Horse Training Stories, Videos and Books

There are lots of great ways out there to learn about horse training. I want us to be able to share the things we've learned with each other.

What has worked -- and not worked -- when it comes to training horses? What kinds of problems have you had? What have you learned?

Lots of horse crazy girls want to learn from you too!

Visit my horse training video page to watch videos about horse training tips and techniques.

Natural Horsemanship Horse Training

Some trainers and riders are now even following a new kind of riding practice. Their saying is “Bitless, Treeless and Barefoot”. They are natural horseriders who use bitless bridles, ride in treeless saddles, and use a barefoot natural trim on their horses’ feet. They believe these things eliminate pain and injury that can be caused by bits, traditional treed saddles and horseshoes. Eliminating pain brings them closer to their horses so they can enjoy the magical relationship that so many horse lovers dream of. While they and their horses are enjoying the time they spend together more, they also claim that bitless bridles, treeless saddles, and barefoot trims help the pair perform better together.

Bitless bridles are even being used in competitive games and high level dressage! Trainers and riders say that their horses perform better when they use a bitless bridle. Although bitless bridles have existed in many forms throughout the centuries, the use of bits is an important and established part of equestrian teaching and tradition. (Equestrian competitions usually require that participants use bits in their horses.)

Zoe Brooks is a horse farm owner and she is the designer of the latest model of bitless bridle. She says:

“Attila the Hun succeeded by teaching his army to control their horses with metal bits. While today’s bits aren’t as primitive, the fact is that much of our modern equestrian practice evolved from military training. I think it’s time we looked for some new role models!”

Zoe says her first her horse pushed her around, stepped on her, shoved her down and threw her off. It wasn’t until Zoe ‘took a step backwards’ to learn the basics of natural horsemanship that a whole new world opened up. Then she could train her new mare ‘Hazel’ and was thrilled to have the big horse follow her around like a puppy and even go on trail rides in a rope halter. As soon as Zoe tried riding her with a bit and bridle Hazel’s personality changed and she wasn't so easy to ride. That’s what led Zoe to design the Natural No-Bit Bridle.

“Training and riding bitless took us to whole new level! It removed the fight and the mutual worry of impending pain form the bit. We worked better together and learned to trust.”

In fall of 2006, Zoe and her husband Gerry used their own methods of natural horsemanship to train 4 young horses in only 2 days!! Isn't that incredible? Using their bitless bridle, after only one hour of ‘nurtural training’ three people were able to ride a 2 year old stallion who had never seen a saddle before that day. The 3 year old gelding accepted his first rider in under an hour and hit the open fields on Day 2. The two young fillies had their first rides in their second lesson. Brooks believes:

“With a little nurturing, you don’t need to spend a lifetime or a fortune to train a horse.”

Bitless bridles are now starting to be used by all kinds of riders, from pleasure riders to precision Grand Prix Dressage riders. Horse owners feel like they have a special connection with their horses, who are calmer and happier to be with them.

“Once they see the responsiveness and control that a bitless bridle can offer, and the smile it puts on their horse, most riders become convinced,” says Brooks. “After all, what horse owner wouldn’t want to find a more nurturing and gentle way to work with the horse they love?”

I've put a link to Zoe's site below so you can learn more about how she trains her horses, and find out about her Nurtural No-Bit BridleTM .

Learn about the bitless bridle!

Do you have a great horse training story to share? Please do!! Did your horse or pony have some bad habits you had to help them change? Do you have a funny story about working with your horse? How about things that worked (or didn't work) for you?

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Can you help Katherine with her horse? 
Katherine emailed us with this question. Can you help?

"Do you have any tips on how to get my horse to keep his head down when I put on the bridle?...

Big Break Through! 
Ok folks this is a long one so hang tight! My eventing horse Chief was not always SO amazing, he had been abused!:.. Chief was fed cow food (which is bad ...

Join Up with Gypsy 
Join up is what a leadmare does in the wild with another horse wanting to join the herd. It builds strong trust between horse and rider. How you do it ...

A Brat But Cute 
This is a completely true story about training my horse Phantom. First of all Phantom is a Chestnut Quarter Horse who is about 15 hh. He has four white ...

Storm, the Runaway Pony!!! 
One day, when I was at school, my friend Megan and I were walking out of the school at home-time, together. Megan had horseriding and I wanted to go and ...

Intelligent Horsemanship with Kelly Marks 
Kelly Marks is an amazing horse trainer. She works with the famous "Horse Whisperer" Monty Roberts and has become one of the best trainers in natural ...

Horse Isle 
In horse isle, I have a black pony called Shadey Moon. I love it very much, but I need more money to get all the riding gear. I wish you could catch one ...

Henrietta, Emily, and Lucy's day to take care of a foal 
Henrietta ate an apple and brushed her teeth. Then she dashed outside to her horse, Moon Glow.

'Hey girl,' she said holding up the girth, 'Time for ...