Piney Woods Running Colors Ranch

 I'm currently taking in training horses, however, they will all have to be kept in with my own horses in a community pasture & the barn doesn't have individual stalls(of course, the stallions will not be in with the mares/geldings).  I don't have a real good setup right now, but I am more than able to train any horse in a large pasture just as well as I could a round pen (I do have a nice sized round pen, but it's not exacly what I'd like to have) or arena.  That stuff will have to come later (probably in the Spring as it's too cold to be messing with pipe fencing right now).  All horses here will be treated just as my own are with plenty of grass to graze on, hay to nibble, feed to eat, & clean water.  They are fed twice daily with grain & hay & are groomed then as well.  My horses have about 25 acres of cleared land to graze on & will NOT be kept in a stall with nothing to eat or do!  My methods are a combination of many top Natural Horsemanship trainers as well as top Barrel Racers with some of my own stuff that I've found to work well through the years.  I can break babies, but I prefer taking horses that have a good start & finishing them out just Wetern or on Barrels.  I've trained all of my own horses as well as many other people's through the years & I like it.  It's rewarding to see horses coming along.  I do ask that the owner take a lesson or two every couple weeks during the training process so that they can learn with the horse, but it's not a requirement.  Fixing problems is a specialty of mine as well so if you've got one thats got issues let me know.  I have no problem telling you how to fix an issue free of charge if I can.  I will work with each horse in one way or another at least 6 days/week, but I do like for them to have at least one day a week where they can just hang out and be a horse.  =)  Call or email for available spots!  Email is the best way to get a hold of me since my cell phone service is not so good out here in the boonies!  Below is a list of what to expect when it comes to prices, but they can change at any time!  Thanks so much.

* Basic groundwork on an untrained horse - $200/mo *

* Starting under saddle - $300/mo *

* Finishing under saddle & getting miles (hauling to shows) - $350/mo *

* Starting on barrels (hauling to shows) - $400/mo *

* Finishing on barrels (hauling to shows & exibitioning) - $450/mo *

* Competing on your horse (hauling to shows, exibitioning, & competing) - to be negotiated *

Typical Stages Of Training

Every horse is different & is at a different level in their training when they come to me so it's impossible to say how long each horse will need to be in any phase of training, but I will take things as slow as possible within reason.  How well a horse takes to the training I'm providing is how progress will be determined. 

The best estimate I can offer is, if a horse has no previous training, I will spend no less than one month on ground training in the round pen teaching each horse how to move, to respect my space, to do the little things that we may need of them (picking up feet, standing tied, bathing, etc), learning verbal cues in the round pen & how to move off of pressure.  Once the horse has that down, we will move on to saddle breaking & driving, to that effect.  Odds are I won't be getting on a horse until the beginning of the 2nd month at the very least.  

Under "normal" circumstances, once a horse starts riding, 30 more days should have them riding okay...to where they will stop when asked, turn when asked, have plenty of softness & flexion, should know how to collect, & do flying lead changes.  

After 60 days, we'd normally be looking at adding miles!  Lots of trails, riding around at shows, & working in the arena to perfect the skills the horse has learned & get it used to the sights & sounds that it will need to know how to deal with.  Hopefully, we'll have them neck reigning by then as well to make everyday riding a little easier.  For a while, most horses act in public as though they haven't been taught a thing, but they should settle down & begin to cooperate after a few times.

After that it's all pretty much the same as the third month, just polishing these skills as we go.  If you don't wish to keep paying for training, then I recommend you opt to take the horse home & just keep working on the new skills the horse has learned.  Depending on the individual & it's progression, I recommend a minimum of 120 days under saddle & doing well prior to barrel training.  I WILL NOT take a horse that is not finished on for barrel training as it's not logical to attempt teaching a horse a specific sport unless they know ALL of the basics first!  If I get a horse in that is said to be finished & riding/hauling fine & I find that this is not the case, I will ask the horse be picked up/or you  leave the horse with me & pay what you would for basics while I prepare him/her for such a task.

Once a horse is in barrel training, I will consider them started well on barrels after 90 days of barrel training.  Anything less is not a good start, in my personal opinion, & I will not advertise the horse as anything more or less than started.  Now after 180 days I feel as though most horses should be ready to finish.

If I get a horse & they are in any stage of training other than previously discussed, I will need to adjust what we're doing at the time.  This is just the preferred schedule for a good barrel horse training program!   

A flat fee of $50/mo will be charged for feed/hay & that will be added to the cost!

Each horse will be dewormed & will be trimmed/shod (depending on individual needs/wants of owner) every 6 weeks at owner's expense.  In addition, any vet care needed for any reason will be the owner's responsibility.  Of course, any horse coming onto my property must have a current, clean coggins, & all shots to include West Nile. 

Any questions please contact me @ PineyWoodsRunningColors@Hotmail.com