Rip, Annie, and Uncle Abner playing in the indoor arena.
To listen to the audio version click here. Look for the title Blogpost: Rip’s Early Training: a Young Colt’s Journey
Rip’s Early Training: A Young Colt’s Journey
Winter in the Rockies has been relentless, much like everywhere else. I’m super grateful for my toasty indoor arena, but let’s be honest, riding in circles can get a bit monotonous. Luckily, spending time with my horses—grooming, playing games, and doing groundwork— never gets old.
Rip, Annie’s colt, is nine months old, but technically a yearling. He’s basically a learning machine with the whole world at his hooves. He loves the indoor arena. It’s his playground, where he rolls repeatedly in the soft dry sand, explores every nook and cranny from tractors to saddle racks, and he seems to enjoy our short training sessions too. Rip is doing great with halter training and ground handling, especially considering I haven’t spent much dedicated time on it. Because he’s been handled since birth, most of his learning has been organic.
Catching, haltering, and going on fun adventures have been part of Rip’s daily routine since day one. Now, we’re refining those skills, like leading him away from his buddies (gasp!). He’s learning to stick with me wherever I go, to match my pace, and that roughhousing is not allowed while on the lead. Basically, he’s learning that he can’t always get what he wants. I’m patient and incremental with him. He’s not thrilled with the restrictions, but he’s getting there.
As a yearling, it’s time to step up Rip’s education. I’m not one for over-handling young horses, so our sessions are short and sweet (10-15 minutes) and sporadic (not daily). Rip loves being scratched and rubbed, so I use that to desensitize him to touch all over, gradually working our way toward the sensitive spots like legs, belly, tail, and between the hind legs. I like to keep things fun with plenty of breaks, always leaving him wanting more.
I’ve started teaching Rip to accept the restraint of being tied up. He’s getting used to his spot on “the wall” and learning how to manage the tie rope. At first, I always held the end of the lead rope so I could adjust and release pressure as needed. It’s all about letting him gradually figure things out and avoiding anything scary.
Like all young horses, Rip wants to explore the world with his mouth. Stud colts especially tend to lip, nip, and bite. I try to keep clear boundaries with him, and I stay away from his mouth as much as possible. At the same time, he needs to learn to keep his chompers to himself, so some scolding is occasionally required. He is already learning my important human-imposed rule— keep your nose in front of you when I am handling you. It’s like when you learned to sit at your desk and pay attention in kindergarten.
Another rule for this playful and rambunctious colt: no roughhousing with people, ever. And no sparring with the other horses, either. The last thing I want is a four-hundred-pound colt with flailing hooves, jumping on me from behind. He needs to learn that it’s not party time when he’s haltered and around humans. Certain rules of comportment apply. He will learn to contain his impulses, especially the biting, striking, rearing, and kicking. He’s learning fast, so as long as we’re consistent with his handling, it quickly becomes his ‘normal.’
Rip’s first farrier visit will include a long trailer ride with his mom, handling by a stranger, and then another long trailer ride home. I’ve been desensitizing his legs and working on picking up his feet. He’s doing well for me, but I’m sure he’ll still be a wiggle worm for the farrier. However, with Annie calmly by his side, he should take respectable cues from her.
Trailer loading shouldn’t be an issue since he follows Annie anywhere. But those curvy mountain roads will take some getting used to. We’ll take a couple of short practice rides before the big day, so he gets some comfort level in the moving trailer.
Stay tuned! In my “Back at the Ranch” segment of my podcast this month, I’ll share with you how the farrier visit goes. I’ll also be discussing bit basics—how to know if your horse needs a different bit, how we evaluate horses for the best bit, and how the right bit can make a big difference. You can find the “Ride On with Julie Goodnight” podcast wherever you listen or at juliegoodnight.com. This blog will be available there as well, look for Blogpost: February 2025 Horse Report.
