| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 22 Jun 2009 : 2:24:56 PM
I've read with interest a few post recently from those of you who have just backed or recently backed your youngsters.
Its great and i love to see the pics and read about peoples different experiences.
Here is my boy Ozzy last week after we just finished a short hack..!.
He has been backed now for about 3 weeks and he is absolutely wonderful. We have been over bridges, through the forest, walked over small logs, up and down ditches, through the farm past all the cows and he just accepts it all. His only fear is puddles and lets face it they are very scary.....! He will always walk round them if he can but the other day the puddle was across the whole path and he couldn't get round it so he jumped it.... At least he kept going in the direction i wanted him too... We are yet to see if he will follow my mare through a puddle if there is no way round it... I'll keep you posted on this.
Anyone else have a similar problem with puddles? Any tips..?
Lets keep this thread going with all newly backed or recently backed horses. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 13 Jul 2009 : 11:32:32 AM
Arabheaven - that's great news. Sounds like she is going to be another one that just accepts everything in her stride. Keep us posted on how you get on. |
| arabheaven |
Posted - 13 Jul 2009 : 08:32:54 AM
Well my 16.2hh Anglo turned 3 in April, I am leaving her until she is 4 but it was my birthday last Friday and for nothing but purely selfish reasons.... I sat on her! lol
Got her in from the field, parked her up at the mountain block, flicked her leadrope over as mimick reins and got on her bareback in her headcollar. She stod there for scratches then I dismounted, she was so so good, didnt question it at all  xx |
| joanna_piana |
Posted - 12 Jul 2009 : 11:33:57 AM
Wow Ozzy sounds a complete star! Pickle is being very good hacking out too she loves it and says schooling is no longer her thing ha ha. Here are a couple of pics in the school yesterday but she really wasn't keen on being in there!
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| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 11 Jul 2009 : 10:18:59 PM
Great photo's Kash, well done.
Just to give you all an update on Ozzy....
Today we went in the trailer with a friend who was riding my old mare. We went to Epping Forest and had a lovely hack which included.....Are you ready for this....!
A motorway bridge over the M25, some very steep hills (which he was a little worried about going down at first), a field full of black cows (including the BULL...!) and negotiating many gates from on board.
I can't believe how good he was. It took me nearly 2 years to get my mare to walk over the motorway bridge confidently and Ozzy just walked over it like he'd being doing it all his life... What a superstar. |
| Kash |
Posted - 10 Jul 2009 : 8:32:56 PM
Fantastic photos! Its so lovely to have a record of their progress, isn't it?
This was my first 'proper' ride on my mare in February 2008
and this was taken in September of last year
this is the most recent photo I have - taken April/May I think
Best of luck with finding a good instructor Nichole - mine is worth her weight in gold |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 10 Jul 2009 : 11:26:42 AM
Zenitha - he looks great and looks like he is working really well. Looking at his lovely outline its just reminded me i need to book up some lessons....
Ozzy goes along with his nose poking in the air and i've not attempted yet to ask him to drop his nose and work in more of an outline.
Anyone recommend a good instructor in the Essex area? I can either travel to them or maybe use my friends school up the road. I've tried contacting Darren Crowe (about 20 times...!) but he is so busy i just can't pin him down.. Maybe i'll start a new thread for this question... |
| Zenitha |
Posted - 09 Jul 2009 : 9:24:48 PM
A few pics of my 5 year old gelding RV Prince Valiant (Veldon / Crown Princess). He's just spent 8 weeks with Tina Atherton (on board in the pics)and she's done a fantastic job with him  Thanks Tina !
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| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 2:52:38 PM
Ozzy went through his first puddle today........ It was a really big puddle that he couldn't get round and he couldn't jump...!
We were out with three other riders and they all went though it and he just stood on the edge and watched. He then started to back up, so i got my friend who was riding my mare to come back and turn round and go through again and i just tucked up as close to her bottom as i could and he just stepped in and walked through after her.
What a super star...! Especially as puddles have been the scariest thing he has ever seen... I just love him.. |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 01 Jul 2009 : 9:59:07 PM
Well done Joanna! Keep us posted on how you both get on. |
| joanna_piana |
Posted - 01 Jul 2009 : 9:41:28 PM
Yay just been out for our first road ride and she was a perfect angel Went with the big cob next door, must say it's comforting having a great big bottom in front of you although Pickle kept deciding he was going too slow and insisting on taking the lead so not remotely bothered and barely looked at anything  |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 30 Jun 2009 : 10:34:00 PM
Me too!!!!  |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 30 Jun 2009 : 8:23:28 PM
Oh that's so unfair.... My other half might pop to the yard once a year if i'm lucky...! But he is a very good cook, hence why i need to loose a few stone... . |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 30 Jun 2009 : 5:31:00 PM
Thanks Angel! Merlyn was 4 in May and is real boy!!! He is bostroious and full of it! There have been a few hairy moments on the ground, but his heart is in the right place. He is just a little too full on at times. Anyway he seems to like work (long may that last!) and thrives on doing things.
