Horse Training Day #1 - First Impressions

Meet Tiza! She’s a four year old Andalusian mare that just came into my training program to be properly started under saddle. I would love for you to follow along in her progress as I share with you my approach to training an unbroke horse. By the end of this awesome opportunity to train Tiza, my goal is to achieve her trust, self-confidence, mental and physical endurance, an open mind, an understanding of what is being asked of her, relaxation, intentional focus, and using her mind before reacting with her feet. There will be good days and bad days, I’m sure of that! Besides that, it’s as much as a surprise to me of what she’ll show us as it is to you! Each horse should feel successful at the end of the day and if they don’t, maybe we’re doing it wrong.

I listen to each horse as an individual in training and approach it as so. I’m always willing to do a little tweaking of my plan to support the horse in what it needs. I train with the intention to have a horse who wants to be there with me doing what I’m asking them to do; not out of force, but understanding of each other. I make plenty of mistakes and so do they. That is how we learn and commit to being better for them tomorrow. In my book, there’s no fast-track without holes, there’s no need to “get the bucks out” (it doesn’t need to go there for a horse to be safe. But if it seems that way, try going back to see what may have gotten lost in translation. Horses are very forgiving and most times ready to make a change to get them out of that broken cycle) it’s not a one horse, fits all when it comes to training, you can have a soft hand approach and still create boundaries and earn their respect. Respect is given not taken.

Green horses need guidance and over time they’ll gain experience. It doesn’t happen over night, but if done properly with the horse’s perspective in mind, you’ll have a solid, “grounded” citizen soon enough! Bad things happen when you’re in a rush: things said you regret saying, toes being stubbed and people getting hurt, a stressful environment for all involved, and an overwhelming feeling to run away for the moment...don’t rush your training, or that’s what you and your horse will experience.

Here is a short video of our meet and greet day! I’m excited to get started!

Day 1, first impressions.

Follow me on IG for more horsing around, and not just with horses: @richtracht

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