Horse Training Basics For A Young Horse

If you have a young horse in your yard for the first time, are you wondering when is the best time to begin to do some work with him? Well, the answer to that is; horse training for a young horse is an ongoing process that should begin when he is just a foal.

To Geld Or Not To Geld

When horse training there are several things that a young horse needs to be taught to help him become a happy and biddable grown up animal. The first thing to consider if your youngster is a colt is to have him gelded (castrated) as soon as your vet can do it; especially if you are not planning to use him at stud. This will make him safer and easier to handle as he is growing up. An entire (un-castrated) youngster is a nuisance in the field and can be way too boisterous for an inexperienced owner to handle; not to mention the fact that any mare in season will be receiving a lot of unwanted attention from him! After he has been gelded, he will be a much more docile animal making him easier to work with.

Stable Manners

If you have the facilities, you should bring your youngster into the stable each day so you can train him in some basic stable manners. If he was not handled as a foal it will take a little time and patience to train him how to stand still whilst being groomed. It will also be essential to teach him how to have his feet picked up in order for the farrier to trim his feet. In a perfect world, a farrier should have been trimming his feet since he was a few months old to help his feet grow into the correct shape.

Your young horse will also need to be trained to stand quietly whilst he is tied up (obviously you would use a quick release knot). He should also be trained not to push you around and treat you with respect. The earlier you begin to train a young horse some basic manners, the easier it will be for both of you to enjoy your time together.

The Bit Between His Teeth

At around 18 months old, it is a good idea to train him to get comfortable with having a bit in his mouth. This initial training with a bit will provide the foundation for a horse to accept the bit when he is being ridden. A horse which has no resistance to the bit when being ridden is easier to control. To introduce a bit to a young horse, you should first fit a bridle without the bit to make sure the whole thing will fit him comfortably when you begin to introduce him to the bit. I don’t usually use a brow band or a nose band for this exercise so the bridle easier to put on.

You should have either bought or borrowed a ‘mouthing’ bit. This is a regular bit with ‘keys’ attached that gives your young horse something to play with whilst it is in his mouth. Then attach one side of the bit to the bridle and fir the bridle without putting the bit in his mouth. Put a bit of molasses or treacle on the bit and put it gently into his mouth. If he has clamped his mouth shut, put your fingers into the part of his mouth where there are no teeth and push your thumb onto the roof of his mouth, then slip the bit into place and attach it to the bridle at the other side. Leave him with the bit in for about 15 minutes to begin with and gradually increase the time. After he seems comfortable with the bit in his mouth, progress to leading him around the yard with a curb chain and rope attached to the bit.

Doing these exercises at a young age will make for an easier transition to becoming a ridden horse.