How Are Young Horses Started in Europe?

[Shenandoah]

Cross-posted in the Dressage Forum also.
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I viewed a DVD the other day of 25 sale horses that are to be auctioned in Germany by Performance Sales International. The horses ranged in age from 3 to 5 or 6. Every single one of them had forward fancy gaits, moved uphill and were round and steady in the bridle. So my question is: how are these young horses started and are there people in the US that can start them the same way. I have a youngster that I need to have started in the spring and would love to know more about the methods used by the people who break horses. Yes, I do know that there is an "auction trot", but these horses were beautifully started and happy in their work. I'd be interested in learning more about the "system". The riders in the video were mostly young women who were beautiful, quiet riders who could really follow the horse's movements and not inhibit them. Very impressive.:):yes:

[Oakstable]

I have a young rider who has done a good job starting my horse.

A cowboy introduced him to the tack and sat on him a couple of times first.

I too am interested in answers to the OP's question.

[dressurpferd01]

I'll basically repeat the responses from the Dressage thread. Lunged in side-reins for a few weeks, get on, ride correctly from the start. Forward into soft contact, voila, good young horse. Really not nearly as complicated as most Americans seem to think.

[Equilibrium]

I don't think it's very different to be honest. These are sales horses so they have to be going forward. Possibly more forward than some other ones who needed time to blossom. You are talking 25 horses here, not quite a foal crop is it?

We start youngsters as a business and it's very easy as long as you have patience. Sounds stupid, but one little scare and you have problems. My husband and I work as a team with him doing all the ground work and me as rider. I weigh 100pds so I have a good advantage.

Never ever had any problems introducing tack to any horse even the untouched, and I do mean untouched, gypsy lunatic vanners. And I have always been a save myself type of person!

Lunging and driving for a good month but I am also backing them when they come in from work. Again laying over, patting, moving all over them all the time - cheap suiting them really. I despise not being able to pat a horse anywhere! I ride them around in the stable. Not for most, but I have no problems with it and not one has ever offered to buck or be nasty. If they are reluctant to go forward, they need more ground work. For the sporthorses we use a degouge instead of side reins after establishing lunging and driving.

All the horses are voice command trained and know the word whoa. And they continue knowing whoa. We try not to ride in the arena as a constant. Getting them out in the field and other places is a must. This keeps them happy and forward as well.

Again, I will get ripped for this as being a given but you will be surprised how often horses get messed up. Every horse is different and some don't start out being the wonderful forward horse you've always dreamed of. Some will take longer, some need to be backed off of to digest what's happening. Some need to be pushed ever so slightly and some need someone to say " you are a riding horse, not a pasture pet". Most often the ones in the last catagory are the ones who have been left to their own devices for 4 years and owner suddenly wants them competing in 8 weeks time from the instant the tack hits their backs.

Auction horses have a program with the end goal of being a money maker really. There is nothing wrong with it and obviously they are happy horses that have flown through being started - dream horses. How and ever, most horses are easy and intelligent to deal with and like having something to do. Also remember to build all around muscling and conditioning, almost all big yards in Europe will avail of the eurocizer walking machine. Lots and lots of walking and will get one fit too. We are fortunate to have one of those.

I don't think back home you need to avail of the "cowboy" for everything. Mr. Equilbrium always comments about how the Americans give their horses a better start than most because of the intense handling they have from birth and he means it in a good way. Any horse that starts it's a life as a foal with boundries and ground manners is practiacally started anyway. They are unfazed as they have learned confidence already. We start so many that have zero confidence with people. Sometimes the only time they are handled is for the occasional farrier and occasional worming - not really great human time.

Terri

[Merle]

I bought a 2 year old and started her myself since I was tired of trying out youngsters that were not trained how I like them. They were stiff, reluctant to move forward (people using spurs, tapping with the whip constantly), had bad manners, etc. It was a piece of cake to train my girl and she's happy, forward, and round. I never have to use a whip or use spurs since she is just perfectly light off my leg. I just rode her correctly from the beginning. She didn't get away with anything but I was fair and did not get in her way. It surprised me the day she came onto the bit since she was not very far along under saddle and it was almost as if she said alright, lets start getting down to business. I don't think I will ever buy a horse that is started from now own! So I don't think they are doing anything different at all.

[alexandra]

Please search, there was exactlythat topic here a few weeks ago and I o not want to type everything again ...

;-)

[Shenandoah]

Alexandra, Thanks for letting me know about the recent thread on European training methods for young horses. I searched under your posts and found it. So much great and useful information! :yes: