Reflections on Socialization and Variety in Colt Training (…especially when you’ve got great beginnings!)

by Mary Gallagher

4-year old Je te', ponied from Harriet.

Since 2018, we have been privileged to host a number of colts for training from Wensleydale Farms in Oregon. Owner/breeder Wendy Comstock has a herd of beautiful warmblood broodmares, and has put a lot of time into researching bloodlines that would complement their gifts, producing foals that can be developed into top performance horses. Our training philosophies are compatible, and it shows in every nicely socialized colt from Wensleydale that spends time with us, returning home more grown up and ready for life out in the world.

Great beginnings. Like me, Wendy believes in natural beginnings. She spends time with the mare herd, and when the babies arrive, handles them from the beginning. Mothers and babies continue living as a herd. Colts are regularly brought into stalls for grooming and supplements, before returning to pasture for healthy socialization. In my view, this practice is key in developing solid performance horses. When Wendy’s colts arrive at Freedom Farm, they are confident, curious, and ready to learn. Thank you, Wendy for your great work. Starting these fabulous colts is such a pleasure! 

Life and training at Freedom Farm. Newly arrived 2 and 3-year olds have already had a lot of experiences: they’ve been handled, haltered, in and out of stalls and horse trailers, single tied, groomed, hooves trimmed, and spent increasing amounts of time away from the herd. I build on these great beginnings, giving the colts exposure to many experiences, while going about their regular training on the ground and in the saddle. Wendy and I stay in touch often, going over new things to expose the babies to.

As a matter of course, life here involves a lot of farm activity, with Jerry’s hay and cattle operations ongoing. Farm work with heavy equipment, repair workshop activity, and the care and feeding of our own herds goes on all around us as we go about our training schedule. I make a point of bringing the colts to various areas on the Farm, also exposing them to the busy life of our teaching and boarding operations. My students often help me with ground work and moving the colts here and there, so the new arrivals soon become a part of the daily fabric of life here. They are part of classes I teach, clinics we host with visiting master horsemen, show trips, and even our annual beach trip for advanced students. It’s a full life and actually a lot of fun.

Rather than describe further, I’d like to share photos of my recent trainees and our various activities over the past couple years, including spontaneous moments they seem to enjoy a lot. My current trainees Oliver (5 years old), Je te’ (4) and Lorenzo (4), are coming right along, and Marcus (5) has recently returned home, ready for the show world.

New "graduate" Marcus, July 2025. Marcus was so willing and kind from the start. He is a big athletic boy and he has a way of making you feel safe. 

Marcus rating his cow, Dave Ellis clinic, July 2025.

Oliver at the beach, 2024

 

Students prep Marcus for his first show.

 

Team Freedom Farm at Team NW! Oliver and Marcus, Mary and students.

Easy riders Marcus and Oliver

 

 

Good times with Freedom Farm friends.

 

Oliver helps Mary prune some low branches.

Marcus

Je te'

These Wensleydale geldings really need to learn to relax...

Oliver, taking a break on a trail ride to the local park.

Marcus and Oliver, early training, comparing notes over munchies.

Growing up, “graduating”, and moving on. As I mentioned before the photo essay, my current 5- and 4-year old trainees are well into training under saddle and the next year will likely see them follow Marcus home and off to new experiences. Several Wensleydale babies (and one former brood mare!) from early on have returned to us and are now owned by my advanced students! Harriet, Zeus, and Ruby are enjoying life at Freedom Farm, while frequently wowing the judges at shows in Washington and Oregon. It is affirming to me as a trainer of horses and young people, to see the thorough care these riders give their horses, and the resulting connection, communication, and collaboration between them.

In closing, recently I’ve come to appreciate even more deeply how big a role exposure to a lot of different activities plays in developing a nice horse. The quality of early life, followed by a variety of experiences and activities, naturally feeds into and enhances a horse’s ability to engage in whatever we ask of them.

And isn’t that what it’s all about?