Breaking a horse...where to learn?

[Smookle]

Hey all!

If I were wanting to learn how to break and train youngsters in preparation for bringing on my own in the future, do you guys have any recommendations about where to learn to do this?

I'm currently at uni training to be a nurse, so distance during term time isn't really feesable, but I'd consider going longer distance for a few weeks over the holidays etc. My local riding school has a few youngsters (all backed) but as far as I can tell they're all being trained by their owners, and not the yard staff. (Well unless you count the racehorses). I thought about talking to places like ILPH? Whats the general consensus?

I know it'd probably be a long way in the future before I even own a rideable horse, let alone a youngster, but there's no harm in learning :D

[Wally]

The only real way to learn how to work with youngsters is hands on, get out there and do it. But not many riding schools, due to insurance, can allow clients to work with horses under 5, be it on the ground or on their backs, it's a mad world these days.

read plenty of Mike Peace and monty Roberts, Monty is a showman, but his observations are valid. Pat Parelli, in his early books has some very sensible ideas, he too has gone OTT these days though. Kelly Marks too is good.

Once you have read up on the subject you'll be in a better position to start working with them.

What it all boils down to in the end is common sense and consistency.

[Cheeky]

Heya,

Not sure about UK where to learn about training horses, but I guess the best bit is to watch a pro or ask if you can help in anyway. Even hoof picking - can be a LOT more to it than it seems!!

Reading books help, getting the background is great. But I guess the best way is to just get out there and learn (thats how i learned lol! and lots of study). Studying the horse at rest will also help you - or watching the lessons at your riding school - watch how the horse moves, why, what aids do they understand, what muscles are being used <-- thats a good thing to learn, the muscles of the horse and when, why, how (Etc) they use them.
:)

good luck!

[intouch]

What about a Kelly Marks course? www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk

[Wobblydeb]

Are you able to work weekends at all? Just that you may be able to find a breeder, racehorse re-trainer or something similar that would welcome an offer of free labour in return for experience gained. I can imagine it would be easier to find a place willing to take you on though if you were available every weekend rather than holidays only.

[shandy84]

Read Mark Rashid's books horses don't lie and tales of a ranch horse - I think are the titles they are very useful. Well done you though for realising you need hands on experience first - something I wish I had done :rolleyes:

[Vicki&Milo]

Just repeating what others might have said, but since schools can't let clients ride youngsters people that 'help' there (for free) can, maybe worth investigating, think back to the old 'Jill's gymkana' days, pull on your boots and offer to work for rise (thats how i learnt everything i know)
Vicki xx

[Smookle]

read plenty of Mike Peace and monty Roberts, Monty is a showman, but his observations are valid. Pat Parelli, in his early books has some very sensible ideas, he too has gone OTT these days though. Kelly Marks too is good.

I'm scanning the local library catalogue as I type :D


Not sure about UK where to learn about training horses, but I guess the best bit is to watch a pro or ask if you can help in anyway. Even hoof picking - can be a LOT more to it than it seems!!

Reading books help, getting the background is great. But I guess the best way is to just get out there and learn (thats how i learned lol! and lots of study). Studying the horse at rest will also help you - or watching the lessons at your riding school - watch how the horse moves, why, what aids do they understand, what muscles are being used <-- thats a good thing to learn, the muscles of the horse and when, why, how (Etc) they use them.

I never considered the implications of hoof picking, I kinda took it for granted I think, but if a horse hasn't had it done before that could be quite...interesting. lol. The studying the horse is a really good idea, theres lots in local fields round here too, so I can take a relaxing walk and study at the same time. A much better way to spend a study day :D


What about a Kelly Marks course?

Where abouts are the courses held? Some of her courses look really interesting, particularly handling the untouched horse. And they're not ridiculously over prized either! Definately will be considering this as an option.

Are you able to work weekends at all? Just that you may be able to find a breeder, racehorse re-trainer or something similar that would welcome an offer of free labour in return for experience gained. I can imagine it would be easier to find a place willing to take you on though if you were available every weekend rather than holidays only.

I actually have three day weekends at the moment, but every six to eight weeks I go on placement, and then I need to work some weekends. Do you think that might put them off? Also, although I do have experience in horse care (basic stuff like mucking out, grooming, no feeding experience though) I don't have any regular horse care experience. Its pretty much what I've done looking after the riding school horses before and after lessons. Is that likely to have an effect?

Well done you though for realising you need hands on experience first - something I wish I had done :rolleyes:

I hear its wonderful for horse and rider to learn together, but after some of the horror stories I've come across, I don't think I would have the courage to bring on a youngster on my own! Have you brought on your own horses? How did you find it?


Just repeating what others might have said, but since schools can't let clients ride youngsters people that 'help' there (for free) can, maybe worth investigating, think back to the old 'Jill's gymkana' days, pull on your boots and offer to work for rise (thats how i learnt everything i know)

I will be looking into this. I know there's a couple of girls on the yard that work for their horses board, so hopefully they might be interested in letting me work for experience *crosses fingers* If they're uncooperative, would it be worth advertising in the local paper? Or should I speak directly to individual yards?

[rezzer]

yeah i read that book "horses dont lie" by mark rashid very recently, brilliant book! I would like to break and train horses......one day tho maybe!!

