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TrickHorseUK
About Us

Hi my name is Suzanne Fargher and I have been a keen horsewoman for over 20 years.

With my passion for natural horsemanship, training and communication, I hope to demonstrate with
the help of my horsey friend Fernoodle how everyone can learn to ‘whisper’, and have fun training
and working with their horse.

I live in the Isle of Man with my husband Kris and my palomino filly Fern.
Introducing Fern! My baby! A gorgeous
charismatic three quarter Thoroughbred
x Welsh Cob Palomino. Foaled June
30, 2001 in Rogate, Petersfield, Hants,
Southern England. She was registered
in the British Palomino Society as
‘Champagne Bubbles’. She is the
daughter of Donna’s Red out of Tinker,
and grand daughter of Clan time &
Lightening Gem. Purchased as a
yearling in 2002 by Suzanne Fargher
she moved to the Isle of Man where she
is now just starting a promising career
in showing, dressage and display work!

Trick training is a fascinating pursuit that is not only highly entertaining and rewarding, but also  
natural communication and understanding within the partnership. Your horse learns to pay
attention to you, becomes more responsive and respectful, and actually learns how to learn by
reading you, becoming smarter and more intelligent as they progress.

Most owners would love to teach their four legged friend a trick or a movement or two, but sadly
there is a lack of knowledge, time, patience and or general understanding about how horse
learn that leads both horse and trainer down the path to confusion, conflict,  frustration and giving
up.

On embarking on this training journey myself,  I ventured to look for books and videos on the
subject to help and point me in the right direction. To my dismay, there was very little to be found
on the subject. I suppose because most trick trainers and performers prefer to protect the
mystery and secrets of their craft. So I have endeavoured to put together this guide from my own
experience  whilst bringing up my young palomino filly Fernoodle.

So, why bother to teach tricks at all? Trick training is not only fun and fulfilling to teach, but it also
establishes a natural vocabulary and understanding between horse and handler that can be
applied in almost any given situation. It is also a marvellous way of relaxing your horse and
encouraging confidence in young or nervous animals. As you progress, you will begin to
understand how the horse learns and this in turn allows you to not only be more creative with
your tricks, but it will also suddenly dawn on you what the famous horse whisperer's are all about
and that it is not just a gift for the selected few, but anybody can learn these skills. ‘Whispering’
is purely  a deep understanding of how the horse ticks to accomplish an extraordinary level of
communication between horse and human, enabling those who achieve it to work in harmony as
a true partnership to train and teach each other new things. To be able to think how horses think,
to be able to read them and be able to manipulate their natural behaviour to perform how you
wish willingly without any opposition or objection. Suddenly your horse will stop seeing you as a
predator and will learn to respect you as a partner and herd leader, as someone to respect and
trust and who they want spend time with. In turn your horse will grow in intelligence and character
and will actually crave the stimulation of learning and attention that’s bestowed on them turning
their training into a game for praise and reward.

Horses can begin trick training at any age. However like children, every horse learns at their own
speed, so keep at it. An important thing to remember is if the horse is having trouble learning,
then the problem inevitable lies with the teacher. Never blame the horse! It is up to us to
communicate in horse language and not for the horse to try and understand ours! So if this
happens, look at you own body language and methods, and ensure that you are asking for
something correctly. When communicating you must, be correct in your actions, and clear and
consistent so your horse will be able to follow. Many problems arise from us just not being clear
with our instructions thus causing our poor horse friends much angst and confusion. The
successful training of horses depends as much on our behaviour and demeanour and learning  
than it does on our equine friends. Imagine if you will a gentleman who only speaks ancient
Greek trying to talk you through complicated algebra, more than 99 % of us would struggle to
understand what he was saying let alone understand the point of the lesson. You are now seeing
things from your horses perspective, most folk are trying to communicate to another creature in
a language they do not understand and expect to get results, then wonder whats wrong when the
horse doesn't respond correctly, this is why we must speak the horses language. We want them
to learn for us then it is only right that we must make the effort to learn to communicate effectively
with them first.

Trick training is often criticised as a waste of time, and an activity only suitable for the circus ring
and amusement of others,  but these comments are often made by those who do not appreciate
the knowledge and trust required to achieve these tricks, gained  by both the human and horse,
and how this can then be applied to every day life. Although the actual tricks are not applicable
to the average horse owners daily routine, it exceptionally demonstrates the amazing feats that
can be achieved once the human to horse communication barriers have been broken down and
surely confirms that the horses are far more intelligent than they are credited with. Tricks are a
fun way to establish and practice our powers of communication and what we learn from it
enlightens every other aspect of our relationship with the horse and our approach to every day
training and handling.

Remember, you may consider your faithful four legged friend a star already, but if your
persevere you will soon be the proud partner of a Super Star!
Training guides teaching the individual tricks!

1. The Bow
2. The Sit from standing
3. The Sit from Lying Down
4. Knows Her Left from Her Right
5. Can pick your pocket
6. Likes to Play Ball
7. Camel Bow or Kneel
8. Circus Bow or Arabian Prayers
9. Pick Up any object
10. Yes and No
11. Lie Down
12. Gives You a Kiss
13.Pedestal work
14. Wave a Flag
15. Drinks from a bottle
16. Line Dance
17. Works and lunges at liberty
18. Half Pass at Liberty
19. Rear on cue in hand and under
Saddle (Levade)
20. Will come to call
21. Will reverse on cue
22. Will Circle on cue
23. Can Count
24. Can Say please
25. Bow under saddle
26. Spanish Walk in hand & under
saddle
27. Beginning Spanish Trot
28.  Starting Piaffe in hand
29. The smile
30. Plays an old fashioned bicycle
airhorn
31. Will take your hat
32. Stretch Pose
33. End of Trail Pose
34. Sticks out her tongue
35. Learning Courbette
36. Buck Jump
37. Learning Capriole
38. Queens Curtsy
39. Learning Walk on Hind Legs
40. Act Ashamed
41. Give a hug!
42. Shake hooves!
43. Acts Drunk

Training Continues........Click To Visit
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