Website design By BotEap.comThe importance of the right leadership skills cannot be overstated for the trail of a year. As entries in this new class continue to increase, the patterns will continue to become more complex. In order to be really ready and really competitive for the bigger shows in the fall, like the APHA World Fall Championships, I would really like my colt to lead as well as a well-started horse.

Website design By BotEap.comMy method* assumes that your one-year-old is already proficient in the areas outlined for weanlings in the Kasino Series. The foal should yield easily to the pressure of the halter…moving forward immediately if leading or head down if standing. For really good leadership skills, just take these exercises to the next step.

Website design By BotEap.comSome people prefer horses to be “glued” to their shoulders, but I like my horse to follow my hand. At first, I can use large exaggerated movements as well as verbal cues to make it very obvious what I’m asking for. I can start a lesson by simply asking the yearling to go away. My hands, which start in a standard theater position in front of me, can act as a first signal. I take my right hand and push it forward for about half a second before pulling away. If the yearling doesn’t keep up, the slack will be taken out of the front end. As you catch up (as you should, since you already know how to give in to pressure), the slack will come back.

Website design By BotEap.comI start the jogs in the same way, although I will have a different verbal cue for jogging than for walking. It doesn’t matter what the verbal cues are, as long as you’re consistent. Since my goal here is to show in the In Hand Trail class, I choose signals that I can do without a great deal of lip or face movement on my part. This way I can perform my pattern in the show ring without unnecessarily drawing attention to my verbal cues. It is important to remember to maintain constant pressure while the foal is not trotting, but to allow the slack to return when trotting.

Website design By BotEap.comAfter learning these two basic exercises, I just lead my foal. How hard is that? The easiest exercise on the planet, right? When leading be sure to maintain proper form and remember to use your hand to guide you and your horse. It’s okay to overdo this at first for both of your benefits. I do circles in both directions, speed changes, long straight lines, transitions up and down and up from jogging to walking and jogging. (By the way, this helps YOUR fitness, too!) Any time your one-year-old is falling behind, your hand should be encouraging him to catch up.

Website design By BotEap.comMixed with the leader, obviously, there must be some stopping. Your one-year-old might be able to jog for ten minutes straight, but can you!? When I’m ready to stop, I say “whoa” one step before I mean it (your foal isn’t telepathic, give him a chance to hear you!), move my hand back, and stop moving. Do you remember the snap motion that retrieves babies? This is a good time to do that for just a step or two to reinforce the lack of forward motion. And then I usually rest for a few seconds (see photo, right). If I’m having a moment out of shape, this allows me to catch my breath. It gives the foal a chance to sit still (also an important lesson) and learn to wait for you for the next instruction.

Website design By BotEap.comMix the main exercises with the initial groundwork from Yearling In Hand Trail #1. If possible, a few 10-minute lessons per day 4-5 times work best for year-olds. But whatever works for your schedule, do your best to keep it short and positive. Yearlings learn best in short periods. Don’t worry about how long it takes for your one-year-old to get “good” at these exercises. They are exercises that are never “done” and simply lay the foundation for years to come. Being a light, responsive colt for In Hand Trail’s fall patterns is really only a short-term goal. Keep working and see small amounts of improvement so everyone, equine and human, stays happy and healthy.

Website design By BotEap.com*Please note that I have had the opportunity to observe many people over the last 25 years of my horse riding career, and my methods outlined here are a compilation of things I have learned from multiple outside sources and my own personal experience with my foals. .