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!

You might have a young horse you bred standing in the paddock, pasture or like some, you’ve picked up a prospect from a breeder or an off the track or OTTB as they are commonly known, like the one in this picture to the left who ran several times before a change in careers. If you have not been down this road before I strongly suggest working with an experienced trainer or breeder who has; as this is one of the most crucial points in your horses life, the point where it learns to trust your direction and whose relationship with humans can be made wonderful over a lifetime or severely compromised in a matter of minutes.

    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.

      I have over the past 45 or so years worked with hundreds of horses, from young weanlings on my parent's active Quarter horse ranch to a large scale Thoroughbred breeding farm, as a trainer for those young horses bursting with energy and a bright eye on the new world, eventually to re-schooling seasoned show veterans whom have been made difficult to handle or have shut down and want nothing more to do with any work.  I have witnessed riders in 1.20m jumping classes on young horses who surprisingly, barely know the basics and are getting around on the horses shear natural ability rather than proper training and conditioning of both partners to seeing riders on the trail taking ridiculous chances, lacking the skills and sustaining injuries.

     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.

    Put yourself in the horse’s shoes, would you want to be rushed into doing something you don’t understand? How about packing your own parachute and getting ready to jump out of a plane? I had to pack my own parachute when I was 17 yrs old and I darn sure wanted to understand completely what I was doing, before I jumped from that plane and plummeted towards earth from 3500ft., that may seem like overkill in comparison, but hitting the ground with 1000 lbs. of horse landing on top of you will yield some nasty results. So your safety and the horse’s (sanity) need to be paramount. Take your time, give your horse a chance to learn, and give yourself a chance too! When you methodically, slowly progress in a training program there is much less chance you will miss something.  I train horses and coach riders continually and (often) find in every new horse or person I work with a missing step, one that has been overlooked in some very basic part which is inhibiting the progression forward. Being in a hurry to JUMP, being in a hurry to get COLLECTION, being in a hurry to just to go FAST….. These often lead to ultimate failure.

    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.

"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.

"Darcy" in her early canter work. Love this horse!

I finished after a time with her and sent her back home.  Nearly a year later I happened to run in to the owners at a local show who exuberantly came up and gave me a hug! They told me the mare was training beautifully and was very happy, the “Belle” of the barn, to my astonishment they said the current trainer thinks she will make Prix St. George…. I couldn’t have won any more of a prize; no blue ribbon replaces the feeling of training a horse to fruition.

      

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