Compare different styles of horse training.?

Question

How would you compare the different methods that are used for horse breaking and training? What are the main differences and what kind of evidence is there to prove that one method is better than another?

Thanks. I realise that there is no definate answer and that each horse is different, but I really would just like a bit of an overview of what methods there are and what makes each one different from the next. I guess if they were all the same there would only be one method, not many. For example, what are the differences between Parelli, Monty Roberts, methods not described as natural, etc. I have a book by Andrew McLean who trains by operant conditioning and believes that all horses should be trained the same way, and all problems are caused by incorrect training. I'm not sure I really believe that horses have no individuality though as I have seen so many different 'personalities' in horses I have known.

Answer 1

In my experience with trainers, horses, and horsepeople.... GOOD trainers don't limit themselves to one method over another. No two horses are the same, so the same methods on every horse doesn't always work out. And depending on the horse, the working environment, and the owners expectations, you sometimes need to switch between gentle methods and not so gentle methods to get the job done. So in my opinion, the trainers that are experienced know that every training method has a time and place. Doesn't mean every method gets used, but there is some amount of merit to each method. Which method is best depends on the horse and the situation.

I don't know how well that answers your question, but I have been training horses for a long time. My focus is not on conforming to one method or another. Rather my focus is on training a good, dependable horse in the safest manor possible for both horse and human.

edit:
There is not so much a difference in the methods as in the delivery of those methods. Parelli uses "games" to train horses, and the games make the training fun, and they look neat. Unfortunately I don't think the methods transfer over to the practical aspects of riding. So the horse might play the games really well, but they actually ride and work poorly. But that has just been my experience with Parelli.
Monty Roberts is the "joining up" method. A lot of people like the method because it is really hands off. I personally see it as running the horse in the round pen until it gives up and says, "Go ahead, eat me." In my opinion, it may be hands off physically, but mentally I think it is kind of harsh. I don't want to ride a horse that has given up.
I don't have a lot of experience with Linda Tellington Jones and the T-Touch method, and GaWaNi Pony Boy is from what I have seen of him, not worth looking into.
I would suggest more practical trainers like Buck Brannaman, John Lyons or Clinton Anderson. Buck Brannaman is the better one in my opinion. Nothing against the other two, I just don't feel like he is always trying to sell me something.
There are a lot of other trainers out there, and the best recomendation I can give you is to look into as many trainers as you can. They all have different tricks and points of view that can be learned from. Most of the ones that are on the market now are "natural" gentle trainers, but, short of tying the horse up, most of the "new" methods are based on old ones. If you go online or to the book store you will find books on everything from training ranch horses to clicker training. Get a sampling and try some out. None are better than the other, but you really need to know more than just one method to train a good horse.

Answer 2

This is the horse world. You are not going to get a definitive answer. I have seen horses trained from every type(just about) of discipline. Some are great, others are not. The old traditional way of saddle breaking a horse is all but gone.
The best gauge of horse training method is the horse. You need to find out which method a particular horse responds to best. Some need a heavy hand. Others you can almost talk into training.
The methods are too many to list and if anyone tells you they know them all, just move on to the next answer. New things are being developed every day.
I have been in the horse industry a long time and trained many horses. I can tell you this for certain. No two horses were exactly alike so I had to make adjustments in the training.

Answer 3

I would compare different methods of breaking "or" training a horse simply by.....one works and the other doesn't.
The differences as already mentioned ARE too many to list -good luck with that one.
The evidence to prove one method works better than anther is the horses positive responce to what ever aide you are giving.
I'm not sure where you were truly going with this question....if you were looking for info, or just curious what others did or thought on the subject.
The bottom line is there is not really a right or wrong way to break "or" train a horse, as long as abuse is not in the picture and the well being of the horse is kept in mind during the process.

Answer 4

There are many methods of training and not everything will work for every dog. You have to find a trainer that you feel comfortable with. One whose style you can learn to follow. Training success depends largely on how well the OWNER follows what they have been told to do. If the owner is consistant with the methods taught the dog will have fewer problems but if the owner is not consistant woth the method they will have spent money for nothing. The hardest thing I run into is getting the owners to do what they need to do all the time. Most times they do ok for a time but once I am gone they fall into old habits and the bad behavior comes back. With a retun visit I can fix it but it is up to the owner long term to make the changes necessary to get long term change in the dog. Anyone no matter their age or sex can learn how to properly control and handle a dog. Depends on how bad they want a well behaved dog. I have worked with a few who were pretty bad at leas the owner thought so until I took them out and walked them and they wer perfect angels for me. But thye do not know me when I come into the home and I project a very clam no nonsense front and do not take any nonsense from a dog. Being firm and consistant with my own dogs has earned my dogs several hunting titles and championships and a few CGC titles.

Answer 5

We have always broke horses along traditional methods. I'm with HHQH on Parelli, John Lyons etc because they are taking old time methods and passing them off as some new invention and way of understanding and along the way, gaining access to people's pocket books and getting very rich in the process. It's a fad and the proof is in the pudding. I've yet to hear of any world class dressage horse or eventer trained with those methods.
Argentine's are very brutal in the way that they break and train polo ponies but the fact remains, they produce the most outstanding polo ponies in the world and players in the US and the UK will pay thousands for an Argie pony.
I've have seen various methods employed for breaking and training and there is a reason that throughout time, traditional methods have been passed down and that's because they work and produce results.

Answer 6

There are those trainers who are slow and take their time and those who are in a rush. Also some horses learn faster than others and some are more intelligent than others.. Those horses take longer to train. It all depends what you are working with.

Methods to prove one way of training is better than another?
Well, I would look at the final outcome. A horse that has been scared into doing something will show signs of nervousness and being hyper.

I would go out to your trainer's facilities and observe.

Answer 7

I would compare the different methods of breaking as just that...different. You have those that like to get it done and over with, get the buck out. Those that take the time to not scare the horse and be slow. Training is the same way..different. Slow and patient, fast and over with. It's not that one method is better then the other. It's what you prefer to do. My grandfather is old school..and that is NOT breaking the horses spirit!! what a load of crap. It is the time and patience one. I have done both because of the horse. Some horses are fast and over with and some are the slow and patient kinds. I like both as long as the horse can handle either one. You have your ADHD horses and they would go crazy with the slow training and you have your others that would blow up if you were fast with them. Evidence can go both ways. Just depends on you and the horse.

Answer 8

Breaking and Training are 2 different things. You break out a colt and then it goes into training.

Are you wanting to find different techniques used when breaking or training?

LOL, to the person below me. True horseman of the past who "broke" horses for a living did not go around breaking the horses spirit. Thats &*()&*)_. Old school does not mean that horses were tied up, tortured or whatever else you want to come up with... those stories come from people that were not true horseman. The true horseman have been breaking horses without "breaking spirits" or hurting the horse by any means. True horseman adapt to the horse they are working with... Your Parellis, Lyons, Anderson, etc. etc. all use techniques from the past or "traditional" training methods in what they do, they just want you to think that all this horrible stuff happened and they are the gods of their time. LOL, its a joke.

Answer 9

I 100% agree with kicking bear, no 2 horses are ever the same and good trainers develop and provide a well rounded training strategy using technigues from both old and new styles to provide the guidance the horse needs to achieve desired results.

Answer 10

A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/gHn00

If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.

It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.