01/10/2026
Relic’s first time on the trail with our friend Sprat, a 🦄 from Altitude Performance Horses who’s here just for funsies thanks to my beautiful friend Tiff Smith 🥰
I want to talk about something we see all the time in the industry: the “90-day program.”
It gets sold as a guarantee, but more often than not (and especially when coming from a trainer who is just starting out), it’s an arbitrary timeline that doesn’t reflect the horse standing in front of you.
Relic has been with us for 90 days. In that time he’s learned to:
• bridle himself
• accept the saddle calmly
• build confidence with touch, sound, and movement both at the halt and under motion
• long-line + ground-drive
• offer lateral softness
• stay emotionally regulated in new situations
These are the building blocks before I ever call a horse “ready to ride.” Because when someone asks me to work with their horse, I am on the animal’s timeline — not mine.
If a horse has had minimal handling for the first X years of their life, the realistic goals for 90 days look very different compared to a horse who’s been consistently, correctly handled. Slowing down, listening, and addressing concerns as they show up keeps the horse confident — and keeps me able to do my best work.
Some horses will be “ready to roll” in 60 days.
Others need 120, 180, or more. The difference is the individual, not the calendar. Yes, we can accomplish amazing things within 90 days. No, that will not look the same for every horse that comes to Second Chance Ranch.
So before choosing a trainer:
✨ Do your research on training ethics and decide for yourself where your priorities lie — YOU are your horse’s advocate
✨ Ask the real questions:
“How many horses have you started?”
“How do you address X behavior?”
“Can I watch you work with my horse?”
✨ Don’t fall for quick-result marketing — it rarely lasts, and often creates bigger problems later
At the end of the day, the horse should be the owner of their experience — not the human. ❤️
