Best Parenting Advice I Ever Got and How I Apply it to Colts

[@serenityhorsemanship3365]

As a parent of 3 and a 60 year horseman I have found numerous similarities between what works for both. Primarily 1) Make the right thing obvious and easy and the wrong thing difficult, 2) Notice the smallest positive change and reward the slightest positive try, 3) Consistency in language and actions is critical and 4) Firm works better than hard. My children are now 60, 58 and 53. They are without question my greatest accomplishment. My horses have done well too.

[@kevinferguson3196]

100% agree. I've always told fellow horse riders, when they ask, how do you get your horses so easy to handle? My answer...it's not that hard, you just need to be a little bit smarter than they are and give them a job they know until they figure out, it's easier to co-operate than not.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

pretty much

[@gregevans1062]

Hey Bret, just used your lying horse down techniques, the way you explained it in a early video back on your old place, just brilliant, just got my un handled 3yrld colt ready for vet for castration, ( I realise this should have been done as a yearling…)used initially your leading by the front foot, this brought him down and got his mind with me,was then able to go onto hobbling with no drama, also as you mentioned the laying down takes care of so many other parts of horses body, girth,head, muzzle, legs etc. then when vet came up for his sedation all went without a hitch, you made me look good today!! So pleased I have been watching you for a while now, all the best out there, from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

That makes me so happy! I am truly glad it worked so well. And Im glad you got your colt gelded.

[@ashleysmith2109]

When we were growing up, I don't think I ever remember Dad raising his voice at us in anger. We had to pick rocks and sticks outta the yard, and Arkansas's #1 crop is rocks. In all seriousness though, I think the best thing I ever did on my own that inadvertantly improved my thinking and my horsemanship, was spending several years before I became a paramedic working as a full time substitute teacher. Different set of kids nearly every day, and had to learn to relate to all of them equally.

[@kathleenboller6651]

I love this! I raised our kids in suburbia and I wished I could send them outside to pick rocks …..but the homies would get them. Agree about consequences. My old rescue gelding had a rough life and when he came to me he’d crowhop and charge when I’d ask him to come to halter. I’d send him off if he didn’t want to play nice. The send made him turn and look at me….now he plays nice and acts like a gentleman. I think about how similarly I handle my horses to the way I handled my kids. Grace with tough love worked best❤

[@mamaswrongagain4555]

Much to my wife’s disappointment, I’ve always said that “training is training” it doesn’t matter whether you are training horses,dogs, kids or your spouse. A training mindset is a thing of beauty.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

yep, that spouse training goes booth ways

[@jessepitt]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt The proverbial double edged sword.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@jessepitt yes

[@KatrinaDancer]

I dont have children. How do you "make" them pack rocks? What if they say no, refuse or run away or whatever? Thank you!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Start young before they know they can. The youngest one has run away a few times but hes only six so he doesn't make it far.

[@smlmentorship1969]

Brilliant!!we moved the wood pile as kids lol love the rock s😀

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Rocks, sand, wood, manure, any old thing works

[@godfather95mbs33]

Dewayne from dry creak rangler school brought me here

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

awesome I am really pleased to read that. Dwayne is the real deal

[@lilmissstfu1126]

Yep. Just ask my colt, Trot master G. He started his colt nipping and would send him to trot. He is a lazy guy by nature so it really worked for him. Not only does he think twice about being mouthy, he also corrected what looked to be a choppy rough trot, to a smooth quiet trot and hopefully that is what he will keep when it comes time to ride him.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

the trot is the learning gait

[@danemoore2302]

Another thing we've all been thru but might not have taken the time to think about it. Thanks Bret!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Glad you liked it

[@canicegarth280]

It’s a Truth….. kids and horses…… Time to think about their ,experience , Let’s trot…… it works!! Awesome

[@tylerbond4382]

Outstanding!!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

My old friend how are you?

[@tylerbond4382]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I am doing well.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@tylerbond4382 glad to hear that

[@terrysevere6941]

Up here in idaho i always like the big sage brush and trotting to get my horses to thinking about what I want them to do and not what there wanting to do.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

yep

[@janboogaerts1616]

You don't wanna know how many times my answer to my mother in law or wife to their question "why did you do that" was "it works for the horses" when it concerns the kids, and got the wierdest and baddest looks.

[@Cecilyeg]

What a great way to put it all. I wish I had heard that when my daughter was young!! The only problem with your theory is that you've never had a Morgan. They are totally happy to trot all day!!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Oh I have had some like that. it doesn't always work lol

[@KatrinaDancer]

Haha 😂

[@KatrinaDancer]

​@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt LOL 🤣

[@johnyoulle1387]

Kids dogs an horses a chiphoe was our thing

[@kathykellison4421]

Uhn , interesting to hear you talk about this... many times with my OTTB, like maybe rating himself to cross a tarp, or get me close enough to a gate that was squeeze because of stuff nearby and he couldn't make it... I would trot him on some circles for a while, 10 minutes so far off from 20 miles or whatever.. but anyway, always surprised me how I would bring him back to the obstacle or task after trotting for a bit, and there you go .. he could make it. Wasn't doing anything different in my ask. I never looked at the trotting time like packing rocks consequence but maybe he took it in as soak time? But maybe he thought I might trot him all day.

