19/05/2026
The ethos I share with many trainers is that, training should be done with the long-term in mind. Selfishly, this serves us. But it creates a symbiosis with our horses that feeds into every part of their lives too.
Experience is shown through calmness. Quiet. The moments between moments. Timing. Over time, you gain an eye for more and more subtle body language, which helps us give better release. This is so crucial with sensitive horses, especially those who have had traumatic experiences.
The reason I don't use forceful methods is really very simple. Apart from being cruel, they simply don't work. You might be able to force a certain kind of horse onto a float once. Maybe even a couple of times if you're lucky. But it won't last, and now you have a horse that has gone from being fearful of a float, to resentful.
Interestingly, I find these are the most difficult horses to convince. They are now convinced that the goal for safety is to stay outside that metal box. Fearful horses simply lack confidence or understanding, and once they understand, they are surprisingly willing creatures.
A horse who already understands that a float is a place of unrest, confinement, containment and punishment, usually takes much longer and gives much more resistance. Of course, this is not their fault. They are not 'naughty'. They are not 'mean'. They are doing what they think they need to do to protect themselves, as is their nature. I don't place blame on owners either, as most often they are also doing what they've been taught as well.
Horses never cease to amaze me with what they can come back from and how willing they are when they truly UNDERSTAND and are given the grace and time to be comfortable. I am interested in the long-game, for the sake of the horse, the sake of the owner, and the sake of my reputation. Horses being rushed through the process may regress. Owners who have not been taught how to carry on and maintain these methods will be powerless.
I remember that feeling all too well as a teenager with no support network and a young thoroughbred who had never been taught to float. I didn't know what to do, and there was nobody to call who did. I did everything wrong. I failed him in so many ways. And when a fire tore through and we had to evacuate, I had to get him trucked out because he simply would not set foot on a float - or so I thought.
That was the catalyst for me. I resolved to learn better methods from better horsemen & women. The first of these was Steve Brady. I attended a clinic where he did a float training demonstration, and something he said made a part of my brain light up that I can only assume had been asleep since birth...
"People always tell me I must have so much patience to work with a horse for 2 hours just to get him on a float. I say, it takes a lot more patience to spend 2 hours EVERY time for the rest or your life because you did it wrong the first time."
That has always stuck with me. A light bulb moment. Time is not the enemy. Our lives may be busy and full of schedules, but a horse's is not. They see a man in a rush and become suspicious. Why is he in a hurry? What's he running from? He's stressed about something - it's probably this big metal box! They are wired to read stress and react accordingly.
So, I make sure I am NEVER in a hurry. I have all day. We are going to achieve something before the sun sets, I have every faith in that. It might be a foot on the ramp we achieve today. That's okay by me. We go at the horse's pace and reward every try. We reward the progress they make within themselves, NOT the progress we want to make with our schedule or goals.
My reward is a soft eye. A lowered head. A lick and chew. A big exhale. That's enough.
