@richardboatwright I've been working with my three year old rescue filly, using the twenty day program with Luna. We are up to day seven now.. she will take absolutely anything I give her to do, but my goodness she will not move her feet unless it's first thing in the morning or a bit chilly outside.The flag worked for the first 2 days, but I can shake that flag with everything that's in me and she'll just look at it.It doesn't bother her whatsoever. Another day, twirling a rope made her move.But only that one day. Slapping my leg, clucking, smooching, nothing she'll just walk over to me. Yesterday I had put the long drive reins on her, and she responded quite well to that as far as turning her head with the slightest bit of pressure applied.But she did it from pretty much standing still.  My farrier says she's extremely lazy I might as well just get on her now hahaha any other suggestions for how I can actually get her moving on a consistent basis?It does get tempting to just get on her ...

Hey Richard Boatwright I’m bringing my 3rd colt through your program and he seems to be a lot different. He wants to stall up and freeze under pressure (rather than move feet). This became a problem the second time I got on him… he didn’t want to move his feet with a cluck and smooch so I tapped with feet and he took off and started bucking. 

Does he just need more forward motion in ground work before I get on him again?

And how to regain confidence. Thank you. 

Looking for a little advice. My 6 yo has become a little fractious lately. Great attitude from the ground, including at liberty. No issue saddling and he takes the bit without any prompting.  We’ve had a few changes at the barn and between that and weather I have not been riding/ training as often as usual (2-3 times per week vs 5). He has started resisting right turns (head down and pulling, tail twisting a bit). I’ll make going to the left more work and he’ll return back to the right for a bit and then the struggle begins again (slight rearing and protesting). He’ll also trot a few circles when asked but after a few will start to tighten up a bit and lope. I’ll bring him down before he gets too tight and things get a little interesting. Throughout this, I’ve noticed he is constantly working his mouth and I mean constantly.  He doesn’t have a foamy mouth, and I like to think I’m giving gentle cues, but his mouth doesn’t stop. The bit is a D-Ring snaffle with a full bridle. I’ve made a dental appointment and well-check but looking to see if anyone has any  other advice. I am going to take a video of the next ride to see where it starts to shift.

My biggest “hole” in my training (that I know of) is my knowledge of bits.  You explain pretty good about the snaffle bits.  I don’t have a couple grand to go out and buy a bunch of tom balding bits.  With that said what bits would you say are “must haves” and what do you stay away from?  The only snaffle I have is an old O ring that’s super heavy like literally probably 3lbs.  I worry it’s too much for most young horses.  I got it to soften up an old stiff rope horse years ago.  

Hey guys, I'm putting together a vacation week in Walden, CO at the Canadian River Ranch for July of 2026.  We will brand cattle, trail cattle, take amazing trail rides into the backcountry, have a clinic, rope (if you want), and otherwise have a great cowboy type adventure.  The accommodations will be first class and we'll even have a few horses for people that want to fly in.  Would anyone be interested in attending?  I'm offering this trip to B1 members first.😁

I would like some videos or input on how to fix a super good well rounded horse with one issue when you cinch up saddle he bucks for few minutes everytime  once he stops he is the best horse and you dont have to worry about him bucking or doing anything until the next time you cinch his saddle down again doesn't matter if your out on him for 10 hours once saddle comes off when it goes back on again and you cinch it he will buck for a few minutes then good to go for the day. 

Looking for some advice on bridling and older horse that just isn't having it. I took in this mid-teens horse to ride for 30 days...just some wet saddle pads kind of thing. The mare rides around good and actually has a decent handle but she turns into a complete freak when trying to bridle. I'm on day 4 with her now and have been doing my rides in the round pen with a loping hackamore to try and get something done. I've spent some time everyday working on getting her bridled, really just trying to start over with it because she obviously has some bad issues with it that has been created over time.

I'm going to suggest the owner have her teeth checked, I'm sure they haven't done that but short of that being the issue, I don't seem to be making much progress. I spend time each day just getting her head in the right spot, pulling the headstall over her face and just rubbing my fingers on the side of her mouth and she throws her head a lot. If you try for the bit, she gets pretty violent with the head tossing. I have gotten her to where I can pull the headstall over and rub on the side of her face some without it being as much of a fight, but that's about it.

Was wondering if there is anything I'm missing or that I could try to help her.

What are y'all working on and how do you track and measure progress?

In addition to trying to figure out lead changes, I've been working on hobble training on the older horses and working a couple youngsters at the gate. Riding a couple at a time made me wonder how/if everyone else has trouble tracking progress and next steps.

Any of you all have methods you've used to roadmap progress on a horse and then track progress? I'm thinking about building out a notebook with a planning section (somewhat like Mr. Richard Boatwright's steps he outlines in the ES20 programs) and a notes part to write down where the horse was when I stepped off. I'm old and forget what happened and/or what I need to work on shortly thereafter.

We use the attached goal sheet(s) for the objectives/plan for each horse (which helps in not getting lost while riding). 

Anyone going to be in the Fairplay, CO area this weekend?  I'll be holding a clinic at the fairgrounds.  Come by if you can!

Alright, realising that my main ride has close to no direction off of my legs, and I'm wondering how to approach that when all she does when I add my leg is gain speed.