Happy to be a part of the community. I just recently branched out into training horses for clients. Looking forward to being a sponge and absorbing all I can! Currently have a 3 year old in that I’ve put roughly 35 rides on. Currently riding her in a side pull as she’s not a fan of the bit currently. Last ride she tried bucking for the first time so I’m thinking soreness? First time she’s ever offered. 

Have a roughly 11 year old mare that has no life in her feet how can I get life back in her feet?

I have a coming 3 year old filly that I started last spring. All I’ve ever rode her in a a ring snaffle bit. I was wondering when to switch up bits or do you necessarily have to? I haven’t really had many issues with her just wondering on when to switch or change bits

Any tips or videos for starting/ restarting older horses? 

Hi Richard Boatwright and all - I work with a few horses we use in therapy sessions with kids, and I'm looking for advice with one of them...a 12-15 year old Arab with we don't know what kind of foundation. Owner has him in a mechanical hackamore, says he doesn't take to a snaffle. So....

He longes ok walking and trotting both directions, saddled, with either a bridle or rope halter. But when I ride him he will do everything he can to avoid going to the right. He's hard to keep going forward, always will stop and look at my left foot. Even longeing to the right he's often  paying attention to the left. He does this with other riders, and I haven't seen this problem with other horses.

Owner thinks it's something with a weaker right shoulder, but my theory is he's afraid to trust not seeing his left side.

Anyone have similar experiences or insight? Would appreciate any thoughts on causes and exercises to help fix. Thank you!

How bizarre to receive this weeks “Richard’s ramblings” email on ground work when I just returned from the stables.

Talk about a timely reminder, I arrived at the stables this morning to turn out and muck out after the horses were confined to quarters yesterday as the rain was torrential and flooding, the pasture would have been torn up.

Normally Sarge the idiot would have been bouncing to be put out and tossing his head at me and carrying on like the big spoilt baby he is (wife’s horse, mine just wait 🤣🤣)

He was not at his stable door which I thought strange but stood at the back of the stable near his nets looking over the wall, I called him and he just stood looking away…….

The dipstick had got his foot through one of holes of his feed nets (it’s an English thing) and it was up under his “arm pit” tight and wrapped around his leg.

30 seconds later I had cut him out and he just stood waiting to be told to move.

My point is here is in regards to ground work and specifically the roping I did to his legs when he was a two year old, I was laughed at for been in the round pen and lassoing him, (look at cowboy Steve) walking him with his feet roped and more importantly stopping him and making him understand he had to stand still when roped.

It all paid dividends today and avoided what could have been  costly or damaging incident, it cost me a new feed net and a worried wife.

He walked out and put his halter on and went to the pasture like a little lamb.

Don’t skip this bit of ground work guys, very important In my mind, it could be a leg in a fence next time but having a horse that understands to remain calm and stationary made a potentially dangerous situation just a thing.

My friend last year lost a horse caught in a net as it panicked and strangled itself, she never does ground work except lunging as she’s an “English” rider! 

Checking the CCTV he had been stood for about an hour and half caught in the net, never did he pull back or thrash around once he knew he was trapped.

So thanks for the timely reminder Richard Boatwright keep those emails coming Sir!

I have a five year old mare that I took to gather cows last fall, things were going good until they weren't! I lost all speed control that she was very good at. I have the control at home, but then I ride her to the sagebrush, I lose the control and she gets excited and hot. What can I do to regain the control away from home? 

I'm struggling with a 3yr old gelding that has a problem with standing tied by himself.  We're about 30days into his training. He doesn't set back, he paws and moves around so much that he gets himself all sweaty and worked up. I've been making him move his feet and try again but he just doesn't want to stand by himself, if I bring in another horse he's fine. I'm just wondering if I'm doing something wrong or am I just dealing with a horse that has anxiety issues?  Any advice is greatly appreciated.  Thanks!    Ernest

Riding Goals Anyone?

What's everyone got planned for this year? Any new horses you're starting or skills you plan to add to the old ones?

Hello - I am not a horse trainer by profession but I do believe I’m training to some degree all the time (for good or bad lol). I just got my first yearling - well I guess he turned 2 today - but I was curious to know what you think is helpful for a client to have done with their horse before having them started under saddle? And what things would you rather the client not mess with at all? I’m excited to learn with my colt but also don’t want to make a mess of things. Thanks and Happy New Year!