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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
 
| I'll try to keep this short, but bare with me. Two years ago my daughter who is currently 12, was "gifted " an extremely well bred yearling by some friends of ours. We were moving and she use to help them on their ranch with all the yearlings they'd bring up from the pasture, this particular colt took an instant liking to her, strangest thing we've all ever witnessed. It was like an instant bond between the two. On moving day, the guy came up to our house and handed my kid the papers to the colt and said he's yours, you can't leave without him. So that's how we ended up with him.... she played with him, taught him a few things, did some ground work, saddled him, put a bit in his mouth, etc etc... she also decided one day to climb on him while he was laying down... he did nothing. So she decided it was time to get on him... bareback in the pasture, I wasn't home... she pulled him to the fence and just plopped on him... again, he did nothing.. just walked off like no big deal... so after that she rode him more n more, just bareback and halter and leadrope, sometimes just a leadrope around his neck... he never acted naughty or even slightly offered to buck.
Fast forward, we sent the colt off to our trainer last week to get the basics and just good ol fashioned wet saddle blankets.... he called up the other day and said he had no idea how my daughter was able to ride him, he completely blew up like a rank bronc when he tried to step on him. He said he's going to have to completely start this horse from scratch, ground work first because he can't even try to get on him without him exploding. To say the least, I was bummed I thought he'd be so easy going because that's all he's been with my kid...
Anyway, I told her what the trainer said and I told her to please keep an open mind if we decide to sell this horse and get you something "finished" been there done that type because she's wanting to run barrels more competitive this spring , and we certainly can't afford to keep that colt in training and purchase another. Told her if she's wanting to hit the barrels in spring he's not going to be the one she can do it on. Keep in mind, while she's a good little rider, she's got a ways to go and needs a lot more direction as well..she melted down on me last night saying she doesn't want to get rid of the horse, that she could handle him, etc etc... and that I don't believe in her ... completely broke my heart... I'm not even sure what I'm asking here, but I just feel awful... I don't want her to get hurt, I'm thinking of sending her to our trainer and let him work with her as well, help her understand how to handle the young ones and she can also ride several of his finished horses to understand how much nicer it is! He got me out of my younger horse a few years ago and on a nicer finished gelding, after a whole year of struggling with that colt, lots of tears and frustration and not wanting to throw in the towel but that colt completely killed my confidence I don't want that happening to my daughter. | |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
 
| Sounds to me like the horse has a bond with your daughter, is used to her weight and the trainer is NOT a good fit for the horse.
The weight difference, not having a bond, and who knows what the trainer does with the horse, may be the reason the horse is being naughty.
Take your daughter over and see if she can even work with the horse now. He may have a had a freak out session because he's in a new environment with a strange dude when he's used to a small female at home. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | Maybe there is a reason the colt isn't working for the trainer? And sometimes, when you have that connection and that bond, believe me when I say you might want to consider sending him to someone else. Maybe the colt doesn't like men? Maybe the colt and your daughter just click, especially if he let her get on him without a fuss... to me that says something.
I am not a parent, and maybe that is where my thinking is a bit flawed. But I would take that colt away from the trainer and try and see if your daughter can work with him at home. Starting a colt is a good experience for her, especially at a young age. Maybe instead of sending the horse off to a trainer, then maybe hire a trainer to come to you to help her learn how to start him. I wouldn't send him away. Some horses are different than others and require a different touch, especially some of those more higher bred ones.
I'd say let your daughter try with supervision.
