Colt Starting: What Can You Expect In 60 Days?

Spring is the time of year when all the colts and fillies are turning two and three years old. Have you considered when and where you are going to enroll your "youngster" in school? Whether your horse will be a cutter, jumper or dressage horse, the foundation they receive will have a lot to do with how well they perform once in advanced training.

Starting horses has almost become a lost art. There are many fine trainers who train and show horses successfully, yet starting the young horse has become just a necessary evil that must be dealt with before the "real" training can begin. Often this job is relegated to an assistant or the colt is sent away for a "Horse Breaker" to remove the bucks. I suppose if they gave blue ribbons for starting colts, more attention and care would be given to it. But alas, they do not.

Suppose now you have selected your trainer and your colt has been there a few weeks. It's probably time to go out and see him worked, getting your trainer's evaluation of him. There are some things that the trainer should be able to demonstrate to you while you are there. Whether you are able to accomplish these things depends totally on your experience and proficiency when working with green horses. Young horses demand a great deal of direction and support in everything they do. If your colt does not feel leadership coming from you, you will not get the smooth responses you saw when the trainer rode him. Which brings me to an important point.

You need to know your trainer's policy in regard to working with the owner and their horses together. Now if your colt will be going right on to further training with another trainer this is not so important. That trainer will probably be comfortable and proficient in dealing with green horses. If you are planning to take this horse home and ride him yourself, you had best spend some time with your horse and trainer while he is still in training. Is your trainer willing to spend time with you, showing you how he rides the horse and how the colt responds in different situations? When the trainer feels the colt is safe enough, will he give you some lessons with your colt helping the two of you get together? Are these lessons included in the monthly training price, or is there an additional fee?

You also need to be realistic in evaluating where you and your horse are at the end of sixty days. When you put together your experience level, the amount of training your colt has had, and his own particular make up, it's possible that it just does not jive. Will thirty more days make a difference? Do you need more lessons with the trainer? Do you possibly need to recognize that this horse is just too much horse? Generally speaking, green horses and green riders do not mix. Experienced riders should handle green horses, and experienced horses are better suited for green riders.

The following is a list of things that you can and should expect from a sixty day training program. I am going to speak in generalities. I recognize that each horse is an individual and there are exceptions to every rule. Some will progress faster while others slower. Some colts are naturally quiet and gentle while others are sensitive and high strung. Yet there are some basic things your colt should be understanding at the end of a sixty day foundation.

1. Your colt should both lead and follow respectfully. Not oblivious to the handler and walking over the top of him.

2. Your colt should be able to be tied and stand tied.

3. He should be able to pick up all four feet well enough to be shod.

4. He should be able to enter and exit a horse trailer without a lot of fuss.

5. He should be able to be saddled without a fight, and bridled without throwing his head or pulling away.

6. Your colt should be able to be lunged both directions and stand still for mounting.

7. He should be able to walk, trot and canter in both directions. Transitions up and down through these gaits should be fairly smooth.

8. He should be able to stop and back up. He should also be learning to yield away from leg pressure for lateral movement.

9. He should be able to be ridden out and around to a certain degree outside the confines of an arena.

Again let me stress that I am talking about most of the horses, most of the time. There are some colts that look like ninety day colts at the end of thirty days. Yet there are others who look like thirty day colts at the end of ninety days! Finding a trainer who enjoys and understands starting young horses is the key. Communicate to your trainer what your goals and desires are for your particular colt. Do not discount this important time of development. Build a proper foundation and it will last a lifetime!   Back to “Programs.”