How do you start your horses from scratch?

[ktj1891]

As title really, what process would you follow to start a horse thats done nothing to being ridden away?

 

[mjcssjw2]

ha ha, thats a question that has a very long answer and probably very many ways of doing it, I have just got a filly that was rescued in september, she came on good friday - mostly unhandled. So far we have started teaching her to tie up (not actually tied, but with lunge line through tying up ring and held by someone, have got her used to being touched all over and groomed, -a bit exciting especially down right side, have got her picking feet up to be picked out. Had her in and out of trailer -oh dear this needs work, but need to do it when I have lots of time to sit with her and wait for her to go in in her own time.
She is now getting used to being caught, this was a bit exciting at first. Have sort of lunged her in the arena, when i say sort of, because she doesn't like me on the right side I have sent her away from me in arena on right rein and everytime she stops gone back to here lead her forward and then sent here away - no whip or anything other than lunge line and patience.
Oh and she has learned all about a bucket!! and my god can she pack away some hay.
thats all I have done with her, but she is only rising 2. As long as I can handle her and not get kicked thats good enough at this point.
So you need to decide what is appropriate for a horse of the age you have and then figure out what you need to achieve and then how to achieve it with the facilities you have! good luck and have fun. Don't forget there are many professionals out there who can help.

 

[ktj1891]

ha ha, thats a question that has a very long answer and probably very many ways of doing it, I have just got a filly that was rescued in september, she came on good friday - mostly unhandled. So far we have started teaching her to tie up (not actually tied, but with lunge line through tying up ring and held by someone, have got her used to being touched all over and groomed, -a bit exciting especially down right side, have got her picking feet up to be picked out. Had her in and out of trailer -oh dear this needs work, but need to do it when I have lots of time to sit with her and wait for her to go in in her own time.
She is now getting used to being caught, this was a bit exciting at first. Have sort of lunged her in the arena, when i say sort of, because she doesn't like me on the right side I have sent her away from me in arena on right rein and everytime she stops gone back to here lead her forward and then sent here away - no whip or anything other than lunge line and patience.
Oh and she has learned all about a bucket!! and my god can she pack away some hay.
thats all I have done with her, but she is only rising 2. As long as I can handle her and not get kicked thats good enough at this point.
So you need to decide what is appropriate for a horse of the age you have and then figure out what you need to achieve and then how to achieve it with the facilities you have! good luck and have fun. Don't forget there are many professionals out there who can help.

Thank you yes I mean in terms on ground work up to taking a rider. I know need to start off my bitting him, roller, then on lunge etc but wanted peoples experience on how and where they do these things and for how long etc and things to look out for and be vigilant of etc. Thank you

 

[cob&onion]

In a nutshell this is what i did with my cob and what i will be doing this year with my D.....

I had someone helping from the ground, she is experienced and backed horses before, cobby was my first project from scratch. Although i have been riding and had horses all my life i still needed/wanted extra help

1) Lots and lots of groundwork - get total respect from them on the ground before going any further.
2) I then bitted her which ties in with the above and basically did alot inhand work, we walked through cones, over plastic sheets, walks out on the road etc....
3) Started long reining
4)Did the leaning over thing and sat on her bareback and was lead around
5) More long reining and sitting/lead about - then ground person eventually left her side.
6) I then got somebody in to take the next step of riding her away *properly* had him for 7 days and did us wonders! we worked in the school and first then ventured out alonw with person on ground then with another horse

Then i took it from there really. Started hacking out with friends who had nice calm quiet horses.

Now shes 5 and shes fab! just came back into work after 10 months off, shes bigger and stronger now and very keen!!

Its been so rewarding
Am hoping to do similar with the boy but probably without so much extra help. I have done step 1 and 2 now he's ready for steps 3 and 4

 

[ktj1891]

In a nutshell this is what i did with my cob and what i will be doing this year with my D.....

