(This training is offered for Eagle Hill Farm Horses Only)
Be sure to check here throughout the summer as we select experienced riders and teach them the natural approach from first contact with the horse, through ground work preparatory to saddling and riding. You will be able to follow each young trainer as they work with their chosen horse, under watchful eye and careful supervision of course. Through pictures you will see each student and his/her chosen horse progress from first touch through ground work prepartory to saddling, saddling, and finally riding. We hope you enjoy the experience as much as we all plan to.
| Gentling You can rub/touch horse all over including head, ears, legs, belly. Horse is relaxed and when using a soft brush or curry, may almost fall asleep. |
| Haltering horse will stand quietly while being haltered. |
| Leading horse will lead without crowding, pushing, or going past leader. Should lead beside person or follow behind. |
| Turns to left and right when leading can make both right and left turns staying out of persons space. |
| Stops when leading, should stop when you stop, walk when you walk. |
| Picks up Feet at first just ask for pickup - then hold a second. When horse can do that increase time foot is up. Do not expect to hold long enough for farrier or to pick out feet at first. Takes some work and repetition for horse to learn to balance. In the basics, horse will pick up feet willingly for short period of time. |
| Backing Up horse will back up with nose pressure. |
| Move Hindquarters horse will move hindquarters away from handler when touched lightly. |
| Lateral Bend horse will bend head and neck to right and left. |
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| Driving horse will move forward in direction indicated by handler by pointing with lead line in direction desired and encouraging forward movement with end of lead or training stick (fiber glass). |
| Trailer Loading - Will load quietly either being lead in or driven in. Will stand quietly and unload calmly. |
Intermediate
$30.00/hour
| Change directions with lead rope same as driving above. |
| Backing with shaking of lead rope or shaking of finger - use of phases to back up horse using lead line only and horse facing you. |
| Backing and approach backs as far as desired, then stands until leader combs rope, bends to the side and gives friendly look and asks horse to come to them. |
| Lunging for control not exercise change directions, wasl, trot, stop, come to person. |
| Basic Sideways using fence to stop forward movement horse will move laterally both ways. |
| Improved Turning of hindquarters moving hindquarters away from leader while keeping front feet still (turn on hindquarters). |
| Basic Turning of forequarters moves forequarters to both sides with only light pressure from leader. |
| Desensitizing - with pole and string, plastic bag, jacket, etc. |
| Lead line around feet desensitizing with lead rope around each leg. |
| Following the feel Lead line placed around horse. With light pressure, horse turns to follow pressure. Horse is encouraged to lead with lead line laying across hand. |
As you can see, training our two year olds is a very stressfull event - ha! Notice how the two girls are smiling and laughing and especially Bently, who is obviously terribly distressed about all this! Only kidding folks, Bentlys ears are turned towards the back, not pinned; he is paying attention to what is happening on his back. Yawning, he is telling us he is relaxing and totally unconcerned about the whole thing. Who knows, maybe it is a big JOKE all three of them share!
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After accepting the saddle and saddle pad, the horse learns to accept the weight of a rider leaning over him. |
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While Jessica is leaning over Bently's back, she is rubbing his right side and letting him get used to motion over the top of his body. |
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As you may have noticed now that Jessica is aboard, he hasn't moved. In fact, only his back legs shifted once since the first picture. He is making no attempt to buck or get away and is showing no fear at all of this new procedure.. |
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And We're Off!!! Well, kind of. Now for about 10-15 minutes of walking, stopping, turning, backing -things he learned how to do on the ground first. |
Because he learned first on the ground, Bently knows how to bend his head so he knows how to turn. He learned how to back from hand on nose pressure so now he will back with halter on nose pressure. He learned what whoa meant when we were leading and asking him to stop walking when we did so he knows that command already and although the word wouldn't stop a runaway, bending his head around will. Bently will spend several minutes being led, then the ground person will unsnap the lead and the rider will take over completely. The first several rides will consist of just this quiet work. Then we progress to trotting. Lots of time is spent on serpintines, bending, circles, learning to be soft and supple. All this is done in a halter. If the horse is a 3 yr old, we will progress on to the canter after a while (the 'while' depending on the horses progress), then a bridle and snaffle bit. The horse will be ridden both Eng and Western and as you can see from the "Adopted Section", his mom is riding him in a western saddle.
Backing/RidingEagle Hill Farm Equine Rescue is now able to continue the natural horsemanship training used in the Basic and Intermediate ground work. The Basic Training package is a prerequisite for Backing/Riding. Horse will learn to accept English or Western saddle, whichever is your preference. He will learn to accept the rider and, hopefully, within a one month period will walk, trot/jog, canter/lope, back, turn forequarters and hindquarters, stop and stand, using a rope halter and reins or a snaffle bridle. Time depends on the horse and weather conditions.
To view some of our riders at work with some of our horses, check out the Riding Horses page.
| The Basics is offered for $100.00 and helps instill trust and respect. New owner should observe teaching if at all possible before horse goes home and work with trainer/teacher if at all possible at least once. |
| Intermediate - $30/hour includes teaching new owner how to work with horse. We must all talk horse and be on the same page. Horse must have completed the |
| Backing/Riding The Basic Training package is a prerequisite for Backing/Riding. The horse will learn to accept English or Western saddle whichever is your preference. He will learn to accept the rider and depending on the horse and weather, in approximately one month will walk, trot/jog, canter/lope, back, turn forequarters and hindquarters, stop and stand, using a rope halter and reins or a snaffle bridle. You will need to be prepared to spend several sessions with the trainer so we are all on the same page with our training methods and procedures. Board is included in this monthly charge at $550/month. You will need to provide or make arrangements for trailering to and from Eagle Hill Farm and provide an up to date Coggins. Horses should also be up to date with their shots and worming. |
| Trailer Loading - $50.00 additional per horse. |
| Trailering -$75.00 from Eagle Hill Farm to your home within a 50 mile radius of Eagle Hill. Additional charge for additional mileage depending on distance from Eagle Hill to your boarding facility. |
| On occasion we may be able to assist in long term boarding. This will be handled on an as available basis. |
Additional Training Material:
Living with Your New Baby the Natural Way.doc (Microsoft Word Document