| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Mags |
Posted - 07 Oct 2012 : 7:45:22 PM
Can I have a fustrated  from a desperate to ride person 
PRetty much decided Mia is now going to be left till next spring, she is still so immature. Do many other people find this with arabs?, im so desperate to ride not helped by how easy she is - would be no effort to back her now if  |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kharidian |
Posted - 12 Oct 2012 : 08:26:05 AM
Chips is 3 1/2 (and very grown up, mentally much more than Roger was at his age) and he has been sat on 3 times. Once we've had a couple more 10 minute sessions around the yard/manege on a loose leadropeI will probably "hack" with a sensible horse(s), riding for 10 minutes and leading the rest of the way (always circular routes - never there & back routes to avoid the temptation to nap) about once a week and we won't do more than that until next spring. Mind you, he won't do much as a 4 year old either - I don't school in the manège. Basically he won't be asked to work in an outline - he'll hack on a loose rein and as long as he'll stop/start, turn and move away from the leg then that's fine - so it's all very natural!
Caryn |
| connormum |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 11:37:49 PM
Mags your very luck to get Mia,... well .. we are getting there, but sane and sensible he's not. But a home for life, yes :) This time last year I would of easily given him back ....:) But we get each other now :) |
| Callisto |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 7:57:38 PM
Mags, you don't have to literally wait until they are 6 to back them, just take it easy until they are mature enough to cope.
PS Lily was incredibly laid back as a four year old, as a 5/6 year old it was a completely different story..., she's calming down again now  |
| borleybird |
Posted - 11 Oct 2012 : 7:35:32 PM
Just read Dr Deb article and it opened my eyes. I always took the view, coming from a tb racing background, that starting early was a good thing although I wouldn't normally back a riding horse til 3. However I now realize how wrong I was. Knowledge like that is one thing you can't ignore so I guess when I get my youngster I will be waiting an extra year to ride. Sure it will be worth it in the long term. |
| Mags |
Posted - 10 Oct 2012 : 5:38:16 PM
He is a very lucky boy to be getting the time he needs now Sarah, will pay you back ten fold im sure if only someone had given him that before
See now im even more depressed SIX?? Oh my word I didnt expect to be waiting till 5 as it is. Not like I can do any despooking or such like in the mean time with little miss fearless. I actually worry there is something wrong she is so sensible it just not normal lol |
| Foxtrot |
Posted - 09 Oct 2012 : 10:40:57 AM
Interesting article, just started backing our six year old so don't feel quite so bad now!! I've got alot of nagging of eventing/showjumping friends as to why I haven't done it sooner, but she just was just so tall and not physically ready, now shes a different horse and taken to it like a duck to water!
I have a 13 year old Irish sports horse that is physically wrecked, due to being hunted Ireland as 3-4 year old, hes a field ornament but is so honest and happy babysitting he'll see out his days in kindness after what us humans have done to the poor chap! |
| connormum |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 8:36:36 PM
Your very lucky, Freddie is a lovely boy but has issues, but we are working on them! Apparently out of the horses re homed according to his owners daughter, he was the most 'interesting', hmmm
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| Mags |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 8:05:29 PM
HI Sarah, yes its definately to my advantage that she was untouched till Sharon got hold of her so apart from that brief loan disaster the little education she had was mostly by sharon and it tells!Noone had ever messed with her.
Will pm you when get a moment :) |
| connormum |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 7:11:22 PM
Just read your second post, you got the sane one then :)
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| connormum |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 7:06:49 PM
Mags, Mia had a late start (and going by Freddie, not a particularly educated one), he has been ridden but came to me with loads of issues, so I'm leaving him to next spring working with the exercises we've been given by my IH lady. He acts like a three year old, but very kind and genuine, I've loads on their history if you want to PM me. Sarah x |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 11:44:42 AM
Ari is four now but still physicaly immature although he is way too sensible for his age (not complaining) I will probbably wait unbtil spring to start him officially but will carry on putting tack on and off and sitting on him bareback.
The quarter horse people start there horses at two. Then they wonder why some have physical problems at eight. My BR has a dipped back which I am sure was due to over riding too early. She is probably pleased that I am not too heavy. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 08:47:17 AM
Thanks for the suggestion Alyth - Dr Deb's article is fascinating - I'm relieved that it's not just me being overprotective - for an Arab Lily is tall and quite long backed, and this confirms what I felt to be the case with her.
ETA
For anyone who wants to find it, google Dr Deb Bennett Ranger
I read it on a South African Dressage website  |
| Alyth Long |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 06:52:02 AM
For every year you give them at the beginning of their riding career you get several at the other end!! Read Dr. Debs "Ranger" article. That tells you how they mature. The spine, where we are putting our weight, is the last part of the skeleton to mature and it isn't finished until about 6 years old. That is why so many horses that are started at a young age have "hollow backs".....I have always left my Arabians until they are 5/6 and as they are well handled, not left "to be babies"!! They are so easy to back and ride on!! You just need to remember to give them kindagarten education. Parelli games are great as they give their brains something to think about without stressing their bodies!! |
| Esther |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 06:03:26 AM
Wolf (part bred) was ready to start playing at being a ridden pone at 3.5 - he was getting too fat and that half welsh brain needed something to do. However, Felix (pure bred) won't be mentally or physically ready till at least 4.5 and H (pure bred) was started at 4.5. I think quite a lot of arabs are slow burners. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 01:02:18 AM
Lily turned 7 last June, I think she is still a bit physically immature, she was backed at four when I bought her, but I think she should have been left until she was 5 or even 6. |
| debs |
Posted - 07 Oct 2012 : 9:50:02 PM
Iwaited until Ali was 5, he looked sooooooooooo immature at 4, thought another year just being would do him good. |
| ali bali |
Posted - 07 Oct 2012 : 9:08:49 PM
I too was desperate to back my boy at 3 but he wasn't mature enough physically. I waited til 4 and 3 months then after very lightly backing turned him away all winter again. So glad I did, this year re-backing took all of two 10 minute sessions and he is now fully mature and ready to face anything calmly and relaxed.
He could have been right up and at 'em this year, only my difficult personal circumstances have held us back |
| SuziQ |
Posted - 07 Oct 2012 : 8:10:37 PM
I know I'm desperate to ride...my delay is my fault though...we were pony riding and just about to go off to school to master going solo and she had an attack of Lami  She is doing really well, 2 weeks later the little cow bag escaped from her pen this morning and went cantering off across the field shes looking nearly sound...please soon! |
| Mags |
Posted - 07 Oct 2012 : 8:07:58 PM
 can I steal some silliness. I swear iv been palmed off with a 10yr old schoolmaster not an arab and wondering if I can claim for not as described |
| Kazzy |
Posted - 07 Oct 2012 : 7:53:49 PM
I didnt back my gelding till he was 5 years old and I thought he had matured bodily and in the mind aswell but he hadnt, he was better than his mother who never matured in her head 
He was quite silly till he was about 15 years old really then we have had about 2 years when he "grew up" now he is 17 years old he is getting silly again!!
Thats Arabs for you
Wouldnt swap then for anything though, those 2 years when he was well behaved were oh so precious!!
Janet |
