There are many different methods to 'starting' or 'breaking in' a horse, but all should strive to achieve the same result, that of a horse that can be ridden safely and handles well on the ground. The method used should not only bear the horse's safety in mind, but also that of the person who is starting the horse. Being ridden is completely unnatural to the horse and how you introduce a rider will have a lasting impact. Over the next few months, I will describe the starting process that I have learnt growing up in Australia and continue to develop every day here in the UK.

Overview of the starting process

1st Stage - 4-6 weeks

The horse will be ridden at walk, trot and canter in different environments, will hack out alone and in company, will negotiate small jumps and natural hazards such as water. The horse will also be reliable to shoe, lead, load and generally handle well.

2nd Stage - Turned away

The horse should be turned out in a paddock for a period of time dependent on the age and maturity of the horse.

3rd Stage - Consolidation

The horse will be reminded of the work he did in Stage 1 and his training will be advanced according to how the horse responds. Once you are gaining positive results with the horse, he can be turned away again. This process could be done a few times over the course of a year before he can be described as a 'going horse' and ready to be trained for the horse's given discipline.

When is my horse ready for starting?

I always take into account the horse's physical and mental development, but generally I like to start horses as two or three year olds after which they are turned away to mature further. I feel that they can cope with the work and are more accepting to you as their 'leader'. If you leave starting a horse until they are fully mature, then I have found that you can encounter more problems and more resistance. It should be noted that with the methods I use the starting process only takes 4-6 weeks, after which they are turned away.

An individual process

Every horse is an individual and every horse responds differently to the starting process. Therefore it is important to be flexible in your methods. In Australia, the horses that we start have generally only been handled once before and I have had to learn to work with their natural instincts. Here in the UK, most young horses have been well handled, generally making them safer to start. The horse's disposition, or personality, and their breeding also have a large bearing on how the horse is going to accept a rider. I can usually tell as soon as I see a horse whether I am going to encounter problems, although my motto is 'prepare for the worst, hope for the best'! Five out of ten horses will be uncomplicated, three will take that bit longer and the other two will test all your skills, including your rodeo ones!

In the next part I will talk about the first stages in the starting process and the equipment that I use.

For further information, please visit www.australianstockhorses.co.uk or phone Jason on 01580 211662 / 0774 9914 267.