Starting Baby Jaz: A Young Horse's Journey from Halter to Saddle

by Charles Wilhelm, Adrienne N. Tange (With)

Overview

Ride your horse today for the horse you want tomorrow.
—Charles Wilhelm

Learn from renowned trainer Charles Wilhelm as he spends a year taking Jaz Poco Salsa, a yearling foundation-bred quarter horse filly, from haltering through the first two months of riding. In this training diary, you'll see Wilhelm's Foundation Training system in action and share the experience of doing colt-starting right. This practical guide details the safe, recommended progression of training exercises and includes:
* Instructions covering everything from the essential basics through actual riding
* Step-by-step, detailed exercises and training activities you can do with your young horse
* Safety tips for grooming, feet handling, and preparing for the veterinarian
* Advice for handling common setbacks and problems
* Over 100 photos of the training and exercises
* A chapter on training yourself—the mental aspect of horsemanship
* An appendix packed with information on selecting and caring for a young horse


Whether you are a novice, an intermediate, or an advanced horseperson, you can use this approach and these building blocks to get your horse mentally, emotionally, and physically ready to be your lifetime working partner.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764596308
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	08/01/2006
Series:	The Howell Equestrian Library
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	311
Product dimensions:	6.42(w) x 9.34(h) x 1.07(d)

About the Author

Charles Wilhelm, one of America's top six general horse trainers, is also a trainer of people. His ability to bridge the gap between horse and rider is legendary, as is his skill with problem horses. Wilhelm is a featured trainer at major horse expositions and the author of Building Your Dream Horse (Howell). He writes for several leading equestrian magazines, has a weekly show on RFD-TV, has been a speaker at UC Davis, and has appeared frequently on The Horse Show with Rick Lamb.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Starting a Young Horse.

Why Get a Young Horse?

You Are a Horse Trainer!

Ultimate Training.

Overview.

Ultimate Foundation Training.

Working with Pressure.

So, What Is Ultimate Foundation Training?

Natural Horsemanship.

Training Equipment.

General Safety and Training Guidelines.

Training Month.

Charles Meets Jaz.

Selecting the Right Horse.

First Training Exercise: Haltering.

Leading.

Hoof Handling.

Grooming.

Training Month.

Earning Jaz’s Respect and Teaching Her to Tie.

Beginning Line Work.

Landings.

Tying.

Training Month.

Preparing Jaz for Saddle Work and the Vet.

Concentrated Circles.

Moving the Hip Over.

Desensitizing Your Baby to Touch.

Handling Her Ears and Mouth.

Working Under the Tail.

Preparing for Shots.

Training Month.

Asking for More, and Jaz’s First Bath.

Looking for Clear Improvements.

First Bath.

Training Month.

Jaz and Charles Take a Break.

Clipper Training.

Food Aggression.

Training Month 6, Part 1.

De-Spooking: Jaz Overcomes Her Fears.

Working with a Tarp.

Introducing a Plastic Bag.

Working with the Tarp on a Line.

Sacking Out with a Tarp.

Last Step: Leave the Draped Tarp on and Move Her Forward.

Getting Creative with De-Spooking.

Training Month 6, Part 2.

Jaz Wears a Saddle and Bridle.

Getting a Saddle That Fits.

Preparing for Saddling.

The Rope Cinch Exercise.

Sacking Out with a Saddle Blanket.

Working with a Surcingle.

Desensitizing Your Horse to a Saddle.

Jaz Wears Her First Saddle.

Bridling.

Yielding to the Bit Exercises on the Ground.

The Hip Exercise with a Rope.

More Rope Exercises.

Training Month 7, Part 1.

Jaz in the Round Pen.

Back to the Round Pen.

Round Pen Logic.

Considerations for Round Penning.

Jaz Working Well in the Round Pen.

Round Pen Rules.

Round Penning, Step 1: Get Your Horse Moving Consistently.

Round Penning, Step 2: Ask for a Change of Direction.

Inside Turn.

Outside Turn.

The Benefits of Round Penning.

Training Month 7, Part 2.

Successful First Rides with Jaz.

Is Your Horse Ready to Ride?

Emotional Aspect.

Mental Aspect.

Physical Aspect.

Assessing Jaz’s Readiness for Riding.

First Rides.

Step 1: Buy Safety Equipment for Those First Rides.

Step 2: Don’t Be in a Hurry to Get On.

Step 3: Start with Mounting Exercises.

Step 4: Get Movement from the Saddle.

First Rides on Jaz.

Training Month 8.

Jaz Learns to Trailer Load.

Why a Trailer Seems Scary to a Horse.

The Four Parts of Trailer Loading.

Trailer-Loading Exercises.

Step 1: Do Change-of-Direction Exercises.

Step 2: Use the Go-Forward Cue to Load the Horse.

Step 3: Use the Back-Up Cue to Unload the Horse.

Training Month 9.

Jaz Goes Bridle-Less.

Jaz in Sacramento.

Crossing Objects Demonstration.

Working at Home with Jaz.

Jaz Learns Shoulder Control.

Stopping with Pre-Cues.

Going Bridle-Less.

Colt Starting at the Ranch.

Teaching Your Horse to Guide.

Controlling the Hips.

Gaining Shoulder Control.

Training Month 10.

The Mental Side of Horsemanship.

Recognize Your Abilities.

Train Yourself to Be Focused.

Block Out External Distractions.

Block Out Internal Distractions.

Be Clear in Your Intentions.

Remain Focused on Training Goals.

Work with Your Fear.

Learn to Accommodate the Horse.

Set Realistic Goals.

Conclusion.

Looking Back: You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby.

The Early Months.

The Middle Months.

The Later Months.

First Rides and Beyond.

A Word on Hoof Care.

Good-Bye for Now.

Appendix A.

Selecting and Caring for a Young Horse.

Finding a Reputable Breeder by Charles Wilhelm.

National Organization Web Sites for Breed/Color Registries.

National Organization Web Sites by Discipline.

Other Educational Web Sites.

Pre-Purchase Exam Tips for the Young Horse by Carrie Schlacter, V.M.D.

When to Do a Pre-Purchase Exam.

Where to Do the Pre-Purchase Exam.

What’s Involved in the Pre-Purchase Exam.

Preventive Health Care for the Young Horse by Kristin R. Dietrich, D.V.M.

Nutrition for the Young Horse by Stephen Duren, Ph.D.

What’s in Feed?

Utilizing Feed: The Digestive System.

Lessons Learned from the Digestive System.

Feed Choices.

Feeding the Young Horse: The Ground Rules.

Creep Feeding: Preparation for Weaning.

Example of Diets.

Developmental Orthopedic Disease.

Optimal Condition Through Nutrition.

Appendix B.

References.

About Jaz Ranch.

The History of Jaz Ranch.

Breeding Program.

About Charles Wilhelm Training Ranch.

Training Programs.

Horsemanship Education.

Apprenticeship Program.

Clinics and Events.

Index.