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Training at Five Star Farms.

The following series of images demonstrates a filly's first training session at Five Star Farms.
The Tennessee Walking Horse filly, in these images, is a 17 month old Pusher's Secret get named Secretly. Secretly is halter broken and is accustomed to being handled but has never been saddled, bridled, or ridden.
The images were taken over the entire training session which lasted 40 minutes. You can see that Secretly never balked, fought, or bucked. Doug's experience, special affinity for colts, his quiet firm technique, and the calm disposition of the Tennessee Walker make these images typical of a first training session.
Doug Smiley lunges the TWH filly, Secretly, at the beginning of her first training session.
1. Secretly begins her first training session by lunging in the round pen.

Sacking out the filly.
2. Here Doug is sacking out the filly with a saddle blanket.

Doug places the saddle blanket on Secretly's back during the first training session for this TWH filly.
3. Secretly calmly accepts the saddle blanket.
     
Doug places the saddle on the walking horse filly's back.
4. Doug places the saddle while holding the halter.

 Tightening the cinch.
5. Tightening the cinch.

The Tennessee Walker is about to be lunged after being saddled and bridled.

6. Doug prepares to lunge Secretly to accustom her to carrying a saddle.
     
After being easily saddled and bridled the walking horse filly demonstrates a natural running walk while lunging.
7. Secretly was easily bridled. Here she demonstrates a nice natural running walk during her first experience lunging under saddle and bridle.

Having lunged the walking horse filly under saddle and bridle, Doug Smiley is now preparing to ride her.
8. Doug frees up the reins in preparation for mounting.

Doug gathers the reins in preparation for mounting during this Tennessee Walker's first training session.
9. Gathering the reins.
     
The Tennessee Walking Horse experiences a rider's foot in the stirrup for the first time.
10. Doug places his foot in the stirrup. Secretly is completely relaxed.

The trainer leans his full weight over the walking horse filly.
11. Doug accustoms Secretly to his weight by laying over her back.

Doug mounts and dismounts repeatedly to accustom the walker filly to a rider.
12. After mounting the first time Doug prepares to dismount. He repeats the process several times.
     
Doug shifts his weight around after mounting the walking horse filly during her first training session.
13. Doug shifts his weight to accustom the filly to a rider's natural movement.

Doug settles his weight in the saddle as he prepares to move the filly out for the first time.
14. Ready to move out.

The TWH filly moves out with a rider on her back for the first time during this training session.
15. Secretly walks with a rider on her back for the first time.
     
Secretly demonstrates a smooth running walk while carrying a rider for the first time.
16. Despite the first time experience with the weight of a rider, Secretly moves out freely on a loose rein.

At the end of the training session Doug again shifts his weight as he prepares to dismount from the Tennessee Walking Horse filly.
17. While dismounting Doug once again shifts his weight and accustoms the filly to a leg being dragged over her rump.

Doug Smiley pauses while dismounting from Secretly to again let her feel a rider's full weight in the stirrup.
18. Doug pauses while dismounting so Secretly can again feel the full weight of a rider in the stirrup.

Doug and the Tennessee Walker filly, Secretly, return to the barn after a sucessful first lesson.
Doug and Secretly return to the barn after a very successful first training session. Just another day's work for the talented trainer.

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Five Star Farms Royse City TX Phone: 214-551-5244 Fax:972-722-8372. Tennessee Walking Horse and Spotted Saddle Horse Training - Breeding - Sales. Doug Smiley owner and trainer

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