Horse Problem - Bridle & Ear Shy Horse - And discussion of rampant use of nose chains

You need to back up and teach your horse a couple of things, in a couple of directions, so let me tackle each issue one by one, because there's more than one thing going on there all at the same time:

• 1) He needs to be better desensitized to the bridling process, head/ears, etc. being touched not just by your hand, but ropes/bridles too, and learn how to drop his head willingly and keep it in position for you to bridle easily -- I'll show you how;
• 2) He needs to learn better ground/leading manners so that you'll never feel like you have to use chain/force (a tool which is highly ineffective and actually quite damaging) ever again to keep excellent control there at all times. I'll show you how. And you will then be able to lead him quite softly, easily even in just a rope halter.

For the ear shyness/bridling problem, I want to direct you to the following ear shyness problem solution I've got in this Q&A section, specifically on that subject -- read that section and follow the links I've got there inside that one. Apply that same method you read there to get him past the ear shyness:

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips14.html

And halter shyness:

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips63.html

If he's bit/bridle shy:

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips5.html

For the leading/better ground manners problem (why you've turned to using the chain in the first place there), let me direct you to this problem solution for that which I've got up here -- how to teach a horse to lead respectfully:

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips31.html

Following what you learn there should help fix the leading problems, fast, too, and create quite a polite, well-responsive horse, who leads (and backs!) very respectfully with the quietest cue request. There's not a horse I can't teach that to (what you'll learn there) within under 5 minutes usually and it sticks forever. Very important to have this laid down into your horse's foundation, to keep you safer and the horse highly respectful at all times when being lead. And I'd advise switching to a natural horsemanship halter/12' foot lead combo (tied, not clipped on) for all your training/handling on the ground; it's far superior as a communication tool due to its unique design, yet it's highly humane, doesn't hurt the horse.

Chances are, you probably need an overall program to get your youngster on a better track in general there with you leading the dance at all times and the horse happily looking to you at all times for proficient leadership. (4 is still a youngster in my book and especially green when they've still got holes in their foundation which I see quite clearly from here.) And here's where I would suggest applying horse whispering/natural horsemanship training techniques in a very clear step-by-step program, which you can learn more about in my DVD set, the Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System, and you can order that here: CLICK HERE

After watching the videos, and after learning and applying the methods, you, as the horse's primary teacher, will have taught the horse:

• How to be bonded to you more deeply so that the horse trusts you to the max and they will be far more willing to do whatever you ask, even when they are in doubt;
• That you both have a "bonding place" (a "safety zone") to come back to always, from then on, if the horse is ever upset or afraid, on the ground (or later, in the saddle); we plant a one-rein stop in the foundation of every horse, on the ground first, so that in the saddle, it is automatic. This keeps you safer and the horse more rational, and feeling supported, bonded, connected more deeply emotionally to you.
• How to relax the horse when they are tense about something before they are called upon to react negatively.
• How to have the horse yield easily, in any direction when asked -- they'll learn how to yield properly to pressure to receive the release of pressure. All horses learn from the release of pressure what it is you want, not from the pressure itself;
• How to progress bonding to even deeper levels to the point of downright intimacy; makes a horse feel like they never had it so good being with you!
• How to move the horse from the rear, and learning to do that rationally, which is so important to teach a horse to do before you ever ride them, and which you'll be using for a lot of other things like trailer loading, going in and out of a gate, into a stall, and so many other places/situations; this also teaches a horse that you are in charge of their feet.
• How to address effectively any fears (and the horse's reactions to them) that you flush out in their behavior at any given time; my program focuses greatly on finding the fears before they find you and fixing them -- safely on the ground first! Even lay folks can do this. It's all about: safety. This then builds a far more rational, confident, happy, trusting horse, because, in essence, you have effectively raised the horse's "fear/anxiety bar." And you will have taught the horse simultaneously in the process, how to turn to you for nurturance support when/if they are ever afraid or upset.
• How to do all this first on the ground, then later in the saddle, in that order.
• How to keep you safe and the horse safe at all times, throughout all of this --- always my biggest training focus.

This video set will help you to lay down an even stronger, more solid and trusting foundation under your horse that will then serve you well, tremendously, actually, when you do step up into the saddle. By the time you complete the steps, you will have a transformed horse. The final steps are in the saddle and those exercises will more deeply plant into your horse's foundation the one-rein stop/the "safety zone," and more, that will turn the horse into a far, far more rational, trusting, happier -- and safer -- horse in saddle as well.

And you can do this yourself if you just back up and learn a few things yourself there. This video set will get you there the fastest with your horse, which is why I'm recommending this route. It's designed for anyone on any level, horse or human, to get professional trainer-like results.

And incidentally...my Whispering Way Complete Training Package contains all my videos and training tools that you need to train or retrain your horse yourself the natural horsemanship Whispering Way. You can check out/order the Whispering Way Complete Training Package on my web site here: CLICK HERE

I'm a very strong believer that every horse owner is their horse's primary teacher/trainer whether they realize it or not. Every time you are with your horse, that horse is learning something. You just want to make sure the horse is learning what you want them to learn, not what you don't want them to learn! My natural horsemanship training techniques are gentle, effective, and powerful. Works with every horse every time!

But it's real important to back up and break down all teaching steps in a way that you are releasing baby-gives, allowing the horse to feel the release for the right answers incrementally, so that they learn that's really what you want.

This route will absolutely get your horse past all of those issues, and more, I assure you.

I also want to direct you to another helpful link on my site to teach you a bit more about what exactly natural horsemanship is all about and more details about prey animal psychology in general:

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/WhatIsNH.html

Hope this helps and if you have any problems as you get going applying these solutions I've pointed you toward, do let me know. Happy to help. Thanks again for writing & good luck to you there!

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