Embarking on the journey of training a young horse is a deeply rewarding experience, offering unparalleled growth for both horse and rider. It’s a path that forges a strong, lasting partnership built on trust, understanding, and consistent effort. This guide focuses on the fundamental principles and practical advice for successfully training horses from their early stages into capable equine athletes. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or new to horse development, the principles discussed here are applicable across breeds and disciplines, laying a solid foundation for a fulfilling equestrian career.
The Rewarding Path of Training Your Own Horse
Developing a horse from its formative years into a trained partner provides an education unlike any other. This immersive process inevitably forces you to confront and solve challenges as they arise, fostering a deep understanding of your horse’s unique temperament, physical attributes, and limitations. Successfully guiding a young horse through the training levels to higher echelons is a true testament to a rider’s skill and dedication. After all, the very essence of “dressage” translates to “training,” highlighting its central role in horsemanship.
When you choose to develop your own horse, you might acquire a young prospect—perhaps a Warmblood with exceptional movement, an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred, or a Quarter Horse. Regardless of breed or intended discipline, the initial training stages share common ground. This article will share key priorities to focus on when training your young horse, ensuring a positive and productive developmental journey.
Core Principles for Training Young Horses
1. Prioritize Forward Movement
The importance of encouraging a horse to move forward cannot be overstated, especially in the initial stages of saddle training. A horse with a willingness to move forward is inherently a safer horse, whereas a reluctance to move can quickly lead to complications. Initially, young horses are often introduced to the concept of bit contact and proper posture through long-lining, sometimes with side reins adjusted to be on the longer side. This allows them to understand contact and develop a balanced frame.
The first mounting typically occurs while the horse is still on the long line. The person on the ground acts as the rider’s aids, using voice cues, clucks, or a gentle tap with a whip to simulate leg pressure, and guiding the horse’s mouth through the longe line, substituting for the rider’s hand. The duration of this long-lining phase varies, potentially lasting from a week to a month, with the ultimate goal being a smooth transition from the ground person’s cues to the rider’s aids. Even after the horse is ridden independently, retaining a ground person in the arena can be beneficial for reinforcing forward responses.
Your commitment to riding forward should be paramount during this period, as it underpins all subsequent training. Without adequate forward momentum, achieving consistent contact, suppleness, straightness, and throughness becomes exceptionally difficult. Regularly incorporate transitions to gauge and improve the horse’s response to your leg. Utilize straight lines to allow the horse to move freely and find its rhythm, as young horses may initially struggle with the confines of arena corners or circles while finding their balance.
Maintain a soft and elastic connection with the horse’s mouth. Keep your fists closed and avoid a static rein contact; a subtle vibration of the bit can encourage chewing and acceptance. While some horses prefer an immobile bit, most benefit from a gentle movement that promotes relaxation in the jaw. Encouraging the horse’s back to lift under the rider’s weight is crucial for developing proper posture and building acceptance of the contact, with the neck held long but round. The eggbutt snaffle is a favored bit for young horses due to its fixed rings, which offer enhanced lateral stability and a sense of security. After several months, reassess whether to continue with the eggbutt or transition to a loose-ring snaffle. A loose-ring snaffle can offer more freedom for the tongue and jaw, which benefits horses that tend to be stiff or lean on the bit. Conversely, for horses that are too light in the contact or tend to pull away, the added stability of an eggbutt can be advantageous. Always ride forward to the contact!
The initial training phase is fundamentally about establishing forward movement, familiarizing the horse with the rider’s aids, and building confidence. If you feel a lack of confidence in riding your young horse forward, seeking professional assistance for this crucial early phase is highly recommended, as it sets the bedrock for the horse’s entire future career.
