Horse trainers

[PJ The Kid]

Hey ya'll, just wondering if there are any other horse trainers on here. Figured it'd be good to start a thread to bounce ideas back and forth.

I have been training for a little over 15 years. I started out tuning up some neighbors roping horses and trail horses when I was about 12 and moved to breaking horses after a couple years. Trained under various well known local trainers and barns along with training for myself. After these years I love that I am still learning.

My training style is somewhat of a cross between the many trainers I have studied and worked with. Kind of a mix between old school cowboy and natural horsemanship.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have five horses and three of them have never had a saddle on them, and probably never will. They are rescues that some friends had who could no longer take care of them due to a girl texting and driving into the side of his car. We've thought about hiring somebody to train them, but neither of us ride, or have any time to learn. They do a good job at keeping the pasture grass nice and short, and they are nice to look at.

 

[PJ The Kid]

I have had those horses before, too old to teach anything other than ground manners. But i normally always make sure any animals I have learn good manners, not waking over the top of you, listening, etc. Had a horse for years that I had foaled especially for me, awesome bloodlines for the disciplines I wanted to get into, tried to jump a fence and broke her neck, She was the best most gentle horse ever but an adult could not ride/work her due to her neck. She was great for small children puttering around the yard though.

 

[sseelhoff]

My wife is not a horse trainer per se, but has been riding since she was 8. She has bought yearlings before that she has broken, and trained. She rides jumpers. The first project, Tugboat, was a Percheron/Thoroughbred cross. He was jet black and quite talented. 18 hands. We sold him to our vet, who rode him fox hunting in Charleston.

Her current horse is a Belgian/Thoroughbred cross. Palomino with white socks, tail and mane. He is also a jumper, and competes at 3 feet and 3 feet 3 inches. He is about 17 hands. He's 9. She rides him on several circuits here, and has been year end champion and reserve at those heights. She has been offered a lot of money for him but refuses to sell. (darn it!)

Who knows what the next project will be. Some large cross, no doubt. She seems to like those better than pure thoroughbreds. Especially the warm blood/draft crosses. Seem to have a cooler temperament.

 

[PJ The Kid]

I have messed with some drafts. As long as they are full size they are pretty docile, the ones you have to watch are the draft ponies like a haflinger. Hardest I have ever hit the dirt was from a haflinger. My wife trains english and western pleasure (don't know much about it past there) I have a lot of respect for the disciplines but not alot of knowledge or interest. I mostly mess with rough-out and working horses. Trained quite a number of cutters, penners, ropers, ranch horses and such.

 

[sseelhoff]

I have messed with some drafts. As long as they are full size they are pretty docile, the ones you have to watch are the draft ponies like a haflinger. Hardest I have ever hit the dirt was from a haflinger. My wife trains english and western pleasure (don't know much about it past there) I have a lot of respect for the disciplines but not alot of knowledge or interest. I mostly mess with rough-out and working horses. Trained quite a number of cutters, penners, ropers, ranch horses and such.

I ride some, but not much and not often. When I do ride, I use an Australian saddle. For me the best part of having horses is that I need a tractor.

 

[sd455dan]

I ride some, but not much and not often. When I do ride, I use an Australian saddle. For me the best part of having horses is that I need a tractor.

:laughing: That's funny and fits me to...(not the riding part)

Take care of my 87 year old mothers horses- Saddlebreds and Arabian mixes and wife has purebred Saddlebred Mare. it could use some pro training , but probably to $$ for me

 

[RedNeckRacin]

My wife trains and boards them but is getting out of the business. We had 40 animals at one point and are hovering at around 17-20 now. I'd get rid of them in a heartbeat! They do nothing for me except create work. I don't ride them and have no interest too.

 

[TheMan419]

My wife is a trainer. That is why we are now living the rural life style and I am a tractor owner. I did not think that I would like it, but have fallen in love with it. Not sure I could go back to living in the city.

 

[vulcancowboy]

My wife and I trained and showed about 40 years ago, still help out at one show each year. Things have sure changed and I'm not sure for the better. Got out of it when our employer decided he was tired of paying us. Here's a pic from back in the day.

