09/18/2025
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Today let’s talk about, what Layne refers to as, “sleepers”. This so much more common than most trainers are willing to talk about because of the backlash that comes with it. We used to get, generally, 1-2 sleepers in every set of 6-8 horses we took in for training.
These are the horses/c**ts that are raised and handled as pets. Owners talk about how NICE AND QUIET, CALM, KIND their horses are. “We’ve done all the ground work and quieting with them their whole lives.”
This is great. Quiet horses are nice. BUT let’s talk about what happens with these quiet horses “wake up” once they’re pushed out of their comfort zones that they’ve lived in their entire lives. The standard drill of the flag and buggy whip or lead rope thrown around the legs. Your horse stands quietly while doing the basic “groundwork”, no care in the world. He leads perfectly when you catch him. The list goes on.
Chances are, this horse hasn’t left their comfort zones and home their entire life, or for a good portion of their lives.
So… It’s time you send this horse to a trainer. They step into a new property, with new sounds, new smells, new animals, new routine. And NOW they’re being told what to do, when and how to do it.
In my opinion, a good trainer will get respect on the ground before all else. Yielding all four quarters, moving off pressure (not just following you because he’s caught- two very different things.), respecting personal space, etc, etc, etc. More often than not, this sequence of activity happens at a much quicker pace, with more authority and more expectation than most horses will ever receive at home.
Your horse gets offended that they are not “poo-poo’d” and respect is expected and demanded from them. You’re taking your c**t, a standard civilian, that has had minimum “training” and putting them into, what they probably assume to be, boot camp. They get confused by the change up, they get sore from the physical activity.
These horses WILL get offended 9/10 times by a newly set pace and standard. They start showing signs of a different personality than owners have ever seen. Seemingly to be more instinctual than the taught “quiet behavior”.
Trainers check in with owners and give them the update. “Hey he’s doing okay, showing a little aggression/ anxiety towards (X,y,z) but that’s typical and we’re not too worried about it.”
A lot of owners immediately get defensive and offended and go to blaming trainer for being abusive, pushing the horse too hard, etc, etc. Horses buck, horses bite, horses kick or strike, they run away. And it’s because the people that did the original ground work never pushed them past their point of comfort. They never taught them that above all else, respect and following lead EVEN WHEN they don’t trust the situation at hand is the most important part in a horses foundation.
Some owners have even pulled their horses from training and took them home and put them right back to the quiet, comfortable routine the horse is used to and “have no problem with the horse”. Furthering the distaste in the training program.
90% of these horses DO come out at the end of their 60- 90 -120 days extremely well mannered, well rounded, well exposed and experienced. You just need to be willing to put the time, money and confidence in them first.
If you’re not someone willing to SAFELY put horses in and properly GUIDE them through new, uncomfortable, scary situations while setting their foundation… you’re setting them up for a lifetime of potential blow ups each time they enter an uncomfortable situations.
The horses from our program are well known for their manners, their solid mindsets and trustworthy foundations.
It all starts by forming new habits and building trust that no matter the new, scary situation- you’re going to get through it safely, quietly and respectfully.
