| Free and cheap are both excellent words that make | | | | meet who are interested in their discipline. |
| me sit up and listen in this economy, especially when | | | | #2: For Kids 4-H Works Great |
| those words relate to horse training. I'm not the best | | | | Now you definitely can't do 4-H if you are an adult |
| horse trainer in the world, but I do love to school my | | | | because it's for kids only, but if you have a kid |
| own horses and learn more about horse training if I | | | | interested in horse training or riding, 4-H is definitely one |
| can. | | | | inexpensive and useful way to go. My neighbor just |
| So, it being a totally cruddy economy, I've been | | | | started taking her son to the local 4-H club and, |
| stretching my brain as to how to get more horse | | | | because she sits with him the whole time, is learning a |
| training for less money. Here are three ideas I've come | | | | lot about horsemanship and horses, in general. Her son |
| up with. | | | | is learning tons, too. |
| #1: Auditing Lessons and Clinics | | | | So far the club is only doing bookwork, since it is |
| I can't claim credit for this one because my friend | | | | winter, but come spring her son will get riding lessons |
| Karen started it, but this one is great. When I'd drive up | | | | as well. 4-H is a great part of any horse community, |
| for lessons with a local reining trainer (about 50 miles | | | | and if you have a local club and a kid interested in |
| away), my buddy Karen would come along and watch | | | | riding, I'd definitely suggest participating in this group! |
| the lesson. Since I went up every couple of weeks or | | | | #3: Have a Trainer Sit on Your Horse |
| so, Karen got to watch lessons every couple of | | | | This doesn't always work, but sometimes it can be an |
| weeks or so. And since my horse was definitely a | | | | inexpensive horse training technique. I had my reining |
| beginner reiner, Karen learned a lot of the basic | | | | trainer sit on my jumper mare, just once, and it did |
| techniques "from the ground up," so to speak, that she | | | | wonders for her. The mare, Valentine, is a well-broke |
| could use on her own horse. | | | | mustang but she was stiff to the left. I couldn't work |
| Now the reining trainer could have gotten testy if he | | | | out that "kink" by myself, so I had the reining trainer sit |
| wanted to, but Karen had two things going for her that | | | | on her. In just one session, he was able to loosen up |
| kept her in his good graces. First, Karen attended a | | | | her left side and put some new gears on her. |
| couple of his weekend clinics, which were not very | | | | As I said, this won't work for every horse, but |
| expensive but did give her a "feel" for the techniques | | | | sometimes having a horse trainer sit on your horse |
| she was learning by watching. | | | | once every 6 months can advance you and your |
| Second, by saying she wanted to come watch me in | | | | horse by leaps and bounds. In this case, it was worth |
| my lesson she was able to justify her continued | | | | spending the $45. Not every horse trainer will sit on a |
| presence at my lessons. It works great for her, and | | | | horse just once, but if you have a relationship with that |
| I've since started doing that here and there with a few | | | | trainer, chances are good that he or she will be willing |
| of my buddies. I ask permission from the trainer, and | | | | to do so. Might be something to think about! |
| have never been told "no." I also try to give back to | | | | Do you have any ideas for free or cheap horse |
| the trainer by recommending him or her to people I | | | | training? Care to share? |