[shandy84]

I have brought on my own and made numerous mistakes, if you read the post thats current about an 18mth filly on the forum you will see the pictures showing the damage of one of my mistakes, it really is better to know what you're letting yourself into I was very niave thinking I could do it from scratch with no baby knowledge, Bramble has come on much better and quicker because we learnt from our mistakes with Shandy - not the way it should be :(

[varkie]

You could definitely try asking around to see if you can help anyone. I back youngsters sometimes, and during the week, I have no one to help me, so have to save everything for the weekends, and do it when I have my husband to help - during the week I just work on what we've already done. If someone wanted to come & help me in exchange for getting experience, that would be good for me & them!

[Smookle]

yeah i read that book "horses dont lie" by mark rashid very recently, brilliant book!

I did look for books from the library by Rashid, after seeing some real good reviews on amazon, but lo and behold, they don't have any. :( they had one by monty roberts though :) and I've got a few others:

Young horse: breaking and training, by Jennie Loristen-Clarke
Breaking and Schooling, by Carolyn Henderson and
Foal to first ridden, by Vanessa Briton

I'm also looking for a good book on 'horse psychology' so I can understand how and why the horse reacts as it does.

I have brought on my own and made numerous mistakes, if you read the post thats current about an 18mth filly on the forum you will see the pictures showing the damage of one of my mistakes, it really is better to know what you're letting yourself into I was very niave thinking I could do it from scratch with no baby knowledge, Bramble has come on much better and quicker because we learnt from our mistakes with Shandy - not the way it should be :(

I did read that thread, and learnt alot from it! I think, if I'd gone ahead and bought myself a youngster (which also assumes that I have the money, which I sooo don't, lol) I would have been straight out lungeing too. So, in a way, I guess my financial status is kind of a good thing...


You could definitely try asking around to see if you can help anyone. I back youngsters sometimes, and during the week, I have no one to help me, so have to save everything for the weekends, and do it when I have my husband to help - during the week I just work on what we've already done. If someone wanted to come & help me in exchange for getting experience, that would be good for me & them!

O thats just given me a truck load of confidence! There is a local girl that backs and breaks, about an hours drive away, but I was really unsure whether to even attempt writing to her and asking about it.


Additional question: There are alot of local stable around, but very few nearby advertise as 'backing and breaking' or even 'schooling/training'. There are a couple of stud farms, and a few raceing stables. Would it be worth investigating these as well? I'm not so sure about the raceing stables, as I don't think I quite have the confidence, and definately not the ability, to deal with highly-strung thoroughbreds, but the stud farm would handle foals right?

[Wobblydeb]

Additional question: There are alot of local stable around, but very few nearby advertise as 'backing and breaking' or even 'schooling/training'. There are a couple of stud farms, and a few raceing stables. Would it be worth investigating these as well? I'm not so sure about the raceing stables, as I don't think I quite have the confidence, and definately not the ability, to deal with highly-strung thoroughbreds, but the stud farm would handle foals right?Are you worried about handling racing TBs? I can understand the ridden fears, but I would expect it to be far harder to handle unbroken youngsters than racing horses. (The few ex-racehorses I've met were all great on the ground, but more challenging to ride).

I have to admit I'm thinking that if you want to learn to break and train youngsters that you're going to have to put yourself into a position where you meet horses that do present some challenges though ;)

[Smookle]

When I wrote that, I was thinking of the total nuts that the YO rides and handles for novice racing (I know theres a proper title for that...erm...prelim? *shrugs*) but yes, thats a very good point!

[Keket]

I have to admit I'm thinking that if you want to learn to break and train youngsters that you're going to have to put yourself into a position where you meet horses that do present some challenges though ;)

And it's the challenging horses that teach us! :)

Around here, we don't really have riding schools as most of you know them. A riding school around here usually consists of one instructor who's also the YO, with one or two horses. My RI has one ten year old mare that she uses to give lessons on and then two youngsters that she's bringing on. I got the lucky opportunity to work with one of the youngsters (Coquette, for those that know her) for about an hour and a half a week. I groom her, saddle her, bridle her, walk and trot her in hand, walk and trot her under saddle, free-lunge her, etc. I've done so many things with her, including helping teach her to load into a trailer, but I do all of it under RI's supervision, and I never do anything that RI hasn't done already.

I agree with everyone that said that it's really a matter of experience. Hands on is the only way to do it. I'd suggest asking around some small yards, seeing if they'd take you on as a helper. If you don't ask, you won't get it. But if you do, you just might. :)

[Smookle]

Well theres some good news, and some bad news.

The bad news is that the girl I was going to get into contact with doesn't seem to be where she said she was. I went up to the village a few days ago, and there was definately not a stable there. It looked as though there had been, but it didn't look very used...

The good news is that there is a local riding school, that has only just upgraded from being a livery yard and riding club. I will hopefully be getting into contact with them, and asking about the possibility of some lessons in schooling and groundwork. (Its a start :) ) Because they are a lot smaller then my own RS, they will hopefully be able to manage better. Who knows...they might have a few youngsters of their own :D

UPDATE: I've just phoned them, and they do actually offer lessons in schooling!! Yay!! Apparently I'm a proper awkward individual because I want to learn the art of schooling without my own horse :rolls eyes:

She asked me what sort of schooling I'd like do, and being put on the spot, I said dressage (seeing as I really do not like jumping at the moment...) Am I right in thinking that would give a good grounding in basics, like muscle tone and work etc? *crosses fingers* Its £25 an hour, so I'm hoping it'll be worth it....*shudders at rapidly decreasing bank balance*