Thoughts on riding 2-year olds

We've had good luck selling our broke 2-year olds as gentle, usable horses.  Mindy Poling bought Swanna on Swanna's 2nd birthday.  We went for a couple of rides just to make sure the match was made in heaven - it was.  Mindy got a pair of spurs and right snaffle and really did well.  These are a few tips I gave Mindy that are helpful to anyone riding a colt.

John - I just wanted to send you a picture of Swanna and me.  We enjoy having her, I want to get her into barrel racing or reigning.  We hope to see her updated picture on the internet. hope to keep in touch Dennis, Mindy and Trey

Mindy – I think you’re an excellent rider and Swanna is way past green broke and very gentle, but she’s still a teenager so here are a few things I’ve found helpful.

1. 2-year-olds require a willingness to discipline/train them more than an older horse.  The stud chain for your halter, chin strap on the bridle and spurs are your best friends.  You don’t have to use them, but they should always be part of your equipment you so you win the contest of wills immediately.  They give you the leverage to keep Swana from refusing obstacles or balking when you ask her to go.

2. She’ll adjust best if she gets 2 or 3 rides a week for the next 3-6 months.  If you have to skip several weeks she will test you to find out if you’re still the boss.  She isn’t likely to buck, but they are like kids that try their boundaries until they get spanked.  You can remind them to respect you with ground work to get the edge off – I just get on and face the music, but groundwork is a little smarter if she seems edgy.  When she’s 3 the need for this caution will disappear.

3. The ideal routine ride is 3-5 miles with lots of elevation change in an hour or so.  It helps her stay in shape and gets her into the mode of keeping her head down, walking without prancing, etc.

4. Most important gait – teach her a fast walk on the way home from a ride.  She’ll be settled down and want to after the adrenalin is gone.  You’ll have to use the spurs to pick up the speed and pull out of her little trot to dial her down.

5. Obstacles – She’s over many things as you have already seen.  I had trouble with a mud puddle the other day, even though she’s waded around in the Columbia River 3 weeks ago.  Consider everything she’s afraid of a training opportunity and make her face it until she’s over the spookiness.

6. Safety – most wrecks are self-inflicted. 

   • cinch (front or back) too loose can cause the saddle to slip and scare them

   • …too tight can bind them up and tempt her to crow hop

   • wire – horses generally panic when then get tangled in wire and cut themselves to shreds – you too if you’re on them.  You can use a lariat to train them not to fight entanglement (but its not a guarantee)

7. Reigning – horses learn by responding to pressure and release.  If we ride them with a tight rein it means the pressure is on all the time and they are frustrated by not being able to get away from the pain… eventually it leads to a run-away or a rearing habit.  If she won’t slow down stop her, release the pressure, then ask to back and release the pressure when she does.  Let that cycle be her discipline for wanting to trot and repeat it half dozen times if necessary.  Sometimes you can avoid the confrontation by riding her through rough terrain or obstacles so she’s busy watching where she’s going.

Lastly, she’ll be a great horse you can be proud to show others.  For 10 generations people bred her ancestors for confirmation, agility, quietness, speed, a pretty head, stamina, etc.  She’s a foundation quarter horse that has a ton of talent and is a tribute to the breed.  In two more years her value will double (more if she has specialized training).