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A Cool Sharp One
   
| It has been about 10 years since I have started a young horse; and the first time I have started one from 2 yrs old, the others have been anywhere from 6-9mos old. Any suggestions on steps, groundwork, etc that is better for the already 2yr old? |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY | i usually start working with mine as yearlings. First i'll just put the saddle pad on them, just keep doing it until its no big deal. Then work my way up to a saddle-just setting it up there a couple of times, slowly work my way up to cinching it up (i have a kids pos synthetic saddle that i use so its super light and i don't care if it gets messed up lol) . Once they're ok with that, i do LOTS of ponying wearing a saddle (i don't do much roundpen). Then i work on standing up in the stirrup (both sides) and work towards sitting on them. First couple of times, i just sit on them, give them a pat on the neck, get off. Lots of ground driving and working on (future) leg cues from the ground. Usually once they are big enough to start riding, its no big deal |
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A Cool Sharp One
| that is usually what we have done; but with this 2yr old she has never been handled and it is a little bit harder. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| mattslilwonder - 2015-02-05 9:11 AM
that is usually what we have done; but with this 2yr old she has never been handled and it is a little bit harder.
is she halter broke?
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A Cool Sharp One
| yes she is halter broke but that is pretty much all; luckily she only took about 20 minutes to load to bring her home |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Getting one in the round pen and working on moving their feet is the quickest, easiest way. But you can do it without one. First thing I would do is start getting her face softened up - flexing side to side and giving to pressure - so you're not having to pull on her as much. Then I would work on getting her to follow pressure and being able to move a foot at a time. Then work up to disengage the hind end and the moving the shoulders. You're taking small steps to build control. When you get control, the rest goes much easier and you can control them when they throw a fit on the lounge line. |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| I would get her in the round pen and get her moving her feet. I move mine into a saddle quick, at least by the third day, I still start everyday with ground work but I saddle them everyday even if it's to just stand tied up. get her responding to you and work on desensitizing her, best is with a flag and ropes, and used to having things touching her all over without trying to bolt. I stop once I see them thinking a situation through instead or reacting to it, and call it a day. The first day saddled is the only day they get a freebie to buck, and they can as much as they please, after that I get after them for it, make them work harder and they will associate bucking with an unenjoyable experience, they catch on quick usually! It's hard to give a strict guide line to follow for starting horses because they are all different. Some you can be on the first day and some might take a week before the first ride.
Be strict but fair! And remember it's all about pressure and release, the release being the key! |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta |
You never said how halter broke she was? Handled very little I assume not the greatest, I'd work on getting her used to pressure! Leading and tying up along with stopping, even just being able to catch is enough of a task each day to know your making progeess....get so you can touch her everywhere (even if that means that days 1-10 you can just get her comfortable with her head and neck being touched) and if you need to use a cotton rope to help get access to her feet the first couple times I'd do that....doesn't need to be tied to them just looped so you can give and take. An old reliable broke horse is always a good tool to have when handling a less then tame horse, whether you choose to do off that horse or just have the horse with them so horse feels less like it needs to run for its life.
I wouldn't be in a rush with them, create a solid base of pressure, touching, leading before you start throwing objects (such as a saddle or even tarp) at them...... |
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A Cool Sharp One
| I have been working every day on leading her around the pastures so she knows the boundaries and walking/stopping and she has been good about stopping when I stop, been working on rubbing all over her even with a brush and yesterday she did really good when I was yielding her hind quarters and then every day have been leaving her tied to the trailer for at least 30 minutes. Thanks everyone keep the ideas coming! |
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