It's important with colts not to skip any steps and assume that they know/remember everything from their last work. Proceed through the steps, check for soft willing responses and move on to the next step.
Stepping up, he's standing still and soft in the bridle.
He moves around as she balances, then stops and stands again.
A little sacking out with the off side stirrup, not trying to force him to stand still, and he volunteers to stand after a bit. She steps down once he has stopped.
Do the same thing from the other side... note she got after him for biting. Yes he will outgrow that.
Once he was ok with all that, it was swing a leg over and ride. Drifter already moves off the leg, sometimes he gives a lot more than you ask for but that will be refined as he progresses next year. He's light in the bridle for the most part, and really light to the leg.
After a bit, it was time to ask for his first lope under saddle.
At the end of the session, he seemed quite pleased with himself. I truly think he enjoys the attention and learning to be a big boy. He is going to be the kind of horse eventually that you can just get on and go to work even after a layoff, as he proved this week.
Good boy, Drifter.
The right kind of horse, given the right kind of start.
And thanks Shayla for putting a great start on him! I'm pretty excited for his future!
5 comments:
Amazing!! You guys are a great team. He’s going to be rock solid.
Looking good! He listened even with distractions (I heard little kids etc) and wasn't reactive, pretty impressive for a young guy.
Yes the neighbour kids were playing at their dad's workshop which is about 20 ft. from the round pen. He is used to lots of different sights and kid related sounds!
Yeah, he is looking great! he moves nicely...you gals have done real good by him:)
He sure seems to be a nice minded and well put up colt :)
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