Is 30 Days Of Training Enough?

You have decided to send your young, unstarted horse off to a trainer. You may be wondering how long they'll need to be there. Will 30 days be enough or is more necessary? This can be a tough question to answer. For most, it will greatly depend on your expectations, experience level, and the individual horse.

30 Days of Training

In the majority of cases, 30 days isn't enough to have a well-broke horse. While every horse advances at their own pace, the 30-day timeline doesn't give your trainer enough time to really educate your horse. Most professionals begin their program on the ground. They want to ensure the horse has a solid foundation with no holes in their training. For their safety and the horse's, these things can't be rushed.

Most of the youngsters that arrive are out of shape and aren't use to daily work. They need to develop ground manners and gain confidence. By the end of the 30 days, they're only beginning to figure things out. Some things they may have learned include how to stand tied, be saddled and bridled, trailer load, ride at all three gaits, and have basic steering and stopping abilities.

What is the ideal timeline? Most trainers need at least 90 to 120 days to develop a solid riding foundation. It's important that owners realize that a well-trained horse can take years to properly refine.

The experience of the trainer will also come into play. Make sure to ask for references and do your research before you send your horse off.