Young Horse and Starting

Full Join Up™ Guidance Join IH Trainer Sandra Williams for a demonstration of Intelligent Horsemanship methods for starting a young horse (or working with a new one). You’ll see a full Join-Up™, adhering to IH ‘guidelines to starting young horses’.

This video covers: a straight Join-Up™; safe tack introduction (training saddle/normal saddle & breast strap); a second send away with saddle (stirrups rolled); invitation in; correctly fitting hobble (with twist); long lining (walk, trot, 2 x direction changes, back up); safe line removal; introduction of rider (stroking, hobble as neck strap, attaching reins); safe leg-up positions (including showing offside eye); rider on (safe tight circles, hind leg stepping under); moving to a larger circle (if confident); safe rider removal; safe exit; self-tack removal; stroke, walk, safe pen exit. Throughout, we emphasise safety awareness and clear communication, demonstrating the initial stages of preparing a horse for ridden work using IH principles.

In this video, we’re taking a look at how to introduce young or inexperienced horses to ditch jumping for the very first time. We start right at the beginning, letting Barney have a good look at the plastic tray you often find at the bottom of competition ditches. Then, we progress to walking him over a flat representation – just some black plastic laid on the ground. It’s all about those small, steady steps!

This episode of Top Marks documents the initial activities and challenges faced by a team preparing for a horse demonstration event in Dorset. The programme focuses on assessing horses for suitability, addressing behavioural issues, and introducing young horses to the demonstration environment.

“The IH Ultimate Guide To Longlining” provides a comprehensive overview of long lining horses, a versatile training method with numerous benefits. It covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques, including navigating obstacles and long lining in different environments. The guide also touches on long reining for schooling and rebalancing horses.

This document, “Ground to Saddle,” by IH Trainer Jim Goddard, guides horse owners on transitioning IH principles from groundwork to ridden exercises. Goddard emphasises a thoughtful and intentional approach to horse training, highlighting the importance of pressure and release, and encourages riders to think like educators, breaking down exercises into smaller parts. The guide focuses on building the horse’s understanding, balance, suppleness, and confidence through a series of specific exercises.

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