Check it Out I


by JEFF COOK


start lots of horses and over the years I have developed a list of tests they must pass before I will ride them. I firmly believe that if there is a hole in the groundwork, it will always show up sometime when I’m on his back. Most accidents happen as a result of the horse being surprised. Sometimes a client will bring me a horse and tell me all his groundwork has been done and they may have even ridden him. Often times there is something left undone that needs to be addressed before the horse can be safely ridden. I spend lots of time teaching


my horses to stop moving their feet when they are afraid and focus on me. I won’t move on to the next step until we master the last one.


And here we go:


1. He must lead and send willingly including disengaging the hinds and yielding the forehand. 2. Be able to work a flag stick all over him without flinches. 3. Back up willingly. 4. Give all four feet including leading with a rope by each foot. 5. Be comfortable with a rope around the hind end and under his tail. 6. Ground drive including turning, stopping and backing. 7. Bend around my body softly and stay there even when my leg bumps him all over. 8. Stand still while I get my hands under my cinch, back cinch, under the belly and flanks and not clamp their tail. Also, snapping my stirrups with lots of movement.


9. Stand above him on a block or the fence and lay across his back without flinching when he sees me with the off side eye. Both sides.


10. Stand quietly as I step up in the stirrups on both sides and turn, move forward and stop so I can step down.


11. I like to hang boat fenders over my saddle and move him a lot to get used to things banging on his sides.


Only when the horse can pass each and every one of these tests will I swing my leg over him for the first time. These steps help me to build a solid foundation that will last a lifetime for most horses. Be safe and ask lots of questions and don’t rush to ride a young horse and remember slow is fast.


Jeff Cook and his wife Kelsey own Dreamhorse Az in Tucson Arizona. You can find them on Facebook or online at dreamhorseaz.com


HORSE & AG MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2020 5


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