~Colt Starting and Gentling~
“To be a great colt starter, you have to be as athletic as a Chimpanzee, as brave as a Lion Tamer, as strong as He-Man and as calm as a Zen Buddhist”
~ Tom Dorrance
~ Tom Dorrance
There are four basic stages that a horse goes through, throughout his life. Those stages are: Gentling; Starting; Foundation Training; and Specialization.
Often some horses fail to go through these stages properly or in the
correct order. If large gaps are left, you unlock only a fraction of
your horse’s potential. We are going to talk about the first two stages:
Gentling and Starting. Starting is broken down into two parts: Accept the Saddle and Accept the Rider.
1. Gentling = Total Confidence (accept the human as a leader and a friend)
2. Starting = Accept the Saddle (placement and girthing) + Accept the Rider (as a passenger then a guider)
3. Foundation Training= first 200-300 hours of Ground Training and Training Under Saddle
4. Specialization = Sport Training i.e. Dressage; Reining; Combined Training; Cutting etc…
1. Gentling = Total Confidence (accept the human as a leader and a friend)
2. Starting = Accept the Saddle (placement and girthing) + Accept the Rider (as a passenger then a guider)
3. Foundation Training= first 200-300 hours of Ground Training and Training Under Saddle
4. Specialization = Sport Training i.e. Dressage; Reining; Combined Training; Cutting etc…
Stage One: Gentling/Taming
People talk often about colt starting, but little emphasis is put on the crucial stage that must take place prior to the horse being saddled or ridden. This stage is called “gentling” or “taming”. Every horse needs to be gentled. For some horses, this takes place over the first 15-20 minutes of their lives during the imprinting process. For other horses, it may not take place for many years. Some owners/trainers even skip this crucial stage, and go right into riding the horse. These horses can be ridden, but not easily caught, or touched on the ears, or have their feet picked up etc...(all things involved in the gentling process). These are the horses that are often sent back to trainers over and over, or pass from owner to owner. When I walk into a pen with a green horse, I make no assumptions regarding whether or not a horse has gone through the gentling stage of training.
"Instead of breaking and training horses...what we really should be thinking about is starting a relationship--and develop that into a partnership."
~Pat Parelli
“BASICALLY, WHAT IS GENTLING?” Gentling is simply teaching a horse that the human is nothing to fear. The horse must be absolutely CERTAIN that you are not going to harm him. Wild horses, such as mustangs are perfect examples of the horses you must first Gentle before you start under saddle. Wild Mustangs require all the expertise you can get your hands on. This leads us to the next Stage in a horse’s development~Starting.
"Instead of breaking and training horses...what we really should be thinking about is starting a relationship--and develop that into a partnership."
~Pat Parelli
“BASICALLY, WHAT IS GENTLING?” Gentling is simply teaching a horse that the human is nothing to fear. The horse must be absolutely CERTAIN that you are not going to harm him. Wild horses, such as mustangs are perfect examples of the horses you must first Gentle before you start under saddle. Wild Mustangs require all the expertise you can get your hands on. This leads us to the next Stage in a horse’s development~Starting.
Stage Two: Starting Under Saddle Part 1~Accept the Saddle
“A lot of time people ask me to start colts for them because I am young and athletic and many people say..."let Evan start ‘em". However I firmly believe that when I am 50, I will be even more expedient in starting colts than I am now; because I will have even better focus, feel, timing and balance, and I will always try to never make the same mistake twice.” –Evan Bonner
In the horse world, the young barn hands are usually the ones hired to break colts. When you’re young and expendable—you’re the colt starter! But many people are learning that instead of breaking and training horses, we should start a strong relationship that develops into a lifetime partnership. Colt-starting does not have to be any more dangerous than any other semi fast-paced horse activity such as gymkhana, team penning, or trail riding—however this is only true if the practitioner knows what he or she is doing. I believe colt-starting should be an area of high expertise—because a good start isn’t just something—it’s everything! Those first few experiences with the saddle, rider and snaffle can positively or negatively affect the horse for the rest of his life. You want that experience to be the best one possible!
“First cause your horse’s ideas to become your ideas—then cause your ideas to become your horse’s ideas.” ~Ray Hunt
In the horse world, the young barn hands are usually the ones hired to break colts. When you’re young and expendable—you’re the colt starter! But many people are learning that instead of breaking and training horses, we should start a strong relationship that develops into a lifetime partnership. Colt-starting does not have to be any more dangerous than any other semi fast-paced horse activity such as gymkhana, team penning, or trail riding—however this is only true if the practitioner knows what he or she is doing. I believe colt-starting should be an area of high expertise—because a good start isn’t just something—it’s everything! Those first few experiences with the saddle, rider and snaffle can positively or negatively affect the horse for the rest of his life. You want that experience to be the best one possible!
