5 INESCAPABLE ELEMENTS OF A WELL-TRAINED HORSE

(and why the term “broke” just doesn’t work in the 21st century)

- AL DUNNING, WITH CHELSEA SHAFFER

Dunning says a well-trained horse has willing forward motion, smooth turns, a responsive stop, a solid back up, and moves with collection.

When trainers started using the word broke hundreds of years ago, they meant that they'd broken a horse's spirit. As horsemanship has evolved, we’ve learned that “breaking” a horse’s spirit isn’t the goal. No—I want a horse that’s still got his spirit, enthusiasm, and mojo.

Instead of a broke horse, I’ll used the phrase “well trained.” It doesn’t roll off the tongue or make for as catchy a headline, but it more accurately reflects how well we’ve done our jobs as horsemen and -women. And whether we’re professional trainers or weekend warriors, we should be able to train our horses to possess these five critical elements of a well-trained horse in order to maximize our success and safety in the saddle. Plus, a horse that can manage these five skills is better prepared for life with a future owner, insuring longevity in his career. And while these skills might seem obvious at first, they provide the blueprint for every maneuver we ask of our horses— be it on a trail through rugged terrain, in the arena navigating a complex pattern, or down the fence chasing a cow.

These basic elements can start as simple fundamentals but are definitely the foundation for greater maneuvers and components to a well-trained horse for any purpose.

1. Go forward willingly.