08/14/2026
Let’s talk desensitization.
Unfortunately it is a very controversial thing among “trainer”.
This horse is a prime example of why I believe so strongly in starting horses properly, slowly, and with a solid foundation.
He’s 6 years old and was sold as a “broke,” fancy-buttons, been-there-done-that gelding. But after he bucked my wife off twice, I decided it was time to forget what he was supposed to know and take him all the way back to the basics.
First on the agenda: desensitization and learning how to think through pressure.
He is an extremely reactive and sensitive horse, and based on what we’re seeing, there are some pretty significant holes in his foundation.
With horses like him, I don’t expect them to immediately plant their feet and tolerate something they’re genuinely unsure of. I give them the freedom to move their feet, process what is happening, and search for the right answer. Movement is allowed. Disengagement and disrespect are not.
The goal isn’t to make him “put up with” scary things. The goal is to teach him that when he feels pressure, fear, or uncertainty, his first response doesn’t have to be panic, flight, or explosion. He can stay engaged, look to his handler, think through the situation, and eventually find relaxation.
We aren’t just desensitizing him to an object — we’re teaching him how to handle pressure.
I’ll be documenting his progress as we break things back down, rebuild the holes in his foundation, and show what can happen when you slow down and give a horse the time and tools to truly understand what’s being asked of him.
Fancy buttons don’t mean much if the foundation underneath them is missing.
