Training Tip: Working With a Feely, Sensitive Colt

Question: I have a 2-year-old that I have handled since his birth. He’s extremely athletic, smart and reactionary. He’s got Frenchman Guy and Peppy San Badger breeding. He wants to work with me but is so sensitive to any stimuli that he’s a mess. He’s a high-powered colt. I was a trainer with the US Modern Pentathlon and rode Olympic-class horses over Puissance fences. At 69, I feel this horse is outside my ability. Help.

Answer:  Good on you for having a fulfilling career as a horseman and having accomplished so much! Your colt sounds like a nice prospect—athletic and feely. I think you answered your own question.

One of our greatest strengths as horsemen is knowing when to get outside help to benefit our horses. If your gut is telling you that your colt is above your ability, he probably is. There’s nothing to be ashamed with about that. It can be a difficult realization to come to, especially for horsemen who have had so much experience. The truth is, as we age, we aren’t as athletic and can’t do the things we once did or just flat-out don’t have the confidence to do them anymore. It’s true for me and other trainers I talk with, including my mentor Ian Francis, who to me is the best horseman in the world.

Your best bet is to get expert help. I’d recommend contacting one of my Professional Clinicians who can either take your horse in for training or can give you lessons. During lessons, they will show you how to teach your colt the Fundamentals level exercises and eventually help you start him under saddle. While following the training videos is great, having someone who has mastered the Method by your side will help you learn how to adjust your feel and get the right timing for your colt.

What you don’t want to do is try to work with the colt when you’re not confident or unsure about how to interact with him. This is especially true of young, sensitive horses. Young horses are so impressionable and what they learn during the early stages of their lives is what sticks with them. You want that foundation to be solid so that they can go on to have successful careers. Is it the end of the world if a young horse isn’t started correctly? No, but it sure makes for a lot of work and puts him at an unfair advantage. As horsemen, we should always try to give our horses the best chance for success.

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