a drink from its mother. This is not ideal and very quickly becomes a habit that the foal is comfortable with or even enjoys. This creates a few problems for Continue reading Should we let foals back up to us for a scratch?

Posted on July 9, 2014March 5, 2019 by Ian — 6 Comments

The Use Of The Term Respect in Horsemanship – by Ian Leighton Horsemanship

The use of the term respect when it comes to horse training often comes under fire. “Respect is a human term” they say and talk about it like it is something that can be bullied into a horse. I personally have no respect for a bully or a narcissist.

Kendrick teaching Ian Leighton about the word respect in horsemanship.

Respect in horsemanship is something we earn from our horse by helping it feel comfortable with the choices it is making. We might earn it from a frightened horse by helping it through a worrying situation. We might earn it from a defensive horse by showing it how changing that way of looking after itself reduces the need to be defensive and worried. We might gain it from a bolshy horse by proving that we are Continue reading The Use Of The Term Respect in Horsemanship – by Ian Leighton Horsemanship

Posted on July 9, 2014March 5, 2019 by Ian — 2 Comments

Round yard Pro’s and Con’s

There has been much debate lately about the usefulness and the humanity of working horses in a round yard. The negative or anti side of the debate argue that working in a round yard is largely just chasing a horse until it becomes too tired or too annoyed to keep running and starts to look for ways to make the handler leave it alone or to avoid said work or annoyance.

Kendric our stallion working in a round yard.

The same people also claim that one should delete the flight response in a horse not encourage it. They claim that using said round-yard is not good for helping the horses mind and is not good for “how the horse feels”.

Granted there are no doubt people out there who use a round-yard in the manner described above but again it is a case of the tool being blamed for its poor use.

Many of the correspondents crying foul on the subject of round-yards claim life for the horse is much better in Continue reading Round yard Pro’s and Con’s

Posted on July 7, 2014March 5, 2019 by Ian — 1 Comment

Focus from Your Horse

Gibson being focussed on where I need him to go.

Focus from your horse is important. Focus means that your horse is with you, that he is concentrating on what you might want next and will give it without resistance, that he is relaxed and in a frame of mind where he can, well, focus on the job at hand.

Most horses will not just naturally focus and concentrate for you. They have to be taught just as kids need to learn to concentrate. Ever noticed how kids that learn to play an instrument have the ability to concentrate or focus on something for long periods of time. Kids that have never had to apply themselves to tasks while growing up very rarely do in adulthood. Horses are no different.

We are often told that horses can only concentrate or focus for 15 minutes or so and especially when young. That statement to me is ridiculous as every horse I work with Continue reading Focus from Your Horse