Croatoan
Because this horse was so easy to train, I was thinking I shouldn't do a blog on him. However, this is a perfect opportunity to show exactly how easy it is. If an 8 year-old stallion is this easy to train, imagine what a two or three year-old filly from Corolla will take!
I had to longe him for about 10 minutes before he would allow me to apply a rope halter. The key to longeing is to make them run until they are ready to "join up." They don't necessarily become too tired to run, but they realize that they really can't go anywhere.
Joining up is this: you want them to stop running and look straight at you. You should be able to approach him slowly without turning his head away. If he moves forward, backward or looks away from you, send him off running immediately. He'll learn after a while to stand still or he'll have to run. The reason you send him off running is to convince him that you made him run, and not that he himself left. You have to establish yourself as the boss by forcing the submissive to move.
Croatoan had very little weight on him when he came to the ranch. He probably was alone in the wild and developed an infection. We couldn't ride him hard until he gained a little muscle.
We used our typical despooking devices and he stood in front of us chewing the entire time with his head down. Very rare. We saddled him within 4 days of his capture and had no problem. Between then and when he took me on his back, we continued to put weight on him and use the surcingle. Again, he was more than lazy with that. He learned how to bend at the poll very quickly!
I mounted easily and trotted the first day as Steve longed us. Croatoan also walked around the round pen for a while without Steve leading by the buckrein. Most of the time, Croatoan's head was below parallel to the ground and he was the slowest thing ever!
The next week, Steve, Croatoan, and I ventured out to our dirt path and he was led up and down by the buckrein. Steve let us loose, too and we did fine by ourselves. It was difficult to trot him, though, especially without a crop. His trot is unbelievably comfortable!
One day the week of March 26th, we took Comet out of his pasture and put him in the round pen with Croatoan. Much to Steve's and my surprise, they hit it off on a good note. We then saddled them both up and took them on a ride. He was really good behind Comet, but again, very calm and lazy! We cantered too and it was so comfortable. I'm becoming more and more convinced at the uniqueness of these Corolla horses the more I ride them.
03/31/07 - We took him into the woods today. Comet in front, Croatoan and I were next, and the other riders with their mares were right behind. This horse is a stud, so he really wanted to be with the mares behind him. It was hard to keep him focused on me and where we were headed. The cropped helped tremendously.
We couldn't ride too long because he was obviously getting tired. He needs some serious muscle building! A 1-hour ride a week should get his muscles up really well soon.