3-Year-Old Colt - 1st Ride

[jonesy719]

jeepers cats, everyone has something to say.

if you don't like the way she rides why bother?

and I see nothing wrong with it. you are a fine rider, and wonderful at starting horses. you give good reason with your responding to people's rude comments. it's just ridiculous. the sad thing is.. the people leaving the bad comments more often than not have never started a horse in it's life.

keep up the good work, and keep posting! :D

[rfind]

just ignore all the negative comments and when are people going to realise that seriously if you cant say something nice just dont say anything at all, great job and I`d send any of my horses for you to ride, the horse is happy and forward, of course he is going to move his head around a bit I don`t know a youngster that doesnt on the first few rides.. good job all round

[yahamagirl160]

THAT is a good trainer! *clapping* when the horse bobed his head like that he was telling the rider that this was boring. but. The horse lissend and respected the rider anyway.

[Addiegrl1]

I am really disappointed with the negative comments! I am very fond of your training are you familiar with trainer Jennie Loriston-Clarke. Jennie is a firm believer in long lining for better and more correct collection. If a young horse is brought along properly and learns collection from long lining they will transition better for the rider once backed. Long lining a young horse will give him a better start, keep him in front of the leg and allow the horse to be corrrectly collected. Kudos!!

[someoneinnz]

I like your riding style, and im very, very picky. If i needed my horse broken in, i would not at all hesitate to send him to you. Except, im in NZ lol. I would also come to you for riding lessons. Keep it up. I like how you decide what you think is right and have decided whats best for the horse (ie sitting before rising) i like your theory, so im all into it. You have a lovely sitting trot BTW so im damn sure you wouldnt be inhibiting the horse in any way. What breed is he please?

[pony0girls]

you need to stop kicking him the horse is chuking his head in the air he will be better he will be much better. I used to do that alot and i stoped doing it and my horse is in a double briddle he is orsom now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont mean to be mean or any thing but it workes with younghorses

[WestEllieOlive]

What a beauty, I love how quickly he relaxed and lowered his head. One question though, it looked like you were tapping him with your heels a lot, is that to get him used to the feeling of your legs on his sides?

[iL0veMyHorseeJAKEx]

you are a good rider and are soo good with this horse seen your oher vids they are really good i subbed x

[katie4554]

as if that was your first ride!

my horse doesn't look like that on the.. well he's 12. hahhah D:

[ayymkatee]

great riding, im workin with an ott standardbred pacer who's 12.

have you ever worked with gaited horses?

[getgorgeousnow]

as USUAL!!!, u have such a lovely , calm way about your riding style. not sure why people feel the need to critique from about 30 sec of a vid.

[pirouette987]

Post the trot. It is not good for the horse's back to sit at the start of training.

Too, it looked like the horse is teaching the people....don't hold on to them so tight and make them walk when backing them. Let them move.

[halfpassgal]

It does not hurt the horses back if the rider has a light seat and the horse has decent trot to sit. I choose to sit rather than post in the beginning. Posting immediately is a lot of change in balance and is more likely to frighten a horse just started. Sitting gives a consistent feel and balance and when the horse is relaxed, the rider can introduce posting. This way it is not so sudden.

[halfpassgal]

Also wish to add that I am not holding him. I have a light contact, something he is already familiar with from longing and long-lining. Making him walk is not a negative thing, it allow them to relax take in the situation. I am not holding him to the walk, he was asked to walk (forward) just as he is normally asked to do in his daily work routine. I do not ask him to immediately rush off, that is not relaxing. This may be his first time, but he can remember his basics and he did very well.

[Horses4everrandeverr]

you're a very very great rider! That's a very pretty horse!

[imjustjoking22]

What breed is he? Absolutely gorgeous guy and the change from the first to fourth ride is impressive. Lovely riding!

[lyndie78]

Really nice work! What are your thoughts on sitting the trot vs. posting it in the first backings? Does it depend more on the quality of the rider's seat or the sensitivity or strength of the horse's back? I've never started a young horse but have worked with them and would eventually love to bring one along for myself.