“First cause your horse’s ideas to become your ideas—then cause your ideas to become your horse’s ideas.” ~Ray Hunt
After a horse has become confident in the human handler, I will work toward getting the horse’s acceptance. Acceptance means that he has accepted the placement of the halter; followed by the placement of the saddle and girth; then accept a rider climbing up onto his back. However it is important to note that these things are not done TO the horse, but rather WITH and FOR the horse. We start by respecting the horse’s ideas and gradually, through passive persistence, cause our ideas to become our horse’s ideas.
Stage Two: Starting Under Saddle Part 2~Accept the Rider
When I first get on a horse, I will usually practice a few simple bending exercises as well as ask the horse to yield the hindquarters. This is for basic control. But rather than immediately making contact on the horse’s mouth, and suppling and softening the horse, I want to make sure the horse is completely comfortable with me being on his back at a walk, trot and canter. This means that for some time I act like a passenger. Eventually the horse will ask me for more guidance. In most cases, this basic guidance comes from a simple rope halter or hackamore. I do occasionally start a horse with a snaffle bit, but seldomly as it is only necessary for more refined communication--which comes after the horse has been ridden about 2-4 times in my opinion. Different practitioners have different opinions as to when it is the best time to transition into a snaffle bit. Some start them in a snaffle right away--while others wait up to 100 hours before using the snaffle. It really doesn't matter what tools we use or when; but rather how we use them--and for what purpose. Both snaffles and jaquimas (halters/hackamores) are non-leverage teaching tools. They both work very similarly and for the same purpose. A snaffle bit be more severe in inexperienced hands, but can also produce faster results with proper technique. To find out more about how these tools are traditionally used read my article: Bits, Bridles and Balance.
“It looks like magic but it’s not. It’s not supernatural, it’s supremely natural!”
~Tom Dorrance
“It looks like magic but it’s not. It’s not supernatural, it’s supremely natural!”
~Tom Dorrance
“HOW CAN I EXPECT A TYPICAL COLT STARTING TO UNFOLD?”
There is no exact timetable for starting colts. Quite often, owners who expect me to give them an exact formula are usually disappointed. However I usually like to commit about 20-30 hours into the process, which includes time spent introducing the owner to the horse and allowing the two of them to become familiar with using the language I have taught to the both of them.
Some of the things to expect while sending your horse to Evan Bonner to be Started or for Re-Starting will include the following:
Some of the things to expect while sending your horse to Evan Bonner to be Started or for Re-Starting will include the following:
- The Colt Start Skeleton which involves the horse accepting the human, the saddle, the rider and the snaffle.
- Basic Ground School and Round Penning Exercises
- Confidence with basic Obstacles
- Preparation Exercises for the Vet, Hoof Care Provider; Clipping; Paste Worming; and Shots
- Development of All Basic Movements: Simple Transitions—Walk-Trot-Canter-Canter-Trot-Walk; Simple Leg Yielding; Moving Front and Rear Quarters and Backing Up off the seat and leg aids.
- Experience on the trails both with and without companion horses and riders (only at certain barns and locations where convenient trails are available).
- Learning how to Open Gates
- Small Jumps (No more than 18” in preparation for logs or other trail obstacles).
- Simple Lead Changes
- Introduction to Snaffle Bit first wearing it, followed by gradual contact teaching Vertical Softness and Basic Balancing Postures
- Trailer Loading with Confidence
Further Details of the Program:
The Colt Starting or Re-Starting program lasts approximately 4-8 weeks. It’s about starting a relationship, so the owner can then develop a partnership, and progress safely, and confidently, with a willing horse.
As the training progresses, Evan will constantly re-evaluate your horse and will inform you of his or her constant progress and any special needs if necessary.
At the completion of the colt start, the owner attends a turnover period in a lesson format, which includes: sessions on Ground School and Round Penning (if round pen is available), followed by sessions on Mounted work, and an introduction to Mounted Refined work. Trail riding is also included at the owners’ request and if possible.
The Colt Starting or Re-Starting program lasts approximately 4-8 weeks. It’s about starting a relationship, so the owner can then develop a partnership, and progress safely, and confidently, with a willing horse.
As the training progresses, Evan will constantly re-evaluate your horse and will inform you of his or her constant progress and any special needs if necessary.
At the completion of the colt start, the owner attends a turnover period in a lesson format, which includes: sessions on Ground School and Round Penning (if round pen is available), followed by sessions on Mounted work, and an introduction to Mounted Refined work. Trail riding is also included at the owners’ request and if possible.
A separate contract will be arranged between you and the owner of the particular barn that accommodates your horse during the colt start.
Evan will accept any age of horse, providing it is physically strong enough. Ideally, three years old is the best age to be started.
Stallions are only taken under special considerations. The owner must prove that they are qualified to properly handle a stud horse.
If you require any more information, please contact Evan Bonner at 360-551-3736 or email him at Evan.Bonner@gmail.com.
Evan will accept any age of horse, providing it is physically strong enough. Ideally, three years old is the best age to be started.
Stallions are only taken under special considerations. The owner must prove that they are qualified to properly handle a stud horse.
If you require any more information, please contact Evan Bonner at 360-551-3736 or email him at Evan.Bonner@gmail.com.
