Should I try and start my unbroken but gentle and handled 8 year old gelding? Or would I just be causing him and myself grief by trying this and just look into finding a trainer that will help me?

I have an 8 year old quarter horse gelding who I have owned since the day he was born. He is sweet and kind, handles well on the ground and a quick learner. He stands quietly, enjoys being groomed, handles his hooves well and is an all around gentle mannered horse.

Before my parents divorce, he was being worked with everyday and starting the process to begin being ridden, but this was 5 years ago. It is just now, these past few months from when I moved back home to my dad's farm, that I have had the opportunity to start working with him in a more structured manner outside daily grooming and handling.

I know how important the first ride is, and all handling up until and after that point. I just was wondering if I should continue to work with him myself or should I turn him over to a respected trainer to get him started with riding?

I have finished a few green horses and worked with unpredictable horses in the past, however I have not started a horse from scratch so to speak with riding. I am not a competitive rider anymore, I just enjoy trail riding these days.

I do not have an arena but I would have access to one through friends, and I do have a roundpen.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for any advice you have.

if i were you, i would do it myself, especially since he already has a little bit of a foundation. 90 percent of successful riding is done off the ground first, at least in my experience. if you have access to a roundpen, have some sessions with him doing ground work with and without a saddle. he already knows you and trusts you...just build off of it. i use clinton anderson and john lyons techniques to train my horses (with some of my own ideas thrown in) and they havent led me astray yet

first, i would make sure he knows how to free lunge and change directions with and without a line. then id practice lateral flexion and make sure he knows how to give. if he respects on the ground, and understands the saddle wont eat him, its time to hop on in a pen or arena or pasture.

i hope that helps. ive used this philisophy on all of my horses, some of which have bucked riders off, were off the racetrack, or were "broke the cowboy way" and i have had great success by just creating a respectful relationship. you just have to find what works for you and your horse on a personal level.

Sounds like you would benefit the most from having a professional do it.

Reasons;
You currently have the time, but haven't in the past-which tends to repeat itself.

It really isn't a trial & error approach if you want to have as few holes in his training as possible.

If your not set up to make things easy you will find yourself skipping days.

So he was worked with on the ground but never started under saddle at all? That is a difficult question. How quiet is he, and how confident are you in your ability to start him? Do you have any experience? Just make sure that you have enough time, week after week for several months to really get a good start on him. You dont want to start him for a week or two and let him sit again then try and start him again.