Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Before Sending Your Horse For Training Tips

This is a continuation of my article Horse Training Timeframes...

What You Can Do Before Sending Your Horse For Training To Get The Most Out of Your Training Under Saddle Dollar Value
(foto of felicity during side driving)
Good Ground Control (Respect While Being Handled):

Most, if not everyone, would like their horse-in-training to finish knowing the most riding skills as possible. For the 30 day training, certain skills need to be taught to the horse beforehand if the trainer is to spend most of their time teaching the riding skills.
For non-started, young horses, often these can be taught as a weanling and yearling. 'No time like the present!'
The good news is... this can be done by you in preparation for their mounted training!
This is totally optional of course.

You may not wish to do so for various reasons and I can certainly train your horse to have those necessary skills. It is certainly not recommended for safety reasons if you are unfamiliar with doing any of this training. Lessons are available to teach you this skill if you like so you can, in turn, teach it to your other horses.

Note: All training programs at Foundation Reining Training Centre have an extensive groundwork portion. ‘Good habits are always started on the ground’. Here is my first article, Groundwork - A Paradigm Shift in Training explaining my philosophy on the subject.

Groundwork While Handled:
To get the most riding or under saddle training for your horse at the Foundation Reining Training Centre, if you are able to work with your horse & teach them to:
- Halter & lead respectfully beside you and yield to pressure on the lead rope. Isn’t pushy or draggy. This will make it easier to work around the horse during training.
- Respect your space from the ground. So the horse doesn’t crowd or run over you or the trainer!
- Stand tied and remain quiet. Not freak out on cross ties. This will make it easier for the colt to be tied when saddled etc.
- Groom while quiet including spraying, feet picked, and touching their face & ears. Not run off or kick or bite. This will speed up the saddling and bridling process.
- Desensitized (despooked) to common ‘scary’ objects and will stand still.
- Cooperate with vets & farriers. They get used to being handled by other people.

Pre-Longeing Groundwork:
This would definitely speed up the groundwork portion of the training & move into the riding portion if the horse were trained to:
- Flex laterally to the side in the halter and/or bridle.
- Stop on the word ‘whoa’. Most important skill. This is the 1st skill taught from the ground & under saddle.
- Go forward with a ‘cluck’ . This will speed up the process of the horse learning their voice commands. (jog/trot for the ‘cluck’ sound, lope/canter for the ‘kiss’ sound)
- Backup with the word ‘back’ or pressure from the lead rope.
- Accept a bridle & bit. Will speed up bridling process.
- Accept being saddled. Will speed up acceptance of being saddled.
- Trailer quietly tied. Will prep them for traveling to trainers, shows etc.

Longeing Groundwork:
This would be a bonus to the groundwork & pre-riding portion of the training if the horse were trained to:
- Emergency 1 rein stop. Used for emergencies while on the ground or under saddle. ‘Don’t leave home without it.’
- Free longe in a round pen. This will speed up the round pen skills portion of the groundwork training.
- The ‘Hooked on You’-type of Longeing. This will speed up the learning portion to longe before being ridden.

All of the above will ensure that your horse is respectful of people and will progress in their training under saddle very quickly.
For all types of training, all of these parts mentioned above are incorporated into the beginning of every training process. Other training cannot proceed without it.

So any part that you're able to do yourself would benefit you greatly.

For further information or help with this training, please contact me at Foundation Reining Training Centre and receive an information package on my innovative approach.
Putting my spin on Sending a Horse for Training.
Reinersue
©Copyright KISS Reiners

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