Horse training tools from a working cattle ranch Know where your horse really stands.
Score your horse on the 10 things that matter before you ask for more. Then track every session for 30 days and see what's actually working. Simple, printable tools. No long program.
Get the free checklist See the 30-Day Training LogMost problems are a hole in the foundation
These are the problems horse owners tell us about most. None of them mean you've got a bad horse.
He bolts from pressure
Add a little leg and he's gone. He hasn't learned that pressure is a question, not a threat.
Read the fix →He's barn sour or herd bound
Fine until you turn for home, then he jigs, rushes and calls to his buddies.
Read the fix →You're not sure he's ready
"He seems fine" isn't the same as "he's solid." Check the 10 signs before you ask for more.
Read the 10 signs →You can't tell if it's working
Months of "working on it" and no way to know if he's better or you just had a good day.
Read the fix →Score him. Log it. Score him again.
Score him today
Go through the 10 points on the free checklist and mark each one solid, getting there, or not yet. Be honest. A low score isn't a bad horse. It's a starting line.
Log every session
One line after you unsaddle: what you worked on, what went well, what needs work. Tie it to one or two of the 10 points. Five quiet minutes counts.
Re-score on Day 30
Run all ten points again the same honest way and compare. The gap between those two numbers is thirty days of real work. Not a feeling, a fact.
Start free. Track it for $12.
The 10-Point Horse Readiness Checklist
- 10 signs your horse is ready to move forward, from Leads Willingly to Ready for the Job
- What each one looks like, and the red flag to watch for
- A readiness score page and the 3 questions to ask before moving up
- A one-page tick sheet to keep in the barn and re-check every 30 days
The 30-Day Training Log
- A Day 1 score page, so you start from the truth
- Four weekly pages: what you worked on, what went well, what needs work
- When a Point Isn't Working: a fix for each of the 10 points
- A 30-day tracker and a Day 30 score to compare with Day 1
Made in the round pen, not an office.
Rafter J Horses is Jeremiah, a working cowboy on a cattle ranch with years in horse training and hoof care. He starts colts (you may have met Goose) and shares the real days, good and bad. These tools are the same lists he runs through in his own head before he asks a horse for something new.
"I don't trust my memory to tell me if a horse is getting better. I trust thirty days of honest notes."
- "A tired horse and a broke horse are two different animals."
- "Patience first, frustration never."
- "Track the work. See the progress. Build the horse."
Straight answers for the horse you have
Is My Horse Ready? 10 Signs to Check Before You Ask for More
Ten signs your horse is ready to move forward, plus how to score him honestly.
Read article →Barn Sour or Herd Bound? How to Fix a Horse That Wants to Go Home
What happened with our colt Goose, and five steps that work at a walk and trot.
Read article →Why Your Horse Bolts From Pressure, and What to Do About It
Giving to pressure, a stop you can trust, and measuring recovery instead of calm.
Read article →Frequently asked
What is the 10-Point Horse Readiness Checklist?
A free printable checklist of 10 signs your horse is ready to move forward: leads willingly, respects your space, stands quiet, gives to pressure, stops soft, steers light, handles new things, leaves the herd, recovers fast, and is ready for the job. For each one you mark solid, getting there, or not yet, then add up your score.
How do I get the free checklist?
Enter your email on the checklist page and we'll send you the download.
What's in the 30-Day Training Log?
A Day 1 score page, four weekly pages for logging each session, a "When a Point Isn't Working" fix for each of the 10 points, a 30-day tracker, a Day 30 score with a side-by-side comparison, and an extra page for session notes. It's a $12 digital download.
Do I need the checklist to use the training log?
The log is built around the same 10 points, so it helps to have scored your horse first. The checklist is free, so start there.
Is this only for young horses or colt starting?
No. The 10 points apply to any horse you're bringing along or fixing a problem with, whether he's headed for trail miles, ranch work, or a quiet Sunday ride. Every horse gets there on his own schedule.
Is this a substitute for a trainer?
No. It's an honest, practical check-in with yourself, not a professional evaluation. If you're ever unsure whether you and your horse are ready for something, bring in a second, more experienced set of eyes.
Score your horse today. It's free.
Get the 10-Point Horse Readiness Checklist and find out exactly what to work on first.
Get the free checklistRide Hyer.
Jeremiah rides in Hyer Boots, and you've probably seen them in our videos. Use code JEREMI071 for 10% off at checkout.
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