Q: Is there a best way to train a horse in order for “him” to become a therapy horse?
Monty’s Answer: In an effort to train the ideal therapeutic riding horse, it is critical to start with an animal possessing the proper mindset. Once it has been established that the subject horse wants to be gentle, the work begins to give your animal experiences that will cause your work to be successful?
Eliminating any violence from the training is essential.
To take your training to the next level, recognize that when you are doing your work right repetition is your greatest ally and when you are doing your work wrong, repetition is your greatest enemy. Over and over again measures must be taken to make sure your horse is at ease with situations that would otherwise seem chaotic.
One must never assume that the horse is OK until the horse proves to you that he’s OK. If something bad can happen, one must assume it will happen. A precious human life can literally hang in the balance depending upon a perfect job of training.