Too often I see colt starting videos where the horse is in complete panic mode once the saddle is strapped to their backs, running and bucking with fear in their eyes and by the end of their first session, they’re covered in sweat and heavy breathing.
Now I’m not saying horses won’t have blow ups and you’re in the wrong if they do but there are practices you can take beforehand to make the first ride more enjoyable for you and the horse.
We all want our horses to be a blend of calm, smart, brave and athletic and the way to get this result is by creating a provocative learning environment where he can continue to become more and more responsive 🤠 #jhhorsemanship
💫 Colt Starting 💫
Day 1 for Rip, owned by Meghan Fry
He is a 2 y/o in for colt starting and nothing seems to phase this big guy. We saddled him up and rode with a halter to start and he did great so we introduced a bit and bridle. He likes to put everything in his mouth so he actually took the bit on his own when we put it in front of him. We let him wear the bridle for a while to get used to it. Then we ended with some fun by swinging a rope all around him and over his head..as you can see, he wasn’t bothered by it one bit 😂 #jhhorsemanship
🔹Colt Starting🔹
This is Theo owned by Brooks Mo and he came to us already having a good groundwork foundation but we still spent the first couple of days working him on the ground to make sure we were able to move his feet, yield and soften to pressure. The better your horse understands how to move his feet and yield to pressure on the ground, the easier it’ll be for him to do the same thing under saddle, which is evident in this first ride.
….so If You Want To See Bucking, Better Attend The PBR because this was an “uneventful” first ride and that’s how we like it! 💥
I start off by putting my weight into the stirrup and lean over the saddle and then step back down. You’ll notice he did move during this, that’s fine, I just pulled the inside rein and turned him in a circle until he stopped again. Since he accepted all of this without getting worried, I went ahead and swung my leg over and sat up in the saddle.
For the first ride, our main goal is to keep the colt calm, and have forward movement. You do not want the colt to “freeze up” when you get on, so if he tries to walk, let him.
The first ride doesn’t have to last long or accomplish a lot of maneuvers. You basically want the horse to learn to carry your weight and move forward when asked.
With training horses, always remember that every horse is an individual and will have different strengths and weaknesses. Our first ride went off without a hitch and I’m excited to see his growth while in our program 🐴 #jhhorsemanship
Lessons at JH Horsemanship are educational but also laid back, fun and we go at your pace! Come on out to the farm and see for yourself 🐴
You found your community if you like horses, ranch sorting and western lifestyle 🤠 welcome to #jhhorsemanship
We don’t just ride horses around here 🐮
Who says cow horses can’t dance?🕺
You need to perfect the “dry” work before putting your horse onto cattle 🐮
♦️ Practice backing, stops, rolls backs, moving off your leg, etc. But practice SLOW and CORRECT! Start these maneuvers at a walk then move to a trot and only add speed once you have perfected them at the slower pace.
Adding speed is easy, fixing problems caused by asking for too much speed to quickly is very difficult. Be patient but most importantly, make it fun for both yourself and your horse 🐴
So you want to learn to work cows? Come out and join us at JH Horsemanship and I will teach you how🐴
Using only emojis, spell your horse’s name
Best advice to live by 🤠 Keep working. No matter how many times you fall, get right back up and do it again. Success doesn’t come without failures #jhhorsemanship
Let’s be honest, equestrians say and do a lot of weird things but what’s a phrase that would really have non-horsey people thinking we are crazy? 🤪
Practice, practice, practice!
Consistency is key and you will not succeed unless you put in the work 🐴
We have installed sorting panels in the arena, so if you’re looking to get into sorting, team penning or just want to learn how to read and work cattle, shoot me a message 📩 we would love to have you out to the farm!
Were you born into it or are you first generation? 👇
Understanding what goes on behind the scenes always gives you more appreciation for what you see on the surface 🐴
Want to learn to work cows? 🐮 Come out to JH Horsemanship!
We will start by introducing you and your horse to herd
>> then I’ll teach you how to read, track & move cows
📩 Shoot me a message & come out to enjoy the fun!
How to START ⤵️
Your journey is going to look completely different than anyone else’s and honestly, comparing yourself to anyone else is 100% self sabotage.
With that said, the only way to reach your goals is to START ✨ Are you a first time horse owner? Or maybe you have been riding your whole life but want to better your skills and want to learn more about performance horses? At JH Horsemanship we want to help you, no matter where you are at in your journey.
Remember, it’s okay to look at other’s as goals but do not compare yourself to them! They were once in your shoes and only got where they are today with dedication and education 🤠
Just like all athletes, your horse needs to be stretched and warmed up before each ride 🤠
What’s your favorite warmup to do with your horse?
Share your wisdom 🐴
We should always be looking for new ways to improve our skills and horsemanship and there is no better way that listening to others experiences.
That said, what do you think has been the best advice you’ve been given that has helped you become a better horseman?
Are you wanting to learn how to work cows? Whether it’s getting your horse comfortable being around them, learning how to read them or how to separate one off to work it 🐮 Come on out to JH Horsemanship and we will teach you how.