New fillys

[Preston]

We bought these two young foals from a friend in southeast Montana. We have had them home for a week and have been working with them. They are halter broke, broke to lead, and stand tied. Are working on picking up feet and desensitizing them. So far they are doing good and eating lots of fresh grass and hay, but haven’t started eating grain yet. I got a couple books on training horses/foals, and hopefully in 3 or 4 years we have a couple additional trail horses. Currently reading John Lyons book, which seems pretty similar to Monty Roberts and Clinton Anderson. Does anyone have and recommended books on trailing colts? Thanks

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

Lots of material out there related to the subject, are you going to start them under saddle yourself or send them to someone for their first rides when they are old enough?

 

[Preston]

We will start them on our own. I have a round pen and plan to use a method similar to Clint Anderson, or Story horse training. Just plan to work them most every day, to some degree, if it’s just haltering/leading, desensitizing over the next two years before we start saddling them. Hopefully next spring we can begin ponying them off our mare. I do have a trainer if need be, but I think we (daughter/myself) would put more time into them.

 

[jmez]

Think Harmony With Horses by Ray Hunt.

 

[gpkhill2]

Look at books from Ray Hunt and Bill and Tom Dorrance. This might make some people mad but i tend to steer clear of the stick and carrot guys (Perelli,Anderson,Lyons,Roberts) They all have their own pyramid scheme. Buy my halter, my lead rope, my carrot stick and it'll fix everything

 

[Preston]

Me and my daughter (Scout) have been working daily with our two filly’s. Picking up feet, trimming, grooming, moving off hand pressure, leading, standing tied, and lots of desentilizing. This past week I started them getting used to blood/dead critters. They were a little spooky, but overall did good, better each time. Handing them as foals sure has made them calmer.

 

[codym]

Awesome, look forward to seeing them progress

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

Good work

 

[Buck197]

Look at books from Ray Hunt and Bill and Tom Dorrance. This might make some people mad but i tend to steer clear of the stick and carrot guys (Perelli,Anderson,Lyons,Roberts) They all have their own pyramid scheme. Buy my halter, my lead rope, my carrot stick and it'll fix everything

late to this post, but boy you got that right. Ray and Bill, Tom, those guys were horseman, but yall lookin at that aussie, I wouldn't push his methods..he can be a little rough on horses, and there is a time and place I guess, but its sure not one of the first tools you goto in the toolbox. Ive seen some of his horses, and seen em work..

 

[Buck197]

We bought these two young foals from a friend in southeast Montana. We have had them home for a week and have been working with them. They are halter broke, broke to lead, and stand tied. Are working on picking up feet and desensitizing them. So far they are doing good and eating lots of fresh grass and hay, but haven’t started eating grain yet. I got a couple books on training horses/foals, and hopefully in 3 or 4 years we have a couple additional trail horses. Currently reading John Lyons book, which seems pretty similar to Monty Roberts and Clinton Anderson. Does anyone have and recommended books on trailing colts? Thanks

DESENSITIZE, and then desensitized some more, about when you believe you have them desensitized, desensitized them some more. If you've never had one hop around on you hard, sit deep, some weight back, tuck your chin, and shut em down, crane that neck around so that nose is touching your knees. If you've ridden em, then sorry, just in case tho my friend.

 

[Preston]

Our little filly’s have grown up and have continued to be great horses. The only thing we can really do with them is lead them on trails, light ponying, swinging ropes, pads, etc around them. It will be another year before we can ride them, but will continue the desensitization process. The red one is like a little bunny

 

[Preston]

We have managed to start saddle training them, and have ridden them 4-5 times each. They are a little young to carry much weight and we have kept our rides to 10-45 minutes, mostly working on mounting, foot pickets, desensitized, etc.

I hoping by next summer we can do some short overnight pack trips by just leading them

 

[Preston]

We have been light riding them in a round pen with a halter, I decided to go to a hackamore for the first couple months. I’m considering contacting a trainer that can help me a few hours once every other week to make sure I don’t mess them up. So far they haven’t shown any indication to buck with a rider, only when I was running them with the saddle the one bucked a little but settled down.

