18/11/2025
Top Things C**t Starters Secretly Cringe At: 🐴
1. “I’d do it myself, I just can’t afford to get hurt.”
And somehow we can? This is our job, our income, and how we support our families. We can’t afford injuries either — the difference is we’ve built the skills, systems, and experience to start horses as safely and successfully as possible.
2. “I’d do it myself, I just don’t bounce like I used to.”
Trust us… we don’t bounce anymore either. The aim is to not hit the ground, and a good c**t starter works hard to keep it that way. (Touch wood.)
3. “I don’t need all the fancy stuff, just someone to ride the bucks out for a few days.”
That’s not a c**t-starting program — that’s a crash-test assignment. If that’s what you want, be upfront and see who calls you back. A quality program isn’t built on “surviving a few rides”; it’s built on setting your horse up for long-term success.
4. “I’ve already done all the groundwork, so you can just hop on. I only want 30 days.”
We appreciate the effort, honestly. But every horse that comes in still gets assessed from the ground up to ensure they’re truly ready. Not to mention if you've taught them b habbits fr the ground we then have to undo that first. And we don’t offer 30-day starts because it’s simply not enough time to lay a foundation that will last once they go home.
5. “I’m a total beginner and can’t wait to ride my first 2-year-old! Will 60 days be enough?”
Not even close. Even the quiet ones need time — real time — to develop a solid base that can handle the learning curve of a novice rider. Skills don’t become dependable overnight.
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As c**t-starting season ramps up, remember:
Give your trainer the time they need.
Trust the process.
And respect the physical toll and expertise that goes into producing a safe, confident young horse. 👏
Fortis Ridge Stock & Quarter horses
