Ask Carson James: Recent Episodes
Carson James
Carson James answers horse training questions and provides natural solutions for horse training solving horse problems. New episodes every Tuesday. Get more horse training at https://carsonjames.com
For this week's podcast, I want you to meet a great man by the name of Tom Pannell. I had the pleasure of meeting him while I was in Bozeman MT. He shared some amazing stories with me. Some about Tom Dorrance, one about how he became recognized for having an incredible ability around Mules (which gave him the nickname, The Mule Sniffer), and much more. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.
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This podcast covers the why and how the term “respect” is horribly misinterpreted and how to get all of this headed in the right direction. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
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For this week’s podcast, we’re gonna talk about how you can find the balance with your horse if he has a tendency to be lazy or hot. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Riders often feel they are ensuring their safety by holding the horse back, but it’s actually the opposite. A horse will not feel safe unless he knows he can naturally and freely move without interference from the rider. For this week’s podcast, I’m gonna talk about why a little speed is important and how to get you and your horse to that point. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m gonna talk about how a young Colt was able to get past all his buddy sour magnets while only at a walk. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to talk about a question that we recently got asked. When leading a horse that has a tendency to get spooky, would it be better to lead him by your shoulder or keep him behind you around 6ft? Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
High pressure situations are usually not the optimal time for fixing a problem. If he’s tipped too far the other way that your horse is a total basket case, then get by the best you can for the current situation, but don’t fail to work on the problem and get your horse more sure before it surfaces again. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Just because a horse responds to something does not mean that he is scared. We often remove the natural lightness from our horse by accidentally making him dull and unresponsive. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I'm gonna go over a question that was asked at one of our recent clinics. The question was, “my horse paws when I ask him to back up. Should I ignore it?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Before trying to get your horse to back up, try this first. After about 5 or 6 rides, your horse will start to engage their hind feet to allow lightness when backing. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m gonna go over a few handy tips that I like to use/do when saddling. 90% of you don’t know about these 5% of the time. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
We have strayed so far from the definition of what a “broke” horse is. It’s time to start doing more than circles. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
I Just got a new horse, so I figured for this week’s podcast, I would tell you how it’s going so far. She came to me with a reputation of being hard to get a long with, but I found that she is just not a very big fan of having a leg on her. Making progress. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m gonna talk about adding speed and the huge benefits this has for you and your horse. Would you believe that this actually can make your horse calmer? Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
It’s a pretty simple deal. Don’t think stop; they get braced if you do. Instead, teach them to rapidly slow down with proper balance in the body and feet. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
When it comes to this issue, you have to ask yourself, “why is he not wanting to be caught?” It could be a number of reasons right? Whatever the reason might be, it can be accomplished using this method. The outcome will be a horse that loves to be caught. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
This is one of the single best things you can do to improve your feeling and timing. In this podcast, I’m gonna talk about how to get started and what you can expect when you stay consistent. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to share what I have been working on with my horse. You would not believe (or maybe you will) how light you can get a horse by doing exercises only at a standstill or walk. The results have been amazing! It’s easy and very attainable for anyone. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, we’re going to dive into the wonderful world of diagonals. This is an extremely beneficial exercise for your horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
On this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about a common problem that many horse owners encounter when round penning their horse. So many owners struggle to establish the main foundation of round pen work, and that is fluid consistency and balanced communication. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I am going to talk about how to correct and strengthen a horse’s back that hollows out. One of the first things that needs to be tackled is making sure you are not contributing to this problem. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to go over a subject that can sound very counterintuitive. It may even be hard for many of us to wrap our head around; however, it’s very important for us to practice this so we don’t hinder our horse’s need to turn loose and fully trust us. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m gonna talk about the extended trot and what makes this gait so magical for you and your horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m gonna go over the 3 things you need to have in place in order to have a good, safe, reliable horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, we're gonna talk about the top 3 mistakes that riders make. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Does your horse feel like he needs way too much help from you? Wouldn’t it be awesome if you felt like you and your horse were doing things TOGETHER instead of you having to micromanage? Today we're covering how to allow the horse to start being a partner instead of an employee. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I'm gonna talk about the amount of time someone should spend working with their horse. As you listen, I’m gonna go over the two things you should consider when figuring this out. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, we’re gonna talk about how you should work with a horse that has a tendency to ignore most or all signals given to him. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to go over why it’s important not to overexpose your horse and why it’s necessary to work at the grade level your horse is at. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Should you stall your horse or keep them in the pasture? The purpose of this podcast is not to pass judgment, but simply to explore the advantages and disadvantages of the possible scenarios. