Trainer's Corner Archives – The Northwest Horse Source

Trainer’s Corner: Movement to Regain the Brain – Part 2

February 20, 2025 by Ben Longwell

Response in Spite of Trouble Last month we discussed one of the most common questions I hear, which concerns what to do when a horse spooks or how to build confidence in a nervous horse. These are broad questions and can involve situations with a wide range of possible factors, …

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Trainer’s Corner: Help for the Spooky Horse – Part 1

February 18, 2025January 14, 2025 by Ben Longwell

Photo by Natalie Longwell

Response in Spite of Trouble Welcome to this three-part series which will cover one of the most universally applicable principles of horsemanship, what I call “Response in Spite of Trouble”. Some of the most common questions I’m asked concern what to do when a horse spooks or how to build …

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Trainer’s Corner: Happy Foot Work

December 30, 2024 by Kim Roe

Shift the horse’s weight to the opposite leg before attempting to pick up their foot. Photo Courtesy Kim Roe.

Four Tips for Handling Your Horse’s Feet without Stress Imagine how it feels for a prey animal like a horse to have their foot held and manipulated by a predator species like a human. It’s truly amazing they ever let us touch their feet! If we come to the horse …

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Trainer’s Corner: Force or Fear as Motivation?

October 25, 2024 by Ben Longwell

Photo Credit: Natalie Longwell

Good Training Focuses on the Mental and Emotional State of Horses Many times, as we work with our horses we have a physical goal in mind—we want them to accomplish something specific such as getting in the trailer, standing still or moving when told, or performing a flying lead change. …

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Trainer’s Corner: Does Your Horse Come to You?

August 19, 2024 by Kim Roe

My gelding Exodus learns to connect eyes and ears in a “whoa/stay” with liberty trainer Donna Kelleher. This connection becomes a powerful reward to a horse. Photo by Kim Roe

How to Create an Easy-to-Catch Horse One of the more satisfying moments in horse ownership is standing at a field gate, calling your horse, and have him break into a canter and come joyfully to you. By contrast, it’s frustrating to find yourself walking after a sour-faced horse who turns …

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Trainer’s Corner: Get the Most from Your Training Dollars

April 22, 2024 by Mark Bolender

Photo by TooTrickPony.com

Have Clear Expectations and Good Communication Deciding to send your horse out for training is a huge commitment and financial expense. When you put your horse in training it’s important to define your expectations. Select a trainer who specializes in the discipline you’re interested in pursuing. For example, we train …

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Trainer’s Corner: Do a Pre-Ride Safety Check

February 21, 2024 by Scott DePaolo

Correctly fitting protective headgear is always a good idea for safety while riding.

Pay Attention to Four Crucial Areas It was an ordinary late summer day—dry and warm, the perfect moment to be on horseback. We had been riding daily since mid June and had led almost 1000 kids, ages 8 to 10, out on trail rides. Most of them were first-time riders, …

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Trainer’s Corner: What to Do When Your Horse is Wrong

January 27, 2024 by Anna Blake

Photo Courtesy Anna Blake

Affirmative Training Shapes Behavior It started the way it usually starts. Either the horse looked to the side or the rider pulled on her horse’s face. It’s the fundamental disagreement; the rider thinks it’s her right to control the horse and the horse doesn’t like having metal jammed on his …

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Trainer’s Corner: My Journey with “Journey” the Mustang – Part 4

November 10, 2023September 13, 2023 by Matt Livengood

Matt and Journey the Mustang. Photo Courtesy Alayne Blickle.

Competition Day and Beyond At the end of our last article, I’d been out of town judging shows and wishing I had more time to prepare my mustang, Journey, for the upcoming Mustang Mania Trainers Challenge (see the July/August issue). These mustang competitions demand a solid, trusting relationship between horse …

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Trainer’s Corner: My journey with “Journey” the Mustang – Part 3

November 10, 2023August 15, 2023 by Matt Livengood

Matt and Journey the Mustang. Photo Courtesy Alayne Blickle

Competitions and Opportunities Highlight Mustangs’ Qualities At the end of the last article, I’d finally saddled Journey, my formerly wild mustang who I was preparing for a 90-day competition, with a full-sized saddle after starting him with a kid’s saddle. Then life happened, and I had to be gone for …

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Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

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