Edited by DashNDustem 2017-02-09 9:35 AM
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 Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: South | I completely understand your situation and what you are saying. I would agree that maybe your daughter needs to go to the trainers so the trainer can train them both "together" per say. I will say I do have a horse (mare) that sounds very similar to this horse. We have a bond, probably not as strong as your daughters. But I am- and always have been the only one that can mess with her. I don't know what it is about me, but I am the only one that can ride her or catch her to do ANYTHING with her. She will blow her nose, act standoffish, pretty much act a fool with my husband or anyone else. I say see what working with them both together does and see how it goes. She maybe able to work wonders with him. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Oh this is a tuff one for sure, I feel for you mom and for your daughter, if this were me I would find a different person to work with this colt and see how it gos from there, maybe even a lady to work with him. I'm thinking this man may not be a good fit for this young horse. I would try someone different for sure..  | |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | sounds to me like a horse that is loved and somewhat spoiled by a kid just playing around with it-hear me out here. Then a trainer takes said colt and makes him work and do things that are expected NOW and not when the colt feels like it. I started colts and got several this way. Trust me, a 3 yr old untouched horse will buck less than one that is played with daily, saddled etc from day one, but never MADE to do anything. I bet the colt comes out of it, all the ones I worked with did. I had a colt I raised that I wanted to keep from that colt crop, so I halter broke all the others that were sold first. I rope them to halter break. All this time I could play with my colt, he would follow me anywhere and even pick up feet. He loved me. Until the day it was time to officially halter break him. I roped him and the look on his face was utter shock. I had apparenty broken some truce we had. He got over it in a quick hurry but he had the biggest fit about being tied etc than any of the others that I just worked with like we weren't the "best of friends." | |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Try another trainer. We had a filly that was just really good minded on the ground. I don't start young horses and this one is well bred so we sent her off to a girl who has started many colts for my sister and is a WPRA and futurity money winner. She called me at the end of the month telling me this mare was dangerous and needed to go to the auction for dog meat. I was really surprised, we had this filly for 2 years and she was sweet as pie. I went to pick her up and she just hopped in the trailer. At home she was back to her sweet self. The girl we had bought her from said if we ever wanted to sell, she wanted first chance. So I called her up and told we would sell her but only if she talked to the girl who tried to break her because this girl had a 8 year old daughter and I wanted to be completely up front about this mare. She called back and said she didn't want her so I sent her to another trainer who is really good with problem horses. He couldn't get this mare to do anything wrong. She broke out well and my daughter took her up to chiro school to ride off and on and she was still good.
Long story short, this trainer just may not mesh well with your daughter's colt. Try someone else. | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I seriously feel like we are the same person - except the kid is my 11 year old niece. We bought her a 5 year old for Christmas, very small budget and a friend of mine had a started 5 year old. Ridden quite a bit last summer, trail rode, etc but had been sitting. Well we picked him up and figured he needs a refresher, couple weeks and I went to get on and he BLEW up. I didn't even get a leg over. So I started from scratch... and now he has about 20 rides but I had this exact same conversation with my sister.
I had the conversation with my niece that she may not ride this horse this year. She is willing to wait but... we made the deal that if he doesn't make progress by X date, we need to consider selling him. If he makes progress then we send him out for some ride time (I don't have an indoor) and I have already hauled to two of my friends who have worked with him and I know they get along.
With all that said, I would make sure your trainer and that horse get along. Secondly, I wouldn't jump the gun just yet. I think you should see how he works that horse and decide. Sounds like he has taken care of your daughter in the past and maybe he isn't a horse that transfers from one set of hands to another. | |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | GLP - 2017-02-09 8:41 AM Try another trainer. We had a filly that was just really good minded on the ground. I don't start young horses and this one is well bred so we sent her off to a girl who has started many colts for my sister and is a WPRA and futurity money winner. She called me at the end of the month telling me this mare was dangerous and needed to go to the auction for dog meat. I was really surprised, we had this filly for 2 years and she was sweet as pie. I went to pick her up and she just hopped in the trailer. At home she was back to her sweet self. The girl we had bought her from said if we ever wanted to sell, she wanted first chance. So I called her up and told we would sell her but only if she talked to the girl who tried to break her because this girl had a 8 year old daughter and I wanted to be completely up front about this mare. She called back and said she didn't want her so I sent her to another trainer who is really good with problem horses. He couldn't get this mare to do anything wrong. She broke out well and my daughter took her up to chiro school to ride off and on and she was still good. Long story short, this trainer just may not mesh well with your daughter's colt. Try someone else.
