breaking 4year old

Question
hi Denise Michael here.i have been riding horses for a few year's now and i play polocrosse on the horse i have now.i trained him myself so i learned alot in a short time.so i have decided to break a 4 year old my self and just want to know where best place to start.horse has never had any handleing.very willing Philly all the same will leave u rub her when giving her nuts.all round neck ears so on.what is best way to get head collar on.without forcing her into it.dont belive in beating horse into submission.i have time to spend on her.i want to do a good job.thanks for your time.look forward to hearing from u.

Answer
Hi Michael!

I love to hear that not much has been done with your filly.  It means you have a blank slate to work with and that is much better than having to un-do bad training.  

Just one small thing...I never "break" my horses, I START them.  I never want to ride a broken horse!  I want to be in partnership with a well educated horse.  This is a small shift in thinking that will make a huge change in your horsemanship.

I always start colts in a round pen or other small corral.  If you don't have access to a round pen, just block off the corners in a small pen so your horse won't get stuck and can move smoothly.  

I start by hooking the horse on.  This is teaching the horse that you am a leader that can be trusted, has a plan and knows what to do.  Remember, horses know when YOU know and they know when you DON'T know.  This is the first real interaction with the horse in establishing a great working relationship.

Send the horse off at a working trot.  The second the horse acknowledges you, just the slightest try, get soft and quiet.  If your filly's attention is on anything other than you, get busy!  Set her to work.  Do what it takes to get a change.  Remember, at the moment her attention comes to you, take the pressure off!  When she faces up on you,  step back drawing her to you.  Keep up this pattern until you can send her off at a walk, trot and a canter both ways of the pen, have her disengage her hindquarters, face up on you and step her front quarters off in the new direction.  Pretty soon, she will be looking you up asking for direction and support.  You don't want your filly turning tail toward you, be aware of this.  Turning tail in your direction means she is escaping and in a very defensive frame.  Change your body position so that you are drawing her in to you, then adding pressure to an outside eye to get the change in direction.

There is SO much in starting a colt that I think it would be a life saver for you to check out Ray Hunt's website as well as Buck Brannaman.  Look for Buck's "Colt Starting" DVD and "Back to the Beginning" DVD by Ray Hunt.  If you have not seen ground work, being able to watch it will really help you.  

Just FYI, in starting colts, I layer on the information for the horse so it becomes second nature.  I work them loose in the round pen hooking them on.  Next step is to layer the information using a lass rope, and then another layer using the halter.  The horse learns how to disengage the hinds, can give to soft pressure, learns how to back softly by using body language, from my hand under the chin and from the end of a 12' lead.  I use a good rope halter with a 12' tree line lead.  You can find these halters on the web.  Double Diamond makes the best I have found with a very nice weight and feel. I lead the horse up under me while I'm sitting on the fence.  This allows the horse to get a good look at me from the same position I'll be in when I'm riding.  

Flags, Tarps and Slickers:  I spend a long time getting my horses good about these objects.  I NEVER make my horses stand still if they are worried about this stuff.  If they feel the need to move, GREAT, they just have to do it in a very meaningful way, disengaging their hinds, keeping all four legs moving smoothly, maintaining a proper inside bend and lifting the inside shoulder.  Get your horse good about these objects both standing still and moving.  It is very important that the be comfortable carrying these things at the walk and the trot.  

I'm really giving you the short course here.  I just want you to see how much there is to do when you start a colt with quality and don't miss important steps.  So many people make the mistake of sending their horses to college when they have never been to pre-school!!!  

Get good information.  Look up Buck and Ray.  Attend a clinic if at all possible.  These guys travel the country helping people like you with their horses, it is a real life saver!  I'll help all I can.  Check out some of my past answers on colt starting.   Remember, your horse is your best teacher.  Take your time, look for the answers and become a student of the horse.

Smiles and Miles (Horseback of Course!) Denise