Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stables Montrose, Colorado

08/12/2024

This right here! Support your local small businesses.

08/08/2024

Here’s something I think people misunderstand about lightness and obstacles. They tend to give the horse too many options by allowing them too much rein and then pulling on it. Creating a fight that usually ends up in the horse avoiding the obstacle or allowing the horse to dictate how and when it’s gonna get across the said obstacle. Her it is a puddle. I’ll try to break it down.

If you notice the light blue line he’s way at the end of his rein. The horse is more flexing than turning and even though the rider is looking where he wants the pony to go the pony is looking for the way out.

The yellow circle shows his hand is behind the horn. This tells me he’s now pulling on the rein rather than lifting. In other words he’s telling the horse to turn instead of asking with assertiveness.

The red circle proves my last point. Whereas the rein is angled up if you look at his elbow it’s actually pulling back.

If you follow the green line by turning his nose by pulling on the rein he’s in essence allowing the horse to see other options to avoid the puddle. Notice his body position (boy) he’s sitting straight but pulling on the pony’s face. Now look closely at the hind foot. See how it’s starting to cross over as in he’s creating the pony to be heavy on the front end which in turn is moving the hind end over. This allows the pony to place itself in a position that allows it move away from the puddle.

Yes he can keep trying to turn its head towards the puddle but when gathering up that much rein your always a step behind and then you have a lot of rein to adjust which results in the horse getting its mouth hammered. And you have less control of the situation.

The solution is keeping his head straight as possible with a short soft rein and lifting on the reins to keep its head straight and facing obstacle. Keeping hands in front of saddle horn. And driving forward with your legs. In this way you give the horse one option and you’re not allowing them to swing their butt around and face away from obstacle. Also with short rein it’s easier to gather the rein and stay a step ahead of your horse or at least stay in step with your horse.

I’m all about lifting and allowing as much rein as I need to softly work on turning a horse when schooling them. But when it comes to crossing obstacles you can’t allow too much rein. It’s like your split reins become a single roping rein. That’s about the amount of rein you want to have to handle. And your body language should be telling the horse to be moving forward. Again it’s more your body than the rein. The body tells the horse where to go the reins only set the head and reinforce what the body is asking. Real world applications for this principle😉.

I hope this makes sense. Happy trails!

06/19/2024

Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stables Montrose, Colorado offer cool, comfortable quiet overnight boarding and parking for your Montrose stay. All the amenities you need. Reserve your spot now.

06/14/2024

Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stables Montrose, Colorado has quiet, cool, comfortable stalls and pens available for short and long term boarding. The best local hay fed 2 times a day and the use of all our amenities and endless trail riding out te back door. Schedule lessons for you and the kids.
If you’re here to complete or want a great facility give us a call.

06/14/2024

06/13/2024

Coal Creek Stable has a few stalls/pens available for the Futurity this weekend. Cool & Comfortable
970-249-4824

11/16/2023

One thing I see people doing is trying too hard and expecting too much. In doing so they miss the try and fail to reward. They are quick to punish and so slow to reward. Where do you think you’ll get your best response? Horses don’t just do something because you want them to and even if they did it won’t be flawless the first time or first 100 times. Take what they give you and build from that. But always remember a horse can do any maneuver when free out in the pasture if they can’t when we work with them who’s getting in who’s way? It’s usually our lack of communication and missing the tries that create ours and theirs biggest frustration!

10/26/2023

The next generation. Some will say there isn’t much to do with a young horse until it’s ready to ride. I agree you shouldn’t do too much but I don’t believe there’s not much to do. This pic here is the start of this horse’s riding career. If you can’t get them to trust you at this stage they probably won’t fully trust you when you’re on their back. There are many horses sent to the kill pens and rescues due to the fact that someone didn’t think this step was any big deal. My horses respect me and trust me because I build relationships. I know their personalities, their weaknesses and strengths and build a program for them based on that. Do I get mad, yes. Do I give them a scratch behind the ear for a good job done, you bet! Am I fair, absolutely. Emotions are what build relationships. And,like people, we have those we get along better with than others, just because personalities sometimes clash. Some may disagree and others may agree with me and I’m fine with both. Because it’s not them I’m trying to impress and build a lasting relationship with its these horses that come into my care. Because when it comes to horses it’s you and the horse. Not you, the horse, and everyone else, just you and the horse.

07/22/2023

07/09/2023

Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stable, LLC Offers year round lessons, boarding long & short term, pre purchase evaluations. Joe Westcott, a true horseman with a lifetime of experience & knowledge.

06/28/2023

06/28/2023

We have some extra room for cutters who need over nighting. We also have an LQ hookup and “Bunkhouse” available for rent also. 970-249-4824
Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stables Montrose, Colorado
Joe Westcott Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stables

06/27/2023

We have a few extra stalls Joe Westcott Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stables if you need one for the cutting event this weekend.

06/24/2023

Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stables Montrose, Colorado has a few stalls available for the Cutting event next week.

06/24/2023

Hey Montrose Equestrian Participants (cutters) if you didn’t get your stall reserved at the Event Center we have some available.
LQ hookup, Bunkhouse rental, beautiful quiet cool location just northwest of Montrose. Only a few available. Call or text 970-249-4824

06/22/2023

Horses make for big smiles at Coal Creek Training & Boarding Stables Montrose, Colorado.
You’re never to old or young to learn to ride a horse. “The outside if a horse is good for the inside of a human!” Call and get started today.