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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
 
Location: Northern Ontario | I am in the process of training my colt. So far he has had 20 rides. We walk and trot well even in balanced circles now, starting to work a bit on picking him up. We also do backups and turn on the forehands pretty well. His turns on the hindquarters.is getting better. His stops are amazing ( I think he would slide if he has sliding plates....he loves to stop right now) we can canter fairly well on one side, but on the other I really have to balance him before askinv for it cause he is all over the place (cross fires, picks up the wrong lead, canters one stride then breaks down to the trot) I.rode him the other day ans he picked it up great and stayed in it but Im thinking it was just a good day. Have your colts been this unbalanced at first? ( he is pretty.lanky and going through a huge growth phase) Am I ontrack for 20 days? When do you first start introducing the pattern?
I have a clinic at the end of may, so I want to get him really broke before then. He is also still a bit nervous and unfocused when I ride him.with another horse, but I think.thats pretty normal for right now.... |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | they have to learn to carry your weight and horses are just like people, very left or right handed (leaded I guess you would call it lol). |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Yep, they’ll have a side preference. If you don’t start to see improvement over the next 20 rides I’d consider having him checked by a chiropractor just to see if that’s compounding it.
Sounds like you’re on track! I wouldn’t worry a bit about the pattern right now. I’d get him broke, soft, ride out of the arena if you have a place to do so, etc. wet saddle blankets. You can incorporate aspects of the pattern into your work, but I wouldn’t try and start putting it all together for a while. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | That sounds very normal for 20 days...just keep at it. Sounds like he has a great start!! |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I think it depends on your training program but either way I wouldn't be worried. I started all mine on the long lines and we WTL quite a bit to get them balanced and just more conditioned. My little mare was more than ready for her first ride when I got on her to the point I said I wasn't doing them anymore but didn't expect her to be ready so soon (got an earlier start to spring than expected) and when I loped her the first week she was balanced but unsure and you could tell but once she relaxed with my weight and I got used to her, she loped pretty perfect by week two or three. However, she has also been very easy since the beginning. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Northern Ontario | Thanks for the replies! He is getting better every day, so that is good. I was thinking maybe show him the pattern at around 100-120 rides? Or is that still to early. As soon as the snow melts, I am taking him.out on the trail to see the sights and condition him properly. We still have 2-3 ft of snow everywhere and its -10 again tonight... |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| SuperTrooper - 2018-03-16 7:41 PM
Thanks for the replies! He is getting better every day, so that is good. I was thinking maybe show him the pattern at around 100-120 rides? Or is that still to early. As soon as the snow melts, I am taking him.out on the trail to see the sights and condition him properly. We still have 2-3 ft of snow everywhere and its -10 again tonight...
I don't really judge based on rides, more on progress. I want them to be pretty solid in all the fundamentals and mentally ready. So that could take 60 days or a year lol |
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