The following are merely guidelines for all horses are different because of; their natural survival instincts all equine is born with!  The desirable/undesirable traits of horse are impacted by; age, personalities, temperaments, breeding, handling, past history and prior to training!  All affect the outcome of each training session and the outcome of the total time period allotted for training. As the owner of your horse, it is your responsibility to communicate with the trainer if you have specific training goals and expectations for your horse. Your trainer should also let you know by the end of the first 30 days if your horse is going to be safe, sound and a good fit for your riding needs.  An evaluation; an implementation strategy and horse specific training plan are priorities.  Some horses we will only need ground training for the first 2 weeks some a lot longer. They all take time to train, even at the end of 30, 60, or 90 days or even 6 months; some horses may not be doing everything or be doing it that fast or doing what is quoted. At any time during your horses training, you have questions or issues, please just talk to us. We are here to help you and your horse. Please understand that us as trainers can get your horse to do a lot more than the owner can until you learn how we trained them. We will help you and your horse as much as we can in communication. Also, if we believe a horse is not ready to ride, we WILL NOT step on them. These Guidelines may apply to good horses with behaviour issues including some horses are just misunderstood and not given a chance. 

Many people are in a hurry to ride the "Green" horse.  Some riders think that they can gain more control from the horse when mounted.  Most times this is a fallacy.  If the horse does not have it in his mind that we are in control when you are on the ground, he will not necessarily think that you are in control when you are on his back.  Although you can train your horse something new from his back, it should be from a progression of exercises or skills that he is familiar with and understands because he as a solid Foundation of Ground Training.  We put ourselves and/or our horse in a dangerous or compromising situation or end up in a wreck because we did not take the time to train the horse from the ground first.  To avoid this as much as possible, I will do a great deal of bridle work from the ground first, along with essential ground lessons to get the horse prepared for riding.  Although it is the desire of most, if not all, a common area of concern is that not enough time is spent on the necessary exercises or skills in order for the horse to really learn and understand what we are asking it to do.  Establishing a sold foundation should become a priority. Why?  For our and our horses SAFETY!

​

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING ARE SIMPLY EXAMPLES AND NOT ACTUAL TRAINING PLANS

​

​Level 1 The Essentials – 30 Days Training

30 Days Horse = 24 rides = 24+ hours of work; in general, at the completion Level 1 the horse is suitable to be safely ridden by an experienced rider capable of continuing the horses training and development.​

 

By the end of the 1st month:

• ​Standing calmly for Mounting and dismounting from ground/mounting block

• Stop and backup with softness

• Cues for Walk, trot and lope on a loose rein

• Standing calmly on a loose rein

• Lateral and Vertical Flexion

• One rein stops

• Teaching Steering using two reins

• Guiding and turning on a bend in large circles

• Lateral bends and following its head around in circles

• Figure 8’s

• Gentle mild spirals in and out​

 

Level 2 Intermediate 60 days Training General Info

After working the horse Emotionally, Mentally & Physically by moving its feet to get to its Brain- 60 Day Horse = 48 rides = 48+ hours of work. In general, at the completion of this level the horse is suitable for an experienced or intermediate rider for recreation or to train for a specific discipline. Beginner riders would also be able to use the horse to learn on with an experienced coach/trainer.  Continue improvement and mastering of the maneuvers worked on in the first 30 days. Add the following:

• Neck reining improved

• Turn on the forehand - Must yield hindquarters on the ground

• Controlling the Hind end – on a circle pushing the hind over & maintaining forward motion \

• Walking, Trotting and Loping Circles on a bend

• Neck reining

• Speed Control – Straight lines & in circles teaching the horse to use its brain; mentally & physically

• Leg Yield

• Turn On Haunches – Must disengage forequarters on the ground

• Spiral Circles – Start of the spin

• Side Pass – Must side pass on the ground

• Rollbacks – along the fence

• Ties well

• Trailering 

• Riding in hills

• Crossing creeks and bridges

• Riding on trails

 

Level 3 Advanced 90 Days Training General Info

Refining the 90 Day Horse= 72 rides = 72+ hours of work.  At the completion of this level the horse is suitable for anyone from beginner to advanced looking to enjoy a well trained to compete in a discipline or pleasure riding setting.  ​Continued improvement and mastering of the manoeuvres worked on in the 30-60 days adding the following: 

​

• ​​Turn Around

• Lead departure/lead change - Side Passing is a Prerequisite to Lead Changes

• Shoulder In

• Shoulder Out

• Haunches in

• Half Pass

• Spin

• Simple Lead departure

• Lead change at the walk and trot

 

Horsemanship Wisdom

Other expectations you may have (communicate with your trainer such as; Bathing, clipping, accepting needles this work is introduced in the first thirty days. This does not mean that your horse will be mastering all or any of them by the end of the 30 days.  After the training period ends, it is the owner’s responsibility to provide consistent riding to keep the horse fit and excelling at the mentioned manoeuvres. These lists show areas that each horse could be worked on but total achievement will be based on your horse’s temperament and ability. Expect to lose about 20-30% of the responsiveness and quality you see when the trainer works your horse. The opportunity to ride your horse often is more important than your riding ability. Make the time and effort to protect your investment in training by continuing the horse’s education and to ride consistently by working on the above-mentioned exercises and manoeuvres.