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Horse Training Schedule

This is a comprehensive program that covers catching, leading, ground manners, despooking, hosing, fly spray, trailer loading, standing tied, picking up feet, saddling, riding in a snaffle bit at all speeds in arena and open country, obstacle course, water crossing and trail riding. Your horse will have a solid foundation and impeccable manners. Our program uses gentle communication and absolutely no violence or rough handling. A relationship of mutual respect and trust is built between horse and human.

You are welcome to come watch any of the training sessions.
Toward the end of the training period we'll make appointments for personal instruction with you in order to transfer the cues and exercises over to you so you can be consistent with your horse's handling and riding after he goes home.

Week 1 - Attention and respectful catching, approach, halter, touch all over looking for harbored spots. Teach ground exercises on lead rope including:  a) yielding hind quarters,  b) yielding front quarters, c) backing, d) circling to the right and left at walk and trot, e) passing through a narrow space to the right and back to the left, f) sending through gate, g) leading properly and h) sidepassing.

Week 2 - Review ground exercises. Apply ground exercise maneuvers to successfully negotiate each confidence course station. Despook with flag, bag, rope, slicker and saddle pad. Teach him to patiently stand tied.

Week 3 - Review ground exercises, despooking, and standing tied while wearing a snaffle bit. Review any problem areas on confidence course especially trailer loading. Saddle up and let him get comfortable wearing the saddle.

Week 4 - Perform all ground exercises saddled. Despook with all items while saddled. From the top of the corral have the horse come along side the fence and stand quietly on his right and left side.

Week 5 - Review all previous work. From the top of the fence with horse standing along side begin working above the horse placing some weight in the saddle and rubbing all over. Begin teaching yielding to the rein with a halter and lead rope and yielding to the bit with a snaffle. Ground driving for turning, stopping and backing. Lead him on a trail ride and creek crossing from another horse.

 

Week 6 - Review all previous work. Ride in small corral and round pen with halter working on mounting, yielding to the rein, turning and stopping. Teach him to accept bathing. Pick up hooves.

Week 7 - Review all previous work. Ride at all gaits in corral and pasture with snaffle bit working on mounting, yielding to the rein, turning, backing and stopping.

Week 8 - Review all previous work. Ride confidence course, large pastures, along road, creek crossings, wooded trails and bridge crossings. Work with the owner to insure consistency in cues and horsemanship.

Graduate School:

Week 9 - Take him on longer and more challenging rides encountering spooky items and obstacles. Work on refining lightness and responsiveness to leg yields, side-passing, turning on the front quarter and turning on the hind quarter from the saddle.

Week 10 - Take him on longer and more challenging rides encountering spooky items and obstacles. Trailer him to other facilities (parks, farms, etc.) for more riding and to gain further confidence in accepting unfamiliar environments, quietly standing tied at the trailer and being with other unfamiliar horses. Begin rope work from the saddle- towing a log by pulling and backing, swinging and throwing loops. Work on refining lightness and responsiveness to leg yields, side-passing, turning on the front and turning on the hind from the saddle.