| Let's look at some of those insights into a colt's | | | | time that you get off, that is what he |
| or horse's mind. A colt is not born knowing that a | | | | remembers best. Remember that you are |
| bump from your legs means to go or that a pull | | | | rewarding him for what he just did. Be sure that |
| on the reins means to stop. Those are all things | | | | it is memory that you want! |
| that must be taught to him before you can | | | | Another theory that I use in my training program |
| advance his training. A lot of this can be taught on | | | | is "What you teach today, he will learn tomorrow." |
| the ground before you do mount, making it easier | | | | A horse thinks and absorbs what he was taught |
| for the colt to understand what is expected of | | | | over night. He may not grasp the concept today |
| him. After a colt has become comfortable | | | | but when you ride tomorrow, you will see that he |
| carrying a bit, I run the rein through the stirrup | | | | begun to understand what you want. Use that |
| and tie it to the back dee ring of the saddle. I | | | | theory to your advantage. Don't push today for |
| always start loosely so the colt doesn't feel | | | | something that he will give you willingly tomorrow. |
| trapped by the sudden pressure by using a very | | | | Give him time to think about what you have |
| small amount of bend. | | | | taught him. |
| I walk circles with the colt at first to show him | | | | Using that same theory, if you push a horse to |
| what I want and how he can release the pressure | | | | perform the same thing over and over, thinking |
| on his mouth. After a few days, he learns it is to | | | | that you can force him farther along than he is, |
| his benefit to follow the bend. Tying his head side | | | | you'll find that the horse begins to change what |
| to side teaches him to give to the bit and to | | | | he is doing. What he started doing so well will |
| follow his nose. When he pulls against the bit, it | | | | soon become something that he does badly. |
| creates pressure in his mouth. When he gives to | | | | Because you push him to repeat it over and over, |
| the bit and follows the bend, he immediately | | | | he thinks he has done something wrong. He will |
| rewards himself. There is no room for human | | | | try to do something different because you keep |
| error such as not releasing the pressure soon | | | | asking. He is trying to understand what will cause |
| enough. Releasing pressure is the best way we | | | | you to stop asking. Ask him to repeat something |
| have to communicate to the colt that he | | | | three times and then go on to something else. Let |
| performed correctly. When you ride this colt, you | | | | him think on it tonight and ask again tomorrow. |
| continue using the same pressure/reward method | | | | Accept small steps of progress. Give him time to |
| and he will turn left and right with ease. The same | | | | learn that he will get rewarded when he does |
| is true of teaching the cluck, a verbal sound, to | | | | something right. It will make him try harder to |
| trot, and a kiss to lope. The colt learns that these | | | | please you, knowing he'll get rewarded for doing |
| noises mean to go in the round pen and he'll | | | | so. |
| associate those same noises to go under saddle. | | | | Enforce obedience as you ride. When you ask a |
| Prepping the colt in this way leaves him only to | | | | horse to perform, you must commit yourself to |
| learn to balance your weight in the saddle as he | | | | following through. For example, if you ask him to |
| learns that your legs in conjunction with the cluck | | | | lope and he trots, and you let him trot instead of |
| or kiss means to go. | | | | enforcing that he lope, you have just taught the |
| When mounted, be sure that you remain calm | | | | horse to ignore your cue to lope. When you ask |
| and quiet. Do not let your body tense as your colt | | | | him to go straight and you let him wander sire to |
| will feel it. He'll think that because you are afraid, | | | | side, you have taught him that he doesn't have to |
| he should be afraid. This is true of the first ride or | | | | go straight. Some things you have to break down |
| of the first "scary" bridge. Ride as if you expect | | | | into smaller pieces for him to learn, yet you |
| him to be as calm as you are. He gains his | | | | always enforce obedience. He must do it to the |
| confidence from you. If you see a truck or dog | | | | best of his ability at that time. Beware of what |
| or bicycle coming at you, act as if it is nothing to | | | | you just taught the horse. Every time that you |
| fear and he'll remain as calm as you are. Your | | | | ride, think, "What have I just taught this horse?" |
| body language as you ride is perhaps that most | | | | Did I enforce good habits? Or create bad? The |
| important part of starting a colt. Stay calm and | | | | release of pressure is what every horse strives |
| quiet so he remains calm and quiet. | | | | for. Release of pressure, whether it be of your |
| Horses learn "spots" or a certain area. They | | | | legs, your reins, or of pushing the horse to |
| remember these places, whether it is a place to | | | | perform, is what a horse is after. Releasing |
| stop, to change gait at, or to spook at. They | | | | pressure within three seconds of good behavior |
| learn a spot to trot at easier than they learn the | | | | tells a horse that he performed correctly. |
| cue to trot. They learn the gate is a place to stop | | | | Correcting bad behavior within three seconds is |
| if you always dismount at the gate. Vary your | | | | just as important. Time your rewards and |
| stopping place or where you change your gaits | | | | corrections. For this reason, you must know what |
| and these spots will never become a habit. If | | | | is acceptable and what is not. Think through each |
| your horse has spooked at a particular area | | | | and every ride. Plan your ride for tomorrow. |
| before and you tense your body because you | | | | Work both sides of your colt so that he doesn't |
| are afraid that he will spook again, he'll feel your | | | | become right or left handed. A horse's brain does |
| body and assume that he should be afraid. He will | | | | not connect as ours does. What you teach on the |
| spook again. Remain calm for a few rides past | | | | right side must also be taught on the left. If a |
| that point, and he'll learn it is nothing to fear. A | | | | horse spooks at something on the left side and |
| horse is used to following or obeying the "boss" | | | | then learns it is safe to pass it, but then spooks |
| horse. You must take over that role in his life. He | | | | again on the right side, he has to relearn it on the |
| is happier letting you make the decisions. He | | | | right side. He is not being bad, that is how a |
| trusts you to tell him where to go and he relies | | | | horse's brain works. You must also condition both |
| on you to tell him it is safe to go there. Your | | | | sides of his body. He must stretch one side of |
| body language does all of this. Ride confidently. | | | | the muscles on his body and compress the other |
| As you train, it is what you do last that a colt | | | | and visa versa. A horse can become one sided |
| remembers best. When a colt does well and you | | | | quite easily if you fail to work both sides. He may |
| dismount which is a big reward for a horse, he | | | | start out stiff on one side, but it will get better |
| assumes he did well and is getting rewarded for | | | | with time. He is not doing it to annoy you. |
| what he just did. It got you off his back so he | | | | Ride as often as you can for it is that time |
| could return to his pasture or stall. This is a large | | | | together that bonds horse and rider. He learns to |
| part of my training theory. Never dismount when | | | | trust you and you trust him. You learn each |
| a colt is acting badly. Remain calm, insist on | | | | others signals and secrets. When a horse and |
| obedience, and go back to an earlier step if you | | | | rider become a team, the lightest signal tells a |
| must. Break each training segment down into | | | | horse what to do. Often, you can just look where |
| smaller parts and slowly, over days if necessary, | | | | you want to go and the horse obeys without a |
| ease your way back to the step he got flustered | | | | cue from you. Follow the tips in this article, look at |
| at. Training takes time. A horse will willingly give | | | | my books on starting colts, and offer suggestions |
| you everything he's got if you train slowly ands | | | | for future articles. Until then, happy training! |
| methodically. Always end on a good note. Every | | | | |