A few questions. They will be three next April. Is this winter too soon to begin training 3 or 4 days a week for 30 minutes to an hour with some light rides a few times a week? I don’t want to hurt them or set them back. But I would really like to be able to ride them on some trails by next summer, I don’t they this is too quick and I’m not expecting much. I would also like to begin some light (150 lb) packing with them for some day trips and possibly overnight trips later in the year.

Lastly, I never ran them around a round pen to get them to change directions or break them. They just naturally follow us around like dogs, so I don’t know if I should drive them around a round pen or not, they are submissive to us. And I have been backing, flexing, and turning them on the ground and while riding. I appreciate any help.

 

[burrohiker]

We start all our quarter horses at two. With the light work you've described above and their willingness to accept it, It looks like you are on track to have a couple new trail buddies this summer.

Just don't forget their minds are still young and haven't seen it all on the trail. Still definitely 800+lb teenagers, and sometimes teenagers don't think.

 

[Preston]

Been working with them dragging a sled. I figured it would be helpful in training them to have ropes touching their butts or to drag an game animal across a open field sometime. Going to hopefully attempt lunge training over the next few weeks.

 

[missjordan]

We have been light riding them in a round pen with a halter, I decided to go to a hackamore for the first couple months. I’m considering contacting a trainer that can help me a few hours once every other week to make sure I don’t mess them up. So far they haven’t shown any indication to buck with a rider, only when I was running them with the saddle the one bucked a little but settled down.

A few questions. They will be three next April. Is this winter too soon to begin training 3 or 4 days a week for 30 minutes to an hour with some light rides a few times a week? I don’t want to hurt them or set them back. But I would really like to be able to ride them on some trails by next summer, I don’t they this is too quick and I’m not expecting much. I would also like to begin some light (150 lb) packing with them for some day trips and possibly overnight trips later in the year.

Lastly, I never ran them around a round pen to get them to change directions or break them. They just naturally follow us around like dogs, so I don’t know if I should drive them around a round pen or not, they are submissive to us. And I have been backing, flexing, and turning them on the ground and while riding. I appreciate any help.

Lot of quarter horse people start 2 year olds all the time but you can wait until 3. It sounds like your on the right track if anything probably can ride them more if desired.

Far as the round pen goes, the end goal is to get the horses to respect you. Which doesn’t necessarily needs to happen by chasing them around the round pen. Theres a million ways to skin a cat.

There’s also a saying that goes “create a tool before you use the tool”. Such as, teach your horses to flex their head around and disengage the hip until there comfortable before you ever need to use that tool for a one rein stop when you get in a pinch.

There is also a lot of great online subscriptions for horse training also with one of the most popular options being Clinton Anderson. Find some sample videos of different guys on YouTube and use the platform that best aligns with your goals. My favorite is Warwick Schiller he’s got great colt starting videos. And has a lot softer approach. Ryan rose is another one that breaks it down pretty easy too.


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[Preston]

Thanks MissJordan, I greatly appreciate it. I have been flexing their heads and pulling them down at the poll. I will check out Warwick.

 

[missjordan]

Thanks MissJordan, I greatly appreciate it. I have been flexing their heads and pulling them down at the poll. I will check out Warwick.

Don’t pull with your hands, Push them down with your legs


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[stev7975]

Great progress so far!

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

There is also a lot of great online subscriptions for horse training also with one of the most popular options being Clinton Anderson. Find some sample videos of different guys on YouTube and use the platform that best aligns with your goals. My favorite is Warwick Schiller he’s got great colt starting videos. And has a lot softer approach. Ryan rose is another one that breaks it down pretty easy too.


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I'll second the Warwick Schiller recommendation. I really appreciate him and Chris Cox, but Warwick seems to be more active in the videos available. Buck Brannaman is also super popular and along those same lines.

Most, if not all, of those guys essentially come from the natural horsemanship lineage of Ray Hunt.