Services & Facility

colt start program and young horse development program

Our young horse program is one of the best there is. We limit the amount of horses in training to no more that 6 at one time. This gives us an advantage over other programs because we are not limited to the time we spend with each horse.

If you’ve ever been to a trainer who has 27 horses in training and no one else riding for them, it’s pretty obvious how much time is going into each horse. Not much!

We are happy to have yearlings stay for haltering, and leading/ Ground manners and handling of the feet. Or anything else that a yearling should be good at.

Our colt-starting program consists of 30-day segments.

The first 30 days we spend a lot of time on the ground getting the horses prepared to be ridden. We work a lot in the round pen teaching the young horse how to move and carry themselves in a balanced way with a saddle on.

We also ground drive all the horses to give them an understanding of the bridle and reins.

Colts are ponied by a more experienced horse in the arena and out on the trail. This gives them a chance to see a rider up above and the bottom of our hats. Mostly preparing them to be ridden.

Once we do start riding we go in stages. After we can lope a quite circle in the round pen we move out into the big arena. After we can lope and stop out there we get them out on the trail.

On the trail we are still schooling them even with the boaring foundational things, but they don’t notice as they enjoy being out.

We have 1600 acres adjoining our ranch where a young horse can cross creeks, ponds, go up and down hills, see coyotes, follow cattle and run into most everything one might see in the outside world.

We also trailer to close by Red Hills trail system.

The amount of time the colt stays will dictate how far they come along of course. It’s not unusual for horses to stay 60, 90, 120, even 150 days.

We don’t ride the horses hard but we do ride them.

We do a lot of sensory work with each colt. When they leave you can swing a rope on them, rope a tarp on the ground and drag it. Not to mention many other games we play to get the brave around lots of things.

If a colt has stayed at least 90 days they have the foundational skills to go into any discipline and start their education. They are also ready to go out and just walk comfortably down the trail.

Our goal here is to have the horses quiet, confident and enjoy being ridden.

We also spend time with each horse on tailoring, clipping, having the feet handle and having shoes put on. And can work on any special request.

Total Balance Riding

Lessons Specializing in: *Balance Riding Techniques for riders & horses, *restoring confidence for the returning riders

Naturally Balanced Riding Lessons offered by Carolyn Bauhr. $45.00 per hour.

Call (209.852.2496) and schedule a time for you with your horse or a lesson horse here on the ranch.

We hope you choose us to start your young horse, it’s a great program, check our testimonials page.

For training fees and scheduling, please contact Bauhr Ranch Horsemanship.