Rocky Springs Ranch

21/07/2025

Ask - Tell - Demand, might be the lowest common denominator among horse trainers, I mean real horse trainers. As an example, we want a horse to move off our leg. The left picture shows a rider applying calf pressure to cue a horse to go forward. This is "Ask".

The center picture shows a rider putting their toe down with their foot parallel to their horse's spine, which will not cause the spur to make contact with the horse. Instead of the spur, this rider is applying the edge of the heel of their boot to the horse's side. This is "Tell". With the toe down the rider can "grind" the edge of the boot heel into the horse's side by making small circles with their toes. This is a stronger cue to have the horse move forward than the calf.

I don't allow my students to wear spurs until they have mastered precise control of their foot position. Applying the edge of the heel is a good place to start learning precision. If the horse does not move off from the edge of the heel pressure, then it is time to "Demand" that the horse go forward. With my students "Demand" means applying the crop as shown in the right image.
Ask, Tell, Demand is a defined sequence of applying the aids. The concept behind this sequence is to get the horse to move off the "Ask" calf pressure. If the horse fails to do so, we go to the heel pressure because it is uncomfortable for the horse. We make the horse uncomfortable in order to teach the horse that if they ignore the "ASK" calf pressure, discomfort follows. We want them to avoid the discomfort of the heel pressure by moving forward off the calf.

Likewise, if they ignore the heel pressure, the consequence is the crop's "Demand". In this case, we want the horse to avoid the crop by moving forward off the "Tell" heel pressure. By repeating this regularly, until the horse learns to avoid the "Tell" and "Demand" cues, eventually the horse listens to the calf pressure because it is easier and more comfortable for them than enduring the Tell or the Demand cues.

Some people might think that the center rider could go to using the spurs instead of the crop as the "Demand" cue. I don't recommend this because spurs are not intended to be the gas pedal on a horse. Spurs are best used as instruments of high precision. For example, in a bend, the inside spur can be used much like the point of a compass to define the center of the bend in a turn. Spurs can increase a rider's precision in many movements, but it is best to learn first how to control one's foot position at all times.

There is no reason to kick a horse to make them go forward. I see plenty of riding instructors telling students to kick dulled down lesson horses in order to make them move forward. This both disrespects the horses, and it teaches the student riders to immediately go to "Demand" without first Using "Ask" or Tell" first, which is incorrect riding instruction.

17/07/2025

Thank you Bob Wood Horses For Life for another great article.

This Ray Hunt quote is the best description of the horse training process I have ever seen. (1) "First you go with the horse". For me that means perceiving the horse as it is, not what you want it to be or think or imagine what it might be, but actually what the horse is in the moment. It also means acting in a familiar way so as to not confuse or disturb the horse at the beginning and for that you need to know at least some of the horse's history.

For example, in basic horsemanship we approach a horse from the side, not the front or hind. If a horse has had some correct training, they will expect you to approach them from the side because it is familiar. If the horse is untrained, it is still a good idea to approach the horse from the side because approaching from the front can be interpreted as a threat. Approaching from the rear can be interpreted as an unknown that needs to be defended against.

I am working with a 5 year old mare recently off the track, pictured below. She has been trained how to run fast, turn left and stop in a quarter mile. Racehorses don't have to stand still for mounting. They usually are led with lead rope with a chain shank over their nose or in their mouth. Most need to learn how to be led with a simple lead rope and a halter.

With typical racing careers today being so short, 17 months, and because racetrack barns being busy places, the time to teach basic behaviors is limited. To follow Hunt's (1) "You go with the horse" with an off the track TB, you must act in a way that is familiar to them, meaning acting a little impatient but at the same time spending the time to teach them basics like leading, standing still and moving away from pressure.

Ray Hunt's (2) "Then the horse goes with you" for me means showing a horse how to do old tasks like leading in a new way and some new tasks while preferably using curiosity and boredom to elicit new positive behaviors. We don't want to use force but rather to coax. We want to remember step (1) going with the horse, as we move to step (2). The first thing I teach a horse just off the track is to listen to my feet when I am walking leading them. Without a chain lead shank, I walk them with a simple lead and a halter. Without the shank, a racehorse will often pull you along when you stop walking them.

I will walk them in a straight line and when I stop walking, I stop and stomp my feet loudly, one - two. The harder the surface the better to make more sound to attract the horse's curiosity. As I prepare to stop, I let the lead rope go a little slack so I can snap it if required. After I stomp my feet as I stop, and if the horse walks on past me, I snap the rope. This puts sudden pressure on the horse's nose. Once they connect my foot movement stopping with the nose pressure if they don't stop, they follow your feet.

When you do this consistently and in different circumstances, the horse, wanting to avoid the nose pressure from the lead snap, will stop when you stop moving your feet. Over time you reduce the foot stomping because the horse will learn to "go with you" by paying attention to your feet.

After moving through steps (1) and (2) we arrive at (3) "Then you go together". For me this means you pay attention to the horse as it truly is, and the horse pays attention to you as you are. You arrive at a mutual understanding of one another. You are both predictable to one another in mutual understanding. From there almost anything is possible.

17/07/2025

Good Morning Friends

16/07/2025

For all that come to our farm, you have seen a few things like this happen, plus a few more!

16/07/2025

Contact Frank Artrip at Artrip Trailers for all your trailer needs.

Load # 10 arrived today. A nice load of NEXHAUL trailers. 35' Tandem Dual 20K Flatbed and two 14' 14K HD Dumps.