Professional Training
Groundwork - Colt Starting - Tuning - Problem Solving - Patterning - Finishing
Black Cursive Barrel Horses offers training from start to finish at our lovely full service facility in Lockhart, Texas. We specialize in barrel/pole horses, but have experience in a variety of disciplines ranging from competitive trail to cow work to jumping. We aim to offer colt starting services to horses with performance careers in their future. We specialize in starting horses on the barrels/poles, and give special consideration to horses with futurity careers in mind. Whether its starting your future barrel horse, patterning, seasoning, or campaigning your barrel horse, we are here to help.
We no longer accept Arabians or Mustangs.
Please fill out our training application to the best of your ability so we can evaluate if we are the best fit for you and your horse. Deposit is required upon application approval to reserve a training space. We do require a 60 day minimum for all training services unless otherwise discussed.
Meet the Trainer, L. Bailey Bradshaw
We no longer accept Arabians or Mustangs.
Please fill out our training application to the best of your ability so we can evaluate if we are the best fit for you and your horse. Deposit is required upon application approval to reserve a training space. We do require a 60 day minimum for all training services unless otherwise discussed.
Meet the Trainer, L. Bailey Bradshaw
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Tuneup Training, $400/2 weeks
Monthly Training, $800/month
Single Ride, $30
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Groundwork and Desensitizing on the Ground
Groundwork is the foundation to a good riding foundation on horse. Our theory is that is if you can do it from the ground, it makes it that much easier to do it under saddle. We highly recommend sending in babies, or unstarted babies for a 30 day crash course in groundwork. If they're weanlings or yearlings, this 30 day session provides them a sense of respect while handling, and exposure to new things that they may not get at home. Babies here for groundwork will learn to halter, lead, tie, pick up their feet, lunge, load/unload, and may be introduced to obstacles for exposure. Horses 2+ here for groundwork will learn all of the previously mentioned, plus saddle work, which may include but is not limited to bitting up, ground driving, yeilding to leg pressure, and softening laterally. The groundwork program at Black Cursive Performance Horses really focuses on a horse that is respectful, responsive, and easy to handle. Let us help set your horse up for success, from the ground up!
Colt Starting: A foundation for success
Those first few months of training are the foundation on which their entire riding career is built on. The way a youngster is started can absolutely make one or break one, no pun intended, for the future. Our program promotes the ideology that starting one under saddle doesn't always have to be a rodeo. Sure, there will be horses that buck, but the vast majority don't if they've been well prepared. Our goal is to develop a horse that is comfortable before ever swinging a leg over. This is where our groundwork and foundation work is so crucial. It sets these horses up for success once its time for their first few rides. We do require a minimum of 60 days for colt starts. 90 day is recommended.
Although each horse is an individual, and they are treated as such, we aim to make sure a horse meets certain goals in each month of their training. Some horses progress faster, and others progress slower, and ultimately, the process depends entirely on each horse. However, in general, heres what we aim for during the first few months in our colt starting program, as a general baseline:
Although each horse is an individual, and they are treated as such, we aim to make sure a horse meets certain goals in each month of their training. Some horses progress faster, and others progress slower, and ultimately, the process depends entirely on each horse. However, in general, heres what we aim for during the first few months in our colt starting program, as a general baseline:
- 30 rides - Groundwork, saddle, bridle, walk, trot, lope, rail, circles, stop, back, turn, arena work, intro to obstacles
- 60 rides - All of the above, with a new emphasis on softness in the bridle and to the leg, intro to pivots, collection, suppleness, etc. May also include hauling out, riding on the trails, obstacles, etc.
- 90 rides - All of the above, with a new emphasis on discipline-specific maneuvers (whether that be more fine tuning, rope work, barrel/pole work, etc)
- If you want a well trained horse, from start to finish, its imperative that you're willing to invest the time and finances necessary to get a horse to that point. Though many horses come in for 1, 2, and 3 months of training, horses who are on the right track to a successful barrel career should ideally be left in training for 6 months to a year, if necessary. Good horses can be made in a few months, but great horses take time!
Patterning & Finishing: Barrels, Poles, etc.
The ultimate goal in the Black Cursive Performance Horses training program is to create a horse who is well broke and willing enough to successfully go onto a specific discipline where they can be competitive. Our main focus lies in creating barre/pole/speed horses, so many of our horses are trained in a way that is conducive to this goal. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to create some great performers, through hard work in our training program!
Reserve you Training Spot
We have plenty of happy clients and happy horses. Plenty of references are available upon request. Please view our Client Feedback page to see what current and past clients have said about our work!
We are currently booked, but are accepting deposits to reserve training spaces for 2022. We do currently have a wait list of clients scheduled to have their horses join Black Cursive Performance Horses for training. Spaces may become available at any point before the anticipated next available date due to sales, etc, so please check back regularly. Owners may place a $100 deposit to reserve a training space. Deposits are non refundable, but are transferable to other horses or later dates with our approval. Deposit is applicable towards the first month of training.
We are currently booked through the end of 2021. We HIGHLY recommend getting on our waitlist for 2022, as the spots are already filling up for the first couple months. We require a $100 deposit to reserve a training space.
Email us to see when our next training spot will come available.
We are currently booked, but are accepting deposits to reserve training spaces for 2022. We do currently have a wait list of clients scheduled to have their horses join Black Cursive Performance Horses for training. Spaces may become available at any point before the anticipated next available date due to sales, etc, so please check back regularly. Owners may place a $100 deposit to reserve a training space. Deposits are non refundable, but are transferable to other horses or later dates with our approval. Deposit is applicable towards the first month of training.
We are currently booked through the end of 2021. We HIGHLY recommend getting on our waitlist for 2022, as the spots are already filling up for the first couple months. We require a $100 deposit to reserve a training space.
Email us to see when our next training spot will come available.