Author: Ken McNabb
Get Started on the Right Foot
In my three-week certification series, I present a variety of colt-starting highlights. Here are the top four for you to keep in mind.
- I want my colts right away to learn that they get a release when they give to pressure, when they face me, and when they’re close to me.
- Remember: Timing is everything because your release is what’s teaching the colt. I like to make sure I’m searching for every opportunity to give the horse a release so that he will be motivated to keep trying.
- Stay calm and cautious, but never sneaky. Predators sneak, so sneaky behavior will only make the horse suspicious of you.
- Take the time it takes.
I love to use a rope when starting colts. Once I’ve roped a colt, I will let him run around the pen a bit, being careful not to apply too much pressure at an early point. Then I release the pressure of the rope. Over time, I’ll make the distance between me and the colt smaller and smaller. If he tries to bolt, I’ll just stop him again and release the pressure when he turns to me. I want to teach him that when he faces his fears, they go away! When I get close to him and he can stay calm in my presence, letting me touch him without running off, I’ll take the rope off. I also love using it to run over a colt’s body and prepare him for things to come.
Find more colt-starting tips in my free seven-part series on my YouTube channel.
See this article in the September/October 2022 online edition:
September/October 2022
The Colorado Horse Source is an independently owned and operated print and online magazine for horse owners and enthusiasts of all breeds and disciplines in Colorado and surrounding area. Our contemporary editorial columns are predominantly written by experts in the region, covering the care, training, keeping and enjoyment of horses, with an eye to the specific concerns in our region.