Breaking and starting young horses
Dressage * Eventing * Show Hunters * Fox Hunters * Race Horses
When it comes to training, we believe in listening closely to each horse's signals, and modifying our goals and training program to accommodate the changing needs of our trainees. We work closely with the owner to understand the goals for the horse, rider's comfort zone, and any issues that have occurred prior to training. We ask that owners disclose any problems they are having with the horse, what the horse likes, and any other insightful information.
This allows us to maximize our time with your horse and send home a horse that is ready and willing to advance their education. With the owner's permission we'll take the young horse off the farm to local shows and trails so they become comfortable loading into a trailer, and behaving well in new environments. Our goal is to send you back a horse that is ready and willing to perform for you with a sound mind and body.
We love working with all horses, but starting youngsters is our passion! We have over ten years of experience breaking babies and starting young horses to become dressage horses, eventers, hunters, fox hunters, trail horses, and even race horses! Our methods give young horses a solid foundation for you to build on. They learn to accept the bit, move energetically forward, and respond to the seat and leg in no time.
A sixty day training session is highly recommended for horses that have not yet been backed. This allows us enough time to introduce the rider, pony them with an experienced horse, and teach them to respond to the aids. Most horses will be confidently moving forward at the walk, trot, and canter in thirty days, but after sixty days they become confirmed at all three gaits. Once the horse is confident and quietly moving forward, they will be introduced to cavaletti and small gymnastic fences in the ring and around the farm.
Training sessions include:
- Trail riding through open fields, woods, and streams
- Dressage basics to improve balance, straightness, and flexibility
- Cavaletti and gymnastic jumping for better balance
- Stadium and cross country jumping for confidence and variety
Horses that stay with us are introduced to all the scary things in the world like creeks, riding rings, cavaletti, and trails. The good news is that Diamonds Bluff Farm all that scary stuff right on the farm!
Some young horses need advanced training. Don't hesitate to bring your horse to:
- Gain confidence over cross country or stadium fences
- Break bad habits like rearing, bucking, and pulling
- Get show ring experience
- Leg up for fox hunting
- To prepare to sell
Whether your goals are to be competitive in the show ring or to have a dependable trail horse Diamonds Bluff Farm can help you get there. Contact us if you or your horse could benefit from our well rounded training program.