2. Gradually Introduce Bending
Once the horse reliably moves forward, it’s time to incorporate bending lines into your training. If you have a safe space, such as a large arena or a field, the horse can begin learning to bend on large circles. Bending is the initial step toward developing suppleness, which in turn enhances the horse’s connection and balance. If your horse struggles with connection, either by going above or behind the bit, it’s often due to insufficient forwardness or suppleness. Therefore, prioritizing forward movement and bending is key in this early stage. Begin with large circles and shallow serpentine movements. Introducing the turn-on-the-forehand early in training can also help the horse understand yielding to the inside leg, followed by basic leg-yielding exercises, which pave the way for further progression.
3. Allow Your Horse to Be Your Guide
Every horse develops at its own pace, both physically and mentally. Some three-year-olds may be quite immature and benefit from an additional year before starting under saddle. Conversely, some horses are exceptionally gifted and may be ready for FEI Young Horse competitions. Others might have the potential for Grand Prix but require more time to develop, and may not be suited for the FEI Young Horse tests. These tests are not universally appropriate for all horses; there are numerous pathways to Grand Prix, and many horses thrive when progressing through the levels at their own speed. Remember, horses don’t receive a show calendar at the beginning of the year; they don’t plan their competitions or ensure they are ready for each level by a specific date.
During this initial training phase, keep your rides relatively short, sometimes as little as 15 minutes and never exceeding half an hour. Building physical fitness, strength, and cardiovascular endurance takes time. Avoid rushing the process; invest time in building a solid foundation and allow your horse to set the timeline. However, don’t hesitate to challenge your horse with calculated risks.
4. Establish Firm Boundaries
You are laying the groundwork for the horse’s entire riding career. Bad habits and disrespectful behavior tolerated during this period can persist for years. Expect respectful behavior from your horse both on the ground and under saddle. Horses continuously test herd status and boundaries, and it’s imperative that you establish yourself as the clear leader in the partnership. Be fair, but also firm in enforcing these boundaries.
5. Seek a Qualified Trainer
If possible, find a trainer experienced in working with young horses. They can serve as an invaluable guide and coach throughout your journey, likely having encountered and resolved similar issues you may face. Their expertise can provide essential reassurance during challenging times. Training can be demanding, and it may take considerable time for a horse to master a particular movement (like flying changes) or be ready for a specific level. It’s comforting to know that even when a task feels impossibly difficult, perseverance will eventually lead to success. Having your trainer periodically ride your horse can also provide valuable insights into whether you are progressing in the right direction.
6. Cultivate Endless Patience
Training horses demands an abundance of patience. This process will inevitably confront your insecurities. Some days, you’ll feel confident and believe you have everything figured out. Other days, you might feel like a novice rider with no clue what you’re doing. Sometimes, taking a step or two back is necessary before leaping forward. It’s crucial to remain patient throughout the process, not only with your horse but also with yourself. Focus on the journey rather than solely the destination. Recording progress through video every few weeks can be a helpful way to track your development. With patience and understanding, your horse will begin to trust you as a leader and gain confidence in the training process.
Many young horses will experience a “juvenile delinquent” phase at some point. Some may start testing the rider’s aids, resisting forward movement, kicking out to the leg, or grabbing the bit. This can occur even before they begin saddle work, as they haven’t yet found a job to channel their energy. Once these horses start their ridden work, they often find the leadership they crave. Others might test boundaries around age four or five, after the initial training phase is complete. Feeling comfortable with the work and expectations, they may, much like teenagers, push limits to see what they can get away with. This period can last from a couple of weeks to a few months, depending on the individual horse. Maintain high standards and firm boundaries, and you will successfully navigate this phase.
Training your own young horse can be an incredibly fulfilling endeavor, transforming an unbalanced, gangly, and insecure youngster into a confident and capable equine athlete.
Jenna Arnold is a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist and bronze, silver, and gold Freestyle Bar recipient. She is a founder of Mindful Riding, a program dedicated to helping riders develop a more meaningful relationship with their horse and with themselves by balancing mind, body, and spirit. She is the mother of two young daughters and runs Concordia Dressage with her husband, Martin Arnold, near Austin, Texas.
