Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 145
the rider
Island Life - December 2010
Above: Higgins being lunged
Left:Gracon
By Robert Booth
Horsemanship takes time!
Many times people have asked when
human contact, this should be done
handling and human contact. Older
they bring a horse for breaking ‘ How
from a foal. 2 lunging, accepting the
horses are often more difficult to break
many times do you get bucked off
bit, saddle, girth stirrups etc 3 in- hand
because they get used to their own
before he is broken’ hopefully the
work, sometimes long reining, forward
ways. He has spent 7 years running
answer is none. Starting horses is about
and restraining aids. 4 Leaning across
away from people using his instinct to
educating them to except all the stages
at the halt and moving. Mounting. 5
run from trouble. The first thing he had
of breaking rather than hoping you can
Ridden work.
to learn was trust and at the same time
become a rodeo rider. Not only does it
Two very different horses we are
running away was not the answer. He
hurt when you fall off but it can also do
breaking at the moment are Gracon a
was very easily scared and could have
endless harm to the horses confidence
3 year old warmblood x Irish gelding.
panicked at any time so extra time had
if his early ridden experience is a rider
He has been with us since a foal, bred
to be given to each stage. Luckily he is
falling all over him.
by the late Alvin Brooks from his mare
very intelligent and friendly when he
Gracie an Irish mare that evented and
realized that we weren't going to hurt
and confident to semi wild and very
dressaged to medium level before
him. He was very suspicious of every
nervous, but each horse must accept
retiring to be put in foal. Gracon has
thing new so extra time was taken to
each stage before they move on. It is up
proved the easy one accepting each
make sure he was completely happy.
to the trainer to recognize this and not
stage well and is now enjoying ridden
to take short cuts. Often the more easy
work and is looking like becoming a
such as horse whisperers, behaviorists,
going have problems later if the early
promising competition horse.
communicators etc. but to me the old
Young horses vary from well handled
Nowadays lots of new words are used
stages are rushed as when they feel
A pony called Higgins has proved
fitter and more confident they don't
more of a challenge. He was brought
of these as someone who understands
know the rules.
off the New Forest as a 7 year old and
horses, and this takes time.
In our system we start with- 1
handling , leading and tying up and
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fashioned word horsemanship covers all
was completely untouched from a newborn and has missed out on valuable
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