Starting the colt...

[Brooksie]

In my little to non-existant spare time, I'm going to be starting Sawyer.  He's 22 months old and will turn officially 2 in mid-April.  I've had him since he was 2 weeks old, so he has extensive ground work.  I've been on him once for just a little bit and got off just to see what he would do.

I'm currently getting him going well in line driving and we're exploring some of the places around my house that could booger him if I were in the saddle.

Question is... If I have him going consistent off of rein cues and some vocal commands, walking and trotting, turning both ways, backing and stopping...

At what point can I start getting on him for say 10 minutes or so in the round pen? 

He's 14 hands and about 950 lbs.  Very healthy and broad for his age.  Just not tall.

[lauraSchumann]

Brooksie,

In my opinion, you can start that colt as soon as you see he has mastered
the first set of skills.  There isn't any time frame I go by.  I simply keep looking
for the right signs that a horse is interested and has accomplished the previous
tasks and then I intro him for a few minutes at the end of each day to whatever
new thing I'd like to show him.  But I ALWAYS go back to something that he has
mastered and has learned and END on that note for the day.

Thanks for your question!
Laura Schumann

[Brooksie]

Thanks Laura! 

I'm tempted to get on him just a little this weekend, but I'll make sure he's line driven first.

[Brooksie]

Lord it's said to think that so little time has passed.  He is currently loping 23 second exhibitions in barrels and works cattle like a pro.  He will be 3 years and 6 months in October.  It doesnt' seem like yesterday I made this post and was very nervous about it.