Many horse owners dream of having a reliable trail companion, a horse that remains calm and confident amidst the unexpected. While extensive trail riding is crucial, the training methods employed by mounted police units offer a powerful, albeit unconventional, approach to achieving this goal. This article delves into the principles and techniques of mounted police desensitization, demonstrating how they can significantly enhance a trail horse’s composure and trust. The Jackson Hole Police Citizens’ Mounted Unit (CMU) exemplifies this, with members finding that their horses, trained for the unpredictable environment of town patrols, become exceptionally well-suited for challenging trail rides.
For riders seeking to bolster their horse’s confidence, the techniques used by mounted police units can be invaluable. By gradually exposing horses to a wide range of stimuli, including loud noises, crowds, and unusual objects, these programs build resilience and a strong sense of trust between horse and rider. This specialized training has a notable impact, as seen with horses like Ann Moyer’s gelding, Bez, who, after undergoing this desensitization, now handles town patrols and trail rides with remarkable equanimity. Even horses new to training, like Heidi Hansen’s 4-year-old Quarter Horse filly, exhibit increased confidence and a reduced tendency to spook after participating in similar programs. Tressa Allen and her 17-hand Dutch Warmblood, Sheldon, are another testament to the effectiveness of this training, remaining unfazed by even the most jarring stimuli after years of exposure. Learning more about these methods can empower trail riders to incorporate elements of desensitization into their own training, ultimately fostering a more secure and enjoyable partnership with their equine partners.
Ground Rules for Desensitization Training
Before embarking on any desensitization journey, establishing a solid foundation of safety and understanding is paramount. Adhering to these ground rules will ensure a productive and secure training experience for both horse and rider:
- Safety First: Your well-being is the absolute priority. If at any point you feel unsafe, dismount immediately. Some exercises are best left to experienced mounted patrol professionals. Groundwork until your horse is comfortable is a safe alternative.
- Respect Your Horse’s Pace: Never push your horse beyond their current comfort level. Gradual exposure is key. Allow your horse to process and adapt at a pace that facilitates success and builds confidence, rather than fear.
- Never Train Alone: While intense focus is important, always have someone present, even if they are simply observing from a distance. An extra set of eyes can be crucial for safety.
- Repetition is Key: Desensitization is not a one-time event. Consistent and repeated exposure to stimuli, in a controlled manner, reinforces learning and builds lasting confidence.
- Selective Skill Adoption: Not all mounted patrol skills are directly relevant to trail riding. Focus on the elements that will benefit your trail experience, such as responding to noise and movement, and feel free to adapt or skip exercises that don’t align with your goals.
Foundational Principles for Success
Optimizing your horse’s response to desensitization training involves more than just exposure; it requires a thoughtful approach to your own role and the horse’s learning process. Consider these fundamental training principles:
- Leverage Your Mindset: Your own emotional state—your confidence, anxiety, and energy—profoundly impacts your horse. As Corporal Russ Ruschill notes, many training issues stem from the rider’s internal state. Approach training with a calm, confident demeanor, projecting an attitude that challenges are simply “no big deal.” Repeat this affirmation aloud to reinforce your belief.
- Master Your Energy: Horses are highly attuned to their handler’s energy. If you anticipate a negative reaction, your horse is likely to exhibit one. By projecting calm confidence, you can influence your horse to mirror that attitude. If you feel tension rising, take a moment to move away, breathe deeply, and re-center yourself.
- Embrace the Power of Gaze: Where you look, your horse will follow. Train yourself to look at your intended destination, not at the potential obstacle. This redirection of focus helps your horse move forward with purpose rather than hesitation. Practicing this “look where you want to go” mantra, as emphasized by CMU members, will become more natural with time.
- Apply Pressure and Release: This fundamental principle of equine training remains crucial. Apply gentle, consistent pressure until your horse offers even a slight approximation of the desired response. The moment they comply, release the pressure and offer a reward, such as a pat.
- Utilize the Moment of Learning: True learning occurs during the release of pressure, when your horse has a chance to process and understand what is being asked. Allow sufficient time for this “aha!” moment to sink in. Rushing this process can lead to frustration and hinder progress.
- Engage Your Horse’s Sense of Smell: A horse’s olfactory sense plays a significant role in their acceptance of new things. When encountering an unfamiliar object, a horse may pause to investigate with its nose. This is not a sign of refusal but rather an active part of their assessment process. Allow them this moment, and once they seem comfortable, encourage them to proceed.
A Step-by-Step Approach to Desensitization
Implementing desensitization training requires a structured approach. Here’s a breakdown of how to begin:
Step 1: Warm-Up: Just like any physical activity, warming up your horse is essential to prepare them mentally and physically for training. Utilize your usual warm-up routine to ensure your horse is receptive and ready.
Step 2: Sack Out Your Horse: Begin by desensitizing your horse to tactile sensations all over their body. Use various objects – starting with soft items like an inflatable toy and progressing to crinkly materials like plastic bags or tarps – to rub your horse from head to tail, under their belly, and between their legs. Allow them to hear the sounds these objects make.
Step 3: Introduce Smoke and Fire (with extreme caution and professional guidance): For advanced desensitization, controlled use of smoke bombs and fireworks can be highly effective. Smoke, in particular, helps horses learn to trust their handler enough to move through an area of reduced visibility. Fireworks teach horses to handle sudden, loud noises. It is critical to start at a significant distance and gradually decrease it over many sessions, always observing your horse’s reactions and ensuring their comfort. This stage of training is often best conducted under the supervision of experienced mounted police trainers. For those interested in related equestrian disciplines, exploring Mounted Shooting can offer insights into horses accustomed to noise and action.
Step 4: Initial Introduction from the Ground: Before mounting, introduce your horse to any new obstacle from the ground. This allows them to investigate and accept the object at their own pace. Be patient and supportive. Sergeant Alan John, founder of the Jackson Hole CMU, emphasizes practicing ground control exercises like longeing in small circles before introducing obstacles, ensuring a strong foundation of responsiveness. Never force your horse over an obstacle; this can create a negative association. Remember, high adrenaline levels impede learning, while a calm state promotes it.
Step 5: Riding Over Obstacles: Once your horse is comfortable with obstacles from the ground, begin riding over them. Start with less intimidating approaches and gradually increase the challenge. If your horse hesitates, consider following a more experienced horse. If they become overly anxious, take a break and engage in a fun activity like playing horse ball or football to diffuse tension.
Step 6: Reinforce with Trail Miles: While desensitization is powerful, there is no substitute for real-world trail experience. Exposure to the varied sights, sounds, and smells of the trail is essential for solidifying a horse’s confidence. Mounted police training provides a strong baseline, helping your horse remain calm when encountering new trail situations, such as the sound of wildlife or unfamiliar terrain. Consistent trail riding further solidifies this confidence.
Step 7: Innovate Your Obstacles: Mounted law enforcement units often use similar training tools, but creativity is key. Utilize everyday items from hardware or dollar stores to replicate obstacles or design your own. Making the training process enjoyable and game-like for both you and your horse will enhance the learning experience. For those seeking to understand advanced training techniques, exploring resources such as bryan neubert horse training can provide further insights into methods that build horse responsiveness and confidence.
By integrating these principles and techniques, trail riders can significantly enhance their horses’ confidence, reliability, and overall enjoyment on the trail. The discipline and systematic approach of mounted police desensitization offer a proven pathway to developing a truly unflappable equine partner.
