Foundation First Horsemanship

21/09/2026

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
- Nelson Mandela

19/09/2026

What is the timeline for a horse to progress through the bosal to being a finished bridle horse?
If you have ever wondered, this is how we look at it and decide when a horse is ready for the next step. Usually they are in a 5/8th bosal for a year at least, then we go to a 1/2 inch bosal for maybe 6 months, then a bosalito for 6 months then a 2 rein for approximately a year. But it all depends on how the horse is responding to each stage.

I heard Carson James talk about the old vaqueros and how they say a year in the bosal but that they might only ride the horse once a week so that's like 40 rides or so. The thing is those rides might have been 10 hours of looking for cows or working cattle, and roping. So 10 hours at 40 days is 400 hours of work compared to 40 rides nowadays where it might be arena work for 30 minutes to an hour.

There's no way to speed the process up. The process involves teaching the horse a job or multiple jobs and how to do it smoothly before moving on. A horse that's pushed too fast might start showing problems like throwing its head or bracing.

We don't have a timeline set in stone. It's more about how the horse is handling his job and how well training is going. Once you put your horse to the test by working cattle you'll see where your holes are. You might think your turn around is smooth but add cows to it and then pressure to get things moved on time and see if it's still going smoothly. Those are the kind of markers we look at more than a set timeline of a year in one size bosal and 6 months in another.. the horse will tell you when he's ready when you put your training to the test.
Written by: Renae Bartosiewicz of S & R Livestock LLC

17/09/2026

💭

A mentor of mine would talk to me about the importance of the impact we make on others. The legacy that we leave behind. “It’s how you leave them feeling that matters the most” She was talking about people. I use this in my everyday life. With horses and humans. All creatures, all interactions.

17/09/2026

😅🙃🫠

Ah yes indeed!🤦‍♂️🤣

17/09/2026

What do guys reckon? Should I take up a career in content creation?!? 😂🫠 I mean my silly little reel of Rebel and Rambler is over a million views sooo… 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

I think ill stick to riding horses and making halters for all your sakes 😅

16/09/2026

Black on black was a good idea at the time until I decided to take a photo of my new T3 black alpaca mecate from Ideal Western Saddlery 😅🤦🏼‍♀️ lol it’s there I promise and it’s beautiful!