Time for a good start By Clay Jackson
(This is a rewrite of an article I formerly published in California "Riding"magazine)
This is the time of year that many people are thinking about
starting their young horses with the hopes of a show career…. Spring has sprung
and summer is coming, it’s drying up outside soon and the season brings out the desire
to compete or just plain ride the countryside!
That may sound a bit dramatized, but it is the reality of
training horses, we either make them good or bad and that is mostly by
experience or ignorance, so if you chose to go down this path, pay attention to
details, pay attention to everything, especially yourself; Why, you may ask?…. Because, lack of
self-discipline or one’s ability to control the process, is often the resulting factor in turning your
training program from a well-meaning attempt into a mess and this is more
common than most understand.

So the first
principle I highlight is “time”. It is one of the most valuable assets
available to you. Do not waste it nor rush it when it comes to training a
horse. When I mentioned earlier "self- discipline" as one of the hardest for many
to even conceive of as a factor. Let me say, if more people used self-
discipline many horses would be saved the experience of pain, frustration and
FEAR! This holds true as well to anyone who works with horses, from handlers,
farriers, and veterinarians, any and all being professionals, should already
know this.

Timing is one of your
best learned tools, being quick to see a problem and perceptive enough to move a horse
along when they are ready or to wait will produce much better results, often
lasting a lifetime. My concern has always been seeing so many good horses quickly
pushed to competition, burned out by the pressure of it and then disposed of
like an unwanted dessert. The idea is all sugar coated and looks like something
easy and desirable, but even some professional trainers can spoil a horse and
often many young horses start down the path of ruin, not by the hand of an abuser
but by the hand of ignorance. The worst is the person who accepts this as a way
of cycling through horses till they find a rare one that can take whatever the
person is dishing out and still perform.
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"Metro" a re-schooled Holsteiner, who I brought back from the brink of ruin, he sold and moved to Canada with new owners, now happy with his life again in 3-day. |
I always caution new
horse owners to check out the trainers they choose, make sure they have a strong
background of working with young horses, there are far too many who assume
since they are good show riders or riding instructors, they must be good horse
trainers….when they can’t get the job done they advise the owners to sell or
dispose of the horse and buy a “trained” horse…. Thus making their job easier
and the horse ends up with a trainer like me. I can’t stress enough this is wholly
unnecessary in most cases and if you take the time the reward of patiently
training your horse will never be forgotten and you would be contributing to
our sport a well-balanced and happy performer.
As an example I was asked to work with a young mare, which
had been bred impeccably for her destined career, but had shown difficulty in
training and after being with several different trainers, the last gave the
owners advice to “put her down”. When I
met the mare she stood facing the back corner of the stall and would not engage
with anyone. Within one month of patient work, I had gained her trust and we
began to work successfully together.
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"Darcy" in her early canter work. Love this horse! |
I love training Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation horses but actually all horses and
along with that, my background from working with so many young horses early in my life has
helped me to understand and develop horses in the basics from day one to walking through the "in gate" at an "A" rated competition. No matter what discipline or use is intended it all starts with the basics and what I have learned is; it is a lot
easier and rewarding to take your time, be educated in your decisions, read, watch others, go to clinics and ALWAYS pay attention to different methods and the results, in
the end; your horse will tell you if you got it right! Ride on!
I currently train out of Santa Rosa, California and travel to teach clinics regionaly, you can reach me at: www.jacksonshowjumpers.com
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