Breaking young horses
The first two or three months in a horse's training is the most formative part of his life.
What is my perspective on starting young horses?
Breaking, starting, backing... Whatever you want to call it is what I love to do most. I love taking a young horse who knows basically nothing and shape him into something useful and beautiful. Over the past years, I have developed my own method of starting young horses using a combined approach of all my mentors, plus insights of myself. My goal in starting a horse is to create a horse that has been started correctly. In my opinion the first two or three months in a horse's training is the most formative part of his life, because these are what make up you horse's foundation. A good foundation is invaluable, and that is what I want to create for you when I start your horse.
What is my training program?
I will usually spent four to six weeks on placing a solid foundation on a horse. In those weeks your horse will be taught about twenty-five ground exercises which form the basis for a strong foundation. They will increase your horse's confidence, trust and respect, and they will greatly help a horse in his softness and responsiveness to his handler. I will make sure that upon completion of my program your horse will have impeccable ground manners: Standing still for the vet and farrier; Accepting being bathed; Trailer loading; Taking deworming; Respectful leading; And much more. Lastly I will place a solid foundation in him for his riding career. Whether you plan to compete or simply have a pleasure horse, you need a horse that is respectful, soft and supple on the ground as well as in the saddle. And that is what I will provide for you.
What will your horse be able to do when he is returned to you?
As I mentioned above your horse will have impeccable ground manners. He will be patient when tied, stand still for the farrier, respectful when led, quiet when hosed and clipped, jump straight into the trailer, stand while being groomed and saddled and all those things. On top of ground manners I will teach him about twenty-five exercises which will increase his respect, confidence, trust and suppleness. I will of course also make sure your horse is completely confident with and without a rider on his back, and that he is respectful, soft and supple in the saddle. He will know about thirty riding exercises which will lay a solid foundation for you to take him into any field you desire.
What kind of care will my horse receive?
We have excellent horse facilities and your horse will be kept in a spacious pen near - but not with - other horses, unless you approve that he will be with other horses. Putting them together will result in bite marks, as horses play out their herd dominance daily. With some horses this play serves them really well. Your horse will receive high quality alfalfa hay and have free access to crystal clear Rocky Mountain spring water from our own well. He will be groomed daily and trained and handled two to three hours a day six days a week.
What are the charges?
I will be spending anywhere from two to three hours a day, six days a week for circa 4 to 6 weeks. Thus your horse will have anywhere from 70 to 100 hours of quality training behind him. I charge C$125 a week for training and boarding combined.
Pre-Handover training
If you have little experience in handling horses, I would like to spent a day with you and the horse to coach you with all that the horse knows, and to teach you some basic skills which will help you to retain the behavior that I have trained into your horse. I charge an additional C$40 for this.
© 2010 JoyDekkers.Com ID=JD05