Some horses spook at tarps or flags. Others react at something far less visible—a shift in your seat, a cluck of your tongue, or the simple little ask to canter.

True training isn’t just about getting a horse used to the outside world. It’s about helping them regulate their inside world—their emotions. That means identifying the moments when their nerves bubble up and teaching them how to stay calm through it.

Meet Willy, the big black beauty.
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Willy was a horse I’ll never forget. He didn’t care much about spooky objects, but if you asked him to canter, you’d better hold onto your hat. His reaction wasn’t hesitation—it was explosion. Bucking, bolting, leaping. For him, the canter cue itself was the trigger.

So, we started right there. One environment. One request: “Canter—but stay calm.”

I didn’t drill it. I didn’t pick a fight. I asked softly, and when the overreacting came, I brought him back down, reassured him, and tried again. Over time, the drama faded. He began to realize the cue to canter wasn’t a threat—it was just a question.

Step by Step

Once Willy could canter calmly in the round pen, we moved to the big arena. Same deal: one cue, one expectation. Win that moment. Then we went to the open field. Then the open field with all my other horses loose, running like wild kids on recess. This process took about two weeks.

Each time, the environment got harder—but the task stayed the same. Just canter. Just stay soft.

We took it to the fairgrounds. We took it to a show. Still, it was one ask: “Canter without losing your mind.” And because he’d been prepared—emotionally, not just physically—he could handle it.

By the end of that journey, anyone could ride Willy's canter. Anyone could ask Willy to canter—anywhere—and get a quiet, balanced response. That’s not luck. That’s not talent. That’s the result of training the horse’s mind, one emotional trigger at a time.

Desensitizing isn’t just about waving a flag. It’s about teaching your horse to handle pressure and change with confidence. Not just on sunny days or in safe places.

Find what bothers them, make that one thing easy, and then let it travel with you into new places. You don’t have to fix everything in one session. Just win one task at a time in progressively harder environments.

Here's to your continuing success! Don