Easy. Just start with something that your horse does naturally.
This will usually be a behavior that they enjoy or do in response to something going on around them. It is much easier to use a behavior your horse already does and build on it to create a trick.
Watch your horse, particularly around feed time, to see if something they do could be turned into a trick.
My trainee trick horse, Bella, loves to pick things up. If I leave anything lying around, she will pick it up, play with it or throw it. So she should enjoy tricks like fetching or taking a hat off my head or a handkerchief out of my pocket.
Some good starting points for tricks:
- Picking things up = fetch
- Pawing = counting, Spanish walk
- Nudging = pushing a ball or barrel along
- Shaking head = answer a question “yes” or “no”
- Follows you = liberty work, dancing
Over the next few days, watch your horse and notice anything they do that could be the beginning of a trick.
You might be surprised to find out how many ‘tricks’ your horse is already doing!
