The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Very new and need help...

1K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  BrownFamilyFarm 
#1 ·
Let me break this down for you so you guys can understand where I am coming from.

We have a farm. Small farm. Mostly 4-H animals. That is until 1 year ago when we got into the horse scene. I've done 4-H all my life but never into horses. We're all passed the age for 4-H now but still maintain 5 horses, a few goats, chickens, pigs, etc... for pleasure and fun.

Recently moved back home so my wife could be with my family while I was on my deployment to Afghanistan. Needless to say Mr. Obama cut back on our battalion going so now I'm home for bit piecing things back together.

My wife has always like my families animals so I decided to get a horse for her (and I). My brother and I went and found a gentleman who needed to get rid of two QH yearlings. We got them and brought them home. Needless to say, we love them. Here's the kicker, all horses we currently have and have had, were previously broke (in some fashion or another) before we got them. These obviously are not.

----We don't know what to do or where to begin-----
The colt is mine and I named him Jax the Ripper (Jax) he has never been played with by the previous owner.

The first thing I am trying to do is halter break him. I am not sure if what I am doing is right. Every morning before I turn him, I put on his halter (hassle) and every night I take it off. He is getting better but is there something more I can do? Like do it multiple times during the day?

There are a million more questions I have but I will let this one settle and soak a while.

Thanks in Advance!

Rick
BrownFamilyFarm
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Am I correct in understanding that you'r quite new to horse riding and training? If so, it's difficult to start from scratch without a mentor to help you along. There are some fairly good videos and books out there that might help more than a web forum--seeing a film is certainly preferable to reading a decription.
 
#11 ·
Am I correct in understanding that you'r quite new to horse riding and training? If so, it's difficult to start from scratch without a mentor to help you along. There are some fairly good videos and books out there that might help more than a web forum--seeing a film is certainly preferable to reading a decription.

I agree with a mentor. It not completely hopeless if you are willing to put in the effort to get him used to being handle (touching grooming leading) and have a knowledgeable persona ssisting you with breaking them. I bought a 4 month old that hadnt been handled and this year she turned 3 and my friend/mentor helped me. She is green broke now! She stand to mount, dismount. She's doing great! Im green too, but it does involve the saying green+green=black and blue, but if ur willing to get some color in ur skin, its not implossible. You just have to admit when ur scared or when u need help and ask LOTS of questions, even with things u tink u know. U can always learn something new!
 
#3 ·
Hi Rick,

I hate to say this, but you're in a dangerous and no-win situation. If you've never had to train a horse, and you're trying to handle one that has never been messed with, things will not go well. Period. You're not even sure how to halter break a horse - I don't see how you would go about saddle breaking it. It seems easy to break a horse at first but there is a lot involved. I'm sure you've done well with the 4-H horses you've had in the past, but riding and breaking to ride are very different things and training horses should only be done by those who know what they are doing.

I recommend talking to a trainer about training your horses. I'm sure they could give you pointers so you could learn along the way too. Also, be sure to watch a lot of videos and read as many books as you can get your hands on. But nothing can substitute hands-on training.

Your question - where do I start - is like someone asking a doctor "Where do I begin?" when about to start surgery on a patient when they've merely seen surgeries performed.

Learning about horses takes years, not weeks, to master. Please keep that in mind, no matter what you decide to do.
 
#4 ·
I do agree with the above posters. So my advice would be to have someone more knowledgeable show you what to do. With you and your family being in 4H I'm sure you have plenty of folks to talk to.

I do want to stop and thank you for your service to this country.

As for the halter breaking, it sounds like your making success with what your doing so continue this. Brush and touch everywhere on these babies. Expose these babies to everything. The more you do with them the better off you will be when it does come time to saddles.

I don't want to give you too much info as I truly think it would be best to have a friend come and show you. Be careful around them but firm. They are like children that need swift discipline and gentleness. I don't mind helping but first educate yourself before you go to far. Good luck and Again Thank You! God Bless!
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#5 ·
Taking it off and on several times in 1 session and not leaving it on all day would be my preference. Lot's of brushing, handling, picking up feet would help also. Then sacking out. I totally agree on video's or watching it on the horse channels as it makes sense seeing it done.
 
#6 ·
Yep, you're going to need to call in some reserves. However, you're still going to halter break your horse before you get any other help or read or watch videos. Just a suggestion in your haltering would be to not think about it as halter breaking. By putting your hands in several different places on his head, ask him to keep his head slightly bent toward you while you're standing at his neck. Don't hold it there, keep lightening your touch or moving it off an inch or so. Then, when he moves ask him to put it back. Then, having the halter just hanging in your hand while you do all this, you can rub him and slip it on and off while he keeps his head there. Maybe give him a treat while his head is in the right position and either walk away with the halter or put it on.
 
