TRAINING TIP:

Don't tip toe around your horse. I see a lot of people, especially when doing something that they think will frighten their horse, moving entirely too slowly and trying to soothe the horse with their voice.

"Whoa, boy. Easy, boy. It's only a blanket, boy," is NOT the way you want to have to blanket your horse from now on. Instead, desensitize him with it and convince him that it's perfectly safe. Then you can just walk up and toss it across him from either side without him being afraid. Now THAT'S the way to blanket a horse!

In the same vein, resist the urge to pet him too much. No, I'm not advocating that you stop loving on your horse. But leave that for after the training session, when he's not supposed to be learning something. If he's trying to concentrate on his lesson, a brief touch to his face or neck won't distract him, while a five minute "love and hug" session will.

NEXT: Teaching your horse to set up for halter class without breaking your back.