Hi Terry,
I’m not sure if you remember me or not we met at Expo in Harrisburg . I have an AQHA 2 year old filly that I would like to send out for training. She is very quiet and well behaved but I just don’t have time to get her started under saddle. What are your rates and availability?
Erin Ross

Hi Erin,
Thanks for your email about training for your filly. I would love to work with you and your filly, but I don’t recommend “sending her out.” First because a horse can’t be trained in 30, 60 or 90 days. If it was that easy, there would be A LOT more broke horses out there. Training a young horse is a process, it takes a long long time to do it right but it is so rewarding to share that bonding experience with your horse. Second because she’s not old enough to ride. She is old enough to lunge, ground drive, saddle, bridle, sit on maybe walk around a little but that’s it. All of these things you will need to continue to do with her when she comes back home so I think that it would be better for your filly in the long run if you both went to training together. If she has to be off work for any length of time due to weather or injury, you would then have the knowledge to get her back where she was before the time off.
At our Level 1 clinics, we work with the horses on the ground all morning and then at lunch time we do individual work. Everything we do on the ground is getting them ready to ride. And/or I would recommend bringing her over for a few lessons and I will give you some homework of things that you can be doing with her until she is old enough to ride. When the time comes, I can help you with that too.
Here is a link to an article that explains how old a horse needs to be before riding and why. http://www.equinestudies.org/knowledge_base/ranger.html
Looking forward to meeting you and your filly.
TTYS
Terry




In a message dated 06/15/08 07:28:55 Eastern Daylight Time, Kathy writes:

Hi Terry, I am at my wit's end here. I have a mare that was never really taught to ride - the people just rode her on trails and fast.
She varies from being very good to being a downright snit - which she was last night. I bought her for me but I am afraid of her so hubby rides her. Last time he rode she was absolutely perfect. Last night she was absolutely awful. She was balky and would go fine to where she is unsaddled, but he turned turn her around and she would balk again. She was ridden about an hour last night and never really settled down.
Hubby finally agreed she needs some training - he does too as he can get her just so far and becomes afraid and tense and, well you know the rest, she is the same. Can you give me info on your clinics? Would that be the way to go with them or should you work her first? How much is it to have her trained at your place? I hate putting money into her if she is never going to work, but selling her would end up with her on the meat truck. She has come a long way since I got her, but neither of us can take her any farther.
Thanks, Kathy


Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your email. I can feel your frustration. First remember that at certain time of the month it can be extremely uncomfortable for a mare to have a saddle and a rider on her back so if she's good sometimes, it could be that she was in heat yesterday.
One of our clinics would definitely help you to understand what she is feeling and how to communicate to her what you want in a way that she easily understands. We also consider the horses personality, conformation ect in helping us to decide if the horse is suited for the type of riding we are expecting.
Sounds like she's a little barn sour so typically we work with them at the barn area and tie them for a little while in their stall after riding. Also, I would make sure I lead her away from the barn to tighten the saddle (not as tight as possible only as tight as it needs to be) and dismount and loosen the girth away from the barn.
I would rather help Hubby work things out with his horse then take her into training. She needs to have some of the basics again and it would be good for Hubby and horse to review them together in case she forgets again or you get another horse. Remember you can't train a horse once a week or in 30 or 60 days. 
Looking forward to working with you at one of our fall clinics.
Thanks Kathy,
TTYS
Terry




In a message dated 04/02/08 09:25:59 Eastern Daylight Time, Heidi writes:

Hi there,
Last night I was lunging Boone before we rode and all he wanted to do was trot or canter... he got a little 'bucky' a few times too, and I tried quieting my body language etc to make him walk but that didn't help. then I would give him a tug on the line to slow him down and then he would go back to the trot...I stopped him a few times and had him start again..but only to trot or get fast and silly... how do I get him to listen when I want him to walk?

Heidi


Hi Heidi,
  You are definitely on the right track. Keep your body language quiet, eyes down, arms and hands down, whip down behind your back, talk gently to him say easy and walk, That's step 1, remember the process first we ask or suggest very nicely, then we tell them. You can tell him to walk on the lunge line be pulling and releasing. That's step 2. If all that doesn't work just start realing him in. He's not allowed to trot or be silly when you asked him to walk. Period. Just real him in until he is so small that he starts to walk or stop. That's step 3. Then ask him to walk again by moving your feet, walking towards him picking up your hands.
  He was probably allowed to do this silly play stuff by his previous owner and doesn't realize that it is not what you are looking for. Be consistent. It may take a few days but he will figure it out.
  I am so glad that you are enforcing the walk first rule on the lunge line. GOOD JOB !! Remember whatever a horse does on the lunge line he will do under saddle. You are right on track letting him know that when you take him out to the arena it is not his play time but that he must behave like a gentlemen.
TTYS
Terry