[canterpir0uette]

Wonderful! He is going to be an amazing Dressage horse for sure. Shannon is an incredibly talented rider who has started young horses before, so I wouldn't worry about how she looks - she is doing everything right!

[Fahy17]

I think if you can sit to the trot and move with the horse, it's better to start them that way, but if you're unable to or are going to be bumping around up there, it's going to be more movement anyway! Shannon can definitely sit to and move with the horse, so I can't see a problem there!

[fireweedak]

What a pretty boy! And yes, definately born to do it! Great rhythm, balance and submission for a youngster! A few hiccups, but very impressive! You're nice n soft for him too. Want to come to Alaska to help me start my gelding undersaddle? :)

[ck1791]

Wow, he has improved alot since

this first ride.. Great job with im, 5 stars!

[9yrhunterjumper]

hes a bumpy horsey hahahaha beautiful tho

[halfpassgal]

Hes actually extremely easy to sit.

[9yrhunterjumper]

wow it just looked like u were having trouble

[halfpassgal]

My core is absorbing the movement, my body and legs and relaxed and supple, and I am going with him. I do not see any issue and felt fine. This was the first time this horse has ever been ridden it often isn't going to look absolutely perfect. It does look relaxed and willing though, yes?

[9yrhunterjumper]

it just kinda looked like u were bouncing a bit. idk it was like 1 in the morning when i posted the forst comment i was prably just tired and idk

[TBsPlease]

He stretches into the bridle and accepts contact much better than my experienced 13-year-old event horse. A bit sad, really. But he is so floaty and fancy, this one definitely has a bright future on the horizon! And halfpassgal, your prodigious riding talents never cease to amaze me. =)

[USNBRAT91]

really nice job :) you are a really amazing rider and that colt is absolutely stunning!

[rachel51893]

I just rode a 3 year old Arabian colt at my trainer's this past Saturday. I have done most of the work with him, and i was the first to sit on him, let alone ride him. He was pretty good. we only walked because our main thing is to desensitize them first. but in what ride would you say you should first canter a colt?

[halfpassgal]

It is whenever you fell they are ready. The canter should just be another gait. If they are relaxed at walk trot, the canter should be no different. This guy cantered the second ride, others may be the third of fourth. Sometimes I ask, sometimes they just ease into it. Just don't make a big fuss as the canter being a special thing, it should be just another gait.

[rachel51893]

Thank you for the advice! I take what I can get :)

[baseballmo2002]

why sitting trot to start?

[ridingisasport]

I think its so there wont be any shifts in balance for him. Posting, the rider is always moving. That might make it harder for him to balance himself.

[baseballmo2002]

ah i see...

and i gues b/c hes a young colt, he cant nesicarily balance himself like a 8-10 y/r could.

[ridingisasport]

Not with a rider , I think .

[halfpassgal]

I always sit to start a young horse. as 'ridingisasport' said posting is more movement. As there is already something new the extra movement can be an overload, physically for balance and mentally for over stimulation. When they seem to relax to everything and do well then I introduce the posting.

[baseballmo2002]

hmm, interesting to know. :)

[usandpets]

he looks well collected already. was he long lined as part of his ground work? he did very good.

[halfpassgal]

Long lining is one of the things I did with him. I did not do a lot with him, but it is something I cetainly feel is an important step.

[usandpets]

i didn't do it with our Ghost, as you could see in my vid. i really had no control of him at first. he's coming along though. he's the first one i've ever trained, and from being halter broke to being rode pretty much by myself. :)

[halfpassgal]

It isn't an absolute necessity, but something I choose to do and think greatly benefits in the long run. I did watch you video, glad to hear your progressing. I would be very careful about a few things from what I saw in the video, but he does look like a nice honest horse.

[usandpets]

thanks. feel free to comment. i'm open for opinions and suggestions. last month, i took him for his first outdoors ride! he did really well except needing another horse close by. if the other horse got too far away, there was no holding him back, but not bad for first time.

[RoxiBee]

He is gorgeous!

and is doing sooo good.