This is Ward. He’s a 3 year old I took in on training. His owner has never ridden him and owned him for about 2 weeks before sending him in. He bought him off a video he saw- and to the credit he was riding pretty nicely. When I got him in he was very jumpy-hard to catch- and liked to buck on the lunge line. I started treating it like a restart and have been following the Es-20 series with Luna and yesterday he had his first ride under me. Worked him on the ground a bit and he did great when I stepped on him! Little stiff to the right but we’ll work on that! 

Hello from Poland!

Im following Richard more than 1 year on social media, but last night it was enough... i wanted to dive in deeper. And here i am now.

I own actually 6 horses, waiting for a foal in may and train sometimes horses for the public. Normally i breed horses and sell them later trained.

In the picture my 3yo APH stud, who im actually starting under saddle. 

I have one question for the beginning: how big is your roundpen, Richard?

Thanks a lot and have all a nice day!

Hey guys,  I'll be in The Houston, TX area on April 11-12 to do a clinic.  This one will be horsemanship and Ranch Trail.  Come out if you can.  Here's a link to sign up: https://www.georgeranch.org/things-to-do/specialtytours/

Alright dumb question. How are my stirrups here? I got a different saddle and I’m riding in oxbows- used to ride in bells. And for the life of me I just can’t get them where I want them. A notch down feels too long but I feel more balanced in my seat. Here feels almost too short and I feel off balance in my hips. I’ve attached both pictures. 

How do you help a horse learn to pick up the left lead ?  

Is it worth spending a few sessions working on side passing and backing before riding?  Got a couple more days tell I start getting on my mare. Also any tricks for helping a bit shy horse? It’s about a 5 minute ordeal to get it on. She will lower her head just fine but as soon as it touches her lips she turns her head like it’s a game.

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

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!