10/ FEBRUARY 2021 THE RIDER
Pro and Non-Pro Reiner Article Series Insiders Guide: Starting Your Two-Year-Old
Pro and Non-Pro articles written by Jen Jonas of Jonas Performance Horses (Pro) and Sharon Jones of Be A Better You (Non- Pro). Together, they are J&J Reining Inc.
Both Jen and Sharon are believers in con- tinual learning – if you’re not learning you’re not growing.
Jen (pro): It’s January! that exciting time when, after watching your young fillies and colts grow and develop; watched them move and interact with other horses and start to mature, now is the time you can of- ficially get them started on their under-sad- dle journey. I’ve done my fair share of starting
two-year-olds, and I enjoy it, but I prefer working with them when they have at least 30 – 60 days of riding on them. No one trainer can be excellent across every re- quirement for a horse, so I send my client’s coming two-year-olds out to a professional who excels in this area. In my view, send- ing a two-year-old to a reputable profes- sional is the best first education you could give your youngster. To quote Will Rogers “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. I send my client’s horses to be started
with Ricky Ramey of Triple R Equine Services. Ricky’s program is consistent with mine and I find he has a nice approach, which makes for a great transition from Ricky starting them to when I get them. I look forward to when they come back to me!
Starting a two-year-old is like building a house Houses, like horses, require
a solid foundation. It would be silly to waste money and build your house on a weak foundation. You want solid, consistent forms in your concrete with no cracks in the foundation. The same is true for starting a horse. With a solid consistent start, they will always have this foundation to rely on. Sharon (non-pro): That makes a lot of sense to me and I have learned too that it’s easier to do it right in the first place than it is to try and fix later it if it’s done badly, or there are big gaps. I have started a few of my own, and always under the strict guidance of a professional – you helped me with my last one Jen and I fully appreciate your guidance. Of course, it all took me a lot
Tips to make the most of the “off- season” and prepare for 2021.
1. Host a clinic. Need a fresh perspective? Riding sessions and info-packed workshops. Adaptable to physically-distanced protocol. Great tips and fun!
2. Book some lessons.
“Is it me or my horse? Training
YOU to train your horse with the tools of eq- uitation science. Freelance coaching. Ask if I’m making farm calls in your area.
Sharing the science of equine behaviour and learning.
Visit
www.lindsaygriceridingcoach.com 2020 Judges Committee
Melanie Gray Shari Irwin
Kelly Lehman Secretary: Kit Bartle
(519) 372-2527 (519) 440-5941 (519) 807-2660 (519) 732-0263
email:
melaniegraylifecoach@gmail.com email:
shari_irwin@hotmail.com email:
maddavery@gmail.com email:
drumbolady@hotmail.ca
Website:
www.whao.org Celebrating 67 Years! 2020 Sr. Judges
Cally Jo Fritz 21 Taylor Blvd., Elliot Lake, ON P5A 3H5 H: (226) 289-8563, C: (519) 280-8169 Email:
callygene@gmail.com
Melanie Gray 202011 Hwy 21, Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N7 (519) 372-2527,
melaniegraylifecoach@gmail.com Shari Irwin
166 Gleasons Corner Road,
Castleton, ON K0K 1M0. (905) 349-1092, Cell (905) 440-5941
shari_irwin@hotmail.com
Jamie Kuhl 899 10th St. W., Owen Sound, ON N4K 3S3. H: (226) 909-1447. C: (647) 290-6093 jamie@archlines .ca
Kelly Lehman
895893 Oxford Rd. 3,, Drumbo, ON N0J 1G0 C: (519) 807-2660. E:
maddavery@gmail.com Anne Marinacci
65 Swayze Court, Smithville, ON L0R 2A0 905-957-5619
Janet McClure 14156 Ten Mile Road R.R. #3, Ilderton, ON N0M 2A0 (519) 666-2482
janetmcclure1@gmail.com
janetmcclure1@gmail.com
Tom Saul 574 Valentina St., Petrolia, ON N0N 1R0 (519) 882-0958
tbsaul@outlook.com
Kris Simpson 711 Middletown Rd., RR #2, Waterdown, ON L8B 1P7 (519) 831-7922
richlandshowhorses@gmail.com
Don Stauffer 9626 Wellington Rd. 14, P.O. Box 16, Conn, ON N0G 1N0
(226) 258-9206, Cell (519) 604-8864
thestauffers48@gmail.com
Robyn Storey 6-120 Dudhope Ave.,
Cambridge, ON N1R 4T7
(519) 620-9015, Cell: (519) 841-3934,
gatorrocks@hotmail.com
Brenda Thompson 284 Whitmore Dr., Waterloo, ON N2K 2N5
(519) 884-4050, Cell (519) 577-7320
bmctearnen@yahoo.ca
Mike Tucker
1581 Maple St. N., R.R. #4, Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0
(905) 892-5610, Cell (905) 984-1581
m.tucker@hotmail.ca
Jr. Judges Dave Black
94 Concession 4 Road, Fisherville, ON N0A 1G0 C: 905 921 0359
Email:
diamondbquarterhorses@gmail.com Lorie Duff
7651 County Rd. 10, Vankleek Hill, ON K0B 1R0
H; 613 867-0776, C: 613 867 0776 Email:
dufflorie@yahoo.com
Erin Fawcett 9 Strong Court,
Brantford, ON N3R 7Y4
C: (519) 754-3526, H: (519) 753-0757 Email:
efawcett78@hotmail.com
Erin O’Drowsky 253 James St. N., St. Mary’s, ON N4X 1A5
H: (519) 284-0684, C: (226) 377-0244 Email:
eodrowsk@gmail.com
Inactive Judges John Ward
Sharon: Last question, with so many colt starting pro- grams/professionals out there, how can people tell if they’ve picked the right one? Jen: The right program will be the one where your
horse is happy and relaxed doing their job. They are not hurt; and they don’t do their job out of fear. I want my young horses to make willing partners for their lifetime, so not being rushed or pushed beyond their physical or mental ability is important to me. I leave my client’s horses with Ricky for 60 days. That being said, horses are individuals; and some might require a little longer. An- other key element for the right program is the training should not be complicated, keep it simple. I feel that both Ricky and I always keep this in mind when working with horses.
One of the best rewards when working with young horses is seeing them learn and develop!
About: Ricky Ramey of Triple R Equine Services has been working with horses from a young age going up on his parents (Tom and Marianne Ramey) quarter horse farm in Wilsonville, Ontario. Ricky has competed successfully in Roping and Ontario rodeos. A horseman with a passion for horse training which reflects in the horses he works with.
longer than a professional, but it was OK because it was my horse!
I have a question for you Jen: What should I expect when I send my horse to be started?
Jen: In Ricky’s program his two main areas of focus are: 1) the horse should be backed and ridden in all three gaits, comfortably. 2) The horse should also have the beginning of what I call ‘a feel’ to them. This means they know and understand pressure; that they are giving to pressure and release. This is foundational for training them to be soft and supple in response to hand and leg. They should know how to drive forward using their hindquarters into the start of a collection; have a soft stop and back up. The horse needs to follow the rein into a start of a turn, bending around a leg, moving shoulders and hips separately and giving to the bit.
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