Meet Dancing, a 3 year old Quarter Horse mare. She is here to be lightly started under saddle as is now learning first preparations on the ground. Confidence to communicate with me and yielding to pressure are the main focus points.
Dancing is really smart and I have to keep it interesting for her. She already learnt all 7 games and accepted the cinch. I decided to change venue and took her into the forest add some purpose. One day she will do nice trail rides with her owner!
Ponying a young horse has many benefits which can make a colt start easier. Experiencing me from the top and being able to take her on real trail rides next to a quiet horse, are just two of them. After having accepted the cinch and learnt to trust me and communicate well on the ground, I started to teach Dancing to pony.
After all the thorough preparations, Dancing is ready for the next step: accept the saddle. A horses reaction, when wearing for the first time this big floppy piece of leather, can never be underestimated.
After 3 weeks, Dancing was ready and prepared to accept the rider on her back. I have a little checklist in my head, to make sure the horse is mentally and emotionally prepared to take this important step with full understanding.
Dancing finished her colt start and went with success through my program of the first 8 rides. She has been on little trail rides, alone and with other horses, and is now ready to go home and have some holidays.
