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Also, start riding trails. One day a week trail riding is good for them
and does not disturb training on the ring.
For five of training in the ring, dedicate one day for trail riding and
on free day in a pen. This routine is healthy during the first months of
training. The routine is adjusted depending the horse, for some this
recommended routine may be strenuous and some may need two free days.
I have observed that the young horses born outdoors and in large herds
are more nervous when alone. For the first months, it is recommended not
to release them too much; they may feel lost and become injured. Little
by little, the personality will adjust and a new, independence will
emerge reducing the risks to the horse.
By now, the horse should respect the trainer, become tolerant to touch,
grooming and bathing.
Building
the base of a young horse
WORKING TROT: work a young horse more than half a lesson in English
trot; this time builds the bridge between the mouth and the hocks of the
horse (drawing).
RELAXATION: observe the attitude of a young horse, it needs to be
relaxed in order to advance “loose” when the lesson begins.
NECK DOWN: begin curving the neck in a trot without altering the rhythm.
This exercise rounds the horse and forces it to elevate the back.
SELF-CARRIAGE: at the beginning, teach a young horse to sustain a trot
without applying pressure on the reins and legs.
BASICS TRANSITIONS: at this stage, work only on basic transitions
(walk-trot, trot-canter, walk-stop) requiring quality of the gait.
However, be tolerant with the transitions because these are linked with
the development of the physic.
WITHOUT WALLS: work a lot outside the walls, which is fundamental to
balance and straighten the horse.
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LEG
YIELDING: start teaching the horse facing a wall or in a circle, to
teach the horse sensitivity to interior leg pressure while retaining
contact with the external rein.
CONTACT: the contact in this stage must be a frank-pass-soft, moving
from the back to the front while activating the legs, without pulling
the reins.
Choosing
to ride the suitable horse
When
selecting a horse to ride observe; structure, movement, family,
temperament, aplomb and balance.
APLOMB: Look for straightness, correct articulation, proportionate
bones, good huffs; the aplomb's are the structure of the horse.
STRUCTURE: structure refers to the body and muscular components, it is
fundamental the horse can carry a rider without a problem.
BALANCE: when the young horse is loose, observe its behavior. Off
balance will be acerbated when mounted. The most balanced horses are the
ones that perform the three gaits in a relaxed manner.
MOVEMENT: observe the time of suspension on the trot, the canter, and
the body balance while walking (like a cat). The trot is the motion that
we can be modified most through training. Observation indicates that the
horses that move with excessive excitement are not necessarily the ones
that will perform best when ridden.
TEMPERAMENT: choose the calm horse and avoid the aggressive and shy
ones. Keep this observation in mind as the temperament of the horse
impacts on its future performance.
FAMILY: the lineage impacts on the horse chosen, since peculiarities are
transmitted to offspring. |