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Have you ever had a horse push through your hands/reins when you ask him to back, turn, etc while riding? How about when you’re working on groundwork exercises? This can easily be fixed in a few short sessions using the right approach. Learn how by listening now! Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Lynn asks, “Hey Carson, my neighbors have a dog pen on their property line and it borders my property. If we get anyway near the vicinity of the dogs, when I go to ride my horse outside or take him away, he loses all focus and locks his attention on them and I can not get him to calm back down until we get far away from the dogs. Please help!” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about the mental aspect of slowing down. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, we’re gonna talk about your horse’s emotions. More specifically, how to tell the difference between when your horse is angry or just confused when working with him. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Any horse problem can be solved by going back to the basic fundamentals. For this week’s podcast, we are gonna dive into what this means and why this works so well. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about the different ways you can get a horse to where he will start stopping nicely for you. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I'm going to talk about how you can get your horse better prepared for loud noises. With the holidays coming up, the 4th of July for example, a ton of horses will be exposed to the sound of fireworks. This could be a great way to help with any horses that might get anxiety when around that. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about the importance of straightness in your horse. I’m gonna go over what this means and give several examples of exercises you can do to help your horse with this. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m gonna tell you the three rules that you should never break when working with your horse. Of course, there are more than three, but these are the most common that I see happen. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I'm going to talk about why horses pull back and how you can fix it and prevent it from happening. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to talk about a huge problem in the horse world and how to fix it. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
To solve any horse ‘problem’ or to build a solid, good mindset, it’s essential that you listen to your horse. A horse will always tell you where he needs improvement and help. In order for this to work though, you must become aware of the signals your horse is giving you. If you don’t pay attention to this and end up pushing past his limits, it could cause a wreck. In this podcast, I’m gonna talk about this subject in more depth and go over several examples explaining signals and what they might look like coming from your horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to talk about creating lightness. Now I’m not talking about your horse doing everything you want with a light amount of pressure. I’m talking about where he does whatever you want before you even make contact with him. As similar as they sound, there is a difference, and I will talk about it in-depth in this episode with examples. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m gonna answer a question that I get asked at almost every clinic. How can my horse be really good at groundwork, but act like he is in kindergarten in the saddle? Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about fencing. This is a pretty important exercise that everyone should do with their horse regardless of age, breed, experience, etc. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to go over what exercises you need to be able to do in order to successfully achieve a flying lead change with your horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week's podcast, I want to talk about mashing. This is a term that I like to use when talking about how you can use pressure to expose your horse to something that is out of their comfort zone. It’s kind of like an extreme form of desensitization. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Stacy asks, “Is it considered rude if a horse turns away from you in the round pen?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to talk about the difference between horses and people. Since a horse’s brain does not work the same as a human brain, it’s important to start thinking in a way that will help you have better success and communication with your horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about what to do at the moment when a horse gets out of control. I’m also going to talk about the exercises you can do to prevent this type of behavior from happening. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about horses that have separation anxiety and how you can cure it. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about horses that bite and how to fix it. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jillian asks, “My horse does not like to be tied. It does not matter where I tie him, he just seems to throw a fit no matter what and it’s really frustrating. What can I do to fix this?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Angela asks, “If all I ever do is take my horse trail riding, why should I teach my horse things I may never use like side passing for example?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Midge asks, “When doing groundwork and you want to move off from a standstill, is it ok to give a verbal signal as you move off? Or does one just use an arm signal (forward) to signal walk on?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Tammy asks, “Is it ok to give your horse treats?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Cynthia asks, “Every time I ride my horse, he gets really hot, and it makes riding super difficult. Why is he acting like this, and what can I do to calm him down?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Lisa asks, “So my guy lets me put a halter on him, but he will not lead more than 10 ft before he freaks out and pulls back. What can I do to help him overcome this fear? I really need help so I can get further with his training.” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I'm going to talk about braces and the effect it has on us and our horses. We are gonna dive into one of the most misunderstood concepts in the horse world and that is pulling on the horse vs being light-handed. By the time you get through this podcast, you will have a better concept of why and how the key to a really nice horse is to get all the braces out before anything else. It makes all the difference when you ride. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I’m going to talk about how to keep a horse from becoming lazy. If you already have a horse that is lazy and acts lethargic when you ask him to do something, the information in this podcast will help you fix that. The solution is quite simple and can work with any horse that needs a little more motivation when riding. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week's podcast, I want to talk about transitions. This is one of those things that I feel is super important for a horse to be able to do. You would not believe how powerful this exercise is for a horse. It's like magic in a bottle. