How Do Horses Learn?

Timing of Release of Pressure

What you release is what you teach. Whether it’s a leg, rein, etc. you want to make sure that you are taking the pressure off only when you get the response you are trying to teach or reward. 

Rewarding the Slightest Try

When you are teaching a new concept to a horse, they usually don’t know what you are asking for - you have to set things up so they can find the right answers and reward them for it. Often you cannot teach and refine something all in one day. If you demand perfection all at once, usually it will overwhelm, confuse, or frustrate the horse. 

Repetition 

Every animal (and human) learns through repetition. Repeating the same thing in the same way over and over creates a habit. A habit creates muscle memory and understanding. However this can go both ways - if you are repeating a training sequence that is teaching your horse negative behaviors, then you are essentially ingraining bad habits. 

Consistency 

You as a rider or trainer have to be consistent in everything you do and how you interact with your horse. If you are not consistent in your expectations, cues, techniques or with what you reward, you will never get solid results.