04/03/2025
"You have changed"
Yeah, for the better. I get told this a fair bit. But never asked why. So here is why.
3 years ago, if i was asked "can you do the first ride" I would. "Can you break in this 12 year old unhandled broodmare", I would. I "don't know anything about this horse, but it's pretty will you ride it" I would.
Now I won't, because the likelihood of the outcome being good for me, the horse or you is not high.
Starting a horse, I would aim to be on it at the end of the first week loping. Unbalanced on a lose rein with not a single tool installed to help the horse use its body correctly.
Now, I spend the first 4 weeks teaching them how to carry them selfs without the confusion and weight of me being on top of them. I'm so hell Bent on doing it this way that the first 4 weeks are half price.
When do I lope them? When I can do absolutely everything required for them to do it correctly. From there first lope
bUt tHeY nEeD tO TrAvEL oN LoSe ReIN
They absolutely do. When they know how to use there body. And you can correct them when are traveling wrong.
Some come out of the box balanced and ready to boogie. Some come out with 4 different lengthed legs. And the longer they the travel without learning to use there body correctly, the more it becomes habit.. it also creates a anxiety, as your horse will throw its self in any position just to get the "job" done for you. And is alot harder for them when you are trying correct it down the track.
You have the entire future of a living creature inbetween your hands and legs. The goal is to make them into something no one would ever want to part with.