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Janette asks, “What do you do for a horse that is spooky on the trail?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to talk about a horse that I took in to ride. Even though this horse is extremely sweet, he was completely dead to the world when being ridden. I’m talking about needing to use a lot of leg to get a bit of life out of him, and this is only one part of the story. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Kathy asks, “What should I expect after getting 30 days on my horse; like if I got him back after a trainer had him or something like that?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Larry asks, “What are some things I can do to get my horse better at standing still? In particular when mounting, but just in general would be great.” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Cameron asks, "Why is my horse so stubborn?" Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Pamela asks, “My horse drops his shoulder when we canter. Are there any suggested exercises I can do to help lift the shoulder?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Julie asks, “What are some handy tips that you can do to get and keep your horse’s attention?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I have an email from a member that I would like to read and answer for you. She has an extremely barn sour horse that makes riding really difficult when she tries to ride him away from the barn. She has practiced a few exercises to try and help, but it doesn’t seem to last. It’s getting to the point where she feels like she is putting herself in a dangerous situation with her horse. As you listen, you will notice how the solution is one that can be used to help with other forms of magnets that a horse can have. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to talk about a question that a member asked me a while ago. His horse had a tendency to kick out when he tried to handle his feet. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jennifer asks, “My horse started head tossing on the trail. It’s very annoying and new. I had his teeth checked, vet checked, and bridle checked. What can I do to get him to stop head tossing on the trail when I am riding?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Brandon asks, “What can I do to help a horse that panics once in the trailer and tied?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jessica asks, “Any advice on starting a horse with spurs? I’ve been thinking about it for a while and watched your video on which ones to use. Now, I’m just wondering how you go about introducing them. I have a 21 yo Arab who is pretty receptive to new things.” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Alicia asks, “Any creative ideas for a horse that won’t pick up back feet? She Kicks and throws a fit. I’d rather not take a hoof to the head. I know to give it back when she relaxes, but I can’t hang in there long enough to get to that point. It’s quite a battle.” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Janeen asks, “When I’m riding in a group and the other horses get fast, my horse gets tense. He is fine when he's by himself. How can I help him with this?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to talk about how being “light” is not always good for a horse. It can actually make a horse heavier. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week’s podcast, I want to talk about leg cues and how a horse interprets them. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jessica asks, “I have a horse that lately is out to get my other horse, plus other horses at times (not during feeding, just all the time). They used to get along very well. It seems as if they switched who is the dominant horse. Is there a way to fix this? Also, could it be a stage they grow out of?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Julie asks, “How much confidence/respect/understanding is transferable to another rider? Specifically, when a horse is around the same 1 person 90% of the time, and the other 10% is made up of several riders that are inexperienced. For context, we take care of horses for absentee landowners. We have noticed the owners having issues with their horses that we thought we had gotten rid of months ago (barn/buddy sour, head tossing, heaviness, spooking, etc).” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week's podcast, I wanted to take some time to talk about a subject that has really been on my mind. There's a lot of people out there trying to make this stuff seem way more complicated than it really is. This is the reason there is so much confusion about how to train a horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week's podcast, I want to talk a little bit about rein management, and what that can actually do for your horse. To begin, I'm gonna share a short story with you. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Emily says, " When I go ride, she will stumble with her front feet multiple times to the point where she often goes down on both front knees. This happens going downhill as well as on flat dirt trails and meadows (she is a mountain trail horse). I've almost gone over her nose a few times and it's jarring to both her and I as I try to help her stay up. My anxiety riding her has skyrocketed over the past few years because I'm always worried and with my guard up for it to happen. It sometimes happens multiple times in a 1-2 hour ride. Please help. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Shayna says, "I have a mare that pins her ears when it's feeding time, she bites when mounting or tries to, hates going to the right, and now rolling her back to threaten bucking when she's being pissy. She's my barrel horse. Please help. She is also hard to catch when she's not in a stall." Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Teresa asks, "Hi Carson, my horse is pretty good normally, although he is high energy, but when trail riding in a group at the beginning of the ride he is as tight as a strung bow and can even crow hop or throw small bucks. He is a lone horse at home but is fine around other horses when we get there, it’s just at the beginning of the ride that he loses his mind. What should I do?" Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
I want to do something a little different for this week's podcast. I'm going to share a story with you about a huge misunderstanding that took place on one of the ranches that I worked at in Oregon. It actually ended being pretty hilarious. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
