Starting softly

Saffi gets introduced to the saddle - yep - it starts with it on the fence!

Because human beings have brains that allow us to understand and predict an outcome, we live in a world where nearly everything around us is making sense - we see a car, lawnmower, tractor or motorbike and we understand that if can move, and make sound.

A horse just sees a silent, stationary object and then finds out it makes noise and moves AFTER it does so.
The saddle is the same. We see a saddle and know it goes on the horses back, but they don’t know that until it has happened. My intention when starting horses is to make sure they are not only completely familiar with something, but also confident.

My colt starting saddle has been licked, bitten and rubbed on (with safety awareness). This allows the horses to know what it is they are putting on their back.

It’s pretty simple, but not common.

Think about the last time someone thrust something at you and said “smell this” or “taste this” or “put this on” your first reaction was to pull back and ask what it is and then spend time looking at it
It’s a lot easier to get along with horses when we offer them the same courtesy