and there is this, some have better methods than others. Patience is key, but I expect results. I use a lady now to start mine. Kids and I don't care to hit the ground anymore made me find a trainer. My husband was so against a woman starting our colts because so many of them baby them. Well not this girl. She is so good with them, but she makes them do what she wants or the get their butt worked. Her personality meshes with mine as well. I told her upfront my expectations and that I have had many others not do what I paid them to do. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| As far as training goes this is not all that unusual. He is not broke and has never been challenged and maybe a bit spoiled. He needs at least a good 90 days with a very experienced trainer. Someone who is very good at starting Colts and does it all of the time. Someone fair but firm. | |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | GLP - 2017-02-09 9:41 AM Try another trainer. We had a filly that was just really good minded on the ground. I don't start young horses and this one is well bred so we sent her off to a girl who has started many colts for my sister and is a WPRA and futurity money winner. She called me at the end of the month telling me this mare was dangerous and needed to go to the auction for dog meat. I was really surprised, we had this filly for 2 years and she was sweet as pie. I went to pick her up and she just hopped in the trailer. At home she was back to her sweet self. The girl we had bought her from said if we ever wanted to sell, she wanted first chance. So I called her up and told we would sell her but only if she talked to the girl who tried to break her because this girl had a 8 year old daughter and I wanted to be completely up front about this mare. She called back and said she didn't want her so I sent her to another trainer who is really good with problem horses. He couldn't get this mare to do anything wrong. She broke out well and my daughter took her up to chiro school to ride off and on and she was still good. Long story short, this trainer just may not mesh well with your daughter's colt. Try someone else.
Ditto, been there. This filly was meant to stay  | |
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 I don't want to screw up!
Posts: 3881
Location: North Dakota -> Colorado | wyoming barrel racer - 2017-02-09 9:38 AM sounds to me like a horse that is loved and somewhat spoiled by a kid just playing around with it-hear me out here. Then a trainer takes said colt and makes him work and do things that are expected NOW and not when the colt feels like it. I started colts and got several this way. Trust me, a 3 yr old untouched horse will buck less than one that is played with daily, saddled etc from day one, but never MADE to do anything. I bet the colt comes out of it, all the ones I worked with did. I had a colt I raised that I wanted to keep from that colt crop, so I halter broke all the others that were sold first. I rope them to halter break. All this time I could play with my colt, he would follow me anywhere and even pick up feet. He loved me. Until the day it was time to officially halter break him. I roped him and the look on his face was utter shock. I had apparenty broken some truce we had. He got over it in a quick hurry but he had the biggest fit about being tied etc than any of the others that I just worked with like we weren't the "best of friends."
THIS ^^^^. Although I do agree that maybe try someone different. However, I'm almost getting the feeling that since he's never had the pressure put on to go to work and simply was "playing around with his human" up to this point, and now being taught that sometimes it isn't just going to be bareback ride in the pasture where he really doesn't have to do anything; he's probably gonna dig his heels in a bit and blow up. Doesn't necessarily mean the horse is dangerous, etc, etc. Just needs to work through it. Any younger colt *may* have a blow up, however, you are right in that if she wants to run barrels this spring, he isn't going to be the horse for her. However, I'd be careful with letting go of a bond like that. Those sometimes only happen once in a lifetime. | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 336
Location: Missouri | wyoming barrel racer - 2017-02-09 9:38 AM
sounds to me like a horse that is loved and somewhat spoiled by a kid just playing around with it-hear me out here. Then a trainer takes said colt and makes him work and do things that are expected NOW and not when the colt feels like it. I started colts and got several this way. Trust me, a 3 yr old untouched horse will buck less than one that is played with daily, saddled etc from day one, but never MADE to do anything. I bet the colt comes out of it, all the ones I worked with did. I had a colt I raised that I wanted to keep from that colt crop, so I halter broke all the others that were sold first. I rope them to halter break. All this time I could play with my colt, he would follow me anywhere and even pick up feet. He loved me. Until the day it was time to officially halter break him. I roped him and the look on his face was utter shock. I had apparenty broken some truce we had. He got over it in a quick hurry but he had the biggest fit about being tied etc than any of the others that I just worked with like we weren't the "best of friends."
I would suspect this as well - spoiled and not wanting to be a grown up horse. My daughter had a colt years ago, handled much like described by the OP. Was a jam up showmanship and halter, in hand trail colt as a yearling even. But, we babied him. Once she (we) started actually riding (not just sitting on and goofing), and asking/demanding for more, he got sketchy. Sent him to the trainer, and that colt dang near killed him. While all of the "bonding" and playing had made him dog gentle with her, when pushed he came undone. We sold him amidst a lot of tears. Knowing now what she is capable of (with added years of experience), I wonder if she could have "fixed" him. Not sure I would ever have trusted him though, because when he blew, there was no sense of self-preservation...he was intent on doing harm.
