Taking it to the next level
IT’S THE LAST DAY of the two-week colt start — an event for getting a young horse started on saddle and riding training — and participants gather around outside the Horse Haven arena for a final morning briefing. They’ve come to the Sanctuary from around the country to work with some of the horses who call the Sanctuary their home-between-homes, under the careful guidance of professional horse trainer Ryan Rose.
A first for the Sanctuary, this event is intended to get the horses comfortable with a saddle, out on their first few rides and, ultimately, set up for success after adoption. Many of the participants are trainers back home, so they are learning valuable skills to help them help even more horses
in the future. It’s a win-win for horse and human alike, and everyone is pleased with the progress they’re making.
Cinnamon, who used to retreat at the sight of a halter and didn’t want her head touched, now puts her nose right in the halter and enjoys a good ear scratch. When Bug’s partner first climbed on her back, the horse tensed up with nerves. Now she’s so calm, she half-naps while they ride around the arena.
There have even been changes outside the arena. Connie used to want to be right in the middle of things when her pasture was being cleaned up — nosing at those who were cleaning and standing where they needed to get to — but since the colt start began, she has been relaxed enough to just watch from the sidelines.
After the event was over, Ryan said, “I’m super, super happy with how everything went. Because we took our time and we were very thorough. We weren’t preparing these horses for us to ride, we were preparing them for anybody to ride. They are very well prepared for anything. The trainers at Best Friends already had them on that track. We just kind of took them to the next level.”