Hot-blooded horses can be really wild.  They buck, jump around, try to bite you when you are riding, etc.  They are not easy riders.  You have to ride them down before you can enjoy a pleasure ride with them.  They are very spirited horses.

Cold-blooded horses are calm and gentle.  These make great kid horses.  However, you have to warm these horses up to really enjoy riding them.  My horse, Ladd, is a cold-blooded horse.

Whether your horse is hot or cold-blooded, you still need to do groundwork with them.  Knowing what kind of horse you own helps you to create a groundwork schedule that is individualized to your horse’s needs.  For example, we have Cheyenne, who is a hot-blooded horse.  She is a great horse and very sweet, but she can run forever and is extremely quick.  For Cheyenne, we teach her patience by tying her to a post.  We also longe her in a trot or lope before riding.  My dad, who rides her the most, always starts riding her in an arena before going out into the pasture.  He also flexes her neck.

On the other hand with Ladd, I longe him with the saddle on in order to warm him up.  We work up to a trot slowly.  Ladd is not lazy; he is old.  When I mount him, I make sure that he is warmed up before loping.  This is good for his muscles and joints just like any person going for a run.  You must stretch and warm-up first.

Determine if your horse is hot or cold-blooded.  It should not be difficult.  Once you know, work to either cool down your horse or warm it up before riding.  Either way you will have a more enjoyable ride when you work with your horse’s needs and not against them.

1. licking its lips,
2. lowering its head,
3. blinking its eyes,
4. cocking its hind foot, and
5. shaking its head.

This is important because once the horse shows a sign of relaxation during a training session, you want to stop applying the pressure.  In other words, stop doing what you are doing and praise your horse.  One method of desensitization is the human currycomb.

I am going to describe the human currycomb step by step. If you are tall enough to jump on your horse, you are good to go. If you are shorter, like me, you need a stool. First, jump up and down while patting all over the horse’s back, including their withers, ribs, butt, etc.  Keep on until your horse just stands there. As soon as they do what you want, stop applying the pressure. In this case the jumping and patting are the pressure.

Now you jump on their back. You are laying across their back with your hands down one side and your feet on the other.  Move your arms and feet like scissors. Pat their belly if you can reach. Again you are waiting for them to relax. When they do, stop what you are doing. Slide off the horse.

Now jump up and swing your legs to the back.  You are now lying straight along its back.  Move your feet to see if your horse is still relaxed.  Now slide off the backside of your horse.  You can have a spotter to make sure that you won’t fall.

This is the human currycomb.  It teaches your horse to stand still which is an invaluable skill to have when one is mounting, sitting in the saddle, grooming, etc.  It also teaches your horse patience.  Now that you have done it on one side, you must do it on the other side.

Below is a video of me working with a pony named Boudreaux on the final day of the horsemanship camp.  I am demonstrating round penning, desensitizing, and yielding the hindquarters.  I hope you enjoy the video as I seek to share my love of horses with you.