Midnight's Trail
| Midnight's Trail PO Box 1090 Medicine Hat, AB T1A 7H1 (403) 581-3301 |
Training
|
We have opened our training program at Midnight's Trail. We only accept 4 horses a year right now.
Our program is based on a 5 day/week schedule, with a minimum of 1hr/session. We have three
different options for training. You can also start with us and work towards you!
1. We do all the training on your horse.
2. We do the training but you also come in on the training once a week.
3. We train you to train your horse.
Our program is based on a 5 day/week schedule, with a minimum of 1hr/session. We have three
different options for training. You can also start with us and work towards you!
1. We do all the training on your horse.
2. We do the training but you also come in on the training once a week.
3. We train you to train your horse.
In our training program we follow basic steps, using Jonathan Field and Pat Parelli methods. We are
constantly striving to learn new techniques, grow in our learning, and improve our training program.
We believe in always keeping an open mind, and we have had amazing results with this.
To help you understand the Levels, here is a brief description of what we mean!
Round Penning - This is the 1st level. This is for horses who are not halter broke and are
untouched. Using the round pen we are able to create a partnership, with the horse, in order to start
the halter breaking.
Ground Work - Once the horse is Halter Broke we work on teaching the horse to work in unison
with us, this includes sacking out, teaching them 'Friendly', driving, pressure and many other things,
to prepare them for us being on their backs. We also at this point, teach them to line up for mounting
off a fence (or mounting block). With this, we are able to start being above them - preparing them for
us being on their back, we can start putting our legs over, and eventually, get right on them. We also
start working them under a saddle. Once they have some basic ground work, we start ponying them
out in the field, first bare and then as we progress, we also take them out with a saddle. This helps
them to get out of their comfort zone and realize that's okay, it also builds their confidence with the
saddle, and helps to show any holes in their training.
On Back - Off the rail we start getting on their backs, and then lead them around with someone on
their backs. This is all done bareback. Once them are comfortable, we continue forward with a
hack-a-more, and start riding them bareback. We also continue ponying them out, eventually in this
step, we pony them out with a rider on their back.
In Saddle - We continue the entire process and start riding in the saddle. We do everything on their
backs that we did on the ground, making the transition. We work on all their transitions, with
obstacles, and several patterns to work on different abilities and aspects of riding. We also continue
doing our ground games.
Green Broke - At this point they are doing well under saddle and just need the miles. We'll start
taking them out in the field, behind cows and in the coulee and river. We will try to expose them to as
many things as we can that they may come across later in life and to build their mental strength. We
also start taking them with us to rodeos when we pony at them, just to get them out a little more.
Fine Tuning - We start 'fine tuning' them into a specific discipline, whether it be in the arena (barrels,
reining etc) or in the field (pleasure, trail, cow etc.)
Trained - I only believe a horse to be trained when it has been fine tuned with a lot of miles, and
experiences. I also believe that horses - just like people are always learning and always growing. Old
dogs (horses or people) can always learn new 'tricks'!
Always remember to have fun with your horse. The more you keep a positive attitude the more your
horse will learn and Enjoy learning. Remember the 3 basic rules to working with a horse:
1. You should never get injured.
2. The horse should never get injured.
3. You and the horse should be calmer at the end of the training session or ride than at the beginning.
As long as you keep to this you will move forward. Keep in mind though that as long as you are
within 10 feet of a horse You Are Training It!
constantly striving to learn new techniques, grow in our learning, and improve our training program.
We believe in always keeping an open mind, and we have had amazing results with this.
To help you understand the Levels, here is a brief description of what we mean!
Round Penning - This is the 1st level. This is for horses who are not halter broke and are
untouched. Using the round pen we are able to create a partnership, with the horse, in order to start
the halter breaking.
Ground Work - Once the horse is Halter Broke we work on teaching the horse to work in unison
with us, this includes sacking out, teaching them 'Friendly', driving, pressure and many other things,
to prepare them for us being on their backs. We also at this point, teach them to line up for mounting
off a fence (or mounting block). With this, we are able to start being above them - preparing them for
us being on their back, we can start putting our legs over, and eventually, get right on them. We also
start working them under a saddle. Once they have some basic ground work, we start ponying them
out in the field, first bare and then as we progress, we also take them out with a saddle. This helps
them to get out of their comfort zone and realize that's okay, it also builds their confidence with the
saddle, and helps to show any holes in their training.
On Back - Off the rail we start getting on their backs, and then lead them around with someone on
their backs. This is all done bareback. Once them are comfortable, we continue forward with a
hack-a-more, and start riding them bareback. We also continue ponying them out, eventually in this
step, we pony them out with a rider on their back.
In Saddle - We continue the entire process and start riding in the saddle. We do everything on their
backs that we did on the ground, making the transition. We work on all their transitions, with
obstacles, and several patterns to work on different abilities and aspects of riding. We also continue
doing our ground games.
Green Broke - At this point they are doing well under saddle and just need the miles. We'll start
taking them out in the field, behind cows and in the coulee and river. We will try to expose them to as
many things as we can that they may come across later in life and to build their mental strength. We
also start taking them with us to rodeos when we pony at them, just to get them out a little more.
Fine Tuning - We start 'fine tuning' them into a specific discipline, whether it be in the arena (barrels,
reining etc) or in the field (pleasure, trail, cow etc.)
Trained - I only believe a horse to be trained when it has been fine tuned with a lot of miles, and
experiences. I also believe that horses - just like people are always learning and always growing. Old
dogs (horses or people) can always learn new 'tricks'!
Always remember to have fun with your horse. The more you keep a positive attitude the more your
horse will learn and Enjoy learning. Remember the 3 basic rules to working with a horse:
1. You should never get injured.
2. The horse should never get injured.
3. You and the horse should be calmer at the end of the training session or ride than at the beginning.
As long as you keep to this you will move forward. Keep in mind though that as long as you are
within 10 feet of a horse You Are Training It!
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Height: 15.1hh
Level: In Saddle
Comments: Halo is a young gelding brought to us to train. We are loving
working with him and he's really starting to move out nicely! He is eager
to please and fun to ride! Comments
Level: In Saddle
Comments: Halo is a young gelding brought to us to train. We are loving
working with him and he's really starting to move out nicely! He is eager
to please and fun to ride! Comments