This year the Hodge Podgers 4-H club had their first meeting
on December the 16th 2012, and it started off with a workshop on the
ground worked needed for young horses.
My 4-H club had the honor of having one of Idaho’s best horse trainers Toby Lapp giving
of his time and knowledge to educate our club in the basics and importance of
the ground work needed to have a respectful and disciplined horse.
Toby Lapp worked with three horses at different stages, all
of which were not very far along.
The first horse Mr. Lapp worked with was a pony that had
never been touched (wild) not even to have a halter put on. By the time he was
done with the pony; it was haltered, leading, obeying every command that Mr.
Lapp asked of her, and as cool as a cucumber not at all the animal that had to
be unloaded into the pen straight from the trailer.
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| the yellow flag was used to rub the horses |
The second was another pony that was spoiled would not
lesson could be rode but only for a short time and then as Haden but it, “it
was the most stupid pony ever”. On this pony Mr. Lapp worked on desensitizing,
and sensitizing. With this pony it took a while but it to came around.
The third was my horse Windy; she was halter broke, could be
lead, her feet have been messed with and I had started working a little with
the lunge line. Windy has a mind of her own, strong willed, and this was the
first trip in the horse trailer in three years. When dad went to get her out of
the trailer I was not sure what would happen Windy had never seen a horse barn
or been in one. Coming through the door you could tell she was a little worried
( no wreck yet) dad lead her to the pen; Mr. Lapp ask dad what her story was
and dad said she had a mind of her own, and he had little to no time to work
with her. With Windy Mr. Lapp went through the first two steps that he had on
the pony’s just to make sure what stage Windy was at and said that each of the
steps should be done every time you work with your horse.
One of the most interesting things that I learned was how to
help my horse to release the feel good endorphin and that when a horse head is
below their withers it is releasing those endorphins and when their head is
above the withers it is stressed and not thinking very well and you do not have
their attention.
Toby Lapp has trained horse for 17 years; Starting to Finish
Work, Cutting, Reining, Roping to Barrel Racing and Arena to Trail horses. If
you need a trainer here is Toby Lapp telephone number you will be glad you
called ( 208-212-3315)
I love Toby Lapp training mothods they are done in a humane and respectful way with the horse; I can't believe the difference in Windy.
Thank Your Mr. Lapp!
I 
