Notes on training a miniature horse:

Consistency is the key for training any animal. Most of the minis are very sweet and loving but they are very smart. The stallions will take advantage if given a chance, especially the young ones. We have very few that don't respond to positive reinforcement. If you have purchased a mini and and are having difficulty; perhaps he learned bad habits and wasn't corrected. It is easy to spoil the minis due to their small size. Some of the things they do as foals are cute. Some people encourage them to rear up or get into their laps. Once they weigh 200 pounds it isn't as cute. :-)

Glad that you are enjoying your minis. They will bring you many years of joy.

Just like children, or adults for that matter, horses will test your limits. If you reward for positive behavior, which may be with your voice tone and a scratch on the neck or an occasional treat, they quickly learn that it is easier to do what you ask of them.

Many times training problems arise from lack of understanding what is being asked of them or fear of a new situation. 99% of the time, the horse truly wants to do what you want him to do. Rarely will you find one that is just looking for a confrontation. The problem with food treats becomes their desire for more, then they become demanding.

Also, it is much easier to keep from developing bad habits than to try to break one.

It sounds like you have already developed a rapport with your minis, now the challenge is not to spoil them. Truly, training a mini is no different than training any other animal – body language, consistency, repetition, and tone of voice is the key.

Consistency – as children we learn language in order to communicate. Our parents teach us that language by word repetition and word association. The horse must learn our language and vice versa. Since horses do not verbalize as we do they must learn. They will learn through repetition. Use the same words for the same actions and situations.

I don’t really have a book that I could recommend; observation is how I learned to show. Until 1988 I had never owned a horse, so it was all new to me.

If you have shows close to you, go and observe what the winning handlers are doing as far as show style. Not all trainers show the horses respect but if you watch, you can see the difference in the way the horses respond. Some show because they like the handler, others respond out of fear.

I’ve been fortunate to have a natural rapport with animals so training is easy for me. I hope it will be for you too.

The information below is an article from the publication The Horse, I couldn't agree more! You may also find the article on line at TheHorse.com a publication well worth the cost available in magazine form and eNewsletters.

Training, Not Coercion, is Key to a Well-Behaved Athlete

by: Marie Rosenthal, MS
December 03 2010, Article # 17334

The best way to train a horse is to use techniques that "align with the horse's view of the world," according to Paul McGreevy, BVSc, MRCVS, PhD, MACVSc, associate professor of veterinary science at the University of Sydney in Camden, New South Wales, Australia, who recently published a paper on the topic.

It is possible to train even the most unruly horse effectively and humanely by using techniques that are relevant to a horse's cognitive abilities, according to McGreevy. He believes that training techniques such as hyperflexion of the neck (rollkur) and the use of electric shock collars can actually inhibit learning, confuse the animal, and compromise his welfare.

"Some people believe horses have cognitive powers similar to our own and that, therefore, horses know when they have misbehaved," he said. A horse has no way of connecting misbehavior to a correction like water deprivation, he continued.

"Excellent technique relies on clarity, timing, and consistency," he said.

McGreevy suggested using a series of training tools to keep a horse progressing in the right direction:

Use scientific training methods that are humane. If you use negative reinforcement, cease the activity as soon as the horse obeys. Pressure after compliance can confuse the horse;
Use easy-to-understand signals, and isolate each signal from the other as much as possible. Overlapping signals can be difficult for the horse to understand;
Teach one command at a time, and connect it a specific signal. If an activity is complex, break it down into different components. Once the horse knows the individual components, put them together;
Apply rewards immediately so that the horse connects the learned signal and the response to the reward;
Learning is doing. Once the horse learns the signal and response, he should continue giving the desired behavior when asked. There is no need to keep signaling with spurs or rein pressure, he said;
Fearful animals don't listen because they are doing what they feel they need to do to survive. Build trust with the horse so he works with you rather than against you.

Training should not be a test of wills. Use techniques that minimize conflict behavior and encourage submission and relaxation in the horse.

McGreevy does not supply any training methods in his research; his research focuses on understanding how a rider can most effectively communicate with their horse.

The abstract, "Horse-training techniques that may defy the principles of learning theory and compromise welfare," was published in the July 2010 issue of the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.