Escape and avoidance of pressure is something all horses will do naturally; using the reactive side of their brain instead of thinking their way through a training scenario. If not addressed, horses will develop chronic habits of resistance when exposed to the least amount of pressure. Hypersensitive horses are often fearful and worried about pressure itself. Instead of slowing down and thinking their way out of a bind, they look for ways to shirk pressure and run away from the rider's hands and legs. Dull, lazy or bad-minded horses often interpret any amount of pressure as the beginning of a fight. They brace themselves for a struggle instead of thinking about yielding to pressure and finding a release that way. 

In this episode, Jake and Amy discuss two horses whose personalities are polar opposites: A hypersensitive nervous filly, and a dull resistant gelding. Using these horses as examples, the clinicians dive into the different tactics and methods you can employ to create better mental habits around exposing your horse to pressure, and the training process itself. 

Jake answers a question from Stephanie, who wants to compete more successfully in ranch riding, obstacle course and trail competitions with her 10yo ranch-bred quarter horse gelding. Topics covered: 

So you're ready to graduate out of the snaffle... now what? In this episode we present a general overview of the tried-and-true shank bits we turn to when advancing our horses. 

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Groundwork exercises and tips for spooky horses, and a basic gestalt of our hobbling regimen. 

Our sponsor for this episode is Drinking Post Waterers! Learn more about Drinking Post and register to win a Frost Free Automatic Waterer by visiting www.drinkingpost.com/projecthorse !

We contrast two different horses; one encountered at a recent clinic, and another that's been in training with Lundahl Performance for several weeks. We discuss when tiptoeing around issues and taking baby steps is appropriate, and when it's time to scale up the intensity and your expectations for your horse. We then answer a listener question regarding the correct timeline for Foal, Weanling & Yearling training; and how much imprinting and exposure young horses actually need.  

Our sponsor for this episode is Drinking Post Waterers! Learn more about Drinking Post and register to win a Frost Free Automatic Waterer by visiting www.drinkingpost.com/projecthorse ! 

Making strategic use of suppling exercises at the jog will greatly improve the way your horse operates at the lope. Luke discusses this and fields listener questions about establishing direction vs. impulsion on the lunge line, and when it's time to graduate from mecate reins to leather split reins. 

Jake sits down with team member Juliana Hillman to discuss insights and lessons learned during her first 6 weeks of study with Lundahl Performance. 

 We detail our training of 4 select two-year-old reining horses during 2018; the unique challenges each one presented, and the progress they made. In Part 3 we recap our experiences with "Cobra," a 2016 gelding; and "Kia," a 2016 filly.