Stacy’s Video Diary: Jac-Episode 18- Keeping Jac soft and willing during the first rides

Total training time 21 hours 30 minutesStacy Trotting Jac

My goal is to make the groundwork and the mounted work so similar that there is very little difference aside from carrying the weight of the rider.

This video begins with a review of the cues I will need when riding a very green colt; bending from the ground, bending while moving, voice cues, dressage whip means go forward and bend to stop.

Can you see how Jac is noticeably more relaxed about these exercises than the last time he was videoed?

In this video I do a demonstration of half-way mounting both at the stand still and moving. The biggest reason for this is that half mounted is an easier position to dismount from. I demonstrate how it looks when it all goes as hoped. Then I demonstrate how to do an emergency dismount from this position.

I like to mount and dismount from both sides, repetitively, to build confidence in the colts, you can see how Stacy loping Jacthis has worked with Jac.

I also show how I like to hold my reins, whip and saddle during the first rides and I explain why.

Can you see how the groundwork and the mounted work are so similar that there is very little difference aside from carrying the weight of the rider?

22 Comments

  1. […] work (without a rider) bending while standing still and bending while moving (see Episode 16 & 18),  ground driving (see Episode 17), as well as mounted work. Once mounted up the horse should […]

  2. Belinda Betz on January 15, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    Good video. I’m wondering if you can give an estimate of time spent with each teaching/communication. Thanks.

  3. […] well. Jac was introduced to wearing the bit six hours into his training. If you watch the videos (Episode 18) you will see that overall his mouth is very quite, not chomping or chewing on the bit. Any earlier […]

  4. Anna Kupel on January 12, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    Stacy- do you find you can work on teaching a young horse to be quiet while mounting using a block? I am very short- just 5 ft tall, and while I can get up onto a 16+ hand horse from the ground with quite a bit of me re-positioning to get up, with a green horse, I worry that would be too much strain on the both of us. Using a block is obviously a little more time consuming, but do you think it’s a deal breaker and I should stay away from taller horses?

    • Stacy on January 12, 2014 at 1:50 pm

      Anna-It depends on your comfort level and you willingness to work. It doesn’t have to be a deal breaker but if it is going to rob you of enjoying the process you could consider shorter horses. The possibilities of training are almost endless. It is possible to teach them to bow or lay down or stretch out to be mounted…creativity and knowing yourself well will help you decide.

  5. ktyperrin on January 11, 2014 at 9:26 am

    I was so happy to see this posted!! He is a stunning mover.. I love his big lope. 🙂 I’m excited to see more. Thank you!!!

  6. ktyperrin on January 11, 2014 at 9:20 am

    I was so incredibly excited to see you had posted this! He is stunning, big loper! Your training is so thorough, it’s obvious that contributes greatly to his confidence. Thank you for sharing Stacy!

  7. Julie Ottaway on January 9, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    This has been so much fun to watch. Thank you.

  8. Mikaila Zanetti on January 9, 2014 at 11:53 am

    Im not starting a colt but i have a mare that has alot of issues with being saddled girthed and mounted and im gonna start from the beginning and watch all your episodes and maybe make my own video diary and share it with you not like copying you just to watch our progress.

  9. melody on January 9, 2014 at 10:13 am

    Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!! He looks great I am so happy to see you on him. I love your videos thank you so much for putting them up.

  10. Anne Morgan on January 9, 2014 at 8:13 am

    First ride on a colt. Why no hardhat?

  11. Jenn Lindstrom on January 9, 2014 at 12:03 am

    Congrats Stacy and Jac! I always love seeing the first few rides, it makes my heart melt! It’s so rewarding to see the results of all your hard work.
    Seeing this makes me want to cry. I had an Appy mare (Frosty), it took me 1 1/2 years to get us where I wanted us to be (she was very strong willed and spirited; but loving, kind and responsive. When I was pregnant with my first baby, she would always walk beside me in the field, but if I stopped she would “protect” my front by putting her head and neck in front of me if the other horses were around. She would touch her nose to my belly to greet me :)}
    I only had another 1 1/2 years with her until colic took her (I didn’t have the money for the surgery and didn’t have insurance). But our first ride made me cry because it was our hard work finally paying off!
    Now, I’m starting over. This time with a Clydesdale! Everyone asks me “why a Clyde?” Because he is a kind soul that no one wanted because his color isn’t “right” and conformation was off a little.
    Congrats again! I can’t wait to see more 🙂

  12. Ilene Roberts on January 8, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    YAY!! You guys look awesome!! This makes my heart happy!
    I do have a question though, in watching your legs, you bump for most of his forward motion, why is that? I bump and the horse moves on and I don’t keep bumping unless they’re not picking up the speed I ask or if they’re not moving off. I have a 2 and a half year old that I’ll be starting in another year or so and I am curious!
    Thanks Stacy!

  13. Madeline C. on January 8, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    This is great! He looks so relaxed and ready to learn. 🙂 Can’t wait to see what’s next!

  14. Maurene on January 8, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    Thank you so much for patiently and painstakingly, documenting all the details.

  15. Dana on January 8, 2014 at 5:03 pm

    Very Excited for you both!!! Love the way you have presented this, in way even novice rider can understand!! thank you!!!

  16. Pat Pearson on January 8, 2014 at 4:54 pm

    Been waiting for this day!!! Great job, Stacy! Will be watching to see when y’all arrive in Bowie. That’s only about an hour from here & I know the route well as there is a Pet Cemetery in Bowie where a number of my Chows are buried. They also do cremation & have done maybe 10 or so for me over the years. Its called Pine Hill Pet & Horse Cemetery & Crematory & is such a beautiful, peaceful place. I would soooooo love to meet you & your family as well as Jac & Popcorn!

  17. Geneviève Plante on January 8, 2014 at 3:35 pm

    great !! I can’t belive how good Jac looks. You are so lucky 😀

  18. Missie on January 8, 2014 at 3:18 pm

    Nice job!

    Unfortunately I am without sound on my computer. What do you do if they offer to buck the first time you ask for the lope?

  19. Diana on January 8, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    Very soft and quiet. Great job for you and Jac. Love it.

  20. Margaret Ames on January 8, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    Not able to watch the video. Getting an error occurred message. : (.

  21. Noel Niles on January 8, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    YAHOO!!! congrats, Stacy & Jac 🙂

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