| In the spring we begin the process of starting the 3 | | | | contact. We begin teaching them to steer, to stop, |
| year old horses under saddle. Last year they began | | | | to move sideways, and to back up with the trainer |
| learning about working on a lunge line, a little bit of | | | | following on the ground behind them. Once they are |
| long lining, and free jumping. During the winter months | | | | comfortable doing this at the walk we will ask for a |
| we did not work with them, they had a break to go | | | | little trot. This requires a very fit trainer and usually |
| outside and continue growing and just be a horse. | | | | after a few minutes they will move out to the side |
| Now they will start coming in again to have a | | | | of the horse while lengthening the outside rein to |
| refresher course and then a 1 week "boot camp" of | | | | wrap around the horse's rump. This puts the horse |
| 20-30 minute sessions. | | | | on a circle around the trainer with an inside rein for |
| Each day will start on the lunge line or with long lines. | | | | bending the horse and an outside rein for moving |
| On the lunge they will start going with a saddle on | | | | them forward into the bit. |
| their back and we will start letting the stirrups loose | | | | At the end of each session the trainer starts |
| to flap around on their sides. They are wearing a | | | | mounting exercises. At first this would simply be |
| bridle now and we will start using a "neck stretcher" | | | | putting a mounting block next to the horse, standing |
| to teach them about contact. This device is a long | | | | on it, and patting on the saddle. If the horse is |
| stretchy cord that goes over their poll, down through | | | | comfortable with this, the next day we would move |
| the bit rings and back to the saddle. It is not used to | | | | on to a couple of seconds of the trainer laying over |
| tie their head down or force them into a frame, but | | | | the horse's back gradually building up to being led |
| rather to give them the feel of a connection to their | | | | while the trainer is laying over his back. Finally, the |
| mouth that gives. They can pull without feeling | | | | trainer sits in the saddle. The first time we do not |
| trapped and learn to find a comfortable connection | | | | usually ask the horse to move, we just want him to |
| with the bit. | | | | stand quietly a few minutes. There is always |
| If they are being worked with long lines these are | | | | someone on the ground holding the horse with a line. |
| connected to the bit and then through the stirrups | | | | Both the trainer and handler are doing a lot of |
| with the trainer standing several feet behind holding | | | | praising, scratching, and petting. Usually by the end of |
| the lines like they would hold the reins. It is best to | | | | the week the trainer is sitting in the saddle and the |
| stand slightly to the inside of the horse so they can | | | | handler is leading the horse around the arena for a |
| see the trainer; otherwise they will get nervous | | | | few minutes. That is the end of "boot camp". |
| about what is happening. We usually use voice | | | | In weeks that follow, the 3 year old horse training will |
| commands they already learned on the lunge line and | | | | consist of 20 - 30 minute sessions 3 - 4 times a |
| start out asking them to walk. If they don't move | | | | week starting with lunging or long lining and ending |
| forward we then cluck and ask again, if there is still | | | | with the trainer in the saddle. We slowly progress |
| no forward movement we will touch them on the | | | | from walking under saddle to trotting and cantering. |
| rump with a long whip and repeat the command | | | | Each horse is different, some are there in a month |
| again. Sometimes they will go forward faster than | | | | and others need more time to get comfortable with |
| you want, but usually if they were responding well to | | | | each new lesson. The most important part of each |
| the voice commands on the lunge, they catch on | | | | stage of the young horse's education is that he feels |
| pretty quick. Using the long lines like reins, the trainer | | | | safe and comfortable and has learned that he can |
| will take hold of the horse's mouth with a light steady | | | | trust people. |