30 Day Training

30 Day Training Goals

30 day training sessions start with the foundations needed for basic respect and control on the ground. Progress is highly dependent on the personality, experience, and readiness of the horse. Listed below are all of the exercises that we aim to work through during your horse’s first 30 days.

Some horses will take longer to work through certain exercises and we will work with you to develop an individualized plan that suits you and your horse. Older horses that are coming for a refresher course will still be started at the ground level and worked through all of the exercises to make sure we don’t miss any behavioral and training issues that might need work.

Most horses will not complete all of these exercises in 30 days, especially all of the Level 2 Riding Exercises. This guideline is used to help show goals and which level the horse was able to reach during training.

Level 1 Groundwork Exercises:

	Round Penning Stage 1	Maintains direction, stops, turns in
	Round Penning Stage 2	Changes pace on command, joins up and follows
	Desensitize to Rope	Accepts rope all over body, stands while rope is swung
	Desensitize to Stick & String	Accepts stick & string on body, stands while it is swung
	Yield Hindquarters	Crosses over hind feet on command
	Backing Up	Yields to pressure on halter as well as wiggling rope cue
	Yield Forequarters	Crosses over front feet on command
	Lunging Stage 1	Circles both directions, yields hindquarters to stop
	Flexing	Yields to lateral pressure on halter, both sides

Level 2 Groundwork Exercises:

	Sending	Passes respectfully between trainer and fence (or trailer)
	Slap and Tap	Accepts touch all over body
	Helicopter	Stands still while rope is swinging overhead
	Lunging Stage 2	Stops and turns on hindquarters to change direction
	Circle Driving Stage 1	Trots respectfully in a circle on a 4 ft lead
	Leading Respectfully	Maintains proper spacing, turns, trots and backs

Basic Handling & Care Work:

	Ties Up	Stands still while tied
	Grooming	Accepts brushes on all areas of the body
	Handling Feet	Lifts feet and stands still for cleaning
	Wet Spray	Stands for wet spray
	Bathing	Stands for bathing with hose
	Accepts splint boots	On front legs (back legs if requested)
	Accepts barefoot trail boots	If horse is barefoot during training period
	Loads/Unloads Trailer	Using sending exercise, lunging and backing

Level 1 Riding Exercises:

	Accepts Saddle & Bridle	Desensitized to saddle, accepts snaffle bit
	Flexing in Bridle	Flexing exercise from ground, responding to bit
	Accepts Rider	First rides in roundpen on lunge line, relaxes with rider on
	One Rein Stop	Flexing to a stop while being ridden at walk and trot
	Cruising Lesson	Maintaining walk or trot until asked to stop
	Follow the Fence	Introducing steering, staying by arena rail on loose rein
	Yielding the Hindquarters 1	Crossing over hind legs from a stop

Level 2 Riding Exercises:

	Yielding the Hindquarters 2	Crossing over hind legs from a walk or trot
	Accepts Spurs	Accepts and responds to spurs for advanced riding cues
	Bending Exercise	Softening head and body while riding circles
	Bending Transitions	Trotting off and then slowing to ride a circle at the walk
	Yield & Bend	Combining yield hindquarters and circles to soften horse
	Cantering	Introducing cantering into basic riding exercises
	Backing Up Stage 1	Yielding hindquarters and then backing up
	Vertical Flexion at Standstill	Dropping head at the poll, softening to the reins
	Backing Up Stage 2	Backing up from a stop, ending with vertical flexion
	Vertical Flexion at Walk, Trot	Dropping head at the poll, softening to reins while moving
	Gaiting	For gaited horses, using collection to find natural gaits