It is important to be able to assess the needs of the horse and owner and teach both of them to work together, which is a process that I have learned from both personal experience and observing other great trainers over the years.
Using the round pin to start the horse, we establish the foundation which the horse will work on the rest of his life, such as yielding to pressure, suppleness, walking, trotting, turning, stopping and standing.
At this point we head for the trails (which are just outside our barn). This gives the horse a chance to begin putting to work what it has been learning in the pin. This is a general description of the first month. Much more could be said but I will leave that for another conversation.