Having a training plan to gauge your progress is very beneficial. Doing so keeps you on track so you don’t get stuck in one place for too long. So many riders get stuck practicing the same few exercises for years. Not only do you not progress as you should, your horse will get bored and sour as well.
The time has come to saddle your young horse for the first time. Through all the preparation you have been doing this lesson should go smoothly. Continue reading First Saddling
This lesson is extremely important as it prepares your horse for the movement and noise of the saddle when he is in motion. Lots of horses are fine with desensitizing when they are standing still, but get worried when you start to desensitize them while they are moving. In this lesson you will teach the horse to accept stimulus while in motion, which will prepare him for your movement in the saddle when being ridden. Continue reading Desensitizing While Lunging
After the horse is used to wearing the saddle and you feel ready you can give him his very first ride. Review the groundwork lessons before you saddle him and again with the saddle on. Then when you feel he is ready it is time to get on. For the first few weeks I will ride in a hackamore or a rope halter but you can start out in a snaffle bridle if you’d like. Continue reading First Ride