Gentle breaking a horse for riding
76Gentle breaking any horse
There are two ways to deal with a horse, one works well the other causes more problems than it is worth. Being gentle, handling colts often, then gentle breaking them works best. They build a trust with the person who handles them which will last a lifetime. The other is forcing the horse to your will. This does not work well as every animal including the human animal will rebel when they are forced. Horses can be forced to obey they will however end up resenting you and act up way more often.
Gentling and gentle breaking takes time, it can be done with just the horse and the eventual individual rider however this takes more time than is necessary. Is best done with more than one person with already trained horses very close. Like with human children “monkey see monkey do” comes into play. When a horse sees someone doing something to one horse, without that horse showing fear they will want the same thing done to them, especially if treats are given. This is when halter breaking should start if it hasn’t already been done.
Every time in my life while gentle breaking there were always other horses right there, the idea is to lean on all the horses at first while brushing them, then just anytime. Find small things to put on their back, making sure to put it on the horse already trained first, then give treats to both horses. When they tolerate the small thing well move on to the saddle blanket. The horse should now accept this with no problem, if they balk go back to the smaller thing again for a while.
Once they take the saddle blanket it’s time to start adding some of your weight to their back. This can be done by working from a stool, brushing the horse while leaning over them is a good way to do this. Just make sure you can move away from the horses back quickly. Once you can do this without the horse balking it’s time to start putting things around them, from the back around the belly. This gets them used to the idea of a cinch.
Once this can be done comfortably its time for the saddle. The best way is for the horse to see other horses being saddled as often as possible at this point in time. Riding other horses close by should also be done at this time.
When time to start riding began we always worked with three horses two of which should already be well broke. We sandwiched the new horse between them and tightened up once the rider was mounted. This can be dangerous if any fear is shown and not recommended for a beginner.
In my experience the horse will now move as the others do without bucking or otherwise acting up. As the other horses turn right or left move the reins in the appropriate direction and if you want the horse to follow toe commands use them at this time also. Following these suggestions will give you a horse who trusts you and is more obedient. Horses like people are capable of love and in reality because you have remained gentle the horse has a relationship close to love with you. Breaking a horse gently for riding will have forged a relationship between you and the horse which will last a lifetime.
Photo courtesy of Oregon.gov
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CommentsLoading...
I had my own horse when I was 13. Her name was Zoe and she was a morgan quarterhorse mix. She wouldn't let anyone else ride her except for me. She wouldn't even let my mom (the horse expert) ride her! I've seen my mom break many green horses...whether green or broken, horses have always captivated me.
Answering your question was my pleasure. Even if it cost me some sleep. LOL
I have heard all my life to write about what I know. Much of my life was spent around horses and I saw many instances where things could have been handled better. My hope with this article was that people would see a different way which has always been very effective for me.
really liked this article and am glad for the definitions. take care. oh, and thanks for answering my question.
To me she was, her conformation wasn't the best as she was short bodied. Sorry I have no pictures, all of the pictures were left behind when I moved to California to take care of my father. I tried at a later date to get some and was told they had all been thrown away.
There is no way I can be considered a newbie as I have known about proud cut horses since my teens. Actually have ridden them both before and after the accidents. Some people like my father prefer them because they are more spirited than a gelding, but easier to handle than a stallion. For newbie's "a gelding is a neutered male horse and a stallion can breed".
According to rickrideshorses we need to stop thinking in terms of catching horses and change our thinking to bringing them in. According to him it takes a little time but they can be trained to come to you.
I know in South Dakota one thing that helped is we had plenty of social capital. There were two well trained horse people, two teens who loved to ride, also two people who popped in to help with the horses care and me. Didn't hurt either that the water trough which was required for us was right next to the gate. LOL
I bet your horse was beautiful! What a mix! I'd love to see a picture of her if you have any on the computer.
My oldest horse, Sparky, is easy for anybody to catch. She always has been. But Red, not so much. He's really easy to catch unless he reads my mind and knows I'm gonna give him de-wormer... which is basically every time I do it. Even if he's the very first one to get de-wormed out of all the horses and I leave the unwrapped tube of paste in the house until I catch him. He's such a stink! (: He doesn't mind when I give him shots though, just the de-wormer, even if it's the supposedly great tasting apple flavored kind. He's a proud cut gelding, so he still acts studdy...basically, your typical boneheaded stallion, just without the "goods."
**For the Newbies out there following these comments, being "proud cut" is a male horse that only had one testicle descended...and therefore only one testicle removed when he was gelded. The other testicle is still up in his body cavity somewhere and although it's useless for making babies from being too hot up in the body, he still "acts" like a stallion. He doesn't nip, but he is thick-headed and incredibly strong! You HAVE to be on your toes with him when you're around him, otherwise you could get very hurt.
The 3 babies are getting easier to catch every day. Stig has always been the easiest, then sister Dakota...and bringing up the rear is Buzz. He's finally to the point where I can pet him on the neck without him bolting away. I'm just taking my sweet time with him and giving him lots of space. I let him come up to me, not me to him. If he doesn't want to be touched that day, I let him be.
I'm sorry you had to sell your mare, Denna. I hope she calmed down enough for her new owner to handle her...for HER sake.
My horse, the only one I ever really owned was an arab appy mix, for me she was a war horse for anyone else she spooked easy and threw anyone who she could, other than my son. He was like having a feather on her back. When he rode he was eight and small for his age.
I can't tell you how many times I laughed when anyone went into the pasture to bring her in. All it ever took for me was to go to the gate she was right there to meet me.
The man who bought her told me if I couldn't ride her bareback he wouldn't buy her. So I did, it took two men to get me on the horses back. She had a halter on but it wasn't needed. I got extra money for her when he saw that she turned and stopped with only hand (requests)commands without anything ever coming out of my mouth.
She loaded right into the trailer but I was told it took three men and another horse to get her out.
I actually had been doing that with "The Girls'" mama, Rose, and they were always either curiously watching or following us out in the field, so I'm sure it helped!
If I ever find anybody to help me with the "sandwich" horses though, I'd MUCH rather do that! It sounds a whole lot safer than goin' it alone like I have been and occasionally gettin' dumped on my ass! Especially with Pearl. She's still pretty young and VERY spooky! Even for an already spooky breed like Arabians...she's full of firecrackers and has springs in her feet!
Thank you for the encouraging email. I'll definately look into that stuff!
It's midnight here and I'm hittin' the sack, so take care of yourself and I'll chat with ya later!
Diana
I wrote this from personal experience so have seen this many times for myself. Oh and if you don't have the social capital (people you know and trust as riders) it's better to do it the way you are. You can still use the monkey see monkey do, saddle and ride another horse into the area where the one to be broke is as often as possible, to let the horse to be broke see another horse being ridden with you in the saddle.
Hi wheelin'...
Great article! Excellent info on the use of 2 "sandwich" horses to start the young-un. My only problem is, is that I don't have anybody willing to help me with this, so I hafta put in a little more groundwork and a few extra weeks of round pen work until they get completely comfortable with the idea of having a cinch around their belly and extra weight on their backs. You are absolutely right about "monkey see monkey do." I've seen it time and time again with horses (and other critters as well).
Very helpful. Keep up the good work! Thank you! (:
Diana
wheelinallover Hub Author 10 months ago
I had the use of a horse from the time I was 13 but didn't actually own my own until "later in life". Through the years I have worked with training other people's horses, ridden every time I have had the chance.
Even after becoming wheelchair bound have still worked with horses, and ridden. I am supposed to be working with one now but have too many other irons in the fire.