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Where is the music?
Click below
to find out .  |
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We handle the babies daily from
birth. Halters are put on them within days of
foaling to get them accustomed to their head-gear. A
little later, a lead rope is added. Part of the
handling is hand stroking their entire body and
picking up each leg, massaging hindquarters, ankles
and feet.
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All babies get to know all the ranch
hands (the three Amigos) and all family
members
early on and regularly.
We begin using brushes, combs,
fly-sprays, and other equipment, getting
them used to the feel of foreign objects, as
well as hands.
We feel this daily, hands-on therapy aids us
and the horse greatly at saddle training
time.
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At 5-6 months we wean the babies,
and as they fret during this process, we spend even
more time with them to let them know it's ok, and we
will now look after them. This is also our time to
halter break and teach them to lead.
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At about 14-15 months the colts
are brought to the round pen, worked on a longe
lines, taught to change directions, stop on command,
come to the center of the pen on command and
other lessons.
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At about 2 years old; first the front
feet are fitted with shoes. We work
them for perhaps 3 months this way and then
shoe the hind feet after that.
This seems to develop confidence in
the horse with his new Reeboks and helps the
front end. |
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We spend a great deal of time on
the ground, in the round pen, with the horse before
we introduce the blanket and saddle. When we have
done about a week in the round pen, saddling up is
all that is needed before we mount the horse. They
pretty much tell us when they are ready to accept a
rider in the saddle.
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any horses we want broke to ride are doing
very well under saddle, and their bi-weekly
trail ride all over the farm and surrounding
farms has them well accustomed to many
different sights and sounds, allowing them
to adapt very easily to new situations in
future. |
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Much time is spent with
the horse making sure he is reaching forward
and coming up in the front, while reaching
from behind; all the while letting the horse
feel like what he is doing for me, he's
doing on his own. This is extremely
important in polishing his gaits. |
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