Horse Training Bombproofing Series # 10

Bombproofing Your Horse
Series 10


<$firstname$>,

Here in series 10 I'm gonna talk
about groundwork safety.

Groundwork safety is big time important
while establishing control of your horse.

The first thing to do is to be distant
enough from your horse to keep from getting your
ears stomped on.

So if you're leading him with reins
and he gets close...bend your arm and jab
him in the ribs. Usually, horses get the
message to keep away.

If you have a lead rope on him you
can get more distance. (Remember to always
lead your horse from both sides)

The next not-so-obvious safety
point is don't get tangled in the lead rope.
The longer it is the better you gotta be at
keepin' your feet and legs from being tangled
up like old fishing line. Getting your legs
caught in this could be potentially hazardous
to your health. Be careful!

Not only that, if it gets tangled up
in your horse's legs it could constrict his
movement and he could panic.

Next, DO NOT...repeat...DO N-O-T! wrap
any rope around any of your body parts. NOt
your legs, not your arms, certainly not your
torso. It only takes a split-second for the
rope to tighten. And when a 1500 pound frightened
animal moves he can rip an arm out of the shoulder
or a finger off the hand.

I know that's rather graphic but I say
it in hopes of driving home safety.

Next, when you're walking your horse you
need to walk backward. As you try to get him to walk
over an object you can see what he's going to do.
But if your back is to him you risk becoming stomped
on because you didn't see what was going on.

Just yesterday, I made the mistake of taking
a horse into the round pen. Admittedly, my mind
was elsewhere and I walked through the gate. As
I did the horse rushed past me and thrusted me
into part of gate.

Fortunately there was no injury but I was
lucky. The horse spooked and bolted into the
round pen and bumped me out of the way as if I
was a feather.

Next, when you ask your horse to walk
over the object he could suddenly jump forward
over the obstacle. He may come right to you
because he's looking to you for security. (Good
reason to have distance between him and you.)

If he comes too close, throw up your
arms, palms out towards his face. This almost
always stops 'em.

Next, horses typically shy "away" from
an object so you must be on the same side of the
horse that the object is. Thus he'll shy away
from the object and you.

Lastly, if the horse gets excited and
comes at you, step to the side...if possible.
Stepping backward is cumbersome and slower.

Sincerely,

Andy Curry
www.horsetrainingandtips.com

P.S. Just a few days left to sign up for my next
"No-Charge" horse training teleseminar is coming up
February 8th, 2005. Sign up by clicking here:

http://www.horsetrainingandtips.com/teleseminar_signup.htm


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