How to Build a Partnership with a Green Horse

Working with a green horse is one of the most rewarding experiences in horsemanship, but it’s also one of the most humbling. Green horses haven’t been exposed to much of the world yet, and they need a confident, consistent leader to help them understand what’s expected and where they fit in the human world.

At ARC Performance Horses, we believe that building a solid partnership isn’t just about teaching skills, it’s about creating connection, clarity, and confidence for both horse and rider. Here’s how to lay the foundation for a lasting partnership with your green horse.

1. Set the Tone with Consistency

Green horses thrive on routine. Whether it’s your grooming ritual, groundwork cues, or how you lead them to the pasture, being consistent helps your horse feel secure. The more predictable you are, the more your horse can relax and focus. Make sure your cues are the same every time, and you expect the same result after every ask.

However, this does not mean train exactly the same way every time. Make sure to change it up every now and again. For example, one day spend 20 minutes riding at a trot in the arena then hit the trail. The next day, spend 7 minutes trotting in the arena and 7 minutes loping, then walk for 10 minutes before a short trail ride. Changing small things like this will ensure that when your young horse is introduced to an environment outside of their routine, such as a show, they will not be confused by the change in structure; it will be a part of their normal.

Tip: Keep sessions short and structured—frequent 20-minute sessions often work better than long, tiring ones.

2. Communicate Clearly

Imagine being dropped into a new language with no translation. That’s what it’s like for a green horse. Your body language, energy, and timing are your biggest tools. Keep cues simple and consistent. Ensure that you are asking the for the same result with the same cue each time, and are rewarding the correct answer. This includes rewarding even the smallest try. That “try” is the beginning of understanding.

Tip: Pair pressure with release, when the horse gives the correct response, even just a shift of weight, release the pressure immediately. That’s how they learn.

3. Groundwork is Your Foundation

Before you ever swing a leg over, spend quality time on the ground. Groundwork builds respect, body awareness, and responsiveness. It also gives you insight into how your horse thinks and processes pressure. My moto is “anything that you can do on in the saddle, you should be able to accomplish from the ground.” Ensure that your young horse has a good handle on pressure, body language, and responsiveness before moving to the saddle. This will include working in a lunge circle, yielding each part of the body separately (hindquarters, rib cage, and forequarters), and basic leading such as backing up and matching your speed.

Exercises to focus on:

• Yielding the hindquarters

• Backing softly

• Leading with rhythm

• Desensitizing to ropes, flags, and movement

  
  

4. Stay Calm and Neutral

Green horses can be reactive. They’re learning what’s scary and what’s safe, and your energy matters. When they spook or resist, respond, do not react. Breathe, soften your posture, and give them time to think through the situation. If you react to their panic, they will simply think you are panicking with them and that there is a reason to panic. Respond by staying neutral and encouraging them to work through the situation calmly with a steady voice and soft posture. Eventually, they will learn that as long as you don’t panic, they shouldn’t either.

Remember: Your calm presence is what teaches them to trust humans, especially when they’re unsure.

5. Celebrate the Small Wins

Your horse doesn’t need to be perfect today—or even this month. Recognize the little victories: a soft eye, a relaxed walk, a good transition. Those moments are the building blocks of long-term progress. It may feel as if you are taking one step forward and two steps back, but every moment you spend working with your young horse is a building block for their future. Make sure you reward when earned, and praise when warranted. Remember that they are essentially babies, and don’t fully understand the world yet. It is your job to make them a functioning member of society while also showing them that the world is not one big scary place.

Partnership grows in the pauses, not the pressure.

6. Know When to Stop

With green horses, less is often more. Ending on a good note, such as when your horse is calm, thinking, and successful, builds confidence. Overdoing it can lead to confusion or shutdown. If you are struggling with something in particular and it is clear that you and your horse are becoming frustrated, it is best to get a decent response, then walk away. End a session with something your horse mostly knows how to do, so they walk away feeling calm, comfortable, and ready to learn more. Ending with something they do not understand will leave them frustrated and confused, and they may have even more difficulties next time.

Leave your horse wanting more, not relieved it’s over.

Final Thoughts

A green horse doesn’t need a drill sergeant, they need a leader. One who listens, guides, and shows up with patience every day. At ARC Performance Horses, our motto is Training for trust, performance, and partnership, and that starts with giving your green horse the time, space, and support to grow.

Building that bond won’t happen overnight, but when it does, you’ll have something truly special: a horse that chooses to connect with you, not just comply.