New yearling. What Training is Best?

There are so many natural training videos and dvds out there.

And they are not cheap.

So I was just wondering if I could get testimonials good and bad about the training methods you all have used on your horses.

My colt is a Fox Trotter if that matters.

The real live one that can help you with all the problems that can happen. Trust me a video can't help you with every thing. But as far as vids go I like this one

Reis Ranch - Natural Horsemanship

I don't exactly get what you mean.

I'm talking about a real trainer like a human that comes to you or you go to them.

I don't know if John Lyons has DVDs, but I'm currently reading one of his books on starting young horses, and it's a very good marriage of humane training while still keeping the human safe. So far very good common sense stuff. I also like Dennis Reis and Chris Cox. If you have RFD-TV, watch a few different shows and see which method appeals to you. They're all basically the same. Some just come along with more marketing and gadgets you have to buy than others.

Thank you

I will have a trainer for the little guy but not for a few more months cause we will be getting ready for the 2 yr old futurity

I second this.

Don't rely too much on videos and DVDs - they may be a good "reference" material, but they aren't going to be able to step in and show you (with your own horse) what to do or how to correct an unwanted behavior, etc.

Find someone who can meet with you and your horse every week, maybe every other week, to guide you and give you some pointers and who you can call and speak to directly if you're not sure about how to do something.

Remember, the horse is only a yearling and has a lot of learning to do, but not necessarily a lot of attention span. Keep the lessons short, but positive.

Work on things that any good horse should know. . .like leading calmly and respectfully (not forging or lagging), standing quietly for grooming, clipping, and farrier visits and vet exams, and basically just being touched all over (including having temperature taken - it amazes me how many people never do this!).

If you have the opportunity, expose the horse to other people, places and things that it may encounter out in "the real world." Take it for short rides in the trailer, maybe just to a trailhead where it can see other horses and trailers, dogs and people.

If you have seasoned trail horses, you could even go on short trail rides and pony the yearling along with you. Not only is it good exercise physically, but it is a good confidence-booster for the young horse. When the time comes to actually start training the horse for riding, it will already have that much more experience to prepare it!

Assuming that the horse is broke to lead and you can handle his feet my advice is to leave it alone. Your trainer will probably thank you. Overhandling a horse does not make them easier to train. When I get a young horse in to start, I would like the horse to lead and not be terrified of me. If I can get shoes on it then that's even better. As a trainer I want to desensitize the horse as I train because I might need some of that sensitivity to teach something then I will desensitize later.

Parelli :)

Have a trainer come out, or get a coach