Other Services

Diagnostic Evaluation

Diagnostic evaluation of horse prior to training to determine issues that need to be addressed:

  • 1.5hrs:  At the G’Day Mate Ranch $75.   If your horse stays for training the $75. fee is waived.
  • 1.5hrs:  Within 20 miles $100

The diagnostic evaluation is an in depth visual and hands on observation to make sure your horse has no obvious health or physical problems as well as bad habits that need to be addressed. Undetected problems may lead to training and/or safety issues. The core areas focused on are dental, soundness of feet, soreness areas in various areas of the body, and mental disposition. Other assessments include: flexibility, tracking and gait in walk, trot and canter. 

 

 

Starting under Saddle

2 month minimum $1400. (owner provides feed & hay)                                                                                                                                                          (some horses take longer)

After Gary determines that your horse is sound physically and emotionally he starts him in a 60' roundpen concentrating on groundwork for a long time.  Gary speaks to horses in a language they understand based on his knowledge of the animal psychology of horses who are prey animals as well as herd animals. It is crucial that the horse "hooks on" to Gary and sees him as the leader at this point in training. Appropriate groundwork is where the Gary gains respect of the horse. Control of the horse's feet is imperative. Only a rope halter is used at this time. Negative and positive reinforcement is used. Negative reinforcement is not punitive. Basically horses don't really want to do much. They find it negative when asked to do something that is out of their comfort zone. If they try to do what is being asked of them and are even a little successful they get immediate positive reinforcement of being able to stand and do nothing for a bit and get a nice rub. There are too many steps to groundwork to write here. If you would like to know more, an in depth book that covers about everything you want to know about horses and training horses is The Revolution in  Horsemanship by Robert M. Miller DVM and Rich Lamb.

     

 

After the groundwork is solid Gary works with the horse getting used to having something on his back, eventually evolving to the saddle, and eventually a person.  When Gary has finished with your horse you should expect that horse to drop his head for haltering and bridling; side pass to a mounting block if necessary and stand patiently; be desensitized to most normal movements and sounds; be able to be led on a slack lead and not be pushy on the ground, lift his feet to be cleaned and shod with no problems; back up with appropriate cues; walk, trot, and in most cases canter with rider on his back; respond to a one rein stop; have his ears handled and clipped and many other skills determined by the horse's needs and the owner's wants.  If this is to be successful the owner must invest time by coming out to G'Day Mate Ranch and working with Gary and the horse near the end of training in order to reinforce what has been learned once the horse goes home. When completed you and your horse will have a solid and stable foundation. He will trust and respect you and willingly participate with you. Just remember your horse will still be quite green and will need a lot of attention: consistent ground work and riding to reinforce and maintain what he has learned.

      

 

Trailer Loading 

  • At your place w/in 20 miles. 
  • 3 lessons $300. Includes Gary training the horse and teaching the owner techniques to be successful.
  • It is imperative that your horse will load quickly without problems at a moment's notice. If there is an emergency you need to be able to load your horse on a trailer without delay.

Most horses are afraid of entering confined spaces.   Gary works toward building the horse's confidence that the trailer is a safe place to be.  After training the horse will load without anyone entering the trailer with him.                                                                                                                              

ALWAYS USE A BREAKAWAY HALTER FOR TRANSPORTION!! 

   

 This is done in 3 lessons because trying to learn a lot of new things in a short period of time often puts too much pressure on a horse and causes them stress.                The appropriate groundwork is a large part of trailer loading.

  1. Gary works establishing a relationship with the horse and teaching the groundwork that specifically relates to loading into a trailer.
  2. Gary reinforces all the groundwork taught in the first lesson and introduces the trailer and works on loading into it.
  3. Gary assists the owner in doing the groundwork (which should be simple by this time) and loading techniques with his horse and has them load thiei horse a number of times.

Phone consultations

  • $25 per hour

TBA

Private & Group Horsemanship Lessons

  • Private at G’Day Mate Ranch: 1.5 hrs  $75
  • Group (3 or more) at G’Day Mate Ranch:  1.5hrs  $35

TBA

Boarding

Boarding TBA

 

 

 

 

Off-Canvas Menu