I would try someone else maybe, or if you and your daughter's skill levels are up to the task, try a less "I'm your friend" approach and see if he responds well with you two. Just please, be careful. He is going to have to stop equating humans as his buddies/friends, and see them as his boss. | |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Thank you all for the replies. I agree that he's been pretty spoiled and it's true he's never had any kind of pressure put on him. So being yanked from his pasture and little girl who loved on him and put into a serious training program probably didn't set well with him and his life long plan of leisure lol! It's early, and my trainer said the colt is very very smart. He's starting him over completely this week. This trainer has been our go to guy for over 10 years, he's very good and extremely quiet and patient and very very honest, we trust him 10000% . I do agree that some horses and people just don't mesh, I get that completely. But I really think he's just throwing a tantrum. And I'm hoping and praying he can get him thru it. If he feels like he cant, he will tell us. It's happened before. He's not throwing on the towel just yet, he was just shocked because he knew my kid had been on him at home several times, even in a saddle. | |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| wyoming barrel racer - 2017-02-09 9:45 AM
GLP - 2017-02-09 8:41 AM Try another trainer. We had a filly that was just really good minded on the ground. I don't start young horses and this one is well bred so we sent her off to a girl who has started many colts for my sister and is a WPRA and futurity money winner. She called me at the end of the month telling me this mare was dangerous and needed to go to the auction for dog meat. I was really surprised, we had this filly for 2 years and she was sweet as pie. I went to pick her up and she just hopped in the trailer. At home she was back to her sweet self. The girl we had bought her from said if we ever wanted to sell, she wanted first chance. So I called her up and told we would sell her but only if she talked to the girl who tried to break her because this girl had a 8 year old daughter and I wanted to be completely up front about this mare. She called back and said she didn't want her so I sent her to another trainer who is really good with problem horses. He couldn't get this mare to do anything wrong. She broke out well and my daughter took her up to chiro school to ride off and on and she was still good. Long story short, this trainer just may not mesh well with your daughter's colt. Try someone else.
and there is this, some have better methods than others. Patience is key, but I expect results. I use a lady now to start mine. Kids and I don't care to hit the ground anymore made me find a trainer. My husband was so against a woman starting our colts because so many of them baby them. Well not this girl. She is so good with them, but she makes them do what she wants or the get their butt worked. Her personality meshes with mine as well. I told her upfront my expectations and that I have had many others not do what I paid them to do.
True, but this girl had done an amazing job with a stud colt for my sister, they took him to the BFA sale and he did great. However, I did find out she had tied milk jugs with pebbles in them to the stirrups and tried to work the mare this way. Then when she got on her she bucked hard. It has nothing to do with gender, she and the mare just did not click. I want to emphasize that I am not knocking this girl, I just don't think the combination of the 2 was good. I think that maybe this is what is going on with the OP's colt. | |
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 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | wyoming barrel racer - 2017-02-09 8:38 AM sounds to me like a horse that is loved and somewhat spoiled by a kid just playing around with it-hear me out here. Then a trainer takes said colt and makes him work and do things that are expected NOW and not when the colt feels like it. I started colts and got several this way. Trust me, a 3 yr old untouched horse will buck less than one that is played with daily, saddled etc from day one, but never MADE to do anything. I bet the colt comes out of it, all the ones I worked with did. I had a colt I raised that I wanted to keep from that colt crop, so I halter broke all the others that were sold first. I rope them to halter break. All this time I could play with my colt, he would follow me anywhere and even pick up feet. He loved me. Until the day it was time to officially halter break him. I roped him and the look on his face was utter shock. I had apparenty broken some truce we had. He got over it in a quick hurry but he had the biggest fit about being tied etc than any of the others that I just worked with like we weren't the "best of friends."
THIS!!!!!!! There is such a huge difference in a horse letting you play with them and real true training where they are told what to do & when to do it. It's perfectly normal for a horse that is a bit spoiled & a pet to not take kindly to training. Heck, I've got a couple in my own barn! I've got over 15 years experience starting colts......have a couple very special fillies that I raised, both are a touch on the spoiled side & both threw dang good fits over the start of real training.
It sounds like you know the trainer you're using pretty well. Give him some time and see how things go. But jumping to a different trainer after he's only had the horse a week doesn't make sense at all. One thing to consider is that the colt may be stressed from moving to a new barn & being away from his girl. When I was training a lot I gave most of the colts either miracle clay or redmond daily gold to buffer their stomachs for the first week or so.
