| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| connormum |
Posted - 15 Nov 2011 : 10:20:55 PM
Freddie, my loan horse, is coming on great with ground manners now, next stage is riding, although he has been backed and I've ridden him .... oh back in April, but due to the condition he arrived in, and the fact that he won't stand still to be mounted .... we've not done much, now I am going to see the lady who helped me with ground manners, with the option of sending him away to her, to be re backed etc. My worries are he's totally focused on me, call me a whimp but I'm worried if he's not totally in my care (though I trust them without a doubt), I'm worried he'll get stressed away from me/routine. I have my seven year old son with me most days at the yard, so during the week I can't do much ... she'll also come out to me but that works out more expensive ... ideas? Thank you. Sarah
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ari |
Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 7:43:41 PM
We had getting on and getting off issues with Ari; the riding in between was fine. Patience, repetition and not attempting mount or dismount until he showed manners did the trick; and the odd mint for distraction in the early days. It took a while but once he learnt that its all part of his routine I can get on from any object anywhere out hacking. |
| faymouse |
Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 5:33:06 PM
To overcome the moving off problem I found a titbit offered before and once on board did the trick... my boy straight from 7 yeaars in endurance home was off as soon as foot in the stirrup.... now he just stands and waits.. completely chilled. Likewise worked on my TB straight out of training and used to a leg up and gone!! |
| Kes |
Posted - 17 Nov 2011 : 7:40:55 PM
That's fair enough then and I'm not in any way questioning your methods, just chucking another idea into the mix. If you feel that you and Freddie have made good progress and you like and trust this NH lady then the decision you are leaning towards sounds best  |
| connormum |
Posted - 17 Nov 2011 : 7:07:35 PM
Carole, to be fair she's not that expensive and I trust her, she is Monty Roberts/NH trained and I liked the way she was with Freddie. When I had my last pony, many years ago, I did back him all myself, but I had had him since he was 2, but being older now and with a child with me, I'd prefer some help! I've taken six months gaining his trust and working on ground manners (he didn't have many!) I don't want to go wrong now |
| Kharidian |
Posted - 17 Nov 2011 : 6:55:52 PM
Ali Bali - that sounds wonderful! It's also what I did with Rog and will do again with Chips next year!
Caryn |
| Kes |
Posted - 17 Nov 2011 : 6:52:19 PM
Just to throw another idea into the mix; I do agree with the above, had I of known what I know now I would never have sent Kes away but that's another story. I know you like and trust this lady but why are you using an expensive (I'm guessing here) NH practitioner when all you need is a riding instructor? Freddie is already backed, if you can get past the mounting problems which I agree may be tricky in the beginning all you need is someone to coach you from the ground in schooling youngsters.  |
| ali bali |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 8:50:47 PM
I broke my boy this summer with a mixture of lessons and 'homework'. I set aside 3 weeks to concentrate on him and (like it sounds you have done) had done plenty of low key practising before hand.
Weather and injury turned 3 weeks into 2 however we didn't hurry him and spent the first week long reining and introducing tack. Knowledgeable horsey friends were complaining that I wasn't progressing him fast enough however I had found an instructor whom I knew had very similar views on training to me and I was plenty pleased with his progress.
I sat on him properly for the first time at the start of the second week, it was all very undramatic, just the way I wanted it! I had left, right and brakes by the end of the first day and by day four was trotting in a straight(ish!) line. We celebrated our progress on the last day by going for a hack with my old boy as nanny. It was the fifth time I had sat on him and I felt in complete control the entire time.
The purpose of this story is firstly to say that breaking my boy was the most amazing experience, we learnt so much together and the bond of trust between us certainly helped no end. Also I learnt more about his personality in 2 weeks than I had in the previous 3 1/2 years of owning him. My advice would be not to miss out on that opportunity by sending him away. Secondly, even without rushing him, you might find it takes a lot less time and lessons than you were expecting, especially if you have done a lot of the preparatory work yourself. We didn't set agenda's but progressed at his pace and by giving him lots of time at the start we progressed extremely quickly the second week.
