starting 2 rescued colts

Question
I am nearly in tears because after 4 years, I havenot been able to find anyone nearby to start and make my horses rideable for someone of my level at a price thatis reasonable.  On the east coast most by made horses.  Mine have been ridden by a vacquero from Guatemala, but He is not interested in training only riding for fun.  These affectionate horses (one has kicked me twice) are half brothers who live at my house. I won't give them up to an uncertain future formy own pleasure.  Do you know of anyone  in the New York-Pennsylvania-CT area?

Answer
Hi Joan!

Yes!  I do know someone that can help you.  Ricky travels to Pennsylvania in the late fall and early winter when he is finished with his duties on the ranch.  

I met Ricky five years ago when after back surgery, I needed help with two colts.  One a 17+hh QH mare and the other a 16+hh QH gelding.  Needless to say I'm pretty fussy when it comes to starting colts.  This young man is a wonderful hand.  His mentor is Buck Brannaman, that should say it all.  

I'll give you contact information for Ricky but, here is what you need to do:  be prepared to learn.  Ricky, as well as the other horsemen I'll mention, only want to work with committed owners that want to learn how to train and handle their own horses.  They are looking for people that have  desire and try.  That sounds like you, Joan. Be prepared to do some hard work on you as well, not physical but, looking in the mirror, doing some soul searching, controlling your emotions for the good of the horse and becoming as honest as the horse.  

You can take your horses and attend one of Ricky's clinics or you can get some interested people together and sponsor a clinic of your own.  

If you attend one of Ricky's Colt Starting clinics, or sponsor one,  Ricky will start and ride your horse for you.  The clinics are three or four days long, I like the four days it just gives your horse more time.  In four days, a colt that has never been touched will be packing a snaffle bit, be saddled with quality, walk/trot/canter both ways of the pen, yielding hindquarters, backing soft, understanding the basics of the turn-around, pack a slicker and a flag, swing a rope, be mounted from the ground and from the fence, stop from a hind foot, lead from a front foot and so much more.  I've seen really troubled horses come soft and confident by day four.  The cost, depending on fuel prices these days, is between $100 and $130 per horse per day.  It is worth every penny.

You will get to see and lean about everything that happens with your horse.  Be prepared to ask questions from the heart, no shallow stuff here.  Be prepared to become a student of the horse and soak up every bit.  

Joan, I don't want you to get hurt.  Your horse kicking you is a sign of disrespect and fear.  If your Vaquero friend wants to have fun, send him elsewhere, he is not helping you or your horse.

I'd like it if you looked up Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman on the web also.  Ricky does not yet have a website.  I do have some pictures posted in an album on webshots.  There is a slide show of Rickys clinic in Arizona and some from Oregon.  The horses in these clinics now have a variety of different careers, from the "A" Hunters, working cow horses, three day eventing, to breed shows.  Ricky holds several clinics for dressage competitors and has started Warmbloods for a dressage facility in Big Fork, MT for the past few years.  

This is quality horsemanship.  I know how good your horses can be and how much you will learn.  Ricky can be reached at McGinnis Meadows Cattle and Guest Ranch in Libby Montana 406-293-5000.  He can be tough to reach sometimes, this is the busy time of year on a ranch.  If you need more help, let me now.  

Keep me in the loop Joan!  I'll help all I can!

Smiles and Miles (Horseback of Course!) Denise