Buckaroo Texan Blog

  Session Four:  Each session with a foal or horse should be pleasant and build the relationship between the buckaroo and horse.   Think about what you would like to accomplish each time you are with your foal or horse and let the situation develop as you go. 

This session is about getting the horse ready to be caught.     Halter breaking a horse is introducing pressure in a way to teach the foal or horse to allow you to put a halter on its head and to follow you, or lead.  It is a gentling process to help the horse be a good citizen in the world of humans.  You need to present yourself with quality to the foal or horse.  A mare or gelding will be better with quality work, a stallion demands quality.

Sassafras is in her pen today and not interested in coming over to the small pen.  She has recently eaten her breakfast so does not see a need to go to the smaller pen.  The last session I haltered her in the big pen and she followed me to the little pen.  I will not assume that that will happen this time exactly as before.  It has been several days since I have put her halter on.  If my work from the previous sessions is instilled in her in a good way I should be able to halter and lead her without her becoming afraid.    I approach her with halter in hand, untied and organized in my left hand to put on her if she is ready.   My approach will make a difference as to whether she is ready to be caught.    I move toward her shoulder and watch her expression.   Her reaction to my approach will tell me how to proceed.

1.  If the horse looks away with tension in her face or a brace in her body  – this will tell me to slow or stop and possibly back a step or two to relieve the pressure she feels I am putting on her.  Watching her ears is another important communication.  After she settles, I will start my approach again.

2. If the horse looks away and starts to leave.   I will back a step to relieve the pressure and then step toward her head or slightly in front of her to block her.  When she stops I will stop and lean or step back to relieve the pressure of my presence. 

3. If the horse bolts away- I will back off and follow at a distance to wait for the horse to stop again.  I will use by lead rope and my speed to encourage to go forward as long as she shows no sign of wanting to stop and face me.   When she does slow I will slow and back a step to encourage her to stop.   When she does stop I will step towards her head to get her attention then step back to encourage her to follow me by sight and hopefully by stepping her hind leg under her belly to turn towards me.   I will then take a step back and towards her hind quarters to encourage the hind to step forward and over again and the front end to step toward me.  I will let her settle her and feel the relief of pressure and the sense of well being, being with me.

In this session, as I approach the filly, she looks my way.  A horse try. Her expression says maybe it is ok for me to approach, and maybe not.   I hesitate and give her a minute to realize I have done this before and we are in no hurry.   Her expression relaxes and I approach her shoulder.   I pet her neck and reach my arms around her neck in a caressing manner.  I slide by arm that is around her up her neck and pet around her head and touch her muzzle.  She is fine so I slip the halter on her. She stays totally relaxed like she has done this hundreds of times.  A big horse try!  I step away from her and she follows me all the way to the little pen.   The essence of leading has begun.   Pure trust is being developed and it is pure joy for both of us.   Treat your horse with respect at all times so as not to break the trust you are establishing.  This respect and trust is the basis for the horse rider relationship the entire lifetime of this horse. She gets a good brushing and I work at handling her feet more.   Her feet need trimming real soon.  I run the halter rope just above the hoof of each foot one at a time to get her even better about picking up her feet.  I pick each foot up and down several times.  I bang a hoof pick on the sole of her hoof to prepare her for the rasp and nippers.   Good session!  I ask her to follow me back to the large pen and with just a slight bit of pressure off to one side and then the other, she follows me back and then she stops when I stop.  Some gentle petting across her face, nose and neck and I release her and walk away.  It is important for you to walk away from the horse and not them leave you.  We end this session on a really good note. Training foals is teaching trust and respect. 

My training is in the Buckaroo Way and I offer consultation services to those who believe in partnership of horse and rider.  

 Honoring the horse and horsemanship through the western buckaroo way- Jeannie