David and his family have been heavily involved in breeding top perfromance horses but they have always operated a "start to finish" training ad show program. Although, Hilldale Farm has down sized its entire program they still breed for top performance prospects , fit yearlings for sales, stand their stallions and stallions for other owners and take pride in how our mares and yours are cared for. Many Hilldale Farm "students" have learned to ride and show competitively and horses owned by clients have enhanced their value by winning!
David Hutton on RHM Ebony Chex
DH Performance Horses is owned and operated by David Hutton. David has been training at Hilldale Farm for the last 18 years. David started showing reining horses as a teen under the guidance of his farther, Charlie Hutton. David won the AQHYA High Point in Reining in 1986. He has shown and trained many AQHA High Pt Champions in Cow Horse and Reining and shown many NRHA money earners including NRHA Reserve World Champion HD Continental Chex. Davids program is a start to finish program from 2 yr olds to finished horses. He also coaches youth and non pro riders from beginners to advanced riders.
An effective two-year-old training program is the foundation of training success. David Hutton has had primary responsibility for this vital area and over the years has taken many horses to the finished stages of training and winning ! The goal is to get each young horse started in a comfortable but disciplined manner and to teach the basics first.
Hilldale Farm has always taken great pride in the many successsful show horses that began their early education in the program. Some of these include World Champions, See Chex To Cash, Nu Tivio Chex and Night Deposit Chex. Many other successful futurity finalist and show horses have also started their careers here and we have confidence that more "wait in the wings" will join this select group of graduates.
David learned a lot of his training methods from his father, Charlie Hutton. Charlie broke his first colt over 50 years ago and he has seen many changes and improvements in this critical part of horse training. he believes the focus in 2 yr old training should be mental, teaching early lessons in a confidence building manner. David uses all of the techniques he has learned over the years riding with his father but he also rides with other successful trainers to update his program and to add some of their successful ideas to his program.
David Hutton on Busy Winin Chex
Longevity is an important part of our program and always has been. David has learned from his father, who holds the record with the American Quarter Horse Assn. for winning the most High Points in Reining. David started in the same tradition back in 1986 when he won the AQHYA High Point in Reining coached by his father Charlie Hutton. The records clearly show that the program develops "horses that last". To achieve this, he believes you must first start wit a good minded horse and then build a training foundation that allows you to break problems into parts that can be repaired.
One key to building horses that last is what the Huttons refer to as "show seasoning". Most youngsters trained in this program run their first show pattern in the spring or summer of their 3 yr old year. By this time the young horse has been in training for about 18 months and has learned to correctly perform each reining maneuver. Before the colt is actually shown, it will probably have travelled to at least one show circuit to just be riden in the horse show environment.
The first actual show is chosen to be a low pressure event with good ground, adequate warm up ring time and fairly close to home. Usually the colt will be shown two handed in a ring snaffle or a hackamore. The rider's attitude toward the first run in very critical. A relaxed rider makes a relaxed horse, so the exhibitor in not riding to win but riding to build confidence in the horse and teach him to perform maneuvers in the sequence of the pattern which is different than training maneuvers at home.
Another secret in developing longevity in show horses is schooling at shows. All horses will develop bad habits in the show ring. Even the best trained horses will begin to "cheat" after being shown awhile. This "cheating" usually consists of anticipating maneuvers. Correction can seldom be accomplished at home. The best solution is to choose a schooling class and specifically address the problem in the ring. Schooling is not a chance to "get even" with the horses and is never a time to be abusive or even severe.
David Hutton shows in AQHA, NRHA and NRCHA shows year-round. Each client participates in deciding how often and where their horse will compete. Our show charges allow a close estimate of cost to be incurred in each trip. Our goal is to help each client realize their own goals for their horse.
Please contact David for more informaion on the training program or let us find the "perfect horse" for you. Whether it be a trained show horse or top prospect let us help put you in the winners circle.