[@kengenkuerickson1244]

I sure wish you had a low-end tier for us po' folk on Patreon. My stock trailer has no living quarters and that Patron $400 and change monthly looks like my monthly old dude prescription bill. You're mighty handy with the caballos & the teaching part, so I'll just stick with the KZbins for now. The retired biz school professor in me wants to suggest some re pricing. But if it ain't broke. . .

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@kengenkuerickson I think there’s been a misunderstanding it’s nowhere near $400 monthly. Access to the videos is $15/monthly and the level for folks looking for a mentor is $30/monthly- which is far less than people pay for one lesson with most trainers. I agree, LQ trailers are far out of reach for me as well, we’re not getting getting rich by any stretch of the imagination via KZbin or Patreon. Neither platform pays anywhere near oldschool minimum wage for the time that goes into making the videos. I almost said regular minimum wage but the way some laws are these days, minimum wage pays more than my day job!

[@dylaningle3113]

I packed lots of rocks out of farm fields. If we didn't we'd also get pretty hungry to. I never tested that but once. I also ate the same meal for breakfast if I didn't eat it at supper time.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

facts

[@jacobwilson5451]

Hola Brett love your style and why you do the things you do with horses, I’ve been cowboying full time for about the last 5 years, just started with an outfit that’s all pasture riding, I have a couple cheaper saddles that work but really ain’t the best fit for how much time the saddle is on the horses back I am a bigger built guy and I try to buy horses that have enough bone and muscle for that was wondering if you had any input on a tree/ tree specification that be good for a horse with plenty of bone and muscle that’s being rode 10 hours a day. Wanting to invest in a custom that will fit my style thanks

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Kinda funny I just did a video about that the other day. When I am cowboying I really prefer a slick fork saddle that sits low and wide on big mature using horses. They really help absorb the concussion from the miles and the torque from roping heavy stuff is less on the withers. I was always told that square skirts absorb more as well and even that isn't true they cool.

[@jacobwilson5451]

I agree on the square skirts have ‘‘em on both saddles didn’t know they had function besides looks but yeah I’m definitely getting a slick fork Wade style saddle just want to make sure I get a tree that’s gonna be functional for this amount of riding

[@chalkrockranch]

Bret, Good stuff. Thx for sharing. FYI: the link to your patreon page is broken.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

glad you like it and thank you!

[@maureenvenables9766]

My husband is the middle child. Hmmmm. Great video.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I feel bad for the middle child. Us youngest have it best, by the time we come around no one much cares what we do

[@paulwatson4616]

Great advice, did you start colt for the lazy u in hersey NE. at the steerhead arena at one time?

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I sure did. That was hard work

[@paulwatson4616]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I thought that was you, I went there behind you, not sure the year I think 2014, but I rode some you had started. There was a short but heavy built roan colt they told me to ride and we went to move cows on stalks that day and a stalk touched him in the wrong place and he bucked me off quicker than anything I had ever been on, memories made, anyway I enjoy your videos. Thanks for the response.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

my last year there was 2012, that was the first sale the had at the Steer head. those were some dirty tough horses but we have some really good memories from that outfitt.

[@dawnnaeve1528]

Had a friend had her kids move the wood pile🤔

[@Andrew-sanders]

Been there had to go cut the switch then do a bad job. My kids in Arizona packed lots of rocks. But had them make flower beds for their mother. All comes down to make the right thing easy the wrong hard. Kids horses dogs bulls it don't matter species's. Kind miss the big Arizona ranches 90 days have a nice horse. Something that would take a year or so in a arena

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

that is no joke. I miss the big ranches but not all the big ranch stuff

[@skidaddle32]

There’s never, ever a good time to beat a kid .. don’t even joke about it. I’m retired law enforcement, I’ve seen things nobody should see and no kid should experience. Also, I bet your kids idolize you Brett. Who did you idolize when you were little? Did that person happen to chew tobacco?

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I should have checked myself there, when I say beat I mean spank, something I hate doing. Yes he chewed tobacco and drank beer and cursed and cuffed me on a regular basis. And I loved him with all my heart

[@canicegarth280]

Sand packers….. ha Clever…… they meaning horses and kids they’re so darn clever….. very clever

[@justapitstop]

🙏🙏

[@markmahnken6409]

"Spare the rod hate the child". Old school non snow flake here. The rod to a kid is like spurs or a crop to a horse a couple times of lite use and they know you have them on and are packin. Rarely have to use them anymore. All they hear is the jingle of the rowel or see the stare or look from Dad. My kids packed horse manure. I felt is was more productive.

[@boazbrown3654]

My good jokes?

[@justdontboreme]

Agreed again

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

im glad