Now your daughter.....she's 12....there is no way in hell I would allow her to be doing the training on this colt if the trainer feels he's that rank. Yes, he's fine with her walking around on him but all hell could break loose the first time she really kicks him or TELLS him to do something. And reality is she's just a little girl, while she's probably a good rider she doesn't have the years of experience it takes to know what to do when problems arise. It's not worth the risk, if something happens it could ruin her love of horses or much worse. Regardless of what she wants, you are the parent & it's your decision what happens with this horse. | |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| SaraJean - 2017-02-09 10:26 AM
wyoming barrel racer - 2017-02-09 8:38 AM sounds to me like a horse that is loved and somewhat spoiled by a kid just playing around with it-hear me out here. Then a trainer takes said colt and makes him work and do things that are expected NOW and not when the colt feels like it. I started colts and got several this way. Trust me, a 3 yr old untouched horse will buck less than one that is played with daily, saddled etc from day one, but never MADE to do anything. I bet the colt comes out of it, all the ones I worked with did. I had a colt I raised that I wanted to keep from that colt crop, so I halter broke all the others that were sold first. I rope them to halter break. All this time I could play with my colt, he would follow me anywhere and even pick up feet. He loved me. Until the day it was time to officially halter break him. I roped him and the look on his face was utter shock. I had apparenty broken some truce we had. He got over it in a quick hurry but he had the biggest fit about being tied etc than any of the others that I just worked with like we weren't the "best of friends."
THIS!!!!!!! There is such a huge difference in a horse letting you play with them and real true training where they are told what to do & when to do it. It's perfectly normal for a horse that is a bit spoiled & a pet to not take kindly to training. Heck, I've got a couple in my own barn! I've got over 15 years experience starting colts......have a couple very special fillies that I raised, both are a touch on the spoiled side & both threw dang good fits over the start of real training.
It sounds like you know the trainer you're using pretty well. Give him some time and see how things go. But jumping to a different trainer after he's only had the horse a week doesn't make sense at all. One thing to consider is that the colt may be stressed from moving to a new barn & being away from his girl. When I was training a lot I gave most of the colts either miracle clay or redmond daily gold to buffer their stomachs for the first week or so.
Now your daughter.....she's 12....there is no way in hell I would allow her to be doing the training on this colt if the trainer feels he's that rank. Yes, he's fine with her walking around on him but all hell could break loose the first time she really kicks him or TELLS him to do something. And reality is she's just a little girl, while she's probably a good rider she doesn't have the years of experience it takes to know what to do when problems arise. It's not worth the risk, if something happens it could ruin her love of horses or much worse. Regardless of what she wants, you are the parent & it's your decision what happens with this horse.
I do agree this could be the case but I am a firm believer in bonding with horses and if he has bonded with her and then thrown into something else where there isn't that bond, it could be a fight or flight type of mentality. Not to say, he shouldn't learn to respect everyone because he should but I think it will be interesting to see how the next couple weeks go.
I tend to fiddle with my colts a lot, granted they still have discipline but I have found it usually make them easier to break but again, I have been the one to do it so maybe that is where the disconnect is here. No saying your daughter should be the one breaking him but maybe that's why I have had more positive experiences than others. When you take a colt with a blank slate, barely handled, they learn respect right away without any other expectations. Sounds like he has learned to bond with your daughter and expects bond and trust with his handler which he doesn't have yet with the new trainer.
I have a 2 year old, coming 3 I plan to get on this spring. She has been the easiest horse to teach anything to. I hope that continues  | |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| wyoming barrel racer - 2017-02-09 10:38 AM
sounds to me like a horse that is loved and somewhat spoiled by a kid just playing around with it-hear me out here. Then a trainer takes said colt and makes him work and do things that are expected NOW and not when the colt feels like it. I started colts and got several this way. Trust me, a 3 yr old untouched horse will buck less than one that is played with daily, saddled etc from day one, but never MADE to do anything. I bet the colt comes out of it, all the ones I worked with did. I had a colt I raised that I wanted to keep from that colt crop, so I halter broke all the others that were sold first. I rope them to halter break. All this time I could play with my colt, he would follow me anywhere and even pick up feet. He loved me. Until the day it was time to officially halter break him. I roped him and the look on his face was utter shock. I had apparenty broken some truce we had. He got over it in a quick hurry but he had the biggest fit about being tied etc than any of the others that I just worked with like we weren't the "best of friends."
