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About D LaChapelle www.Laurelmountainfarms.com
Expertise
I am a student of the Horse. How to deal with "problems" and find SOLUTIONS with real QUALITY that RESPECT the HORSE is my goal for this site. It has been my great fortune to be able to focus the last 12 years studying the Buckaroo/Vaquero style of horsemanship, this is what the Natural Horsemanship movement is based on. Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, Ricky Quinn and Bryan Neubert are my teachers and mentors. I continue to study and ride with these great horsemen.
I am happy to offer help in starting colts, re-starting troubled horses, helping you find a "better way" with horses and sharing with you what it means to be a student of the horse. Western show disciplines; Showmanship, Trail, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, as well as Hunter Under Saddle and Three Day Eventing are my passions. I enjoy sharing my 30+ years of experience with all levels of horse owners; children, amateurs and serious competitors. Please visit me at: www.laurelmountainfarms.com
www.Laurelmountainfarms.com
Experience
Organizations
American Quarter Horse Association, USEA
Education/Credentials
Learning good horsemanship is an oral tradition passed from master to student. At an early age I started riding with noted clinician Richard Sharake at Horsemanship West. Although I have ridden with many top flight trainers and instructors, Ray Hunt has been the most influential and has had the greatest impact on my horsemanship. To be a student of the horse and to in some small way pass along the gifts Ray has offered to me, is my greatest educational accomplishment.
Awards and Honors
I have campaigned horses to many State and Regional titles. My horses and I have earned 14 AQHA High-Point All-Around titles, won multiple AQHA year end high point awards, and have qualified for the AQHA World Show.
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You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Horses > Horses - Behavior Issues, Breaking and Training > Starting an unbroken 8 year old Lusitano stallion.
Expert: D LaChapelle www.Laurelmountainfarms.com - 11/7/2009
Question
Please can you give me any extra advice. I live in Portugal and have bought/rescued an 8 year old stunning Lusitano stallion who is unbroken and to all intents and purposes unhandled.
I travelled him back to my yard in a trailer and he loaded fairly quietly and travelled well, if a little nervously. Once home he broke out of his paddock and through, in total, 10 lines of mains electric fencing, in a bid to get at the other horses, which he did.
I feel that the horse needs to be kept in a stable, handled and worked daily, with some time turned out in to the paddock each day. I understand that this will not be easy given his age and lack of experience, but I am willing to put in 110%.
For the last 7.5 years this horse has been turned out in a field and bar feeding has been virtually untouched. He is ok to lead in a halter and he is nervous and inexperienced as opposed to badly behaved.
The simple fact is I am willing to do my best for this horse, who will eventually be sold on to a new, vetted home. He has excellent breeding and is a stunning horse. I have plenty of experience of breaking and training, but usually with horses that have received handling from a much younger age. I really need a 2nd opinion to see that I am going along the right lines.
Answer
Hi Claire!
The horses age really does not matter. By the calendar, he may be 8, but in terms of experience, he is just a colt. Treat him as such. Handle him, treat him just like any other 2 year old. You said that he is untouched, that is just perfect.
Get into the round pen and begin at the beginning! You also said that you have started colts, then off you go.
What you didn't say is why this horse has not been gelded. You do not have stallion safe fencing. If you try and keep this horse in a stall because 1. He is a stallion and 2. you do not have proper fencing for him, you are asking for trouble. This horse more than most others needs to be out and move. Any horse that is not in full work and that lacks experience and partnership, needs to be able to move in a good pasture with appropriate fencing.
Don't set yourself up for failure by putting this guy in a stall. My suggestion would be to geld him. He has been sitting in a pasture for years, he has no resume of performance or breeding that would make me think he should remain a stallion. A great gelding is worth far more than a mediocre stallion. Do right by this horse.
If you have specific questions about aspects of colt starting, please feel free to ask.
All the best!
Denise
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