| Horse have an attention span similar to that of men | | | | In order to gain your horse's attention just make him |
| when they are distracted by something, that is they | | | | take step, because if your horse is looking around |
| get distracted very easily. This propensity to short | | | | then you do not exist in their world at that point, so |
| attention spans can be a problem for those of us | | | | get them to take a sep or move and they will |
| who work with horses, as you always want your | | | | refocus on you. Remember your horse loosing his |
| horse to be paying attention to you, especially if you | | | | attention is nothing to get mad about, it's natural and |
| are trying to teach the horse something new. | | | | it's just the way things are with animals. So if your |
| If he's looking elsewhere and not focused on you, | | | | horse isn't focused on you when he should be, then |
| then how are you to teach him anything. One of the | | | | have him move. The more they're used to giving you |
| major reasons we ask a horse to move around is to | | | | their attention, the safer you will be in the long term. |
| maintain his attention on us and what we are doing. | | | | It is not uncommon to hear about horse and rider |
| It is vital when you are doing ground work with your | | | | out trial riding and the horse loosing attention and |
| horse or attempting tot teach him anything new that | | | | forgetting the rider is there only to get a fright once |
| he has his full attention on you and the task at hand. | | | | they again realise that the rider is on their back, |
| Now one of the most prominent reasons for a horse | | | | causing them to buck and unseat the rider. So it is |
| to loose attention is that he finds you or what you | | | | worth getting your horse's attention on you and |
| are asking of him boring, you see horses naturally | | | | getting him to so as a matter of habit. In addition, |
| look for entertainment. I have seen two year olds | | | | another important thing about having your horse's |
| destroy a round bale through play, and realized that | | | | attention is that it demonstrates respect, just as |
| they are just entertaining themselves. | | | | looking at people when they are talking to you does. |