Welcome!

"Look back at our struggle for freedom,

Trace our present day's strength to it's source;

And you'll find that man's pathway to glory

Is strewn with the bones of the horse."

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

What is a "Foundation?"

Since my previous post, I have gotten a few emails asking "What is a foundation to you?"

I feel a basic foundation is training in everything most horses need to know how to do: starting, stopping, turning, transitions, loading, clipping, washing, tying, side passing, standing for grooming, mounting and farrier work, and carrying people, packs, jackets, etc.  I would say that these are things that if you sent your colt to a trainer, you should have at the end of 90-days.  

A solid foundation would be a bit more, say through the colt's first year.  Where you do all of that plus the basics of riding in a group, trail obstacles, shows, a few clinics.  The horse is learning collection and to carry themselves with a rider comfortably in many environments.  
Without a proper foundation, your horse won't progress to his true potential and be able to maintain performance-whether it's on the trail or in the arena.

Naturally,
Hannah