Posted 2014-03-05 10:02 AM Subject: Colt Starting DVDs... Suggestions??
Regular
Posts: 81
I'm getting ready to start a 2 year old and am looking for a good colt starting series to help expand the program i've got going and hopefully learn some new methods. I've looked in to Clinton Anderson but after reading what the DVDs are about it sounds very similar to his fundamentals set.
Does any one have any other thoughts or ideas they've used that have helped them?
I'm getting ready to start a 2 year old and am looking for a good colt starting series to help expand the program i've got going and hopefully learn some new methods. I've looked in to Clinton Anderson but after reading what the DVDs are about it sounds very similar to his fundamentals set.
Does any one have any other thoughts or ideas they've used that have helped them?
When training colts your methods from training one from a foal, to a yearling and then starting to break one should all be similar and continue the steps to a higher level as you train as a 2-3 year old. You train colts on the ground to do as much as possible and then you have to train the same things from the saddle while you ride them. If you have used pressure points on ribs and body with your hands on the ground then it makes your leg and heel cues much easier for the horse to follow.
So.. that makes your training program very similar for each step and age of the horse you are training. You don't have one set of training rules for one age and a totally different set for when it gets older. Your horse should learn the basic moves and then as you repeat and increase your demands and speed of execution the horse uses his past learning experiences and performs moves that are habits rather than a surprise.
I have seen a few of CA's videos and will say he gives the details needed for beginners and refreshes us older people on some very basic things that are easily skipped over to the detriment of the training process of the colt. One thing I really liked he used horses in his videos that had not been trained for the video to make him look good.
The last thing you need is some trainer with an old broke gelding doing circus tricks as entertainment while you run the risk of dealing with a fresh green colt. Or a lovey dovey run, hop and skip type of training program.
A good trainer will have a training program he uses on each colt he breaks with a change here and there for the individual horse. If you have ever broke 5-6 colts at the same time ... your day is repetitive because you are doing the same things to each of them from a lower level when starting to higher more demanding levels for the older ones that have had more training.
I think CA has found the secret of training young horses ... lots of details and a step by step training program that is in the proper sequence so colt will learn something each day as he repeats what he has learned before and gets better and better as he progresses to the next step.
I was thoroughly surprised on one of the colt starting videos where he used an old Indian method I was taught 50 years ago and haven't used in awhile due to me being old and gimpy.... lol ... Where you lay on their back length wise with your ankles crossed at their tail for them to get used to a riders weight. I didn't know they had Indians in Australia ... lol
If you take your colt to a trainer be sure you spend at least a day with them when picking them up to find out the cues and quirks the trainer has learned and you can take the colt home and use the same cues it has been taught ... and for gosh sakes ... use the same bit at home the trainer used or you dig up a whole new set of problems.
YouTube Stacy Westfall's diary: Jac
It's up to about 25 episodes now and they add one every week, it starts from day one her first encounter with Jac, a 2yo stud colt and goes through the colt starting process. Excellent series! And it's free!
Clinton Anderson is the best there is with training people and horses. His little steps are easy for both person and horse. You learn and do it and build the foundation.
I highly recommend The Basic Handle http://www.horsewyse.com/basic-handle.php I have been trainging my horses with this method for several years now and it seen it used on a bunch more (trained by others). Great results, easy to do.
Colt Starting DVDs... Suggestions??