I had someone helping from the ground, she is experienced and backed horses before, cobby was my first project from scratch. Although i have been riding and had horses all my life i still needed/wanted extra help

1) Lots and lots of groundwork - get total respect from them on the ground before going any further.
2) I then bitted her which ties in with the above and basically did alot inhand work, we walked through cones, over plastic sheets, walks out on the road etc....
3) Started long reining
4)Did the leaning over thing and sat on her bareback and was lead around
5) More long reining and sitting/lead about - then ground person eventually left her side.
6) I then got somebody in to take the next step of riding her away *properly* had him for 7 days and did us wonders! we worked in the school and first then ventured out alonw with person on ground then with another horse

Then i took it from there really. Started hacking out with friends who had nice calm quiet horses.

Now shes 5 and shes fab! just came back into work after 10 months off, shes bigger and stronger now and very keen!!

Its been so rewarding
Am hoping to do similar with the boy but probably without so much extra help. I have done step 1 and 2 now he's ready for steps 3 and 4

Yes this sounds similiar to what I will have to do. He's rising 4 but been in the field and done nothing at all has been walked out on the road I believe but thats about it.

 

[ktj1891]

Anyone else?

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Everything Cob and Onion said but I would use the word "trust" rather than "repect".

Don't get into battles you can't win without doing something that sets other things back.
And don't take it for granted that they know things about being handled or what they are meant to do. Even if you have done it with them before.

If you can walk him out, build on that. Teach him to walk away from you (you at the shoulder at arms length) with confidence and listening to commands for halt, that's the first step to lunging.

 

[ktj1891]

Everything Cob and Onion said but I would use the word "trust" rather than "repect".

Don't get into battles you can't win without doing something that sets other things back.
And don't take it for granted that they know things about being handled or what they are meant to do. Even if you have done it with them before.

If you can walk him out, build on that. Teach him to walk away from you (you at the shoulder at arms length) with confidence and listening to commands for halt, that's the first step to lunging.

Ah yes thats good I was wondering how to introduce and teach lunging!

 

[Caledonia]

As title really, what process would you follow to start a horse thats done nothing to being ridden away?

Honestly? If you need to ask on here, you shouldn't be doing it yourself. Send him away to a pro rider to start for you.

 

[ktj1891]

Honestly? If you need to ask on here, you shouldn't be doing it yourself. Send him away to a pro rider to start for you.

Sorry you must have misunderstood my question. I asked people how they start their horses now whether I should be doing it myself.

I do have experience with bringing on green horses, true I am no professional but I have the ability to I have just never started from scratch. God forbid anyone should have to start somewhere... like we all do?

Your comment is just pointless to me.

 

[Enfys]

Honestly? If you need to ask on here, you shouldn't be doing it yourself. Send him away to a pro rider to start for you.

But if you don't ask ...

My advice would be that if you want to do it yourself and you are not sure how to go on, and there is no harm in that, find yourself someone (doesn't need to be qualified) who has experience with starting and learn the ropes with them.

Any Riding Instructor can (or jolly well should be able to) teach you how to lunge, long-line etc.

Never be put off asking, there is a wealth of experience on here to be had. Some people are more forthright than others but it doesn't mean that their advice is off.



As for the question, I don't break horses to saddle as I sell all mine before that. I no longer bounce as I once did, am crap at schooling and don't enjoy it one bit, so I leave that to someone else.

I breed mine so have them from the start, by 18 months they will do all the normal stuff, and have been rugged, bitted and saddled and walked around the farm in hand. All anyone buying a colt from me has to do is get on them when they are ready and go from there.

 

[ktj1891]

But if you don't ask ...

My advice would be that if you want to do it yourself and you are not sure how to go on, and there is no harm in that, find yourself someone (doesn't need to be qualified) who has experience with starting and learn the ropes with them.

Any Riding Instructor can (or jolly well should be able to) teach you how to lunge, long-line etc.

