Confidence Over Obstacles

Instilling confidence in a young horse isn't easy, but repetition and clear instruction can set you up for success.

- LOGAN PLUHAR, WITH KATE BRADLEY BYARS

When a young horse doesn't have confidence going over an obstacle, like ranch trail logs, it's up to you as the rider to instill confidence in him.

Teaching a young horse to navigate a new obstacle often triggers one of two instinctive responses: either they stop and refuse or rush through to get it over with. Both reactions offer valuable training opportunities, especially when a horse hesitates or tries to evade the challenge altogether. In those moments, a patient rider can guide the horse through the task, helping build both trust and confidence.

Practice Patience

To me, training and building confidence both come down to repetition. But there's a fine line. Patience and repetition aren't the same. Too much repetition can overwhelm a horse or create resistance.

Allow your horse to work at his pace early on while gradually guiding him toward a more relaxed and trusting response.