Young horse - novice rider: Five tips for success
February 24, 2011
Hobbes, purchased at the CSU Legends of Ranching Sale, continues to amaze us. Pairing Gregg, an owner new to horses, with a three-year-old was a gamble, but the other day, our suburban Poudre River bike trail proved no problem for this young Quarter Horse gelding.
Hobbes calmly and safely navigated cyclists, strollers, roller-bladers, pedestrians, wood and cement bridges, as well as a tree-root infested water obstacle. In the arena, he has mastered canter pickups, leg yields, and is working up to spins. Hobbes also spent an entire day recently herding cattle at a friend’s Wyoming ranch!
I credit much of Gregg’s success to the following:
- Round-penning before riding
- Using an experienced horse as a buddy
- Being open to the voice of experience
- Regular workouts for horse AND rider
- Wearing a helmet. Yes, there have been a couple spills after we broke the workout routine, and it was cold, windy and close to dinner.
Stay tuned as we continue to work with this amazing horse!
Hobbes' purchase: Some rules were made to be broken
Buying a horse: 14 questions you should ask
(Karin Livingston was a career 4-H leader specializing in horses, and is the author of the young adult horse novel, Winning Bet. You can subscribe to this blog ad-free on your e-reader.)