Embarking on the journey of training a young horse from the ground up is a deeply rewarding experience, forging a unique partnership built on trust and mutual understanding. This process, while challenging, offers unparalleled insights into equine development and rider skill. It’s about shaping an equine athlete and fostering a lifelong connection, a sentiment echoed by seasoned professionals. The original article, drawing from extensive personal experience, provides a valuable roadmap for riders choosing to develop their own horses.
The Value of Training Your Own Horse
Developing a horse from its early stages into a capable partner offers a unique educational experience. It forces riders to confront and solve problems, learning from every success and setback. This hands-on approach cultivates a deep understanding of a horse’s individual temperament, physical capabilities, and limitations. The journey of bringing a young horse up through the competitive levels is a profound testament to the rider’s dedication and skill, embodying the very essence of the word “dressage,” which translates to “training.” This approach is applicable across various breeds and disciplines, from the elegant Warmblood to the spirited Thoroughbred or versatile Quarter Horse.
Key Principles for Young Horse Training
The initial training of any young horse, regardless of breed or intended discipline, follows fundamental principles. The following tips are crucial for establishing a solid foundation for your horse’s future career.
1. Prioritize Riding Forward
The importance of encouraging a young horse to move forward under saddle cannot be overstated. A horse with a willing forward inclination is inherently a safer horse. Issues often arise with horses that lack this innate desire to move. During the initial stages, horses are often introduced to the bit and proper posture on a longe line, sometimes with side reins adjusted for comfort and proper engagement. Subsequent introductions to the rider typically occur while the horse is still longeing, with a ground person acting as the rider’s aids through voice commands, gentle touches, or a whip to cue the horse, mimicking the rider’s legs. The duration of this longeing phase varies, lasting anywhere 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 transitioning to ridden work, a ground person’s presence can be beneficial in reinforcing the forward response.
Riding forward should be the cornerstone of all early training. Without it, achieving proper contact, effective bending, straightness, and suppleness becomes exceedingly difficult. Incorporate frequent transitions to encourage the horse’s responsiveness and ride on straight lines to allow the horse to develop its natural rhythm and balance. Young horses may initially struggle with the shorter sides of the arena or circles as they find their balance; riding without turns helps them establish a comfortable forward motion.
Maintaining a soft and elastic contact with the horse’s mouth is paramount. Keep your fists closed and avoid a static rein connection; a slight vibration of the bit can encourage chewing and acceptance. The goal is to encourage the horse to lift its back under the rider’s weight, developing a rounded, long frame that accepts contact. An eggbutt snaffle is often a favored bit for young horses due to its stabilizing effect on the rings, providing a sense of security. After several months, an evaluation may determine if a transition to a loose-ring snaffle is beneficial, offering more freedom for the tongue and jaw, or if the added stability of the eggbutt is still advantageous for horses that tend to be too light or lean on the bit. Always ride forward to the contact!
This foundational phase is critical for establishing confidence and teaching the horse to respond to aids. If you lack the confidence to encourage your young horse to move forward, seeking professional assistance is highly recommended to ensure a strong start for their entire career.
2. Introduce Bending Gradually
Once a horse reliably moves forward, gradually incorporate bending exercises. Riding on large circles or in open spaces like a field can help the horse learn to bend, which is the first step toward developing suppleness and improving the connection. If a horse struggles with contact, either by going above or behind the bit, it often indicates a lack of forwardness or suppleness. Therefore, in this early stage, forwardness and bending are key. Begin with large circles and shallow serpentine lines. Introducing the turn-on-the-forehand early can also help the horse understand yielding to the inside leg, progressing to shallow leg-yielding exercises. Explore training wagons for BDO.
3. Allow Your Horse to Be Your Guide
Every horse develops at its own pace, both physically and mentally. Some three-year-olds may require an additional year before starting under saddle, while others may be precociously talented, capable of competing in FEI Young Horse tests. However, it’s crucial to remember that not all horses are suited for these specific tests, and many excel at Grand Prix level through a more gradual progression through the lower levels. Horses do not have access to the show calendar and do not plan their readiness for specific competition dates.
Initial training rides should be relatively short, perhaps only 15 minutes and never exceeding half an hour, to allow for the gradual development of physical fitness, strength, and cardiovascular capacity. Avoid rushing the process; focus on building a solid foundation and allow your horse to set the timeline, while still being willing to challenge them with calculated risks.
4. Establish Firm Boundaries
The initial training period lays the groundwork for the horse’s entire riding career. Allowing bad habits or disrespectful behavior to develop now will create persistent challenges later. Expect respectful behavior both on the ground and under saddle. Horses naturally test herd status and boundaries, and it is imperative that you establish yourself as the clear leader in the partnership. Be fair, but maintain firm boundaries.
5. Seek Professional Guidance
If possible, find an experienced trainer who specializes in young horse development. They can serve as an invaluable guide and coach, offering solutions to problems that may arise and sharing the benefit of their experience. Training can be demanding, and progress may seem slow at times, particularly when teaching complex movements like flying changes. Reassurance from a trainer that challenges will eventually be overcome through perseverance is essential. Periodically having your trainer ride your horse can also provide valuable feedback on your progress and direction.
6. Cultivate Endless Patience
Patience is arguably the most critical virtue in training young horses. This journey will undoubtedly bring insecurities to the surface. Some days will feel triumphant, while others may leave you feeling like a novice rider. Taking a step back is sometimes necessary before leaping forward, and maintaining patience with both your horse and yourself is crucial. Focus on the process, and consider recording video every few weeks to track your progress. With patience and understanding, your horse will learn to trust you as a leader and develop confidence.
Many young horses experience a “rebellious phase,” testing boundaries by resisting aids, kicking out, or grabbing the bit. Some horses exhibit this behavior before starting under saddle, as they channel their energies into work once they have a job to focus on. Others may test boundaries around ages four or five, once the initial training phase is complete and they become comfortable with expectations. This testing period can last from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the individual horse. Maintaining high standards and firm boundaries during this time will lead to a successful outcome.
The act of training your own young horse can be incredibly fulfilling, transforming an unbalanced, gangly, and insecure young animal into a confident, capable athlete. Learn more about training methods for young horses.
Jenna Arnold is a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist and recipient of the bronze, silver, and gold Freestyle Bar. She is a co-founder of Mindful Riding, a program dedicated to fostering a deeper connection between riders, their horses, and themselves through a balance of mind, body, and spirit. Residing near Austin, Texas, she and her husband, Martin Arnold, run Concordia Dressage.
