5 Benefits of Teaching Your Horse to Stand on a Mat

Using the Mat Method is a great way to teach your horse independence and commands without developing a focus on your hands or pockets. This also helps to teach the horse how to be away from you and how to move to a thing, rather than always moving away (A common trope of standard horse training). Additionally, this provides a psychological “safe place” that is familiar for the horse to go to when it is distressed or upset.

Key Takeaways:

Mat training can make horse training safer for the trainer.
The horse considers the mat to be a positive reinforcement and a place of safety.
The mat helps divert the horses attention from the trainers hands.

“Mats can become ‘safety blankets’ because of their positive reinforcement history. If the horse spooks there is a huge chance that he will look for the mat to stand on to give him comfort.”

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