[belle4]

If you took your green, unbroke, never been ridden before horse to a trainer, what would you expect to see after 30 days? Just wondering what different ideas of 30 days training means.

[tn walker]

Ooo, this doesn't sound too good For me, I would want to see a horse who understood the basics: forward motion, halting, lateral flexion, etc. Also a horse who is working off of leg a little bit and beginning to have a headset, showing flexion at the poll. If it was a really, really unbroke horse, I would like to see pretty much a nice walk around the arena, happily carrying a human aboard. Also depends on what discipline you are training for as to what I would like to see....Western pleasure, perhaps?

[Cyn]

Well, personally when I start a horse "new" from scratch. I ground work them for at least a week maybe 10-12 days before even getting on them. Even if they have had their owners doing it. If I were you I would have very little expectations after 30 days. Giving to the bit, foward motion (walk , trot, lope) stop and backing.

[shell]

I am thinking about sending a horse of mine for 90 days next spring. I would expect to be able to walk, trot and canter on the bit with 90 days, but I don't know for sure. I have always started my own and so I take as long as I want. Sending a horse out will be a new experience for me. I personally think 30 days doesn't do much but get a horse ues to saddle, bridle and a ridder. Maybe that is all that is needed in this case?

[HorseCraze120]

I would expect it to know how to go foward, not to accept the bit but trying to give. Also lots of groundwork.. defintely lunging. Walking, maybe some trotting.

[DefinitelyADreamer]

My 2yr. old is coming up on 60 days and she has been adjusting to the trot for the last week and a half (mind you she is VERY spooky). At 30 days she was walking around the arena, backing, setting her head at a walk, and tuning using only leg pressure. Another 2 yr. old at the barn will walk, trot and lope, back, set head, move off the leg, and will push barrels (literally with his nose, hes a cutie) around the arena in 3 weeks. The trainer goes at the horses pace and does a great job!

[Blistering Winds]

My 30 days of an Unbroke, uncatchable horse is this:

In 30 days, you will be able to catch and halter the horse in a small paddock. As been introduced to being touched all over the body, and can begin to pick up their feet. Also can lead easy with a butt rope, some without one by the end of 30 days. No saddle is introduced, I don't care HOW MUCH EXTRA you want to pay me. I'm not getting myself KILLED. (this is the WORST 30 day training I have ever done....)

If the horse is already catchable and has a beginnings of ground work (leading and such). Girth exercise, round-pen, Introduced to saddle, Introduced to ME in the saddle. Forward movement, turning, and can step ONE step backwards. And should stop without yanking shoulders out of place. Horse should not buck at the walk and should almost be done with the crow-hopping at the trot. Good ground foundation, Should stand quietly for the saddle placement, stirrup popping, and bridling with a sidepull. ( i don't break with bits...my personal preference).

IF they wish to continue, the next 30 days includes lots of trot, side passing, leg work (newest edition to my training regime), introduction to a bit for snaffle classes, Stopping solid, transition work (stop to trot, stop to walk). Lope is introduced, and bugs worked out (crow hopping). Some lead work in the process, but depends on the horse's overall personallity. At the end of 60 days under saddle, the horse shouldn't buck when asked for walk, trot, and HOPEFULLY shouldn't buck in a canter.

My training process also includes a daily journal of what I've done, and at the end of the week, I go over this with the owner if they please on how their horse is coming along, and goals for the next week and a future "idea" of what is needed.

Some horses come along great, others have serious issues that I discuss with the owner before taking any other routes beyond my regular training ideas.

[wyldterv]

30 days to me means this: that FIVE days a week my horse was worked towards whatever goal the trianer and I (or the owner and I, depending on which hat I was wearing) had discussed.

In the case of Poncho, who is a wild mustang, we're coming to the end of 30 days of training. He is now the proud owner of a lead rope hanging off his halter, (lol) and will now allow me to approach him and take the lead rope on and off, and scratch his face, and brush his face, neck sides and most of his rump with NO KICKING, striking or biting! He has been introduced to the saddle and has had weight on his back but he's NOT at all saddle broke at this time. HE will walk on lead and is starting to back easily as well. He moves off of pressure from the ground and is learning to accpet the rope around his front legs and hold them up. That to me has been a very reasonable amount of progress for 30 days in THIS horse.

If I sent the trainer a horse that was fully ground broke to begin with, I'd expect my horse to be fully accepting of the Saddle and working in the walk, trot and lope but with NO finish work yet. I would expect softness in the face, but not true understanding of moving up onto the bit from leg and hand pressure and I don't even like to SEE a horse put in a bit until about 60 days myself! I like to keep thim in a rope halter initially then move up to snaffle, then move into a bosal (for Western work) then back to snaffle.

I've seen 30-60 day 'wonders' but what's interesting with these animals is that they dont' seem to hold up under stress or real work.