#7 ·
I appreciate the responses. Our farm has never dealt with breaking horses as we stick to sheep/swine/goats and older rescued horses (already broke) so we knew this would be a challenge. I do know a lot of people in the scene that could help.

To be honest I am a big forum person (expert on AMHD) so I wanted to involve myself and learn as much as I could in my free time.

Looks like I'm calling in my friends fiance! Thanks again guys.
 
#8 ·
If you keep in mind that horses run when afraid and will do what it can to get away, that they are claustrophobic. A horse fears having either his juglar ripped open or his hamstring severed. This is why the colt gives you a bad time with haltering. If you have a small pen just spend some time with it in there, you with a comfy chair and something to read and just let the colt check you out. Don't try to touch it the first few times you do this. He is trying to figure out if you are a threat or not. You might want to put a little hay under your chair as enticement. In a week's time I'm hoping you will post your progress that you are rubbing him all over with the halter and that he's good with that.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I wanted to update you guys on our progress with Jax and Blaze.

Since posting last there are 3 major things we have been working on with these two yearlings.

1. Leading
2. Sacking Out
3. Tying Up

1. I will begin with leading first. They are tons better than they were at the beginning of the week. They have made such progress. Jax has a small issue with leading or walking a lone but is getting better at it. Blaze is a carefree, lets go have some fun kinda filly.

2. Sacking out has been relatively fun. I say relatively because Jax is very head-shy so he spooks easily but we reassure that what we have and what we're doing is harmless and he settles down. Blaze again, just doesn't seem to be bothered by much.

3. Tying Up has been great. As long as someone is there petting, scratching, brushing, loving them then they stay put and behave. Which is a far cry from a week ago.

To update you guys on the halter breaking. They have been great. Before we turn them out in the morning we halter them. Again, Jax is a little head-shy so he takes some reassuring with the halter sometimes but I just rub him with it, let him smell it, and then he doesn't mind it being put on.

One thing I have realized watching these horses the past week is that even though Jax tries to be dominant over Blaze (pushing her, leading her in the coral, etc..) he is a very insecure colt. He needs reassured a lot while training. Which is fine because I love being there with him.

The next thing we're working on is the feet.

P.S. I have had help come over and teach us, inform us, and enlighten us on horse training. Obviously, every horse is different and people train differently but I really think that what I am doing with these two yearlings is really working. Looking at where they are now to where they were, somethings got to be working.

Makes me not take for granted a broke horse when we get one :D
 
#10 ·
Keep on going with your training, using books & videos & advice. But remember when you run into a problem, I recommend you seek professional help, well worth the money. You can do this, but please don't be afraid to seek out a trainer to assist. Best money you can spend when these horses are ready for saddle training is a trainer, bar none. No one will disagree with me on this post.
 
#12 ·
I am learning everyday. The difference between a 6yo (our youngest BROKEN rescue) and a yearling is massive. There are so many things I took for granted when we got a broken horse, now I know what it takes to get to that point. It truly is an amazing thing.

My friends fiance that comes over and helps is from a family of horse training. She has been a tremendous help and offers help, advice, etc... whenever. I truly am greatful for her because honestly I would be black N blue if no for her :D

The only thing I disagree with this girl on is the feed. As I stated before I am Marine and so I take care of my body and I know quite abit about nutrition and bodybuilding. Am I wrong to assume the same with the horses?

I will take a peek around the nutrition section to get more info.

Thanks again!
 
#14 ·
Nutritional needs, yes. But the affects are similiar isn't it? Protein without exercise turns to fat. Protein with exercise equals building muscle and growth, etc...?

My question was more geared toward ration balancer (what we currently use) and sweet feed ratio.

Now, as I stated in my first post, these horses were never fed anything other than hay every once in a while so they weren't used to our balancer. We bought a few bags of sweet feed (12%TB) which they did start eating and slowly transitioned them over to the 30%. Now, we have some sweet feed left and they like it but that doesn't mean it's good for them. I thought sugars were bad for digesting (thats why we've always used a 30% balancer). Is it ok to finish the bags we have left or will it have adverse affects while they're growing.

We give our two yearlings about 2.5-3lbs of ration balancer (30%) per horse per day with unlimited access to hay, water, salt block. Does this suffice for a growing yearling?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top