Lastly regarding sorting out mounting issues, I'm sure everyone has their own ideas however in my experience I find it easier to sort out on my own. I have found having help to encourage the horse to stand still only masks the problem. Teaching the horse to accept your mounting single handed means that once trust is gained you will never have the problem again and never be stuck out on a ride with no one to help you back up!
Have a wonderful time enjoying your boy however you decide to go about restarting him! Alison |
| connormum |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 6:29:44 PM
Thanks everyone for your comments, it looks like all the votes are to keep him with me. I will, however, go and visit her at her yard and discuss my thoughts with her, she's willing to work with me at my yard or take him, which ever I choose. From a cost point of view it is more expensive to get her out to me on a regular basis, than send him to her. I know I'd stress about not seeing him everyday, but she does encourage you to come and work with her/your horse. He has been professionally backed and when I tried him he was very well mannered, once I managed to get on!, but it's been six months now and he did come with a known mounting issue and I will need someone to help me with that, not easy to get on a circling horse with no help! Also I'm not sure he's seen much traffic .... ho hum, no rush we will get there one way or the other :) |
| Honeyb060674 |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 12:08:13 PM
Definately agree with keeping him with you, the process should be easier in familiar surroundings & you know him best. Trust is the absolute foundation of starting/re starting imo. He seems like such a sensitive boy that the upheaval involved may upset him. Good luck & keep up posted |
| Pasch |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 11:10:15 AM
Agree with what has been said above |
| pinkvboots |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 10:41:06 AM
Agree with the others I would keep him where he is and pay someone to come and help you, it sounds like you have a strong bond and he trusts you so I think he will be easier with you doing most of the work with someone to help you. |
| Kharidian |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 10:07:56 AM
I'd definitely have someone out to work with Freddie/you together; that way he'll have continuity and you'll also develop consistency and confidence. As Quarabian says, it's about knowing when to ask for something more and when to reinforce previous lessons with consistency & fairness.
Caryn
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| Callisto |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 10:06:30 AM
I would also keep him at home and have the instructor come to you - she will be invaluable in giving you the confidence to get in the saddle when the time comes, you won't be alone and you won't be able to put it off - once you've done that you'll be able to continue building your trust and moving forward, while she helps you to do the right thing at the right time, if she takes him away to be rebacked then you won't be part of this proccess. |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 09:03:26 AM
Also in favour of keeping at home and building on the trust you have already. Backing horses isn't rocket science, it is about tact and diplomacy and knowing that you have prepared your horse before you go to the next stage. Sounds like you have all of that going for you.
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| angelarab |
Posted - 16 Nov 2011 : 08:19:50 AM
Baz stayed at home and i had a lady come in, took longer but we have kept the same consistancy of training going now she has gone,which i think is important.Depends on how quickly you would like to get moving with next steps |
| zebedeedeb |
Posted - 15 Nov 2011 : 10:38:28 PM
i have been in a very similar situation, after being thrown from my 8 yr old arabx i had to get a loan horse to carry on doing my horsemanship course, especially the ridden part, i broke 2 ribs when i was thrown( now know my horse has twisted herself prob when playing) and heading towards 50 my nerves were shot to bits,i so want to do this course so went looking for a horse. i went to see surprise who the owner told me was 5 yr old 15hh forward going and well mannered, hmmm . well ii turned up and she was a scrawny looking coloured pony, just 14 hh , and only 4 so i have since found out, well i saw her ridden (i think thats what the called it) charging around with head held high and couldnt keep her feet still, i asked to try so groundwork with her, all went well until i asked her to go out on the circle, then all hell broke loose,, she reared laid her ears back and charged at me,, luckily we had just seen a horse react like this the week before in our course so i stood my ground (pooping myself) and did what our teacher showed us to do ,, and wow it worked , she did the same agaw, in and so did i, after this she did everything i asked of her,,
well to cut a long story short i took her on, yes we had a few issues especially with food, but here we are 3 months later, i been riding her for 2 half months and she is the most wiling friend and companion,but still doesnt trust anyone else, (she was beaten by previous owners they have admitted hitting her for her mood swings) .
my advice would be keep him with you ,and do it with you teacher but try to do as much as possible yourself, the rewards far exceed the expense,i only have one lesson a month now as pennies hard to find with 3 horses to keep but keep up the groundwork it goes hand in hand with the ridden work, deb |
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