3 yr Cob broken at 2

[SamsieJ]

took delivery of a 3 year old cob 13.1 who was broken at 2, has done hunting and jumping. He’s petite in build.
although he’s very new, he has reared 5 times at various things - seeing a feed bucket, front feet being picked out. Washing legs. Lashes out on right hind being picked up. Having said that -doesn’t seem malicious.
Would you suggest we turn away, bring back in summer and start education from beginning?
or as he’s already done so much, continue at slower rate?
what they have done with him doesn’t seem to suit the age and build of the poor chap.
any positive stories out there to give hope?

 

[Elno]

Has he been vetted? Seems an awful lot to put such a young horse of such a slow maturing type through ?

 

[be positive]

If he is 4 this year I would probably keep going but take things slowly as if he is just starting, get the basics instilled quietly over the rest of the winter and start riding when he is better prepared generally just as you would a 4 year old that has not been started, if he is only going to be 3 this year then I would ensure his feet can be trimmed safely and turn him away until the end of the summer to forget the past and grow on.

 

[Auslander]

These are all handling issues, and if you turn away a horse with handling issues, you're still going to have handling issues when he comes back in. I'd be inclined to ease off the ridden work, and prioritise getting him calm and confident to do stuff with

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Agree with auslander I would make sure he gets plenty of turnout and ground handling with no riding for a while.

 

[proseccoandponies]

I would absolutely stop the riding, a 3 year old cob should definitely not have done so much at such a such a young age, so i would give the chap a chance to mature. I would turn him out with some other horses and let him be a horse, but keep handling him with the help of someone experienced, he will come around to it, his poor brain has probably be overloaded by all the things hes been rushed into doing. I'm glad the horse has got a second chance now to have a better start.

 

[Orangehorse]

Agree. Concentrate on the ground work, manners, being around humans and turn out time to grow and mature.

It is far from ideal for a young pony to have done so much, but it has happened before and at least you know he is broken to ride!

Give him time. There are books you can get for all sorts of different things you can do in hand, walk over poles, tarpaulins, get used to spooky things, etc. etc.

 

[welshpony216]

Hunting and jumping at 2-3 years old? ?*shutters* that's looking like vet bills in the future, riding that early can come with consequences, just saying! sometimes people are in a rush to start riding and ignore basic groundwork and desensitization. As a ton of people have already said, no riding for a while, just get him used to you touching his legs, belly, everywhere, lots of groundwork, desensitization and stuff. You can slowly begin riding when he is comfortable with everything.