GUNDAROO HORSE PARK

Our Training Program

(For Photos click 'Training Album')

'Be in good stead, ride an American Saddlebred horse instead' - Rosemary Mackay

This is a brief overview of the training program for our American Saddlebred purebred/partbred horses:

We have built on our knowledge of horses and horse handling from our childhood/young adult experiences by attending training clinics, asking and being advised by experienced horse people/trainers, reading books and watching horse training VIDEOS/DVDs. 

The Gundaroo Horse Park is an extremely horse-friendly purpose-built  facility near the village Gundaroo (just north of Canberra), New South Wales, Australia.  We have approximately 30 km of horse-friendly fences all with electric stand-offs which we are currently expanding.   We have a marvellous laneway system that allows us to safely move multiple numbers of horses from their fields to the training areas. We make constant use of our padded horse crushes, padded yard, round yard and dressage arena.   
 

We have devised the following 'gentle' training program for  our American Saddlebred (purebred/partbred) horses from birth to under saddle and harness training: 
. American Saddlebred foals are handled shortly after birth.  We purposely do not interfere with the bonding relationship of foal and dam and do not handle them until they suckle unless, of course, there are foaling issues.  Andrew  lifts the foal each day until it becomes too heavy to lift (see 'Horses in the Making' - Lady Wentworth). The halter is placed on the foal on day one and  left on until they leave their foaling paddocks to go out into the bigger fields.   They learn to lead by being attached to their dams.  They are walked around the property and are given plenty of new experiences such as walking on and off a horse float and into the crushes.
. We start off using Pat Parelli's '7 Friendly Games' which continue throughout their development to more intense training.  American Saddlebred foals are regularly handled for worming and vaccinating. 
. American Saddlebred foals have their hoofs regularly trimmed by Mr John Gorman one of Australia's foremost barefoot trimmers (click on 'Gorman Horsecare' button at left).  We are lucky that John lives quite close to Gundaroo, in the nearby village of Collector.  John does a wonderful job building on our work by teaching our foals to have their hoofs trimmed.  They balance their hoofs on Mathew Gorman's famous hoof stand.  John has also taught us to barefoot trim the horses once they are trimmed a few times by John. 
.  American Saddlebred foals are weaned at 6+ months (we do not feel that the foal is physically or psychologically ready to leave its dam prior to this time - when closely observing foals in large fields we notice that until this time they mostly cling to their Dams and suckle often - after this time they wander off quite a distance and become more independent).  If their Dams are not foaling the following season we may leave them suckling longer.  Weanlings are handled intensely until they are turned out into large undulating fields when they are brought in for regular worming and handling. 
. American Saddlebred weanlings are taught to be tied up.  This is usually easy as they have already been taught to lead by their dams and by us.
. American Saddlebred foals, weanlings and yearlings are handled by the proven methods of wonderful horse people such as Kel Jefferys, Maurice Wright, Monti Roberts, Pat  Parelli, John O'Leary, Steve Brady, Henry Blake, Lady Wentworth, Tom Roberts, to name a few (see our reading list).  We always ask questions of our more experienced horsey friends.  We cherry pick from these wonderful methods depending on the particular horse we are working with.   
 . American Saddlebred weanlings and yearlings are turned out, with regular worming, handling.  Yearlings are taught to lead from the farm vehicle.  This assist in their becoming used to traffic.
 . At the age of 3 they are brought in for more intense, from the ground training, using the abovementioned methods.  At this point we use the Monti Roberts 'Join Up' method and push the young American Saddlebred horse around the round yard until he joins up with the trainer.  This remarkable method works every time and never ceases to amaze us.  The method results in the horse listening attentively to the commands of the trainer.  During this period we teach them to accept the bit, roller, crupper and saddle.  They walk over tarps, inner sprung mattresses and learn to handle obstacles and are exposed to experiences such as balloons bursting, plastic bags, umbrellas opening and closing, being led from the farm vehicle etc. 

They are taught to respond to voice - 'back', 'stand', 'park', 'walk', 'trot', 'canter',  'up' for feet and 'steady' for calming.   
 . Mouthing - we use a rusty old snaffle with side bars.  The period of time with the bit in their mouth increases daily.   When they are familiar with the bit they are fed whilst wearing the bit.    We feel this teaches them to keep their tongue in the correct position (see Horse Control and the Bit, Tom Roberts THE BRITISH ARMY RECOMMENDATION: 'the snaffle should be put in for an hour a day and the horse should be allowed to feed with it on.  This will be found specially useful in preventing the development of a tendency to get the tongue over the bit.').
 .       We never put any pressure on the bit until the horse is familiar with the bit in his mouth.  At this point we commence using John O'Leary's methods for mouthing the horse.  John's uses the one rein method of using binder twine from the bit to the roller to quickly encourage the horse to give to the rein.  We are firm but kind at this stage and use intermittent firm pressure to ensure the horse understands to give to the bit.
 .       We then put the saddle/pack saddle on the horse and add weights until he is happy moving around with weight on his back.
 .       At the age of 4 is the time we back our horses (we feel American Saddlebreds mature slowly and cannot take too much weight prior to this).  Backing the horse is only attempted after hours of ground work and much leading of the horse all over the property both from horseback with experienced horses, from the farm vehicle and with us walking.  We use the padded yard where we lean over the horse with our weight and finally, when we are confident that they are accepting of the full weight, the horse is mounted. 
 .       Once comfortable under saddle the horse is ridden all over the property and down to the village of Gundaroo on a very loose rein.  During this period the horse is taught to stop on one rein and are taught transition work up and down hills using Steve Brady's methods.  It is only after the horse feels really happy with being ridden that work to bring them on the bit commences (usually after about 4 months). 
 .       The bit is then exchanged for a French Snaffle with a copper inlay and using a Hanovarian noseband.  
 .       We are proud to say that we have been complemented on the lightness and softness of our American Saddlebred mouths and their responsiveness.  (Ms Alexa McWilliams, Grand Champion, winner of the Kentucky Fall Classic in 2007 on 'Callaway's Exception to the Rule', and Alexa's sister, Channing McWilliams, and their mother Cynthia (Connie) visited us in April 2007, rode two of our trained purebred American Saddlebred horses (one newly trained) and were impressed with their performance, their mouths and the way we train our horses (see our home page).)  

For examples of our training please click on the 'training album' button at right.
 

Our aim is always to prepare kind, intelligent and versatile American Saddlebred purebred/partbred horses that can go onto perform in different disciplines.