 

[PJ The Kid]

I agree with not changing for the better in the show side of things. Western pleasure and AQHA is ruined to me with forbeating, peanut pushing, broken gaits and strides, horses are getting hock and stifle problems at super young ages all because they wanna go slow with a head dragging the ground. Not to mention the politics and the shiniest saddle wins even if the horse and rider are trash.

 

[vulcancowboy]

I agree with not changing for the better in the show side of things. Western pleasure and AQHA is ruined to me with forbeating, peanut pushing, broken gaits and strides, horses are getting hock and stifle problems at super young ages all because they wanna go slow with a head dragging the ground. Not to mention the politics and the shiniest saddle wins even if the horse and rider are trash.

The ranch horse classes are a breath of fresh air, maybe there's hope!

 

[bunyip]

We have six TB's at home and train them for showjumping and dressage, the horse population varies and we sell some on and buy a few failed racehorses which make nice eventers.
Mostly successful but have had a couple of bad ones over the years.
I don't ride, I don't even tow anymore as daughters both have their own tow hacks and use my horse float, I just get lumbered with financing the new arena and round yard.

 

[sseelhoff]

I don't ride, I don't even tow anymore as daughters both have their own tow hacks and use my horse float, I just get lumbered with financing the new arena and round yard.

I think the happiest day in my father in law's life occurred when he turned over the horse and trailer duties to me.

When they referred to us as Bride and Groom, I had no idea they meant this:

 

[PJ The Kid]

Little video of the latest colt I am working with. Customer named him Goose because he was so jumpy. He had been man handled before she got ahold of him so she sent hi to me for training and desensitizing. He is coming right along. When we got him in he would spook at his own shadow, you could not touch his face or ears for clipping and he had little respect. Also not shown in this video, but will be in his week 2 video is swinging a rope around and off of him, and across him. Colt Starting week 1 on Goose - YouTube

 

[vulcancowboy]

Looking good! Almost nothing worse than a head-shy horse, looks like you've got that fixed. Keep up the good work.

 

[TheMan419]

I agree with not changing for the better in the show side of things. Western pleasure and AQHA is ruined to me with forbeating, peanut pushing, broken gaits and strides, horses are getting hock and stifle problems at super young ages all because they wanna go slow with a head dragging the ground. Not to mention the politics and the shiniest saddle wins even if the horse and rider are trash.

Plenty of other disciplines. Went to ONE AQHA show. Because of the stuff you mention won't go back. Wife trains Dressage but has cross trained ranch horse. Use the horse for what it was bread for. Working the ranch.

Dressage builds up the correct muscles for any kind of riding you want to do.

 

[PJ The Kid]

I totally agree, I love a good ranch horse, and I really respect the amount of time and training that goes into dressage and thoroughly enjoy spectating. Dressage in my experience builds more muscle and discipline where-as things like western pleasure actually physically break down the animal. I recently became aware of a ranch horse association near me, which I plan on watching a few events to see how it all works an if it is truly how it sounds. If it is how i think, and hope it is, I may compete in the events. Also hoping to get into a few colt starting competitions.

 

[sseelhoff]

I totally agree, I love a good ranch horse, and I really respect the amount of time and training that goes into dressage and thoroughly enjoy spectating. Dressage in my experience builds more muscle and discipline where-as things like western pleasure actually physically break down the animal. I recently became aware of a ranch horse association near me, which I plan on watching a few events to see how it all works an if it is truly how it sounds. If it is how i think, and hope it is, I may compete in the events. Also hoping to get into a few colt starting competitions.

You should check out the Mustang Makeover videos. They do some wonderful things with those horses.

I watched the trainer auction, then the final results at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. What these trainers were able to do with those wild mustangs was very impressive. FWIW, they have a prison in Kansas that also has a(or had? Haven't looked in a while) training program. They then sell the trained horses to the public.


Mustang

 

[PJ The Kid]

I have watched alot of the mustang makeover stuff. Its really neat! My dream is when I retire, I want to start a ranch for troubled kids working with horses and working in general. I know horses kept me out of alot of trouble as a kid and would like to try and pass that on. Along with the feeling of accomplishment when you turn a horse around like that