Apr 07, 2013 at 05:46 pm #411495

Every time Professional Clinician Shana Terry and Marty step into the ring, their performance gets better. Some of the tricks Marty did this morning included one- and two-legged bows, laying down, sitting up and smiling. Shana also had him do the Spanish Walk, an exercise he’s learning and making great progress with.

Throughout the course of the demo, Shana explained that tricks are a fun challenge and a great way to form a better relationship and build off the foundation of respect and trust that you have already established with the Method. Through trick training she said, you can teach your horse to focus on subtle body language and respond accurately to voice commands.

We’ve all heard Clinton preach the importance of consistency in a training program, saying, ‘Consistency is your greatest ally, inconsistency is your greatest enemy.’ While that tried-and-true formula is key to a well-broke horse, he and Shana add that it’s important to include variety. Variety keeps training sessions fresh and interesting for your horse, which in turn keeps him happy and looking forward to training. Shana said when they introduced tricks to their finished horses at the ranch, the result was incredible – they’ve got happier horses that enjoy their jobs even more!