No second chance at good first impressions

We turn horses out every day into sacrifice lots where they can play without worrying about overgrazing the rest of the property. We bring them back in again at the end of the day for dinner and a later night snack. As I completed this routine yesterday, the horses that handled well reminded me how important it is for a horse to learn decent ground manners. Mostly, it keeps whoever is handling your horse in a good mood. Transfer that to a horse’s sale value, and good ground manners take on new importance. “Brats” create a bad first impression, and there are no second chances at good first impressions. In this “panicked herd” economy, we would all be doing our horses a favor by training for that good first impression,
just in case the worst happens, and we can no longer afford our friend. Also, if others are handling your horse, you really want your horse to get the hugs, kisses and special favors that go along with being one of the “good ones.” The first frost has come and gone. Show season is over, but the next six months make a great time to take on a long-term goal with your horse. How about making his life better with good ground manners, or at a higher level, competitive showmanship skills? One of my favorite practical training resources is John Lyons. You'll find ground work and a wealth of other tips in his Trail Riding Series - Training From The Heart 3 DVD Set.