Starting and Training: Real Horses for Real People

Since she began her equine career more than ten years ago, Christabeth Voss has focussed on riding, researching and problem-solving with a variety of horses and their owners. With that experience in hand, Christabeth has found her true gift to be working with young horses who are just starting their partnerships with people.

Whether the horse has a little handling or is just out of the field, trainer and owner begin the process by discussing a custom program to suit the horse's personality and skills.

Christabeth's training methods are a complex blend of encouragement, firmness and joy. The horse's attitude is an important component of the training process. Some horses are quick learners, while others may be timid or stubborn. Each step of the process is significant in helping the horse build a trusting, confident relationship with people.

Basic ground training, including tying, grooming, manners and movement are practiced daily. As the horse progresses, more complex obstacles and situations (including the saddle) are introduced to gauge response and build skills. Every session ends with on a positive note, no matter how long it may take to overcome a challenge and spark understanding (lickin' and chewin'!).

Getting out of the arena is important too, and our surrounding woods and field make a great beginner's trail course.

Once a horse is safe on the ground and comfortable with lots of human and saddle contact, a rider is gradually introduced. It may take a week of standing still or tiny steps to make a horse relaxed in this new, top-heavy situation. Once the walking begins, leg and seat cues are used to guide movement.

When a horse is almost ready to leave 4CJ, Christabeth likes to arrange a series of lessons with both members of the team—horse and rider—to share training methods to help the two progress.

Clearly, this is a very time-intensive process, so only one or two horses are ever in training at one time (a minimum of a sixty-day start is required). Plus Christabeth has her own herd to ride!

Download the training contract in pdf format here.