
08/30/2025
At Cornerstone Ranch, we consistently practice ground-tying for all our horses, as it fosters their trust, confidence, and independence while ensuring both theirs’ and our safety and well-being. This training also helps produce calm, disciplined, and attentive horses. Training horses to stand without following enables us to step away from a horse to close gates, grab bug spray, or fetch a lead line from the fence without having to bring the horse along every single step. This makes things much easier for the handlers.
A horse that follows its handler without clear instructions may lose its spatial awareness and become overly dependent. To encourage independence, we reward with treats for standing still, helping them understand the positive outcomes of waiting for the next command. Although this process requires time and patience, the benefits it brings to both the horse and its handler are evident in the short term, and promise even greater rewards in the long run. As we say, "If they stand, treat 'em; if they don't, back 'em!"