For this week's podcast, I wanted to go over some of the most common horse myths that are circulating around the horse industry right now and probably the last 10 - 15 years as well. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Janette asks, “Once I get my horse really good at feeding with a flag, what do I do if my horse gets hard to catch, or will that make him not want to be my buddy anymore?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jim asks, “How do you train a horse to tie? Or maybe a better way to ask it is, how do you know when a young horse is ready to tie up for the first time?” Then we also had another request to talk about cross ties. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jennifer asks, “My horse came from an abusive background and has a troubled past. He acts really skittish so I try really hard not to do anything to upset him or get him to have any thoughts of his past life. I can’t seem to make any progress. It’s like no matter what progress I make if I go back the next day, it’s like it didn’t happen. Is there anything I can do to help change this?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Tyler asks, “My horse will not lope under saddle. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this?” Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Natalie asks, "I’ve tried a bunch of different bits and I’m just wondering, how do I know what bit to use? If any at all. Should I ride in a hackamore, a side pull, or stick with a bit? Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated." Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jack asks, "My horse is hesitant when it comes to crossing water. A lot of the time, he jumps it. what are some things I can do to help this?" Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jessica asks, "How do you know how much groundwork to do and how necessary is it? What things should I be trying to get my horse good at as far as groundwork goes?" Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
John asks, "When turning to the left, my horse braces really bad through his neck and his body. It's really difficult to get him to bend to the left. What are some things I could do to help this?" Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Bill asks, "When I ask my horse to stop he will tuck his chin nicely but he pushes down on my hand and it feels like he stops more on his front end than his hind end. How can I fix this?" We'll cover this plus many more techniques to develop a much smoother and more balanced stop in your horse on this weeks episode. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Karen asks, "How can I get my horse to stop pawing at the trailer standing tied or when away from other horses, etc?" In this episode I'll cover the root cause of this problem and how to naturally make it go away by giving your horse confidence and security. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
John asks, "When I go to mount my horse, she'll freeze up like she's nervous, and sometimes when I'm just about to mount if I reach back and rub her butt area, she'll cow-kick at my hand What's the issue?" We'll cover this plus more mounting tips in this week's podcast. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
This week I'll cover some trailer loading tips and tell you how to work with a horse who has a fear of the trailer or just plain doesn't like it. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Courtney has a horse that seems to always be fighting against her when trying to run barrels. We'll talk about why that happens and the best solutions for creating a more willing and cooperative horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Julie says that she has a horse that pins her ears when other horses get in her space and it's difficult to go on trail rides because she tries to kick and doesn't get along well with others. In this week's podcast, we'll talk about how to deal with aggressive horses and what you can do to fix these types of problems. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Tonya asks, "My horse always wants to go into a buck when I try to go from a trot to a lope. What can I do to fix this?" This is a very common question and problem, but it's pretty easy to fix. We'll cover exactly how to do it in this episode. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Jeanine says she has a horse that's buddy sour, inattentive, spooky, won't pay attention, doesn't get in trailers, difficult to trim...where do I start? In this episode I'll answer this question and tell you how to eliminate all of these problems simultaneously. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Chris asks, "My horse does a lot of head tossing especially when trying to slow down, stop, or back up. What can I do to help fix this?" We'll dive into what causes head tossing and how to cure it once and for all in this week's episode! Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Mary asks, "Is there anything I can do to help my horse being bridled better?" She's real bad to toss her head and every time it's a fight. What can I do? Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Sandy asks, "When I'm walking my horse he always wants to drift left or right and feels wobbly, almost like he's drunk or something. Is there anything that can be done to straighten this out? (no pun intended). In this week's episode we'll talk about how to fix Sandy's problem and create a balanced and collected horse. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
Scott asks how to properly define what softness is in a horse and what is the best way to go about developing it. Plus we'll talk about a lot of the misconceptions concerning softness and all of the nonsense that people tend to believe about it. Get more horse training at http://carsonjames.com
In this week's episode, Katherine says that her horse gets spooky a lot on the trail, especially when suddenly speeding up. A big key factor in controlling your horse's ability to handle unexpected situations is to have great control of their feet and their speed. We'll cover it all in this week's episode! Get more horse training at https://carsonjames.com
Irene asks why her horse is still spooky after a lot of desensitizing. Is she doing something wrong or does desensitizing not work as well as people may think? And if so, what can be done instead to cure a horse that's spooky. Get more horse training at https://www.carsonjames.com
This week's question comes from Jamie who's asking how to fix a horse that has lots of anxiety when leaving his buddy. This is a very popular problem, but luckily it's very easy to fix. For more horse training advice and help, visit http://carsonjames.com
We've been talking about confidence a lot in the last few podcasts. I told you how the best way to give your horse confidence was to make sure you were clear in what you were asking him to do. So in this episode, I'm going to give you some examples of how you can give more clarity to your horse. Get more horse training knowledge and tips at http://carsonjames.com
What's the point of lunging and what's the end goal? What are you looking to accomplish when lunging and what exactly should you be doing? Get more horse training wisdom and learn more about Carson James at http://www.carsonjames.com
Lorrie asks, "How do I have more confidence as an owner and rider for my horse? Are you worried your horse may suddenly buck or bolt? How do you get rid of that fear? And what if that actually does happen?" Get more horse training wisdom and learn more about Carson James at http://www.carsonjames.com
When should you be light? When should you be firm? How much pressure is enough? How much is too much? Get more horse training wisdom and learn more about Carson James at http://www.carsonjames.com
Carson James reveals why your horse isn't seeming to "get it" and the small things you may be missing that are the root cause of the problems you're having. Get exclusive horse training videos and learn more about Carson James at http://www.carsonjames.com