VIDEO

The first steps of starting a young horse

When you start training your young horse, it might seem like the goal is just to get the saddle on and start riding.

But rushing into it can lead to your horse not really understanding what’s going on.

This misunderstanding can cause problems later, like running off, getting scared easily, or feeling uncomfortable around people.

In the videos below, I’ll show you the first steps to help your horse get ready for riding without running into these issues later on.

Often, when we think of starting young horses, it goes along the lines of this:

Step 1. Lunge the horse

Step 2. Put the saddle on and lunge again (with a lot of bucking)

Step 3. Hang onto the saddle

Step 4. Get on.

Actually, it might look a bit like this 👇

Mission accomplished. Or… maybe not?

Or are we just getting him used to the saddle?

In this blog, I’ll show you a better way to prepare your horse for riding and guide you through the first steps.

The aim is for them to feel in control, learning to manage themselves rather than feeling pushed around.

One important reminder before we continue: starting your young horse under saddle is definitely a job for a professional.

These videos are just here so you can have a step-by-step guide to prepare your horse well so that they understand what’s being asked of them.

I explain more about that in this video:

When I start, I first look for where the attention of the horse is. Is he looking else where?

Or is his attention here, where I am and he’s interested in wanting to learn something?

Because if his attention is somewhere else and he’s not present, he won’t be looking to me for answers. At that point, I can’t be the good mentor and give him answers.

Redirect your horse’s attention to you

However, by pulling on the lead or by making them do something, I might get their attention. But at the same time, it takes away their control of themselves. They can’t make their own choices.

But by teaching your horse to want to be a part of the training, you’re also teaching them to want to be a part of the process of learning to be a riding horse.

Through the groundwork, I try to direct the horse’s attention by walking towards their hind legs, to see if they want to follow.

I explain more on that in the video below:

Ask your young horse questions worth answering

After working with Bonita for a while, I discovered that she’s shy and easily distracted, but not forward thinking or pushy.

Every horse is different, of course, but it’s important that you keep looking at your horse and remain open to a change of their demeanour.

If you know what kind of horse you have, you know how high or low your own energy needs to be.

But whatever horse you have, you should always ask questions that your horse can achieve. You need to set them up for success, so your horse feels good when answering your question.

Learn more about that in the last video: