We are very excited to have a new European horse walker on the farm. However, this is my first time using one and I have no clue how to train a horse to use the walker. Those of you with walkers, how do you introduce horses to them for the first time? Any tips would be MUCH appreciated! Thanks!!!
Following, just moved to a place with one and I’m dead tired of handwalking
We just put ours in there either alone or with another horse depending on their personality type and they seem to figure it out quickly. Almost all imports (from any country) will have been on the walker before. Depending on the type of walker and set up, decide before hand if you want to leave halters on or not. We do not. Also if the dividers don’t go all the way to the footing, or the horses can interact, maybe leave an empty space between each horse in case they kick. Most understand the concept, just start out slow and keep an eye on them.
This echoes what another boarder told me - just stick her in there and be there in case anything happens. But holy hell am I afraid to be the new girl with the horse that destroyed it 
Unless she’s a major kicker or horrendous panicker I doubt she could destroy it. We have a few that give it a good kicks every time they get on, and its no worse for the wear. Ours is all metal though.
Yes, you don’t want to be too far away from the stop button. At my barn, there are a couple very seasoned horses that usually go on it with a new horse. Might depend on the setup of your walker (ours doesn’t have a roof, not so enclosed feeling as most of them), but having another horse a couple stalls in front can help.
Keep it slow and cluck/ talk to them to encourage them to forward. Do a couple times around and then practice turning around and going the other way.
Depending how yours ours is set up, be aware some horses figure out they can be lazy and just stop and stand and let dividers go right over top. Fun times! Lol
dome also have have electrified dividers . Make sure you turn it off before getting your horse out or you can get shocked! Lol
P.
So ours is the awesome kind with the chain - no dividers - which already kinda scared me because I grew up in 4H where I feel like they basically made you worry about every stupid wreck a horse could get itself into.
Luckily my beastie is too short for the chain to reach :lol: so my dreams of resting while my horse is walked out after a lesson by a robot are 100% dead
I have always been told to just stick a seasoned horse on there in front of them (or with one space in between) and then don’t leave the stop button out of reach!
Most TB farms use walking machines to help prep yearlings for the sales. Every year is a new batch of babies to start. We gave a little bit of ace, and had a groom lead each horse in the walker together (6 horses, 6 grooms) like a merry-go-round. Started with 5 or ten minutes, then turned them loose one or two at a time as they seemed comfortable. Some got ace the 2nd day, to be safe ($$$$ horses!) but most were “broke” to the walker in two or three days. They were always supervised in case something happened, but accidents were very rare.
