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 Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
     
Location: Around here somewhere... | How long does it take you to get a horse from "wild as a March hare" to puppy dog gentle, in your back pocket, & green broke- no spook, starting on leads, started neck reining, etc (not requiring any pre-ride lunging, etc, just step on & ride)? |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Apparently forever! I have a very nice 6 yr old that I can do most of that with-(jeez I'm not bragging or nothin ) but I'm sure he hasn't had 100 rides yet. The ability of the horse makes a huge difference BUT I do know that this horses full siblings are well on their way after 60 days. I've owned this horse for 4 yrs now so you get the idea that he is worked with sporadically. I trust him enough to let my 11 yr old daughter ride him in the arena, mostly at a walk and trot but occasionally chasing a few steers down the pen at a lope. Trust is earned with work from the owner. I usually like to build them a small pen where I am their ownly source of company and care. This summer is his maiden voyage of complete barrel work, I expect him to be loping a nice set by the end of May. (I better get busy) |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | There is no generic answer for this question.
I have just turned 4yo, been handled daily since birth, been riding since 2, I still have to lunge before I get on if he's sat for more than a few days, or I WILL eat dirt.
I have another 4yo, just halter broke her within the past three months, was barely handled before then, is now green broke, and at the step on and ride stage. |
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 The Bird Lady
Posts: 6440
Location: The end of the Earth, SE AR | It all depends on the horse and the trainer. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I think it depends on the horse. some horses never become puppy dog gentle or in your pocket. Others gentle up really quickly.
The three year old I have now is what you describe, and it didn't take her long to get there. She also breaks at the poll, moves off leg pretty well, has a good stop, and has the neck reining down decent for the amount of rides she's had.
I think there are horses like her that will pleasantly surprise you, and others which I have also had who after 2 months still needed to go to the round pen, still needed to get loped down, still looked and snorted..
Honestly I think the two things that may end up taking you the longest time is the gentling down and getting the spook out. And I think some horses just won't be in your back pocket. I have one who is very sweet and respectful but given the choice she will be off with horses, whereas my other mare is naturally curious and likes to hang around people and see what's going on. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | My now 6 year old is still froggy/fresh after time off and always will be, some horses are just like that. He's very well broke, friendly, and doesn't get away with anything don't get me wrong, he just has that edge to him that some don't. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I think if you rode one 6-7 days a week for 60 days, you should definitely be to that stage (ie camping). The ones I've done this way need consistent riding after that to continue good results though. When you bring one on really fast and then turn out, sometimes they come unraveled.
Sometimes you just get a people lover though that is broke in 30 days and stays sweet and kind that stays working out of love regardless of time off etc.
Sometimes you get a touch me not that would just rather go through the motions so you'll go away. I think they need more patience and work on my part to thaw them out a bit and get them enjoying their job and my presence. I just want to be trusted, I don't care if they want to be all over me.
I do demand that both types do their job though! The only ones that get to stay are the ones that try hard and make me happy. I have no tolerance for the ones that don't have the 'want to'. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i have 1 that i got as a wild 4 yr old (he was kinda halter broke) and last fall i finally felt i could maybe ride him out side of an enclosed area.....he was 9 last year........and lets just say you better have your seat belt buckled........and i dont think im that bad of a hand i just think hes that hard of a nut to crack .....
m
good luck......:) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| It depends on the horse. In a couple months I have taken a few horses, never been messed with maybe halter broke if im lucky and got them riding pretty good. One of these turned out to be excellent and the other two were a little skittish around other ppl for a while for those kind it takes a lot of time and being messed with by other ppl. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4642
Location: Texas | It depends on the horse... |
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | rollingrfarm - 2014-01-15 10:32 AMIt all depends on the horse and the trainer. In this question, YOU are the trainer. "How long does it take YOU?"I want to know what other trainer's general expected timeframes are for horses like this. For example, my general expected timeframe is 2-3 months... I expect to spend 1 month on gentling, and 1-2 months on riding. Obviously all horses are individuals, but I know how long to expect it to take, & can tell an owner approx how long it generally takes. I would never tell customers, or send a horse to a trainer who told me, "I have no idea how long it could take, could be 1 month or 6 years." I tell them, & would expect to be told, "here's what I usually do & how long it usually takes". If one trains enough horses, there is a "general timeframe". I know one man who generally takes 2 months to get an already-gentle horse greenbroke, & a woman who generally gets an already-gentle horse greenbroke in one month.
Edited by Blaundee 2014-01-16 10:38 AM
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | In an ideal world where I could ride 6 days a week, and wasn't limited on where I could ride at I would say 90 days. Years back when I was breaking arab colts for a farm they were riding really well at 60 days and we had them out on trails and things. I have seen some horses come around really quick and be pockets ponies when just a few days before you couldn't catch or lay a hand on them. I've also seen horses that have had a good bit of decent handling take a bit longer. So initial impressions don't always tell the story. I know a couple of trainers, one of which spent a whole lot of time with Ray Hunt, and they usually take around 60-90 days to make a good solid horse with a lot of cow work. That's with getting on them in the first couple of days. |
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How long do you take?