TRAINING EVALUATION

RIDER UP

The major thing to look for when a horse is under saddle is that the rider is in control, and not just a passenger. He should be able to direct the mount to walk, trot, lope, run, and stop on command.

Performing a pattern, as a figure eight, is revealing, provided the horse is not following a well worn path to come to a stop by himself at a hitch rail or gate. If advertised as a game or play day prospect, he should be asked to run the barrels in the reverse direction.

Working a horse in a tiny corral as the "performers" in a horse auction ring do, only proves that a frightened horse that doesn't have anywhere to go, will naturally roll-back (a flashy turn), or slide to a stop when run into a solid wall. For this reason, after a mount has been worked up in an arena, he should be taken outside and given the chance to run away.

No values have been given for side passes, spins, backing, etc., as the primary purpose of this examination (again) is to find a safe mount. What ''high school" training adds to a horse's worth, is a decision you will have to make yourself. I can say, though, that good schooling is always a bargain.

15- Hard to mount ( 1-5 )

A sure sign of old-style breaking a horse, instead of training. There is years difference in the thinking between the two.

16- Hard to motivate ( 1-3 )

Kicking a mount to make him move means that the rider, and possibly the horse, has never heard of leg aids. In the education of a pleasure horse, signaling by leg pressure to walk, trot, run, turn, stop, is as basic as 2x4 = 8

17- Hard to rein ( 3-7 ) [58,59,60,98]

Horses that have to be hauled about with a plow rein (pulling out on the left, to go left), usually are hard mouthed, unresponsive to the bit . Often over-advertised, touch or neck reining (hand barely moves to put pressure on right side of horse's neck, to turn left), should be basic training for any Western horse.