Back to the Basics Training Program

Stepped out of my comfort zone and took my first ranch riding lesson yesterday with Angie LoCascio. I have never ridden one handed, and I suck at it! Goals are to get to the June show for ETI Corral 37. Thanks Ang for your patience. You truly are the best western trainer!

I'm organizing a workshop on horse stretching and light bodywork. Is anyone interested in learning how to keep their horse comfortable and performing at its best?

I don't usually keep up with the popular/unpopular opinions when it comes to training horses, from Pre-K all the way to finished performance horses.

There are so many different routes you can take, many are good and many are bad. You can tell if a bad route was taken because you will find holes on holes on holes in a horse's foundation. If done correctly, you will find a good foundation that gives you a competent and confident horse to go on with.

It really doesn't take long to get a horse trained when it's done the right way - usually 10 to 30 minutes a session depending on where the horse is in its training. But, I guess it doesn't take long (at first) if it's done in a crappy way too. You'll just have to make up for the crappy training later down the road, and that's when it's time consuming and difficult.

As trainers, or even just owners, we owe it to our horses to give them best chance at future success, even at the lowest levels. Cutting corners, strong arming, waiting to start them until they're too big to really manage...none of these are a part of the recipe for success. It's more like a recipe for disaster for you, the horse, and the person who will end up with them once you decide you're done dealing with the monster you essentially created.

Start them young.
Start them slow.
Build their foundation correctly.
Continue building (correctly) until you've got your finished product.