The Connecting Games

The Connecting Games are used to establish a language so you can effectively communicate with your horse.

1. The Friendly Game

The Friendly Game teaches your horse to trust and accept you and your tools. Your horse should allow you to touch him anywhere without worry or resistance. This establishes a foundation of trust and prepares the horse for saddling and mounting.

2. The Porcupine Game

The Porcupine Game teaches your horse to move away from pressure in all directions. This prepares the horse to move away from pressure under saddle and allows the horse to easily understand leg pressure and direct reigning in the hackamore or bit.

3. The Driving Game

The Driving Game builds on the Porcupine Game and teaches your horse to move away from rythmic and implied pressure.

4. The Yo-Yo Game

The Yo-Yo game teaches your horse to go backwards and forwards in a straight line. This game helps your horse balance his "whoa" and "go".

5. The Circling Game

The Circling Game teaches your horse not to change gait or direction unless asked.

6. The Sideways Game

The Sideways Game teaches your horse to move sideways. Moving sideways increases your horses balance and flexibility which benefits the horse in all other excercises.

7. The Squeeze Game

The Squeeze Game teaches your horse to overcome claustrophobia. Learning to relax while going between small spaces prepares the horse for bridges, trailer loading, accepting a riders legs on their sides, etc.

Some of the games at liberty

A short video containing a few of the games at liberty.