Starting Your Own Colt
By horse trainer Doris Eraldi
Most horse people at least dream of training their own colt. For some, it never goes beyond a dream, but many riders do start and train their own horses, with varying degrees of success. Like most everything to do with horses, there is no one correct way to go about training a horse. Still, there are some considerations to be made before embarking on what can be either a fun, worthwhile endeavor or a frustrating experience. Over the years, I've had the chance to watch (and experience) both.
While experienced riders are usually most prepared to start a colt, I have seen beginners do a very respectable job. There are several reasons for this; the rider's attitude and determination, the horse's general disposition, and the expectations of the rider as far as what he considers "trained." If the goal is to be able to ride the horse around, the colt is of an agreeable nature and the rider is willing to put the time into the project, then ending up with a ride-able horse is within reach.
Problems arise if the young horse has behavioral problems, such as being spoiled, poorly handled or not handled at all, or if the colt is abnormally fearful or bad tempered. Part of training a horse is quickly determining why the horse is acting in a certain way and being able to react to get the correct response. Horses generally respond in predictable ways. It's those unusual situations that are not always covered in the how-to books and tapes that really test the skills of the rider. With a problem colt, some expert guidance can really make a difference.
Anyone considering starting their own colt needs to be realistic about their riding skills and the time commitment. Young horses do best when worked regularly. For example, I expect to work a colt 6 days a week for the first few weeks, and if everything is going well then I back off to 5 days a week. If things are not going smoothly - the colt is nervous, overly energetic or otherwise unruly, I might ride every day until we sort that out. Trying to start a colt when the only time you have to ride is on weekends is difficult at best. You will spend most of the first session just getting the colt to settle down and remember what you did last week. Riders also need to be aware of the physical demands that riding young horses may require. Good balance, confidence and willingness to take a fall give the rider an edge. A safe environment to work the young horse is important, too. An arena, round pen or other enclosed, sturdy fenced area, preferably with good footing, will be safer for both horse and rider.
It takes a great deal more time and experience to take a horse from completely untrained to a high level of competition than it does to just get him to accept a rider on his back and follow simple commands. The key to successfully starting your own horse really lies with you - the trainer. Patience, willingness to work on the project and an awareness of both your and your horse's abilities can take you a long way toward the dream of training your own horse.
Next month: A quiz - Do you have the skills to start your colt?
Doris Eraldi of Eraldi Training in Potter Valley can be contacted at 707-743-1337, or e-mail dyan@eraldi.net.
Read Doris' previous article
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