All of us here at B1 headquarters hope that you had an amazing Christmas and we wish you a peaceful and prosperous New Year!

Merry Christmas all! I'm currently binge watching the ES20 colt starting series and loving it!

Richard what does your winter schedule look like as far as seminars / training classes?

Hi Everyone - In several videos Richard refers to principles of horsemanship like starting/ending quiet, getting the fresh off, etc. 

Can anyone point me to a video or article the explains these concepts in a bit more detail?  Thanks!

Bucking and Using Marks

Mr. Boatwright,

Hope you're happily out of the Thanksgiving food coma. I had a couple questions:

1) My gray horse has started into some bucking recently. Thus far it has been when something scares him (specifically behind him) when we're moving fast. He's always been a little watchy about things, but these are the first times he's decided to really buck about it. I've used circles to correct him away from whatever object started things and then let him rest near the object but I'm not sure how clear that is to him. What are some ways you might address this? Should I try to have someone introduce things behind him and make him face up as a way to get used to things in that spot?

2) Using marks. I took the same grey horse out west last year and rode a bunch of pasture (at least a bunch to me) and came out of the deal with some using marks. I attributed them to poor saddle fit and have since switched saddles. After reviewing the marks I noticed that one side is significantly larger than the other. I'm thinking that may be due to me leaning and putting more weight on one side than the other.  Do you think that's a likely explanation?

Richard Boatwright

Who's watching the NCHA Futurity?  

Good morning B1 members!  How's your fall going?

Hate that I missed your clinic over the weekend! Good friend of mine was there riding a filly I started couldn't believe he was taking her since he hadn't rode her since right after I brought her back but sounded like they had a good time!

Mr. Boatwright I just wanted to give you some feedback on the advice you gave me for my gelding on how to get his pole soft. My wife took this picture for me so I could share on his progress, I couldn’t get him to truly give me his face before i had got your opinion on the problem and struggled with him being super stiff to the right side I have been chipping away a little at the beginning and (if needed) through out my training sessions with him everytime I ride, and I am super pumped at how far he has come, and how soft he is from when we started. your recommended drills and the video you posted were very beneficial and impactful on my training and approach with him and, he has continuously been improving so thank you very much sir,

Matt

6 yr old gelding, snaffle bit trained, gentle, kind, willing, has been started on heading and heeling, has drug some calves and loaded trucks, no buck, no kick.  Seems to have a fear of young calves, he does not buck, he just wants to leave.  I have tried different things to help.  I have had no success.  I would appreciate some advice.  Thank you in advance.