“Sack-out” = to take all the spookiness out of your horse. 

I believe ‘sacking out’ your colt or horse is a very important step in training.  Over the years, I have found that if you don’t sack your colts out, they never completely overcome some of the spookiness.  The animal has to trust you and realize that when you are working with them, you will not harm them.  They must be completely comfortable with you being around him.  Horses can not think or learn properly if they are afraid of every movement you make. 

It doesn’t matter if I am starting a colt or working with an older horse, I always sack him out first, to gain his trust.   I use my Easy Start Rope, which is a soft 30’ oil based rope.  There is a proper way to put it on so that it will not fall off, and yet will easily release to pressure.  My DVD demonstrates how to build the head rope and put it on.  

I begin by warming up the horse both way’s in the round pen until I have some connection with the horse.  That means when I have eye contact, then I start by bringing the colt up to me and sacking him out with my hands by rubbing him all over and once he accepts this, I begin sacking him out with my sack out blanket until he also accepts this and simply stands there with no worry and nervousness.  The horse will always try to get away from the pressure, but I keep bringing him back to me using a steady pull on the rope.  I like to walk out behind them and throw the blanket at them from both sides until they are comfortable.  

Then I am confident that I can saddle him with no problem.