Before the Saddle

Before the saddle, I want my colts to trust me through softness, understanding, and clear communication. Never fear or force. My goal isn't simply to create a horse that accepts a rider, it's to create a partner who wants to work with me.

We have to remember that horses are prey animals. They are naturally programmed to move away from anything that feels scary, confusing, or unclear. That uncertainty is where problems begin. It's when they bolt, buck, rear, spin away, set back, or simply stop thinking altogether.

A confident horse that understands pressure and release, has emotional control, and is willing to search for the right answer will be safer and learn much faster once the saddle goes on. I believe it's far safer for both the horse and the rider if those emotional lessons are learned before anyone ever climbs on.

Because of that, I like to replace fear with understanding from the very beginning.

Through more than 25 years of living this horse life, I've learned to first decide exactly what I want that colt's job to be. From there, I create a detailed checklist of everything I believe that horse should understand before saddling day.

Then I simply start with step one.

Just like children learn to count long before they learn multiplication, I believe horses learn best when every lesson is broken into simple, understandable steps. Building one small success on top of another keeps the horse from becoming overwhelmed, makes the process safer, and creates a horse that truly understands instead of simply reacting.

Every trainer's checklist will look a little different depending on the discipline. My colts are typically started as family trail horses or barrel horses, so my list reflects the foundation I want for those jobs.

Early Handling Foundation

I have typically handled my colts daily from the time they are weanlings until they are around two years old. During this time, I am not trying to "train" them for a job. I'm simply teaching them that people are safe, pressure has meaning, and life around humans is predictable.

These early years build confidence that carries into every lesson that follows.

Checklist

☐ Leads respectfully beside the handler

☐ Stops when the handler stops

☐ Backs softly from pressure

☐ Respects personal space

☐ Allows touching over the entire body

☐ Picks up all four feet calmly

☐ Stands tied quietly

☐ Stands tied in multiple locations

☐ Is comfortable alone and with other horses

The Horse Should Feel

Calm. Safe. Never trapped.

Teaching Pressure and Release

Around the yearling to two-year-old stage, I begin formal groundwork.

This is where my horses learn one of the most important lessons of their lives:

Pressure is communication, not punishment.

Every cue has an answer, and when they search for that answer, the pressure disappears. That lesson becomes the foundation for everything they will ever learn under saddle.

Checklist

☐ Yields the hindquarters from pressure

☐ Yields the shoulders from pressure

☐ Moves each foot independently

☐ Backs from light pressure

☐ Yields the rib cage from pressure

☐ Lowers the head from light pressure

☐ Gives softly to halter pressure

☐ Flexes softly to the left and right

 

Free Lunging and Connection

I do not believe in putting a colt in a round pen and simply running circles until they are tired.

Instead, I prefer to free lunge. My goal is not to make the horse move.

My goal is to teach the horse to stay connected to me.

Movement is only part of the lesson. Attention, softness, rhythm, and willingness matter much more than speed.

Checklist

☐ Walks forward willingly

☐ Trots willingly

☐ Changes directions calmly

☐ Stops softly from a light cue

☐ Maintains rhythm without rushing

☐ Moves equally well in both directions

☐ Stays connected without pulling away

☐ Makes smooth transitions

☐ Keeps focus on the handler

My Rule

No chasing.

No exhaustion training.

No "run them until they give up."

I want a horse that is mentally connected, not mentally shut down.

Emotional Control

To me, this may be the most important phase before saddling.

Every horse will eventually become afraid of something.

The goal isn't to create a horse that never gets scared.

The goal is to create a horse that knows how to think when they are scared.

I want my horses to pause, search for an answer, and regain confidence instead of reacting through panic.

That lesson keeps both horse and rider safer for years to come.

Checklist

☐ Recovers quickly after a spook

☐ Stands quietly when asked

☐ Handles new environments calmly

☐ Maintains focus despite distractions. Not worried about their friends.

☐ Relaxes after movement

☐ Accepts pressure without exploding

☐ Accepts correction without fear

☐ Shows curiosity instead of panic

Why This Matters

A horse that cannot regulate its emotions on the ground will almost always struggle under saddle.

The saddle doesn't create confidence.

It simply magnifies the foundation that's already there.

Before the Saddle

Everything in this checklist has one purpose. To create a horse that trusts me.

I am looking for a horse that understands communication instead of fearing pressure. A horse that thinks instead of panics.

A horse that wants to stay with me because our partnership makes sense.

When saddling day finally comes, I'm not introducing an entirely new way of learning.

I'm simply continuing the same conversation we've been having since the beginning.

That's why I believe the most important training happens before the saddle ever touches their back.

 

 

In my next blog, Saddling Day & First Rides, I'll walk through how I introduce the saddle, my expectations for those first few rides, and how I continue building confidence without rushing the process.