Trainers forum

The training techniques that I have learned and used for over 15yrs work 100% on 100% of the horses.  Having said that there are breed characteristics that come into play when working with a horse.  Some breeds such as the Norwegian Fjord have a few things to say about being worked 5 days a week or longer than 30mins in one lesson.   I also find it has to do with the work the animal was bred to do.  For example both my Quarter Horse and Paint are bred for reining and cow work.  Both get a bit unhappy with more than one day off from work.  To them it is very boring having a day of rest.  I have worked with and heard comments about the Paint shutting down if a lesson goes to long.  Many of the gaited horses mature slowly physically as well as mentally, so there are 'baby' issues that go on for upto 4yrs.  The important thing to remember is that each horse is an individual regardless of the breed and if you go in with a prejudice it could hinder your relationship.  On the flip side, if you find an issue continually coming up you may want to find out if it is your presentation or the horses breeding. 

I would have to agree that it is not the breed as much as it is the individual horse. Some horses are smarter than others and it's much easier to train a smart horse than it is one that is a bit more dense. It does not run in breeds, meaning that the Quarter Horse is not smarter than the Arabian, but it does run in linage. A smart sire and dam are likely to throw a smart foal. All horses are trainable, at least I personally have not experienced one yet that is not, some catch on quicker than others and some are slow learners. But in all cases the ground work, the foundation of your training has to be there and the building blocks need to all be in place each step of the way before you move on.