To be fair to owners, very few people have unlimited resources to afford 6 months of training to start a horse under saddle. So how does a trainer fit 6 months of education and experience into 6 weeks?
COLT STARTING EVENT: ONE TRAINER'S EXPERIENCE
A Riding Horse First
Commitment When Starting A Horse
A few days ago I was talking to a trainer. She was telling me about the pressure she felt meeting the owner's expectation to have their horses going home trouble-free under saddle in just a few weeks. She said most people expect the job completed in 6-8 weeks and Flossy to go home ready to take on all challenges with a smile.
Long Reining or Short Reining
Solly Figures Out Western Saddles
This is from the most recent clinic I finished yesterday. The horse is Solly who is a 3 1/2 year old. This is the second clinic in 5 weeks that I worked with Solly. Originally it was intended that I would get him started under saddle for Lorena Russell. However, on the first day Lorena and I agreed he would benefit greatly from another 6 to 12 months of maturing - physically, mentally and emotionally - before he becomes a riding horse.