From the age of three to six years, young stallions can take part in the 30-day test, but when we talk about preparing for the test, we look at the training of the young horse during the first three months prior to the beginning of the test. Health, well-being, and reasonably structured training are vitally important and facilitate achieving the minimum standards for the test criteria. In the following, we look at five steps of training which help to prepare the stallions for the training period of the test and facilitate the success of final test days.

1. Handling - confidence-building measure
2. Walking - guiding the horse to the jump
3. Free-jumping
4. Longing
5. Work under saddle

The young stallion is still growing at least to the age of five and has to find balance, build muscles tone, and become accustomed to carrying the weight of a rider on his back. All this demands endurance, excellent riding education, and intuition. The main emphasis is placed on health, human safety, and safety of the stallion as well.

1. Handling
Respect and confidence are very important to avoid accidents and injuries. Daily handling such as going to turn-out will be the best preparation for mental balance and well-being of the stallion. Daily lessons including standing still to remove blankets, pick hooves, or to tack will build respect for the trainer. Use of a strong voice and the consequential actions of the trainer to correct inappropriate behavior play a decisive role.

2. Walking - guiding the stallion to the jump
Walking with the young stallion must also be trained. It is not only necessary to lead the stallion safely from one place to the other, but the stallion should also be confident stepping over colored poles. The walk should clearly show four beats while relaxed with good stretching of the neck and back musculature. The handler should walk next to the shoulder of the stallion and keep the reins in the right hand at a length of about 40 cm (15 inches), so there is a smooth connection to the mouth through the bit. There are no reins in the left hand, because this hand will be needed to raise it to the height of the stallion's eye helping to turn him to the right (always turn right). Hold your horses! This is the most important phrase to remember while teaching the stallion to free jump. The young stallion is lead to the jumping chute to help him find the center of the jump, to find the right point to push off the ground, and to gallop through the chute rhythmically, with good balance and scope. Improving the jumping technique (bascule) and jumping capacity (scope) will follow later. First, it is necessary to follow a well structured training protocol to eliminate the natural fear of colored jumps and familiarize the stallion with the jumping chute without asking too much of them.

3. Free-jumping
During the 30-day test, the stallion is scored for the manner in which he approaches and jumps in the jump chute. To show a good bascule he must be relaxed. It is undesirable for the young stallion to jump much higher than is necessary. Required in the jump chute are two small jumps to establish the rhythm and a larger one to show the jumping capacity. To gain confidence, begin training with one, then two, and then finally three jumps. Eventually, the third jump should be built as an oxer.

Test requirements:

1. jump: crossbar (40 cm or 15 in tall) with ground line, distance to next jump approximately 7 m (23 ft)
2. jump: vertical (60 cm or 2 ft tall) with ground line, distance to next jump approximately 7.2 m (24 ft)
3. jump: vertical (70 cm or 2 ft 3 in tall) raising gradually to oxer (maximum 1.30 m or 4 ft 3 in tall) according to ability of stallion.

4. Longing
Longing is an excellent training tool to acquaint the stallion with equipment such as the saddle and bridle, to begin working regularly, and to learn to interact with the trainer and his voice. Strengthening and stretching of the neck and back musculature prepares for wearing the weight of the rider. The symmetry of movement, relaxed minds and muscles, and the connection of hand (trainer) and mouth (horse) can be improved. Before beginning the test, the stallion must work on long lines (driving lines), responding obediently to the helping stimulus of voice and longing whip.

5. Work under saddle
The work under saddle should begin with a short longing session. The stallion should begin with no more then 20 minutes a day under saddle and gradually build fitness. Walking daily on hacking trails or pasture is a very positive experience. The relaxed young stallion should be warmed up by walking at least 5 to 10 minutes with long reins to find his own balance while carrying the rider. Following work, the stallion should be walked until dry and cool. The real part of training takes 10 to 30 minutes. It is necessary to teach the stallion to search for the bit, to step forward with the hind legs with active impulsion going through a relaxed back to the forehand. A smooth connection of hand (trainer) and mouth (stallion), a good mouth of the stallion, and an elastic back are excellent preparation for good test-rider scores. The reaction of the stallion to the non-visual aids of the rider and the rider's feeling on the back of the stallion are very important. To be best prepared, the stallion should be able to show good quality of all three gaits. While trotting and galloping impressive up-hill movement is preferred with active hind legs and an elastic back. Extreme extension in trot or gallop is undesirable at this stage of training.

Young stallions which complete this basic training with willingness to work should be well prepared to begin a 30-day test.