Dear Friend and Horseman,

Welcome to another Horse Training Tips Insider.

In this issue I’m going to answer questions that were sent in by my members and subscribers. One question in particular was very good so I’m going to really focus on it. I think you’ll get a lot out of this… especially if you start any colts.

Speaking of starting colts, I want to spotlight one of my members who recently had some success with one of the colts that he started. I’ve reprinted his email here so you can read it for yourself. I thought he did absolutely great.

Here’s what he wrote:

Hi Larry,
I just wanted to write and tell you about my recent success through using your training videos.

I manage a large ranch in northern Arizona where we raise reg. Quarter Horses along with commercial cattle.

Although I’ve had years of experience with horses and have broke several colts in the past, last year I ordered your “Colt Starting Magic” videos along with the “Stopping Light and Collected” and “Rollbacks and Spins” DVDss.

Using your methods I started a 2yr. old stallion last spring. I rode him lightly this past fall during our works and then 90 days ago really started tuning him. Again, using your methods in the videos.

I entered the colt in Arizona’s largest Ranch Horse Competition and sale which is open to all ages of horses. There were 57 entries and at least 7 states represented.

To make a long story short…

We didn’t win first place BUT we made the finals and finished 9th overall. Many people were absolutely amazed at how such a young stallion could be so broke and compete in a class with older, more experienced horses.

Thank you Larry for putting your years and years of learning, through trial and error, into a few hours of excellent videos. I’ve watched them over and over and will continue to in the future.

Keep up the good work! I will be ordering more in the future and highly recommend them to everyone who is serious about truly getting between a horses ears and perfecting the training process.

Your friend,
Phil Straley

My reply:

Wow Phil, what can I say? Thank you for the kind words and letting me know that my videos were a help. You obviously did a fantastic job with your colt. Congratulations and I wish you continued success.

Okay, lets get started with the training questions

Here is an excellent question about colts that buck:

Hi Larry,

Thanks for your helpful tips. I really appreciated your solution to the “spooking” problem. I gave it a try and it really worked. I didn’t have to walk home on foot.

I have a question related to training colts. I have no problem getting my youngsters moving from walk to trot and back to walk, but some of them don’t want to canter – either bucking or crow-hopping in response.

How do you control this? The bucking can come from the excitement of speed or from resentment of being asked to move faster.

I don’t overwork my youngsters, seldom riding more than 20-30 minutes and stopping on a good note when they perform some request well, even if it isn’t the request I wanted to practice.

Any tips?

Thanks.

Diane McCluskey

My reply:

Hi Diane,

Your question is one of the best I’ve ever received. It is a problem that many people experience and don’t know what to do about it. I hope I can shed some light here in this newsletter.

Anyway, I’ll try to offer a solution that has worked well for me.

I really don’t have a standard procedure that I use when its time to lope a green colt. I kind of pick and choose the time when I feel I can do it without causing a wreck. If I can get the colt loped a few times without a mishap, I know I’m over the worst part.

Some colts I’ll lope the very first ride. Others, maybe the tenth ride. I’ve had some real athletic (and broncy) colts that I didn’t ask to lope until I’d ridden them for a month. To try to lope them sooner, would have definitely gotten me bucked off.

However, there are times when you really need to get on with the program and get the colt loped “now“.

Here is what I usually do when I need to lope a colt that I “know” will buck with me:

Before I ever ride a colt, I’ve tied his head around and taught him to give laterally to the bit. I’ve also “doubled” him (pulled him) from the ground so he knows what that is too. As long as I can get the colt’s head whenever I need it, I feel I can control him.

So, let’s say I’m on a colt and the colt is humpy and threatening to bog his head and buck.

The first thing I’ll do is reach down one rein and pull the colt’s head around to get control. Then, I’ll change sides and pull his head around on the other side. I want to remind him that I can “take his head away” whenever I want.

NOTE: If the colt struggles or resists giving his head, it may be necessary to use quick PULLS AND RELEASES instead of a steady pull.

Next, (while I have his head) I’ll start bumping his sides with the calf of my leg. The bumping will be light at first but I’ll soon increase it to a pretty strong “thump”. I thump his sides with one leg at a time and I’ll have the colt’s head pulled around while I thump.

I do this “thumping” to “entice” the colt to buck.

If he is going to buck, I want him to try it now “when I’m ready for it”. Most colts will try to buck, but as long as I have their head pulled around, they really can’t do it very well.

I’ll do this “pulling his head around and thumping his sides” until the colt has loosened up, relaxed and there is no longer any hump in his back.

On most colts, this is all that is needed to prepare them to lope with no bucking.

With colts that are more determined to buck, I’ll go a step further and “spank” them on the butt with the ends of the reins. (Of course, I have their head pulled around when I spank them so I can maintain control).

Spanking their butt makes them scurry around in a circle, gets them moving and loosened up. Usually, a swat or two will be enough to get the hump out of their back.

I do have an alternative method that I use on exceptionally big or broncy horses or colts.

Especially ones that really know how to buck… even on older horses that are habitual buckers.

If you have a really bad bucker, I suggest you get my videos about how to fix bad behavior problems.

If it’s a colt your starting, get How To Start Colts With A Hackamore (bosal) & Snaffle Bit.

Take care,

Larry Trocha
Larry Trocha Training Stable
HorseTrainingVideos.com

P.S.

I would like to take a moment to talk “frankly” about starting colts

A lot of folks email me to share how they got bucked off their colt. Some of these people were attending a “colt starting clinic” when it happened. They said the clinic was supposed to show them how to start the colt so he wouldn’t “want” to buck.

They went on to say… They were shown how to prepare the colt to be ridden. And were instructed to mount the colt with nothing on his head but a halter.

These people were surprised to find themselves bucked off and hurt in a matter of seconds.

Well, after starting hundreds and hundreds of colts and trying every conceivable method under the sun, this is what I’ve come to believe:

1. Some colts will try to buck no matter how carefully you prepare them.

2. Only a fool gets on an un-broke colt without the proper equipment.

Yes, I have witnessed some of the best colt starting clinicians in the country getting bucked off colts.

And yes, I too am a fool who has on occasion, made that first ride with nothing on the colt but a halter.

But now that I’m older and don’t heal up as fast, I’ve gotten way smarter.

I want to speak to you heart to heart for a moment… Don’t take unnecessary risks with your physical safety. An accident with a colt (or any horse) could cripple you for life.

I know guys who used to be professional trainers who are now permanently confined to a wheelchair. Accidents can happen to anyone. Use caution and don’t get careless.

Well, this wraps it up for this Training Tips Insider newsletter. I hope you liked it.

Until next time, have fun training your horse.

Larry Trocha

HorseTrainingVideos.com