Training young horses the EE way

[belle]

I was thinking today about how my horse was started and brought on under the guidelines of my instructor. My horse was backed at the yard I work at, and through this process I realised I did not agree with the way everything was happening. My horse is now home, and I am starting new again.

I just wondered what the EE way of starting and riding on young horses would be?:)

[Showjumper]

I'm using clicker training with Dolly to encourage her to want to work with me, which is working really well. We also play lots of games. I've taught her the Touch-It game using clicker training which has helped her build a lot of trust in me. I can now wave a rope or a whip around when I'm stood right under her nose and she doesn't care because she knows it's not directed at her.

She's coming on in leaps and bounds, and is a naturally obliging pony.

Just do whatever you feel comfortable with and don't push the pony. My motto with Dolly is "She's mine for the rest of her life, why rush it?"

[intouch]

I don't know if there is an accepted EE method of starting, but we started our youngster learning voice commands on the lead rope, then on the longe with a leader until he was happy to work without a leader, then he was backed on the longe till he was happy to work off it, then he had someone in the middle till he was confident to take commands from the rider.
Working on the principle that he was learning a new language, he was never asked to do anything new until he had learned and accepted the previous step. We did include clicker training to establish some steps he was reluctant to accept - eg picking up his feet without demonstrating his superiority! and it was very useful with loading - on the box first time inside 5 minutes. Now at 3 1/2 he has been working within his limits for almost 6 months, he is given time and encouragement if he finds something challenging, we avoid confrontation where possible, and I'm really proud of his progress to date.
Hope this helps.
Lesley

[ros]

I don't *think* there's a set method. EE is a philosophy as much as anything, and Heather often says there's more than one way to skin a cat - she's very open-minded. So really I'd guess it just boils down to doing whatever you do kindly, with the horse's physical and mental welfare always uppermost in your mind, aiming for partnership, understanding on both sides, allowing time, not using ANY kind of force... you know all those things.

And of course, the traditional method of breaking, or starting, or whatever you want to call it is perfectly fine provided you stick to THOSE rules :)

BTW, what was it about the way your horse was broken that you were uncomfortable about, Belle?

[belle]

The day after she arrived she was being lunged in a strange place, and after literally 5 minutes on the lunge, where I will admit she was behaving awfully, I was asked to get on her for the first time. I was dubious, and asked the lady to lunge her a bit more which she did before asking me to get on which this time I did. Luckily my mare knew it was me, and although she was scared, she was fine.

After a week of being lunged on her, I was let loose around the school which involved me sitting there while lunge whips were being cracked behind my horse. I asked them not to, but it made no difference.

When I wasnt there, the other trainers would ride my horse, which was fine most of the time, but I later found out one of the trainers rode her with a lunge whip.

There are many other things I could say. If I'm fair, I cant say it was all a bad experience, I just wish some of it had been better.