HORSE TRAINING
Horse Training – From Conception to Competition!
At Dreamcatcher Meadows training begins in the first week of a newborn’s life with familiarization
to human touch and introduction to the halter and leading. The youngsters are handled at least
twice daily as they are led with their mothers from their large breeding stall to the mare and
foal “Timewasters Paddock” (aptly named as it is hard to stop watching the foals play with each
other).
After a stress free weaning process, youngsters are stabled with a peer at night and turned out daily
with their age group. Each night they are individually groomed and handled, to make a seamless
transition to life as a ridden horse. The yearlings and two year olds are individually stabled and
turned out in age groups. We believe horses benefit hugely by learning to interact with youngsters
their own size and level of growth. Rugs and show grooming are introduced. At two free jumping is
started and riding and lunging equipment introduced.
At rising three years the work progresses to more time in our large custom built backing arena. This
circular building has Equimats as a base under the footing, high sides and a conical roof. It is ideal
for initial backing, lunging (of riders too) and first rides. Its shape and design foster concentration
and confidence. For those horses selected for breed inspections, the performance is a natural one
as it is simply a progression of what they have done from birth. There are no sudden changes or
overwhelming sessions of new information at our facility. The aforementioned stages may vary
depending on the psychological and physical readiness of the individual.
Trailering, showing, ridden jumping and trail riding are introduced at appropriate times for each
horse.
Dreamcatcher Meadows is a “One Stop Shop” from conception to competition!
