by Bonnie Hammond | September 5, 2014 | Alumni | 1 Comment
[Yesterday marked a significant milestone for Owen, a horse whose journey is a testament to dedicated care and professional training. After spending six months in a foster home, Owen has officially begun his formal training. This intensive program, spanning three months, will be conducted by trainer Matt Olson. The initial phase will focus on in-hand work, with Olson gradually introducing Owen to being ridden once he is fully prepared. Owen’s path is particularly fortunate due to the timely support from a long-time benefactor, Liesel Filkowski. Filkowski, who previously supported SAFE with a significant donation in 2013, chose to designate her 2014 contribution specifically for Owen’s education, ensuring he had a dedicated scholarship fund even before his training commenced. This level of support highlights the impact of traditional horse training methods when combined with targeted resources.
The selection of Matt Olson as Owen’s trainer was based on strong recommendations. Olson is recognized as a skilled horseman with a particular aptitude for starting horses under saddle, especially those with challenging temperaments. His lifelong experience with horses, coupled with his recent graduation from the Equine Studies program at Feather River College in California, provides a solid foundation for his professional training career. Despite being new to professional training, Olson possesses extensive experience with horses similar to Owen. His approach is characterized by exceptional timing and feel, a deep understanding of natural horsemanship techniques, and an unwavering affection for all horses, regardless of their disposition. Meeting Olson and observing his interaction with Owen solidified the decision that he was the ideal trainer to advance Owen’s education.
Before Owen could transition to Olson’s facility, a two-week waiting period was necessary for a stall to become available. During this time, Olson conducted several training sessions with Owen at his foster home. Upon commencing training, Owen exhibited significant resistance to being caught. However, within just a few sessions, Olson successfully established trust and the ability to catch Owen easily for in-hand work. A crucial part of this pre-training involved accustoming Owen to having his feet handled, preparing him for farrier visits. This was particularly beneficial as Owen had not had his feet trimmed since he was gelded. Despite the initial challenges, Owen responded exceptionally well to these pre-training sessions with Matt.
The true test of Owen’s progress came during the departure yesterday. Having previously avoided catching or touching Owen to allow Matt to be the sole handler, the author was permitted to attempt catching him as Matt arrived. This was a significant moment, as Owen had not voluntarily allowed physical contact for nearly two months, particularly after a negative experience with a spray bottle. To the author’s amazement, Owen was not only caught with minimal difficulty in the paddock but also calmly accepted petting, handling, and even a hug, all without a lead rope. This remarkable transformation, occurring after only four sessions with Matt, signified the return of Owen’s trusting nature. This demonstrates the effectiveness of what a horse trainer does to build confidence.
The subsequent challenge was loading Owen into the trailer. He entered willingly, as if accustomed to the process. However, upon arrival at Matt’s barn, Owen experienced a moment of panic, exiting the trailer in a less-than-graceful manner. This necessitated a return to the trailer for a second attempt. This time, Owen resisted re-loading, initiating his “first day of school” with an impromptu trailer loading lesson. After some persistence, Matt successfully re-loaded Owen. It was insightful to observe Owen reassessing his situation and understanding the necessity of cooperating. The lesson concluded with calm loading and unloading, after which Owen was settled into his new stall to acclimate with his new surroundings for the night. This experience highlights the importance of understanding how do you train a horse to ride through consistent and patient guidance.
SAFE has encouraged Matt Olson to document Owen’s training progress extensively on their Tumblr feed. The author eagerly anticipates visiting Owen, especially given his renewed friendliness. Best wishes are extended to Owen for his new adventure, and sincere gratitude is offered to Liesel Filkowski for making this transformative experience possible for this remarkable horse. The journey Owen is embarking on is a critical part of understanding how dressage horses get trained, as foundational skills are essential for any equestrian discipline.
