I have a three year old that I hope becomes my next dressage partner and am looking for someone to start him. I live in Iowa but am willing to travel to bordering states for the right person. Does anyone have a trainer they recommend in my area that starts colts? If you wish to private message me your recommendations, that would be great!
What have you done already? I backed my own baby and found it was easy to do. I had done all his work, such a leading and tying, loading in and out a trailer, wearing a halter and then a bit.
I started putting a saddle pad on and off until he was comfortable, then a saddle and then girthing, then walking him around saddled. starting about 2, I would climb up on the mounting block and lean my body over him. That progressed to leaning over him with the saddle on. I got him used to weight in the stirrip, first pulling on it by hand, then stepping in it, then stepping up on it but not putting a leg over, then finally actually mounting. Did a lot of get on, then off.
Once I actually got up in the saddle, I didn’t put my feet in the stirrups but then had someone lead us around. Next progressed to walking him around with the bridle and bit with someone leading with a halter, gradually transferred to my hands on the reins. Always doing most of the turns and stops with legs and seat.
He really was comfortable with me so everything went smoothly. I think that’s better than a stranger.
If course, once we were steering at a walk, I took lessons with him, did lunging to introduce trot and canter.
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I have done everything you mentioned above - just haven’t sat in the saddle yet. I have contemplated doing it myself since he has been super easy so far and does trust me.
Kip Fladland, Griswold, IA
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Rather than sending him away, do you have someone who could be your ground person? Or do you lesson with someone and could take him there to have a good ground person? I totally would have someone with you to help the first few times you are actually on him. But I think it’s doable and better than sending him away.
A funny aside: He was so used to looking at me when I talked to him that he would try to twist his head around i f I said anything from the saddle at first. It felt like we were going to fall over into his shoulder.
I used to live in Ames which had a decent dressage community and most of them sent their youngsters to Verlin Potts for starting. I believe he was based in a small town somewhere around Boone, but I have been gone long enough to not remember for sure.
KIP FLADLAND - Griswold, IA. . … there is no one better, And his wife is an international FEI dressage rider.
www.lariataranch.com
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