J Randol horse training

The biggest issue I come across with selling horses is the new buyers option to keep the seller updated. Usually the first few months after the sale you get updates of the horse settling in well and the “I love my horse thank you!” Then contact tends to fade but as a seller that’s ok it means they are spending their time enjoying their horse.

Then there’s the controversy of the trainer selling a horse on consignment for the seller. The trainer finds an appropriate home and if updates are sent to the trainer they are related to the seller. The issue here is there’s almost always an attachment to the horse from the seller and they tend to get demanding towards the trainer to get updates on the horse. It’s not the trainers fault if the new buyer doesn’t wish to be in contact with the seller of the horse. Some of my buyers prefer it that way so they aren’t bothered to have visitors or people driving by checking on the horse and in some cases stalking the buyers and harassing them.

Moral of the story if you sell a horse you relinquish all rights to that horse. Including staying in touch. It’s nice to get a buyer who updates you but it’s rare to find one. Most buy the horse, inform you they love them and they are a happy team then that’s that. Just remember to keep in mind others privacy and their wishes to not be harassed. Once you sell your horse it’s their horse and their decision on who they update or even if they choose to do so. Just know in your mind you did your best to help them find their match in a horse partner and the silence means they are happy.

Selling horses isn’t for the faint of heart we all fall in love with these animals but we also have to respect their new homes and their privacy.

Leonard is my 3 year old APHA gelding. I’ve owned him since he was a yearling and done all his training. He’s always picked up on things quickly and finds out what I want right away. We’ve always communicated well. He was the best at free lunging in the arena. Always stayed the same direction, he will trot all day until I changed it up. He was so good I used him to teach other horses how to behave. He likes being the good example, teachers pet persay. He’s always been special I love him dearly. Now he’s been teaching my two year old filly to free lunge. He stays on the outside of her to keep her circles in. The entire arena and I have two horses trotting so close around me I could Touch them! Once they drop their heads we stop then reverse and do it all over. Now that they are so used to being worked together we’ve all found our rhythm! These two are a beautiful team and partnership like this with animals. They mirror each other I’m blessed to have such connected team.

Sorry I have been away from posting I’ve been busy working then on my days off I’m catching up with work around the ranch. Dad ordered gravel last week and I moved 5 yards by hand to to horse’s winter shelter for mud control. I set up there shelter and it was an all day endeavor but greatly satisfying!

On the topic of mud control I wanted to say it’s very important to add gravel in high traffic areas but do so before it’s muddy and the horse’s will pack down the gravel themselves. It provides great drainage therefore the horse’s have dry paces to stand without sinking in mud. Mud creates a snowball effect of issues to our horses. Thrush, mud fever, scratches, rain rot and abscesses to only name a few. By just adding gravel that alone alleviates much of the headache and the horse’s are much more comfortable.

My horse’s shelter is bordered with panel gates and is constructed of a cement slab with stall mats on top for extra grip and comfort for the loading horse enjoying the dry area to escape the weather.

The job is never done at the ranch but all the hard work is so worth it!

Everything finally unfolds as it should if you do your groundwork. The same thing goes for teaching the horse to travel with a natural, low head set. This head carriage helps them develop the muscles needed in order to perform this frame under saddle as well. Promotes strong back, strong legs and comfort to the horse without straining. Eliminates sore backs and helps the young horse to grow and develop without a “sway back”.

I’ve been training Charlie since she was a few months shy of a year. I bought her as a barely handled youngster. her first year with me she went to county fair and she enjoyed it thoroughly. She loved all the attention and the kids reaching in to pet her. She stood along the front wall of her stall all week waiting to be touched when the other horses had enough and moved to the back of their stalls for some quiet time. She’s always been exceptional. She didn’t know much at that time just leading and loading and bathed once. Her first bath was right before fair and let’s just say she wasn’t thrilled even though it was warm water.

Over time, she’s grown and learned so much! Last spring I started her under saddle after she had the winter off. She learns fast and wants to please. My two year olds only learn walk and trot we don’t lope until they are 3 years old. She’s a rockstar! She learned quickly to drop her head at Liberty then allied it rather quickly under saddle on her own without a cue. Most horse’s will do this if you’ve done your groundwork correctly. It’s their preferred way to move once their muscles are developed. It’s been almost a year working on her natural low carriage and using her hind end correctly that she’s finally started to move in frame, on her own at the lope! This comes with time and once they are ready they will do it on their own and it’s beautiful! Last week Charlie started to drop her head at the lope it’s not easy for them but once the muscles are there and the cadence in the gait it all falls into place! This shows me once she’s consistently traveling in frame at all gaits and all without force she’s ready to start loping under saddle when her training permits.

I’m very proud of her she’s a mirror of my gelding Leonard and he’s helped to show her how to move in frame at all gaits by example. He’s a great training assistant, I’m blessed to have such exceptional youngsters.

Take your time, don’t add speed without structure and listen to the horse. They will tell you when they are ready.

It’s getting colder at night, but still warm during the day. This is perfect for one last bath before winter when baths become scarce for most due to lack of access to warm water. Medicated shampoo baths I highly recommend. Horses right now are dealing with bot flies which lay their eggs then bite the horse to better their chances of the horse ingesting their eggs. The horses are irritated and you’ll find crusty bumps all over where the flies have irritated them. This medicated wash will give the horse some much needed and appreciated relief. It cleanses the skin and irritated areas. I use aloe medicated wash because it soothes the skin and helps it heal. Also it’s time to deworm the horses with Ivermectin. This helps kill any bot fly eggs already ingested and will kill any ticks that are latched on for a free buffet. After bathed and dewormed and they’ve fully dried off, I highly suggest applying Farnam Equi-Spot for fly control and relief from the bugs long term v.s short term fly sprays. The Equi- Spot is long lasting up to two weeks of not in contact with water. I apply on the belly, back of the legs, the chest and the poll. I don’t apply on the face or down the back due to riding occasionally. These three products will help get your horses feeling happy again in no time! After all who doesn’t want bug bite relief?! Have a safe fall season friends!

Below are the exact products I prefer to use. There are many variations but these I found help my horses best.

They learned to carry themselves naturally before ever being ridden. I teach all my horse’s this way and it helps them collect under saddle also because it’s comfortable for them to move correctly instead of fighting them because their muscles aren’t developed yet. This helps them develop strong backs and topline as well as coordination.