Starting Colts - Black Hawk Morgans

Starting Colts:

The “Natural” form of colt starting is by no means a new concept. True horsemen have been practicing these techniques for centuries. Natural colt starting has spread like a wild fire throughout the horse industry in resent years. It has been made possible by such famed horsemen as John Lyons, Pat Parelli, Craig Cameron, Clinton Anderson, Chris Cox, Stacy Westfall, and many others. It is through these horsemen and with Morgan trainer, horseman and creator of Cowboy Dressage, Eitan Beth-Helachmy, where the foundation was laid and the journey began developing my own training technique. Although, like any good horseman, my educational journey is one that is never ending, “you never stop learning until you are dead,” something I believe with all my heart.
Colt starting techniques involve a round pen fifty feet in diameter, a rope halter with a twelve food lead rope, a saddle with saddle pad, bridle with full cheek snaffle bit, a flagging whip, regular blue tarp and anything else I can place or tie to the saddle. These tools could change in accordance to the environment and the horse in training.

I begin with the horse loose in the round pen with the halter and lead rope in hand. I place myself in the center of the round pen trying to make myself as non-threatening as possible. I do this by taking a narrower stance towards the horse and avoiding eye contact when possible. I do these things in an attempt to have the horse ‘join up’ with me. ‘Join up’ is when the horse accepts you as the leader and looks to you for guidance and protection. To do this I place the horse in a ‘V’ or pie slice. This is when the horse goes back and forth in one segment of the round pen. This technique puts pressure on the horse and makes him aware that I can control his feet movement. When the horse stops moving and looks at me with both eyes I stop the pressure. I begin to invite the horse in to me by making myself seem non-threatening.

While I have the attention of the horse I begin to make an ‘S’ pattern towards the horse, avoiding eye contact and looking for any signs of submission. The horse is free to leave at anytime and if so I simply repeat the process. After ‘join up’ has occurred I place the rope halter on the horse and begin to lunge the horse on the 12’ lead. Now I begin to get control of the haunches. If you can control the haunches of the horse you can control the power; the horse gets his power from the hind end.

Once I get control of the hind end I can begin ‘sacking out’ the horse to different stimulus such as tarps, flags, saddle pad and eventually the saddle and bridle. It is important to note that all these things I am discussing do not happen in a single training session. These techniques progress with accordance to what the horse is willing to give. I am on the horses’ schedule – not on mine. After mounting the horse I simply reinforce what I have already done on the ground. Before riding with a bit I like to use the halter or a side-pull to get a young horse used to turning and flexion without the use of a bit. I begin to work on leg ques, forward motion and most importantly, the meaning of the word ‘whoa’.

Everything I do promotes trust and a solid relationship.

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Frank Frontado
Black Hawk Morgans
31585 Briggs Rd.
Menifee, Ca., 92584
(949) 290-2664
blackhawkmorgans@yahoo.com