Hello this is Will Faerber from Art2Ride and today I am giving you an update on the rescued horse, Miracle. It’s about two weeks from our first video where we were just lunging him around in a bridle and just getting him to go around us. Now we are introducing the surcingle with some long side reins so he has something to contact his mouth and get used to carrying a little bit. He is beginning to go around much nicer now and becoming much more civilized in the barn and stable.

When we work young horses like this, especially ones that are unpredictable, the last thing we expect them to do is stand in cross ties. We take them right out of the pen and directly to where they are going to work and then when they are finished working we take them over to the cross ties and practice that kind of work. Always have someone hold and stand with them and don’t tie them in cross ties. The biggest mistake people make with young horses is expecting them to stand still, this will drive sensitive horses crazy. Tack them up in their pen and then take them right to where you are going to work them and then after working take them to the cross tie area with someone holding them. After a few weeks of that, they will be ready to stand in the cross ties with no problem. If you start out with that, these types of horses would be very antsy.

You can see in the video how he is beginning to stretch into the contact nicely with only a few weeks work. His mouth has quieted down. The side reins are very long and when horses are allowed to, most horses will stretch.

Once again, this is Will Faerber from Art2Ride with my associate trainer Amber Matusek and the rescued horse Miracle. See you next time!

Art2Ride classical foundation dressage horse miracle rescue horse San Diego horse training surcingle topline Will Faerber