Horse Training at RL Valley Ranch
"A Good Start is Half the Finish"
"Anything forced and misunderstood can never be beautiful." - Xenophon
Here at the RL Valley Ranch, we strive to offer you the best in natural horsemanship training. From our life experience of making a living with horses, the ranch, cattle, and the competitive world of showing, we offer a unique mix of cowboy, natural horsemanship, and horse psycology. Wether you need your next young prospect started right, a horse that needs some "miles" out on the ranch, or a horse that just needs some "tuning up," RL Valley Ranch can accomodate your horse training needs. Horse Training at RL Valley Ranch is very hands on- we encourage owners to be involved in the process by coming weekly for lessons. We have 12x12 stalls with skylights, a round pen, outdoor arena with well maintained footing, over 400 privately owned acres with miles of trails, and cattle available year round.
Being a small family owned and operated ranch ensures your horse will get the best in care, plenty of attention, and the time and miles it takes to make a good honest horse. Each horse is an individual, and each is trained a little different. This is what we love most about training horses-each day is different, constantly learning and developing our training techniques. As master horseman Ray Hunt eloquently put it "If you quit learning something every day, you're doing something wrong.."
Training is $600/month. This includes, hay, feed, daily stall cleaning and daily turn-out, your horse being worked with 5 days a week, and a weekly lesson for the owner. It does NOT include farrier work, worming, dental, or additional fees for stallions or problem horses. (If you have a horse with a specific problem, please contact us to discuss pricing)
Cattle are available year round for an additional $100/month. Wether you are interested in cutting, roping, penning, sorting or reined cow horse, we can give your horse confidence and experience needed to excel in these events.
"There is Nothing Like a Good Horse for a Job - and what makes a Good Horse, is a Job "
"Let your idea become the horse's idea." - Tom Dorrance
We expose all horses in training to various ranch work, such as checking the fence, gathering, sorting and doctoring cattle. Here in Athens, Ohio, the terrain has a wide range of challeges for your horse to become accustomed to. From slippery hills and banks, creek crossings to rocky hillsides, your horse will learn how to confidently navigate all different types of terrain.
We welcome all breeds and types of horses. We believe that a good training foundation can be used in ANY discipline. We have trained horses that have gone on to be cow horses, polo horses, grand prix jumping horses, draft horses, ranch versatility horses, cutting horses, rehabilitating ex-race horses, the list goes on and on. The point being that if a horse is soft and supple in both body and mind, he can be trained to do just about anything.
We recommend leaving an unstarted horse for 60 to 90 days. We feel it takes time to develop a horses mind and gain their trust and confidence. Please note that what to expect while your horse is in training is for an unstarted horse. If your horse is already started, more can be done more quickly.
What to expect in the first 15 days:
Ground manners
Circle on the lounge line at walk, trot and lope.
Pivot on hind and front end
Desensitizing with sacks, jugs and ropes.
Flex and bend lightly to lead rope.
Acceptance of saddle.
What to expect in 15-30 days:
Back up lightly
Stand quietly for saddling and mounting.
Walk, trot and lope with rider.
One rein stops.
Pivot on hind and front end (open and close gaits)
By end of Training (60-90 days)
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Stop and back on command
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Soft and supple direct rein steering
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Horse will know their leads
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Basic lead changes
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Side Passing
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Drag a log
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Basics of neck reining
We cannot gaurantee every horse will be able to do the above tasks in a set amount of time. Each horse is an individual. The above is a general guideline as to what to expect while your horse is in training. Some learn quickly and will progress through the program faster than others. After 90 days a horse may be considered "broke" but is certaintly not "finished." A 90 day horse has a good solid foundation for you to take and finish in any direction.
For the Owner
"It's not the goal so much as who you become to acieve it"
Not only will your horse learn a good solid foundation at RL Valley Ranch, you, the owner, will learn valuable lessons as well. Our program is very hands on- we teach you how to use natural horsemanship to accomplish your riding and training goals. Some skills you will learn include:
Reading your Horse
Leadership in Groundwork
Effective Round Penning and Lounging
Application of Softening and Suppling Exercises
Learning to Have Soft Hands and Effective use of the Reins
Improved "Harmony in the Saddle"
Application of Leg Aids
Learning the Importance of using Proper Tack
Learning Lightness, Timing and Feel
"Recognize and Reward the slightest try." - Ray Hunt
For more information, please feel free to contact us. We welcome visitors!
RL Valley Ranch
Rob & Leah Phillips
7200 Koehler Lane Guysville, OH 45735
email: phillips@rlvalleyranch.com
Phone: 740-794-1010(Leah) or 740- 818-6863(Rob)