colt starting in Coeur d'Alene ID area?

[springer]

I am actually located in Western Montana but have all but given up on finding a dressage based person to start my 3 yr old Andalusian here. So I'm hoping someone knows of such a person in the C D'A area which is only 2 hours away. Anyone?

[Kyzteke]

Springer -- I live close to CDA -- I can give you some suggestions, although I'm not sure we have exactly what you are looking for. Most of the dressage trainers in this area have someone else actually start the horse first (cowboy) if there is going to be trouble. Most dressage riders can't ride a buck very well it seems.

But if you are willing to go over to Washington, around Spokane, I can think of two more possibilities.

PM me with your contact info and I will come up with some names/phones on Thursday (I'm off to work now).

[Pielover]

Try Sigrid Shearn in Cheney Wa. just do a search for her phone # . If she is still starting horses she does a fantastic job of getting the dressage basics down .

[badawg]

I know of a great colt starter here in Bozeman. He's a cowboy, but believe it or not, has a fabulous classical background and actually takes dressage lessons. He has started many, many dressage/event horses from the surrounding states. PM me for details!

[Sanely Eccentric]

Talk to Gena Loper at Post Falls Equestrian Center. While she predominately trains western pleasure, she's an excellent horsewoman and well-respected in her skills and talent with horses. www.postfallsequestriancenter.com (note the dressage show pics on Prince and Ginger)

[Kyzteke]

I know of a great colt starter here in Bozeman. He's a cowboy, but believe it or not, has a fabulous classical background and actually takes dressage lessons. He has started many, many dressage/event horses from the surrounding states. PM me for details!

Badawg -- I'd love to know who this is. I actually have been looking for this sort of background for a colt starter for afew of my horses. Can you PM me some contact info?

[flyracing]

Springer- Dont be afraid to have your horse started by a "cowboy", we have a couple of very good one down here in Boise that do a very good job of starting the horses correctly. The saddle type is of little importance at that time. Go check out prospecitive places, look at the equipment they have for the young horses (flat snaffles vs wires ect), ask about the persons training philosophy. Some won't be as good as others at communicating, but I haven't had a colt starter yet that has lied about their methods for the sake of getting a horse in training. You can usually tell just from a phone call how the horses are treated and the attitude towards them. If you go visit a good colt started you will likely be very pleseantly suprised at how well they handle the horses and how extremely similar basic training is.

The only thing I like to watch out for is that some will back young horses off the bit too much if left in training to long. However, I have never personally had or seen this problem because a quick discussion with the trainer is all that is needed to "fix" this problem. If you are in doubt about your ability to expain the difference have your trainer call the cowboy, but in my experience the cowboys already know this slight difference in training methods and its no big deal.

[flyracing]

PS some of our "cowboys" even take the young horses all the way through their first *recognized* events or dressage shows, but they are still "cowboys" the rest of the time!:lol:

[springer]

The reason I want a non-cowboy trainer is that a local lady here, VERY well respected in starting horses, seemingly has no clue about how to get a horse to accept contact. I rode a young mare for her who was totally backed off the bit and that seems to be how western people want their horses. I would also like someone who has some experience with andalusian/ baroque breeds. They have a different sort of mind than the breeds (mostly quarter horses) that cowboy trainers are used to. I have contacted Shana Ritter who would be perfect accept that she is now located in Eugene OR.

[molliwog]

I'm not sure if he starts horses any more, but there's a gentleman in Lewistown named Ed Lamb who is excellent with young horses.

Rides mostly western horses now, but has a good classical background from many years back.

[leheath]

I'm not sure if you are still looking for a colt starter, but there is a guy here in Spokane who is very good with starting young horses and specifically has experience with baroque breeds (he loves them and has several in training right now). He combines some great cowboy/NH stuff with very correct classical dressage and is very good with the babies.

[unbridledoaks]

PM me. I am located 25 miles West of Spokane.

[Foxdale Farm]

I know a great person in Boise, strictly dressage. Is that too far away for you? If you're interested, here is her website: http://heather-oleson.com/Dressage.html.

www.foxdalefarm.us