06/27/2025
How many times should I repeat something to make sure my horse learns it? Here's some food for thought.
Riders often ask, “How many times should I practice a maneuver?”
For example, how many times should I ask my horse to do a sliding stop? How lead changes should I do if I am practicing?
Understanding horses and how they learn is critical in horse training.
I need to practice enough so the horse gets comfortable and proficient at executing the maneuver. But not so much repetition that I cause the horse to become frustrated or to resentful.
Years ago, that one institution of higher learning in Texas brought horse panels into an open arena to create a maze for horses to walk through. The study revealed that when a horse was able to walk through the maze three times in a row, making no mistakes, the knowledge of the maze pattern had become a learned habit for the horse. Because of this research, I have adopted three correct maneuvers as a rule of thumb.
An additional study was done in South Africa which verified the same results.
This knowledge has led me to train horses in a series of three correct maneuvers.
Let’s say that I want the horse to back up. When the horse has become knowledgeable and willing regarding the desired maneuver. Then I work up to counting a series of three. I ask for just one step at a time and then work up to two at a time. By the time the horse can take each step correctly and willingly, I count three correct steps and quit. I then give the horse a break by walking him off and going to work on something else.
Its okay to ask the horse to back up several times during a training session. But I quit asking when three correct steps are achieved. I go work on something else with the horse for a while, then at a different place in the training session, I ask the horse to back three correct steps again.
Another example of training utilizing the series of three applies to reining horse training. When I'm asking a horse to perform a sliding stop, I work on sending the horse down the length of the arena, turning, and doing another length until the horse is not trying to take over by charging or shutting down or stopping before my cue as I send the horse down the arena. When the horse allows me to send him to a stop correctly connected to my cues three times in a series, I end my practice for that day. (Even if it hasn't taken long to get to that point on that day.)
It doesn't take a horse long to learn in this manner. Performing a maneuver correctly three times, followed by the reward of finishing our work for the day, will cause that action we were performing to rapidly become a learned habit. By using this training pattern, I avoid causing resentment while building a lot of confidence in the horse.
