Starting Colts (A Western Horseman Book) [Paperback]

Mike Kevil (Author), Pat Close (Author), Darrell Arnold (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1990

A safe, logical, step-by-step process for developing a solid foundation with young horses.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This book explains the step-by-step process in starting a colt under saddle. It includes chapters on: round pen & facilities; equipment; catching a horse; leading; typing up; longeing; sacking out; first saddling; introduction to the bit and much, much more. (8 x 11, 168 pages, b&w photos)

About the Author

MIKE KEVIL has over thirty years' experience starting colts and changing the behavior of older horses. He's traveled all over the United States and Europe working with all breeds of horses and disciplines. He works with clubs, associations, schools, and horsemen's groups. The countless colts Kevil has started have gone on to become champions in a variety of disciplines, but perhaps what's most important to him is that The horses have become winners in the hearts of their owners. When asked why he does what he does, he replied: "Two reasons. I like helping people learn, and I find the horse's mind fascinating. After all these years and all the horses I've worked with, I still get a kick every time a horse makes an improvement. My job is to teach the horse something so he's better than when I started with him." He lives in Cave Creek, Arizona

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 167 pages
• Publisher: Western Horseman; 1st edition (January 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091164721X
• ISBN-13: 978-0911647211
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,462,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Information, good pictures, step by step process., November 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Starting Colts (A Western Horseman Book) (Paperback)

This book has given me the knowledge to start my colt off myself saving me hundreds of dollars on professional training. The step by step process and the pictures are very informational. I like that there are pictures to show what exactly they are doing. The author shows that not all horses are a "dream" to train and shows that some do protest to what is being done. It is a true representation. I recommend this book to someone who has been afraid to try it themselves. It can really help you to become proficiant from the start and help build the respect and bond you need from your horse.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kevil is focused, methodic, and safety minded., February 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Starting Colts (A Western Horseman Book) (Paperback)

This book is well organized, taking the reader (and student) through Kevil's method of training young horses in clear concise steps and easily understood writing paired with step by step photos. What I find most useful are the tricks he includes for keeping the trainer and the horse as safe as possible through the process. This book is fairly priced for the quality, useful information it contains.

3.0 out of 5 stars Different strokes.., June 9, 2011

By 

Christina (Sanford, Maine) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Starting Colts: Catching / Sacking Out / Driving / First Ride / First 30 Days / Loading (Paperback)

I strted saddle breaking my Friesian colt a couple of months ago, and seeing as how it was a little more difficult than I had expected, I decided to read up a bit on training colts. This book was not my favorite, I have to say. I am not a huge fan of Mike's training methods, but everyone has a different way of doing things. Some of his ideas have helped me with my Memphis, so I guess you just have to take a little advice from everywhere!