This 100%!!!!
Most ppl actually create monsters. The worst ones are those bottle feed orphans good god I just send them somewhere else.
Its best when the are scratched on the butt a bit fed a treat or two and left out untouched instead of someone spoiling them.
This is one reason I actually prefer one OTT at least you know they aren't spoiled and I'd rather have one flighty with a work ethic. Ones raised by lil girls no offense seriously have no work ethic and just like a spoiled teenager put up a fight when you put them to work.
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| stayceem - 2017-02-09 11:42 AM
SaraJean - 2017-02-09 10:26 AM
wyoming barrel racer - 2017-02-09 8:38 AM sounds to me like a horse that is loved and somewhat spoiled by a kid just playing around with it-hear me out here. Then a trainer takes said colt and makes him work and do things that are expected NOW and not when the colt feels like it. I started colts and got several this way. Trust me, a 3 yr old untouched horse will buck less than one that is played with daily, saddled etc from day one, but never MADE to do anything. I bet the colt comes out of it, all the ones I worked with did. I had a colt I raised that I wanted to keep from that colt crop, so I halter broke all the others that were sold first. I rope them to halter break. All this time I could play with my colt, he would follow me anywhere and even pick up feet. He loved me. Until the day it was time to officially halter break him. I roped him and the look on his face was utter shock. I had apparenty broken some truce we had. He got over it in a quick hurry but he had the biggest fit about being tied etc than any of the others that I just worked with like we weren't the "best of friends."
THIS!!!!!!! There is such a huge difference in a horse letting you play with them and real true training where they are told what to do & when to do it. It's perfectly normal for a horse that is a bit spoiled & a pet to not take kindly to training. Heck, I've got a couple in my own barn! I've got over 15 years experience starting colts......have a couple very special fillies that I raised, both are a touch on the spoiled side & both threw dang good fits over the start of real training.
It sounds like you know the trainer you're using pretty well. Give him some time and see how things go. But jumping to a different trainer after he's only had the horse a week doesn't make sense at all. One thing to consider is that the colt may be stressed from moving to a new barn & being away from his girl. When I was training a lot I gave most of the colts either miracle clay or redmond daily gold to buffer their stomachs for the first week or so.
Now your daughter.....she's 12....there is no way in hell I would allow her to be doing the training on this colt if the trainer feels he's that rank. Yes, he's fine with her walking around on him but all hell could break loose the first time she really kicks him or TELLS him to do something. And reality is she's just a little girl, while she's probably a good rider she doesn't have the years of experience it takes to know what to do when problems arise. It's not worth the risk, if something happens it could ruin her love of horses or much worse. Regardless of what she wants, you are the parent & it's your decision what happens with this horse.
I do agree this could be the case but I am a firm believer in bonding with horses and if he has bonded with her and then thrown into something else where there isn't that bond, it could be a fight or flight type of mentality. Not to say, he shouldn't learn to respect everyone because he should but I think it will be interesting to see how the next couple weeks go.
I tend to fiddle with my colts a lot, granted they still have discipline but I have found it usually make them easier to break but again, I have been the one to do it so maybe that is where the disconnect is here. No saying your daughter should be the one breaking him but maybe that's why I have had more positive experiences than others. When you take a colt with a blank slate, barely handled, they learn respect right away without any other expectations. Sounds like he has learned to bond with your daughter and expects bond and trust with his handler which he doesn't have yet with the new trainer.
I have a 2 year old, coming 3 I plan to get on this spring. She has been the easiest horse to teach anything to. I hope that continues
If you do not believe this go watch BUCK on netflix he addresses this spoiled issue.
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | hmm here's the old school chiming in......I broke and trained my first 3 yr old when I was 12-took him to college with me AND he was an orphan I hand raised-turned out to be a bada$$ too......AND I still don't mind riding colts-taught me a lot-mostly that I really don't trust what too many other people do with their horses. Maybe now is the time for your "kid" to become a horsewoman! With some gentle guidance and probably some trips with trusted friends (of yours) that will help her learn. | |
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