Are You Ready to Start Your Own Colt?
A Quick Quiz
By horse trainer Doris Eraldi
Answer Yes or No to each statement.
Part I: The Physical Requirements
- I can easily mount a horse without assistance.
- I can ride a trained horse at the walk, trot, and lope without holding on to the saddle.
- I have access to a safe, fenced area with soft footing.
- I can schedule 6 hours a week to work with my colt.
- I have good balance and coordination. I participate in other active sports.
Part 2: The Mental Aspect
- I will be patient, rather than frightened, when the colt makes mistakes.
- I am not worried about falling off.
- When I ride, I "ride confident" I behave as if the horse will do what I ask of him.
- I have a lesson plan for the colt. I know exactly what skill I am going to teach him next.
- I understand the horse's view of positive and negative reinforcement.
Part 3: Experience
- I can sit quietly even if a horse moves suddenly and unexpectedly.
- I can control my hands and legs and use them independently.
- I can name 5 specific skills (or more) that a trained horse should know.
- I can take directions and apply them when taking a lesson or getting help from another horseman.
- I can tell a fear reaction from a malicious action.
Scoring:
Give yourself a point for each Yes statement.
12 -15 points: You are well prepared to start your colt, though you might find the advice of an experienced horseman helpful if this is your first time.
8 -11 points: You have some of the skills in place, but would benefit from training or help when working with your young horse. Remember that there is still plenty of challenge to working with a green-broke colt.
7 and under: Seriously consider having your colt trained, or get an older, more reliable mount so that you can continue building your skills.
Explanations:
Part 1 Physical Requirements
Many times a rider with good physical skills such as agility and coordination can make up for lack of experience. Being able to mount and ride without holding on, to balance well, and to control one's movements are vital when riding young horses, who often don't go where we expect them to. I think this explains why athletic young riders with little experience often successfully ride their own colts they are physically in good shape, and also have the time to spend with the horse. Simply getting on and staying on, on a regular basis, will usually get the average colt "ride-able," though some of the finer points may be missed. Having the time to consistently work with the colt is probably the number one problem for most horse owners who would like to do their own training.
Part 2: The Mental Aspects
A nervous rider will have a difficult time conveying trust and confidence to the young horse. Mental preparation, such as a planned reaction to a spook, helps take the fear out of the unknown of riding an untrained horse. Breaking each training session down to the smallest skills and concentrating on teaching them one by one will give the rider and the colt something to focus on. The training sessions are more likely to turn out positively if the goal is "today, we are going to stand still while I step up in the stirrup" than if it's "today I'm gonna get on the colt!" with no real idea of what is going to happen next. Training is a thinking exercise.
Part 3: Experience
Obviously, the more experienced a rider is, the more prepared she will be for what-ever the colt dishes out. An experienced rider should be able to stay calm even when faced with the unexpected, and be able to read the horse's actions and reactions and respond appropriately. Someone who has worked with many horses will have a better understanding of normal vs. abnormal behavior and Equine Psychology than someone who has only ridden one horse, or none. Good trainers always know what they are teaching. Guidance from a trainer, who can suggest what to work on next, can be very beneficial if you have the other skills but aren't familiar with the training process.
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
<< Back to Rainbow Ag Horse Home Page
|
|
|
