Don't Break... Educate!
Margie Dumont's Equine Education Program
Margie Dumont's Behavior Modification Program
Margie Dumont's Equine Education Program- A Conditioned Response Training Method
This conditioned response method incorporates equine body language and animal psychology to modify the behavior of any breed of horse to be used in any sport discipline. It is based on the principle employed by the dominant horse in the pasture to control his herd. The horse that is educated (broken) in this manner is allowed to express his fear by making use of his flight instinct.

THE FIRST LEVEL OF EDUCATION WILL TEACH YOUR HORSE:
  • That the human must be respected and obeyed.
  • To accept human handling of body, head, and feet.
  • To stand still or approach the trainer on cue.
  • To develop his attention span.
  • To lead without resistance.
  • To begin to conquer his fears.
  • To open his mouth on cue and accept bridling.
  • To stand quietly while mounted from both sides.
  • To be ridden for the first time in the round pen.

By working the horse this way, he is able to learn to control and conquer his fear. He becomes:
  • Confident
  • Accepting
  • Calm without losing his spirit
  • Trusting of humans
  • Quicker to learn
  • Easier to handle
  • Ambidextrous
  • Easier to ride
  • A better performer

CAN PROBLEMS WITH PREVIOUSLY BROKEN HORSES BE CORRECTED?

There is no longer any reason to put up with horses who kick, bite, attack, or sulk. Similar procedures are used to retrain already broken horses, and horses with attitude or behavioral problems. This system can change the mental outlook of horses who no longer have interest in their work, but exhibit no physical problems. Horses who are difficult to shoe learn to stand quietly and enjoy the process. There are procedures to teach the animal to willingly accept tying, bathing, clipping, grooming, giving medication and blanketing. Additionally, the horse may be educated to be lighter on the bit and to respond to more subtle aids.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?

While green horses usually have completed the first level of training within 4 hours, correcting specific problems in previously broken horses can be more time consuming and depends on the age, level and type of trauma, ect.

WHATEVER PROBLEM YOU'RE HAVING WITH YOUR HORSE, THERE IS A SOLUTION!

OTHER EXAMPLES OF TRAINING ARE:
  1. Trailer loading and unloading.
  2. Correcting horses that rear.
  3. Overcome fear of water obstacles.
  4. Trail-road riding.
  5. Teaching horses how to stop spooking.

Special classes for grooms and owners may be arranged to ensure that the horse continues to benefit from the training he has received. It is essential that those persons handling the educated horse understand and apply the basics of the training method to reinforce the skills the horse has learned.

PLEASE NOTE:

Cruel and archaic training methods such as roping the legs, focibly laying down the horse, snubbing, beating, tying the tongue, tying the head to the tail, whipping, blindfolding, inflicting pain, ect., toget a response are condemned by Margie and have no place in Equine Education.

Margie Dumont's Behavior Modification Program- What are "Problem Horses"?
When most people think of "problem horses" or horses who could benefit from "behavior modification", they usually don't think it applies to their own horse. They think of the horse who bites, kicks, rears, bucks, pushes people around, spooks or does any of the myriad behaviors that endanger our lives. While all of these are definitely serious problems that can be eradicated or, at least, kept to an absolute minimum using behavior modification techniques, they are not the only problems we have.

What about the high level dressage horse who refuses to enter an arena? Or the eventer who incurs penalties at the water? There is also the Hunter who throws himself over the jump hurriedly, or the Jumper who loses control, getting hotter and hotter with each effort. Doesn't each of us know at least one horse who won't stand quietly for mounting?

These are just some of the problems that we can experience when training a competition horse. Traditional training methods simply don't solve these problems. They are problems most people try to "live with" instead of seeking an alternative method that would benefit everyone involved. No matter how well your current trainer rides, these are usually emotional problems solved on the ground by a behaviorist. No amount of excellent in-the-saddle training can get the results as quickly and reliably as can behavior modification using well-executed equine body language and equine psychology. Additionally, your dressage, cross country, or hunter trainer simply doesn't have the time to take from his/her busy training schedule to dedicate the hours per day it takes to educate one (your!) horse. Because the initial education process is so labor intensive, at Loch Eden, only one "behavioral" candidate is in "basic training" at any given time, thus ensuring that there are enough hours in a day to give each and every client adequate attention.

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