Never be put off asking, there is a wealth of experience on here to be had.

Thank you for a down to earth comment.
I do have a dressage trainer I could ask and quite a lot of horses have/are backed on my yard but none I am actively involved with. I just made a post as I do value some peoples advice on here and for some reason feel I pressured on here as to what to do. Some people are very set in their ways on my yard and I do not agree with some of the things they do.

I was looking for some universal responses as to how people begin the process and what stages they follow and how quickly they move onto the next exercise.

 

[noodle_]

ive started mine - she came to me 8 months ago (god thats flown)!... she wasnt well handled really - she wouldnt tie up, so that was the first thing as i cant deal with horses who wont tie up

she was taugh how to lead, walk nicely, walk on, turn ad back up.... long reined her at just 2, round a 3 acre field - started to bit her....
then was turned away for 2 months - worst thing i did but right for ME at the time...

pony bitted at rising 3 long reins off voice (Walk/halt)... will go on the lunge but i tend not to do this unless its MASSIVE circles

leaned over her and swung my leg over, sat up not an issue - has worn tack/rollrs etc - do not intend to ride until shes 3 - and that will be a few hacks in walk and turn her away again!!



so for me its goign to be a very long, drawn out 18 month process - if she was 3/rising 4 now id be on her riding her away in the space of 3 months.... and then riding over summer and turning away until march/april.. as shes rising 3, im backing her end of summer - ambling about in walk and turning her away till next march!

 

[Caledonia]

But if you don't ask ...

My advice would be that if you want to do it yourself and you are not sure how to go on, and there is no harm in that, find yourself someone (doesn't need to be qualified) who has experience with starting and learn the ropes with them.

Any Riding Instructor can (or jolly well should be able to) teach you how to lunge, long-line etc.

Never be put off asking, there is a wealth of experience on here to be had.

I agree, but it's so easy to ruin a horse forever at this stage in their education, even with the best of intentions. Breakers are not the horses to learn on.

Nothing wrong with asking for advice or opinions, but it has to be about the horse too.

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Ah yes thats good I was wondering how to introduce and teach lunging!

It's easier if you have somebody to help.
As well as the above, I also got my son to lead her around on the lunge, then walk without holding her, then walk further away, then circles on her own.
But all the voice commands coming from me. And lots and lots of praise.

He's young and biddable.
Poor little sod.

 

[noodle_]

i taught my baby pony how to lunge and id never taught anything to lunge before


best way i found was to run....!!... keep pushing them out with a line or whip.... (mines afraid of nothing so this was a bit hard lol)!... and just basically aim at their behind.... keep pushing - and loads of praise... its so hard to explain over here!!


tempted to do some "how to (not die)" videos!!

 

[ktj1891]

Thanks guys for advice so far, I will keep you all updated on progress. I will pop questions on thread as and when they come up but I do have tonnes of experienced people on my yard to turn to so that will be my starting place.

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Thanks guys for advice so far, I will keep you all updated on progress. I will pop questions on thread as and when they come up but I do have tonnes of experienced people on my yard to turn to so that will be my starting place.

Just a word of advice.
Don't let anybody pressure you into doing things too quickly by saying stuff like "they should be doing this or that by now".
If you don't feel confident to take the next step, don't.

Get the lunging going, but remember they can only do a short bit at a time so change after a short time and work on ground manners/in hand stuff/ going for a nice walk.
The variety will keep him engaged.
And don't forget to play/have fun as well.

 

[ktj1891]

Just a word of advice.
Don't let anybody pressure you into doing things too quickly by saying stuff like "they should be doing this or that by now".
If you don't feel confident to take the next step, don't.

Get the lunging going, but remember they can only do a short bit at a time so change after a short time and work on ground manners/in hand stuff/ going for a nice walk.
The variety will keep him engaged.
And don't forget to play/have fun as well.

Yeah I wouldn't rush at all. Looking forward to a project to bring on. Thanks for advice.