Training

Yarramba is constantly in demand for its training services, with up to five horses at a time here to be broken in or trained.

Breaking In

Mark's approach starts with taking away a horse's fear, gaining its respect, then putting it in a situation where it can learn what is required.

His methods include 'Join Up' in the round yard where the horse learns to be submissive in the pecking order. The horse learns to accept humans and the things that are associated with them, for example halters, ropes, saddle, bridle, plastic bags, stockwhips and dressage whips. He does not tie the horse up to bag him out, nor hobble him for the same purpose.

The minimum time for starting a young horse is generally a month, and the final result is a horse that can be ridden calmly in all situations on its own and in company, through water, past traffic, opening and shutting gates, and accepting saddlebags and Drizabones.

'Problem Horses'

Most horses misbehave out of fear and a lack of communication from their handler. Always remember that a horse that is bucking or rearing is behaving that way because it feels that its life is threatened by its handler and is following survival instincts to protect itself.

Some problems can be solved in a few sessions, for example horses that are difficult to put onto floats, are headachy, difficult to shoe, will not take a correct canter lead or will not back up.

Generally when we concentrate on teaching horses advanced exercises such as flexions, transitions, canter leads and lateral movements, the horse becomes a calmer and more useful mount. As well as working with difficult horses, Mark also offers horseowners instruction in Join Up, lunging, ground control, exercises to improve balance, rein control and lateral control leading up to flying changes and rollbacks.

Costs

We charge $150 per week for a horse to be with us for breaking in or training, exclusive of feed.

This cost is inclusive of the following:

• Daily training session (duration suited to each horse)
• Teaching of good stable manners throughout the day, including standing back when feeding and yards are being cleaned, halter training, calmly accepting rugs, grooming and shoeing, leading through yards and gates
• Own yard with shade, shelter, water and salt lick, cleaned twice daily all year round
• Day-to-day monitoring of wellbeing, with appropriate medical attention given or sought as necessary

This cost is NOT inclusive of feed. We can provide feed and make an additional charge for this, or feed can be provided by the owners. Our charge for feed is based on what the individual horse eats.

We usually feed the following, and use our expertise to carefully alter proportions to suit each horse to maintain optimum health and condition:

• Morning feed of lucerne and oaten chaff, copra, pellets, cooked grain, linseed and oats as appropriate for each horse
• Evening feed if necessary
• Lucerne and pasture hay provided through the day as needed ' we feed pasture hay to yarded horses to provide roughage and balance the high feed value of the lucerne hay

Payment to be made in weekly instalments.

To arrange training for your horse, please call us on 02 6453 7204 to discuss your individual requirements.

Testimonials

'We operate a sheep and cattle property at Eucumbene and lease a block at Snowy Plains where we run cattle for the summer months. Over the last eight or nine years Mark has broken in eight horses for us, all of which have been extremely well handled, easy to get on and off, load on a float, crack a whip off, and ready to go as stock horses when they come back home. We are completely satisfied with Mark's work and have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone.'
Glen & Sue Williams, Eucumbene, June 2006