It is my other half leading. He has been fab at helping me out. He built our stables, does fencing, feeds, mucks out in winter, drives to shows. Stands for hours on end with a camera in his hand and is also a dab hand at cooking!! Now aren't you all jealous??!!! |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 29 Jun 2009 : 10:12:25 PM
Merlin looks great. Well done to you both, the first time on board is the most scary but fantastic feeling.
Now the fun begins..... Good luck with your future training. |
| angelarab |
Posted - 27 Jun 2009 : 7:33:45 PM
Merlyn looks fab, how old is he? and is that your fella leading, lucky you if it is! mine pops up to the yard about once a month LOL well done you |
| s.jade |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 11:41:44 PM
Great piccies!
No photos as yet but having an exciting time as I'm just staring backing my very own homebred filly...the first of my own homebreds to ride!
Have also recently backed my 4 and 5 year old mares, 4yr old is riding away beautifully, the 5year old is, um...much fun! |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 11:05:47 PM
It's great to hear of everyone's successes!
I have just backed Merlyn and he was a complete star about it all. I have to say a few weeks ago I seriously considered sending him away as he was a real handful on the ground!!! Anyway we managed to get past all that and here was the moment of truth:
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| gossy |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 10:49:36 PM
done the puddle and drains things with mine, they actually love the water and dont mind the drains either,now rabbits running out or evil pigeons is another matter. |
| nikki |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 3:24:29 PM
well done everyone, great thread! |
| GHALEEM |
Posted - 26 Jun 2009 : 2:51:09 PM
Nichole,
Sounds like you are keeping it varied and fun, just what i want to do when Ruwi is old enough. Keep us posted with how you are doing with him
Michelle |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 24 Jun 2009 : 12:39:23 PM
This thread is great... i love to hear everyone's experiences.
Michelle - Ozzy is 4 (he was 4 in March). I bought him in May and spent three weeks just playing with him, leading him in hand first, then riding my mare and leading him form her. Then i legged my niece over him and when he didn't react to that she sat up on him bare back and i led her round the school . He wasn't at all bothered.
Then i had the saddler come and check that my old Saddle was OK on him. (which it is ) and then i just got on him and we went for a hack with my mare. He has just been great. First hack was like driving a car with no steering and no breaks as he had no idea what the leg aids meant, but he learns very quickly and will now come off the leg left or right.
AngelArab & Roseanne - i've tried leading him in hand through a puddle but he won't follow me . He just plants himself at the edge and refuses to budge. When it rained heavy the other day we had some puddles in the yard and i spent ages trying to get him to walk through them. In the end i managed to back him into one which he didn't mind, but when he backed up enough that his front feet were in the puddle, he snorted and jumped straight out.. . He doesn't mind the hose on his legs or feet and if i run the hose long enough it makes a puddle around his feet and he doesn't mind that. He just won't walk through one... I'll keep working on it and make sure i go out on a hack each time it is raining....
Today i got on him on my own in the yard and rode him down to my friend which is about 4 minutes down the road. (i know its not far but we was on our own...) We went past some men digging the road up (but they did stop to let me past) and had a few cars come past. He was really good. At my friends yard we worked in the field on some ground exercises and started the very basics of beginning to long rein. Then we walked him over poles, then made an L shape with the poles and walked him through a couple of times then backed him through (doing it a bit at a time). My friend couldn't believe how quickly he learnt where to put his feet, he was just brilliant . Then i got back on and hacked him back up the road. What a superstar.. |
| joanna_piana |
Posted - 23 Jun 2009 : 8:48:59 PM
Oh I know I need to just get on with it. I've taken her out in hand and she is very good on the roads although not so keen on very loud vehicles coming up behind her. I'm getting her home next week so will just get on with it! It's the traffic nowadays that puts me off it's so much worse than it was ten years ago and people are so stroppy and in such a hurry all the time. Anyway i'm even more inspired now hearing about other people going out and about |
| GHALEEM |
Posted - 23 Jun 2009 : 3:00:08 PM
Hi Nicole,
I really enjoy the just backed threads too, your horse is really lovely! How old is he?
I wont be riding out till next year but there is so much to do till then I backed him bare back and plan to carry on like that until i start riding out, i find it easier to slip off if something goes wrong and i like the feeling of closeness.Michelle
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| angelarab |
Posted - 22 Jun 2009 : 9:49:04 PM
WOW well done troops, be a while before me and Baz get to your stage, but i am in no rush(ok i lie a little )
Puddles Baz must think i am mental if there is one he thinks will eat him when i am leading i splish and splosh in it just to show him i am not being eaten up alive, seems to work ?
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| Roseanne |
Posted - 22 Jun 2009 : 9:31:34 PM
Puddles are deep holes into the ground/sky!! I know that sounds mad but I think horses see the reflection of the clouds in the puddles and they move as the horse moves, and so they're very scary indeed.
With youngsters I was riding alone, I used to get off, lead them through, lead them back through again, get back on and ride them through (big big fuss...) - once given confidence to walk through they will do so more happily next time.
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