Horse training

[abbygibson1212]

So I have a 9 year old blm mustang, I got him as a yearling and halter broke him, had him lunging, picking up his feet, and I've even sat on him before. But it's been years since I've actually worked with him. I have led him around a few times with the lead rope and I go out and pet him and brush him, but I got so busy with school and other things that I just never had time to work with him. So I'm wanting to get him to where I can ride him, and I don't know where to start, I don't have a whole lot of experience working with horses. Or maybe I should get a trainer to work with him, but I don't know where there is one close to me who would be willing to work with a 9 year old mustang that doesn't know how to do anything except be led around. Does anyone have any suggestions?

This is him

 

[Folly's place]

He's cute! Take the time to find a barn and trainer who will do the right things, and not mess up an untrained horse. I'm in Michigan with a good place, but that's far for you. Ask around, visit places, and see who's not horribly far away. Mary

 

[Serenity06]

It sounds like you had already gotten a lot done by yourself. Trying to do everything on your own is dangerous, but I can tell you what I've done that worked for me and my horse. I'm not as experienced as some people, and I'm certainly not a trainer but here's my knowledge... Keep taking up time with him, brushing him, leading him, lunging him. Get him use to a blanket, saddle, and bridle. Let him see it and smell it every day until he let's you put it on him. Start lunging him with the saddle on so he can get the feel of it. Then let him get comfortable with you putting pressure in the saddle with your hand or foot as if you're going to get on. Once he let's you get on just get back off, and repeat until he doesn't mind. There are a lot of horse training videos online from experienced trainers you can use for pointers. However, it would be a lot easier (not to mention safer) just to pay someone with more experience to do it for you, and help you out as well. Good luck! And beautiful horse

 

[Bunnylady]

There's an old saying in the horse world, "green plus green equals black and blue." An inexperienced person with an untrained horse is in a very dangerous place. But "training" isn't like an app you can download to your phone; a horse is constantly learning. You may pay a trainer to teach your horse to accept tack and respond to cues, but every day, you teach your horse how to interact with you. Whether your horse learns to do things that you don't want him to will depend on you. Even if you do send him to a trainer, you need lessons too. If you don't have someone to work with you, then definitely read all you can and watch the videos. EVERYBODY that owns a horse is a horse trainer - whether you are a good one or not depends on how much you know.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I agree with Bunnylady. I have years and years of experience with horses and thinking about training one from the ground up is a pretty intimidating thought for me! My dad trained a two year old we bought several years ago and he did a good job, but he took a ton of risks. I think the horse we ended up with was smart and learned things quickly, so I think he got lucky with her personality too. She's a decent trail horse, but nothing I would put in a show ring.

It's a lot easier to ruin a good horse than to train a good horse. I would definitely recommend a trainer, preferably a trainer that would allow you to work with the horse as well. I would also recommend lessons for you. I had some great trainers over the years that knew I had a horse at home so I appreciated training tips in addition to riding tips. That was very helpful!

 

[abbygibson1212]

Thank you for all the replies! @Folly's place @Serenity06 @Bunnylady @Chickerdoodle13
As of right now I am having trouble re teaching him how to lunge, but I've been watching a lot of videos and I think I may need to invest in a lunge whip to keep him out of my space, I'm having trouble finding a trainer near me so I will have to keep working with him while I look. Luckily I have a little mare who's about 13.5 hands high who is green broke, and I do a lot of ground work with her that I learn from, and soon will be able to use on my mustang, she's very calm and good tempered and doesn't mind me trying out new techniques on her. I've even been working on getting her to lay down recently

 

[Peaches Lee]

Well, during the meantime while you look for a trainer, how about some books. Pony Club books are extremely useful and teach you very basic things all centered on safety (look for United States Pony Club books). Also you could try "Lessons on the Lunge" by Molly Sivewright to help you with lunging. Good luck to you, he's a cutie!