Thanks for your comment. It is interesting that you mention Tim Anderson. The “boring is good“concept is just one of a number of very similar philosophies in our two approaches to horses. For me, it’s reassuring to see a horseman with Tim stature doing/saying some of the same things that I do. Thanks for watching
@@hermgaileyalifetimewithhorses Tim recommended checking you out in one of his videos, I'm very happy he did because I really enjoy your advice and wisdom.
As always, a great video . Your training philosophy and understanding of the horses mental and physical capabilities are so very important. Nice team work Melanie and Herm. Excited to see the next video.
Thanks for your comment. I agree that it’s pleasing to me to work with a younger writer. Good to see a new generation coming along! We are planning on putting up the fifth ride video this week. Hope you’ll watch.
Thanks for your comment and good luck with your experiment. You might want to look at part two of a two part series on breaking up the brace for some exercises that might be useful. Would love to hear how it goes.
I don't agree. 2 years old is way too young to be riding him in any way shape or form!! I've just bought a 4 1/2 year old straight out of a field and worked with him on the ground for 6 months. I've had no problems at all.
Please consider how little we did with this colt and how little we intend to do. For more on my personal thoughts on the correct age to start a horse you might consider watching episode 188 which deals with that topic. That said, I absolutely acknowledge that many horses can be started very productively much later in life. How about you do it your way and I do it mine?
In my experience growing up on a ranch with some great horse wranglers and then studying with some renown horse people like Buck and then training horses for decades myself, my preference is to: 1. Let them be foals until they're a year with only basic handling for healthcare, leading, grooming, being touched all over. 2. At one year refine the handling, teach them a bit more about boundaries and how to start following a lead on the ground. How to stand still for hoof trims. Stand to be bathed. 3. At 2 yrs remind them of the groundwork they've learned before and introduce the saddle and riding over 2 to 3 months. Riding sessions are very short because, as you note, their bones are not fully developed. The 2 year olds are then returned to the bigger herd and pretty much left alone except for hoof trimmings and wormings, standard vet care, etc. Each of those encounters provides an opportunity to reinforce earlier training. 4. At 3 they are reintroduced to riding and taught more refined movements then put into the light work rotation until they are closer to 4 years old when they can physically handle a full day of more demanding ranch work like sorting & branding days. Doing the above has meant I've only had a horse buck twice and once was because of a bee. Never figured out what the other was but only happened once. They become very reliable, calm , willing partners. Horses who willingly come when you call them. You just saddle them up and get to work. And most grow well into old age without a lot of health issues. Good with humans and herds. Mostly all quarter horses and a few Arabians and draft mixes.
Thanks for both your comments. I agree that it is best to start young horses in a hackamore or halter. That is my current practice. However, I have started a lot of colts in snaffle bits with good results. I routinely have their teeth checked before I start riding them, regardless of age.
Isn´t a 2 year old too young to have weight on his back? They are not fully grown yet in their body. We don´t startet horses under saddle that young in Norway. We do groundwork yes, driving them etc but we do not ride them at that young age.
I agree that two years old is too young to give a horse much to do under saddle . However, recall that this colt was born in March and was started in September. He was solidly two years old before he was started. Also, we did very little with him other than work on his acceptance and relaxation. Bottom line, there are argument to be made for starting horses sooner or later. My choice is to do less, sooner.
On the ranch where I grew up, and in all the years since, we would get them under saddle at 2, work them for a month or two for very short durations of time and then turn them back out with the bigger herd for another year for their bones to get stronger.
@@claudias4601 Just because something has been done for a long time doesn't mean it's right. A 2-year-old horse is not fully developed in its body yet. Horses are basically not created to carry weight on their backs. Therefore, they must at least be fully grown before doing this.
@@hermgaileyalifetimewithhorses In Norway we start putting weight on their back at about 4 years old. It does not mean that the horses are not trained before that age. We train them on the ground, drive them in a horse-wagon (builds muscles), go for a walk with them on a leash, train them on scary stuff they will have to get used to throughout their lives. Getting used to the saddle, etc. Keep up the good work with these magnificent animals who are always so willing to please the humans, as long as they are physically able to do so, and understand what we tells them. Have a nice September day.
I love how you and Tim (Anderson) both have the philosophy that training young horses should ideally look boring. Excellent advice.
Thanks for your comment. It is interesting that you mention Tim Anderson. The “boring is good“concept is just one of a number of very similar philosophies in our two approaches to horses. For me, it’s reassuring to see a horseman with Tim stature doing/saying some of the same things that I do. Thanks for watching
@@hermgaileyalifetimewithhorses Tim recommended checking you out in one of his videos, I'm very happy he did because I really enjoy your advice and wisdom.
As always, a great video . Your training philosophy and understanding of the horses mental and physical capabilities are so very important. Nice team work Melanie and Herm. Excited to see the next video.
Thanks for your comment. I agree that it’s pleasing to me to work with a younger writer. Good to see a new generation coming along! We are planning on putting up the fifth ride video this week. Hope you’ll watch.
Great to see this episode. Thank you Herme and Melanie
Thanks Nancy! Delighted that you’re watching.
Quietly does it, great job. Looking forward to the next video. 🏴
Thanks for your comment. Video of this colt’s
fifth ride will be up next week. Hope you enjoy it.
Congratulations!🎉
Thank you!!
Awesome video.
Thanks and thanks for watching.
2 is 2 young 2 ride.!
Thanks for your comment and good luck with your experiment. You might want to look at part two of a two part series on breaking up the brace for some exercises that might be useful. Would love to hear how it goes.
Great job!
Thanks. The credit belongs toMelanie. She did a good job preparing the colt for the first ride.I appreciate your comment and hope ,you keep watching.
A leaky saddle? Is that what he said?
Leaks riders!
@@hermgaileyalifetimewithhorses 🤣
I don't agree. 2 years old is way too young to be riding him in any way shape or form!! I've just bought a 4 1/2 year old straight out of a field and worked with him on the ground for 6 months. I've had no problems at all.
Please consider how little we did with this colt and how little we intend to do. For more on my personal thoughts on the correct age to start a horse you might consider watching episode 188 which deals with that topic. That said, I absolutely acknowledge that many horses can be started very productively much later in life. How about you do it your way and I do it mine?
In my experience growing up on a ranch with some great horse wranglers and then studying with some renown horse people like Buck and then training horses for decades myself, my preference is to:
1. Let them be foals until they're a year with only basic handling for healthcare, leading, grooming, being touched all over.
2. At one year refine the handling, teach them a bit more about boundaries and how to start following a lead on the ground. How to stand still for hoof trims. Stand to be bathed.
3. At 2 yrs remind them of the groundwork they've learned before and introduce the saddle and riding over 2 to 3 months. Riding sessions are very short because, as you note, their bones are not fully developed.
The 2 year olds are then returned to the bigger herd and pretty much left alone except for hoof trimmings and wormings, standard vet care, etc. Each of those encounters provides an opportunity to reinforce earlier training.
4. At 3 they are reintroduced to riding and taught more refined movements then put into the light work rotation until they are closer to 4 years old when they can physically handle a full day of more demanding ranch work like sorting & branding days.
Doing the above has meant I've only had a horse buck twice and once was because of a bee. Never figured out what the other was but only happened once.
They become very reliable, calm , willing partners. Horses who willingly come when you call them. You just saddle them up and get to work. And most grow well into old age without a lot of health issues.
Good with humans and herds.
Mostly all quarter horses and a few Arabians and draft mixes.
But the video was good 🙂 Glad you didn´t use a bit on him. Because their teeth are not fully developed at that age either 🙃
Thanks for both your comments. I agree that it is best to start young horses in a hackamore or halter. That is my current practice. However, I have started a lot of colts in snaffle bits with good results. I routinely have their teeth checked before I start riding them, regardless of age.
Isn´t a 2 year old too young to have weight on his back? They are not fully grown yet in their body. We don´t startet horses under saddle that young in Norway. We do groundwork yes, driving them etc but we do not ride them at that young age.
I agree that two years old is too young to give a horse much to do under saddle . However, recall that this colt was born in March and was started in September. He was solidly two years old before he was started. Also, we did very little with him other than work on his acceptance and relaxation. Bottom line, there are argument to be made for starting horses sooner or later. My choice is to do less, sooner.
On the ranch where I grew up, and in all the years since, we would get them under saddle at 2, work them for a month or two for very short durations of time and then turn them back out with the bigger herd for another year for their bones to get stronger.
@@claudias4601 Just because something has been done for a long time doesn't mean it's right. A 2-year-old horse is not fully developed in its body yet. Horses are basically not created to carry weight on their backs. Therefore, they must at least be fully grown before doing this.
@@hermgaileyalifetimewithhorses In Norway we start putting weight on their back at about 4 years old. It does not mean that the horses are not trained before that age. We train them on the ground, drive them in a horse-wagon (builds muscles), go for a walk with them on a leash, train them on scary stuff they will have to get used to throughout their lives. Getting used to the saddle, etc.
Keep up the good work with these magnificent animals who are always so willing to please the humans, as long as they are physically able to do so, and understand what we tells them. Have a nice September day.