Belly Band Basics

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Belly Band Basics

(Photos c2009 by Nickers and Ink. All rights reserved.)

My sporthorse filly is coming three this year, and we are preparing to start her training. This Arab-Warmblood cross is growing up graceful and athletic. She looks like she may make a super eventing horse. Although she has always been a spirited youngster, she seems to be quite trainable and eager to please.

This filly has a motor, and she can move.

Although she is still a couple of months shy of starting actual saddle training, we have begun her acclimatization and preparation for training.

We have played with her in the indoor round pen, as well as the arena. When we place flat poles on the ground, she jumps them willingly like a gazelle. Of course, the jumpers in our family can only imagine her leaping over higher hurdles in due time.

This past week, I brought the filly in from the young horse pasture and placed her in a large #12’ x 14’) box stall with a surcingle around her. This wide leather surcingle has a soft fleece lining, and I fastened it loosely around the young mare's middle. She wore the equipment quietly for 20 minutes the first day, including a short walk up and down the barn aisle.

I led her around the property a bit the following day, as the sun was shining too brightly to miss the rare early spring day.

The third day, we repeated the stall exercise. This time, this little horse wore the surcingle for 30 minutes, even though it was a bit tighter around the middle than on the previous occasion.

Next, we will add a pair of splint boots and a saddle pad, tucked under the surcingle, to see how she does.

So far, so good!