After we know the horse is sound... and safe... then, and only then we start work on the gait. The gait is always second priority to having a safe horse.We will not use any devices that will artificially create a gait. Instead, we use patience and consistency. No two horses are ever the same - therefore each horse may be trained a bit differently. Only after a horse has established a nice natural gait, has been ridden on the trails and is safe for others to ride, do we feel it is time for the horse to be listed for sale. We won’t rush a listing just as we won’t rush our training. When you buy a horse from Morningside Farms, you know you are getting a horse that has been trained right.
Michael Michno
Keeping in my mind that every horse is different, what I do for one horse may not work for another. Each horse here has it's own training program. I have used some techniques from clinicians such as Clinton Anderson and the Parelli’s, but over time I’ve developed my own natural horsemanship methods. When riding a horse I have trained, I know you’ll be happily surprised by how soft the horse is in the mouth. I stress work on the horse’s responsiveness to extremely soft hands. I don’t yank or pull back. Just a gentle squeeze of the reins with soft hands and the horse knows to stop.
My next step relates to having a safe and sound horse. I get the horses used to the trails by riding them on the trails myself, or having other people ride the horse with me with them. I feel horses learn the most in this environment. I will introduce scary objects to the horse such as tarps, pallets, starter pistols; anything that might spook a horse. Ground manners are also a part of the training program. Tasks such as picking up feet, lowering the head to bridle, bathing and trailering well, are essential skills of a good horse.