First 60 Days Under Saddle

Weeks 1–2: First Rides & Basic Steering

The goal of the first two weeks is not to train the horse — it's to make the horse comfortable with the concept of carrying a rider. Everything else is secondary.

• Sessions: 20–30 minutes, 4–5 days per week. Young horses fatigue mentally faster than physically.
• Location: Round pen or small, safe arena only. No open spaces.
• First rides: Use a helper on the ground to lead the horse for the first 2–3 rides. This removes pressure from both horse and rider.
• Focus: Forward movement, stopping from seat and voice, and basic one-rein steering. Nothing more.
• One-rein stop: This is your emergency brake. Drill it at the walk until it's automatic before any trot work begins.

If the horse bucks, bolts, or shows significant anxiety in the first two weeks, do not push through it. Go back to groundwork and address what's missing.

Weeks 3–4: Building Gaits & Direction

By week three, the horse should be comfortable with a rider and moving forward without resistance. Now you can start building the basic vocabulary of riding cues.

• Introduce the trot: Ask for trot on a loose rein, big circles. Do not collect at this stage.
• Steering refinement: Progress from one-rein turns to neck reining basics (if Western) or following-hand contact (if English).
• Stopping: Practice the full-stop from trot using seat, voice ("whoa"), then light rein. Always in that order.
• Back-up: Light backup from both reins, releasing the moment the horse takes a step. Two steps is enough at this stage.
• Transitions: Walk-trot-walk transitions are the foundation of gait control. Practice them constantly.

Weeks 5–6: Introducing the Lope

Before introducing the lope, the horse should be stopping softly from the trot, steering reliably, and showing relaxation at the trot in both directions. If any of these are shaky, spend more time at the trot.

• Departure: Ask for the lope from a trot, not a walk, in the early stages. The transition is easier and the horse is less likely to rush.
• First lopes: Big, relaxed circles. Do not ask for collection, speed control, or leads at this point. Just lope and stop.
• Leads: The horse may pick up the wrong lead. Correct it gently by breaking back to trot and asking again — do not make a big deal of it. Lead training is a later step.
• Duration: Lope for short stretches (one circle) before asking for downward transitions. Build duration gradually.

Weeks 7–8: Consistency & Expansion

By the end of month two, your horse should be loping comfortably in both directions, stopping from walk and trot, steering at all three gaits, and showing relaxation in a variety of situations.

• Arena expansion: Begin working in a larger arena if available. Introduce the horse to new environments gradually.
• Trail walks: Short, calm trail rides with an experienced companion horse are excellent at this stage for building confidence.
• Exposure: Ride near other horses, tarps, flags, water. Desensitize mounted just as you did on the ground.
• Discipline-specific work begins: Now you can begin introducing the first elements of your chosen discipline — reining circles, barrel pattern at a walk, dressage circles and transitions, etc.

What "Done" Looks Like at 60 Days

A horse that has completed a solid first 60 days should be able to:

• Move forward willingly at walk, trot, and lope when asked
• Stop from all gaits with light rein pressure
• Steer reasonably in both directions at all gaits
• Stand quietly to mount and dismount
• Walk on a loose rein without jigging
• Load in a trailer without a battle
• Be ridden in new environments with appropriate management

What it does NOT mean: collection, lead changes, rollbacks, lateral movements, or advanced discipline skills. Those come in months 3–12 and beyond. Patience now builds the career later.

When to Call a Professional

If at any point in the first 60 days your horse is bucking significantly, bolting, or showing consistent anxiety under saddle, stop and call a professional colt starter. A qualified trainer can assess whether the problem is a training issue, a pain issue, or something specific to your horse's personality that requires a different approach.