This week we’re talking about breaks. We’ll be talking about what breaks are and how you teach them. We’re also talking about the many uses breaks serve - including some very important ones for the handler. Breaks aren’t just for our horse’s benefit. We’ll go back to the very first steps in the training where the handler is using protective contact. The barrier makes it easy to give breaks. So horses are learning that the training stops and then starts up again. Frequent breaks can help a new learner settle. They aren’t frustrated when the handler stops the training, and they aren’t anxiously waiting for it to start up again.

That same environmental set up helps handlers develop the skill of assessing and adjusting their training. So breaks not only serve many functions, they are important for both horse and handler.

Before we begin our discussion of breaks we take a detour into equine dentistry.