Groundwork & Desensitization
2 week - ​30-day course

The Groundwork & Desensitization course is designed to start and prepare a horse for eventual saddle work and better handling on the ground. Basically, the beginning of 30 days for colt starting minus actually starting them under saddle. This gives them a solid foundation to start with and the desensitization on the ground helps build confidence. I do a lot of this type of training with our 2-year-olds that aren't ready for the saddle but need handling to prepare them in advance. Keep in mind, these training sessions are age appropriate, horses as young as a year old can start certain parts of this type of training, at a slow and patient pace, and each horse is handled differently. This training course can be modified according to your horse's needs. A two-week course is offered to start with as well to give your horse a start and if you feel they need more time, a week or two can then be added.
Please keep in mind this course is not in replacement for colt starting and is just an extra to your youngster or unhandled horse to get them better prepared for starting under saddle.

• Ground manners & respecting space
• Learn how to walk, trot, stop, and back up in hand
• Learning to pick up hooves
• Desensitization of hooves
• Tying time & patience (alone, buddy sour helper)
• Saddle preparation (if of age)
• Leg aids starting on the ground
• Lunge both ways at a WTC
• Lunge over and through, obstacles & objects (Tarps, mattresses, water, mud, etc.)
• Learning hill work (going up and down and foot placement)
• Creek and mud work (learning to walk through)
• Learning how to step up onto, step over, back up from, and wait on top of objects and obstacles (in preparation for trailer loading, trail riding, etc.)
• Desensitization on the ground with tarps, mattresses, bags, hanging tarp, etc.
• Be around dragging desensitization objects.

Colt Starting
30-day+ course

I do recommend sending your horse in for a full 60 days at least but understand that isn't always feasible. With my training course 30 days is a "start" to an inexperienced horse's saddle training. I do not push past a horse's mental or physical capabilities; I won't use fear tactics and gimmicks that jeopardize a horse's health or wellbeing. I strive for a solid foundation LONG TERM. While one horse may be ready to go by the end of 30 days and only need miles and more experience put on, another may still be needing another month to get them to the point of being ready for only miles and experience. It all depends on the horse and the horse's ability to progress. So please keep that in mind.

• Ground manners & respecting space
• Learn how to walk, trot, stop, and back up in hand
• Learning to pick up hooves
• Desensitization of hooves
• Tying time & patience (alone, buddy sour helper)
• Learn how to load in a trailer
• Saddle preparation (if of age)
• Leg aids starting on the ground
• Lunge both ways at a WTC
• Lunge over and through, obstacles & objects (Tarps, mattresses, water, mud, etc.)
• Learning hill work (going up and down and foot placement)
• Creek and mud work (learning to walk through)
• Learning how to step up onto, step over, back up from, and wait on top of objects and obstacles (in preparation for trailer loading, trail riding, etc.)
• Desensitization on the ground with tarps, mattresses, bags, hanging tarp, etc.
• Be around dragging desensitization objects.
• Being ponied by a saddle horse (In preparation for riding outdoors)
• Starting under saddle
• Learning how to stop, turn, walk, & the beginning of a trot. (I do not teach a canter on a colt until 60 days).
• Learning patience within the saddle
• Learning one rein stops and fake falls for emergency purposes
• Standing still for mounting/dismounting
• Learning the beginning of pressure and release in mind with backing up
• Transferring all of the above into the saddle (going over it all thoroughly)
• Learning how to drag objects from the saddle
• Learning how to have desensitization objects within the saddle
• Learn how to ride out alone without another horse

By the end of 30 days, you'll usually see a confident, willing, patient, personable horse that has a great start and foundation to them in preparation for another month or two with me or to be finished by someone else with experience. Horses are both worked with indoors and outdoors not just in an arena. Horses with only 30 days under their belt will still need miles and experience. If by chance a horse isn't progressing, is still offering to buck, or is offering any dangerous behaviors I wouldn't feel comfortable with allowing someone else to hop on with. I will recommend your horse being thoroughly examined by a veterinarian before continuing its training with me.

Colt Starting (Continued) 
60-day course

At 60 days, getting the horse to understand it's training and use its noggin is the main goal. I want a horse that is thinking, not reacting. One that's willing, but not burnout and one that is ready to be fine-tuned and learn it's job. Slow but purposeful training. I focus on encouraging softness, forwardness, and sensitivity all while starting a bit heavier of a workload and routine. I expect the horses have an idea of their job at the end of 30 days but would like them to know exactly what it is by the end of 60 days and to do it well without any issues. 

• Continued groundwork & desensitization (More advanced work and higher expectations)
• Continued tying time & patience
• Continued picking up hooves and loading in trailer
• Learning to tie in new places, practice tying, and patience time in trailer
• Working on fine tuning the stop, turning, and gaits at a walk and trot in preparation for the canter
• Creating more softness with cues 
• Creating forwardness in each gait
• Working on miles and covering ground
• Consistent practice of leg aids
• Working on crossing the creek, going through mud, working on hills under saddle
• Learning to tolerate foolish behavior on the ground and within the saddle (safely, in preparation for youth/kids)
• Cantering once ready
• Miles put on at all gaits

By the end of 60 days, you'll usually see a confident, willing, patient, personable horse that has had enough time and practice to be understanding of everything fully and has a great start in the saddle. They should be confident enough to be ridden alone, go in any direction you point them, and willing to respond well to the rider's commands. They will still need miles and experience but usually have enough that I'm comfortable enough allowing someone else to finish them of course dependent on the horse's progress and owner's capabilities. You can't take years' worth of knowledge and expect a 3-year-old horse to know what to do with it all in every situation, time and routine is key. Usually within 60 days under saddle I'm confident enough to allow our students to ride our personal horses out on the trails within supervision and guided instruction. Some horses may still need longer to get to that point, each horse is different.