That's all I mean - I usually say "walk" or give a click to get a walk, for a trot, click/cluck again, and a kiss for canter/lope, but those are solid solid solid, usually before I ever mount up.

I am a HUGE talker when I am working with the horses. I used to get made fun of at the track SO BAD because I would ALWAYS have a running dialogue going with the horse I was handling - "You're alright - see, that's not so bad. You're okay sweetie, you're being so good. Easy hon... just a little water. Thatta girl.." on and on. I took so much flack from my boyfriend at the time but when I took over a little mare he had been handling and her attitude changed 100% and she was significantly quieter (as were all of my horses quieter than any other groom's), he stopped right up.


"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Suess