At Retto Stables the training begins at the age of three ( three year old
geldings and four year old for mares when their first foal has been weened).
We begin on a lunge rein with the carrying of a saddle or girdle, once this
is satisfactory the next step is to break the horse in to be ridden. At the
Retto Stables we use the Monty Roberts style.
The horse will decide how long the breaking process will take. After the
horse has been sucessfully broken he will then be trained by a rider from
Retto Stables who will train the horse to take part in horse shows.
We begin with obedience training in dressage and learning to walk over beams in trotting and cantering. Once that has been achieved the jumping with a rider in the saddle can begin.
During the first period they will not be asked to jump higher that 80cm
until the jumping style is perfect. Once the turns can be ridden correctly
and the horse is strong enough both physically
and mentally it is time move onto the training course.
Here too it is the horse will decide how long this procedure will take as no
two horses progress at the same rate. After a few times using the training course if it seems
the horse is ready to participate in shows they will then begin all over
again.
When a horse reaches the age of four we allow the jump height to be increased to 1meter and progress untill it is ready to jump 1.10m tracks. At the age of five the horse is permitted to jump 1.20m tracks and by the age of six this will have increased to 1.30m. We do not concern ourselves in rushing to check if the six year old horses can do the 1.30m track because it is allowed so by it's training. But instead we wait until the horse shows signs of being ready.
It is to be ridden on tracks up to the level that it can be sold or that the mare can be ridden
up untill at least 1.30m with several winning points, This is for the designated sportsmares to then be used for breeding.
At the Retto Stable we try to train the horse as fairly as possible to the highest level after which it can be used for breeding or be submitted to a different owner.
But everything is to be done at the individual horses pace, rushing into a higher level is not part of the training at Retto Stable.