Accidentally pity purchase

Thanks everyone.

Had the farrier yesterday and recommended a natural horsemanship guy just up the road. He has some really good reviews so ive contacted him. He's going to visit next weekend to see if he can help.

Maybe I can do it myself with a some help from outside. I don't have facilities so we'll gave to see how it goes.

@nagblagger I can give you the guys details if you like.
 
dorsetladette said:
Thanks everyone.

Had the farrier yesterday and recommended a natural horsemanship guy just up the road. He has some really good reviews so ive contacted him. He's going to visit next weekend to see if he can help.

Maybe I can do it myself with a some help from outside. I don't have facilities so we'll gave to see how it goes.

@nagblagger I can give you the guys details if you like.
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Would definitely be interested if he is any good. Thank you.
 
The natural horsemanship trainer came out to Reggie today.

He used a rope halter, long rope and a stick with a bag on the end of it.

At first Reg was a bit like 'what on earth are you doing, I get treats in rustly bags' so NHT had to get quite firm with him.

It's an interesting way of doing things. You almost need to get in Reggies way in order to teach him to give you space. But by the end of the session both me and OH could lunge on both reins. Its a very differnet way of doing things and my coordination really needs work. We've got some homework to do with Reggie in the next few weeks. It's given OH some confidence which he hasn't had since he was hurt.

The NHT even had Reggie pop a little jump before he left. He's got quite a nice natural shape too! I think we'll have him back as we progress, especially if we get any sticky spots.

I'd recommend something similar for anyone struggling with bolshy youngsters.
 
dorsetladette said:
The natural horsemanship trainer came out to Reggie today.

He used a rope halter, long rope and a stick with a bag on the end of it.

At first Reg was a bit like 'what on earth are you doing, I get treats in rustly bags' so NHT had to get quite firm with him.

It's an interesting way of doing things. You almost need to get in Reggies way in order to teach him to give you space. But by the end of the session both me and OH could lunge on both reins. Its a very differnet way of doing things and my coordination really needs work. We've got some homework to do with Reggie in the next few weeks. It's given OH some confidence which he hasn't had since he was hurt.

The NHT even had Reggie pop a little jump before he left. He's got quite a nice natural shape too! I think we'll have him back as we progress, especially if we get any sticky spots.

I'd recommend something similar for anyone struggling with bolshy youngsters.
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Who did you have out?
 
Reggie update!

He's doing really well and holding weight nicely so far this winter.

I think he's growing into a nice sort just maybe a little behind where he should be for his age (rising 4, May foal).

He's continued to go out for rides in the lorry and isn't getting sweated up now so we're winning there I think. He loads and unloads like a pro now too.

He's happy wearing his saddle and has been practicing standing at the mounting block.

Reggie is happy to have a rider on board.

The plan now is for reggie to learn the very basics at home - left, right, stop, go and maybe a little bit a of trot work - in the next few weeks. Then he will spend a couple of weeks with a local professional with the aim of progressing his education further with more consistency than I can. Trying to time this with the lighter evenings so he can come home and hit the ground running with me. I think this is a happy compromise for us.

Hopefully we'll get to a couple of flat work clinics and arena hires later in the summer. I'm excited for the coming year with our ugly duckling. He's really starting to look like a proper horse now.
 

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Widgeon said:
I like him very much. I think (for what very little that is worth!) he's a nice shape. And a kind sensible nature is something money doesn't buy.
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Thank you.
Apart from the fact I thought he was a cut and shut for the first few months of ownership (ok 18months)I've always thought his hind legs are an odd shape. 🤔

Anyway he is a really lovely person and he moves beautifully. When he's prancing round the field playing I could watch him for hours. Such a time waster.
 
Learning to stand patiently for his turn.

He's working nicely with the freelancer on the lunge. Lots of nice transitions responding to the voice. Not at all fussed with me on board. We did a few strides of trot today with a rider onboard. And did a little bit learning some aids.

Freelancer wants to get him out on the road(he's pretty traffic proof) and iut hacking as soon as possible (with 2 of us) so he's getting a bit of a crash course now.

Homework for us before his next session is lots of walking out inhand with tack on.

We have a GP saddle coming as the dressage saddle is not 'leg forward' friendly.
 

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Another visit today from the freelancer. We did some ground work, got on and off a few times and some stopping and going( the important bits). Then out for a walk on the road with tack on. Back to the field and I hopped back on and we did so.e trotting on the lunge.

And I didn't die!!

Photo just because, me looking like a beetroot. X
 

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dorsetladette said:
Another visit today from the freelancer. We did some ground work, got on and off a few times and some stopping and going( the important bits). Then out for a walk on the road with tack on. Back to the field and I hopped back on and we did so.e trotting on the lunge.

And I didn't die!!

Photo just because, me looking like a beetroot. X
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Well done to all.He looks very chilled.
 
We've had several sessions with the freelancer and Reggie is making progress every time. He tries so hard - and it feels like he's enjoying every session. He's at the gate as soon as he see's us wanting to come in - he only comes in for a groom and work as we have a lot of grass in his current field, but he's always there with the same eager expression.

We're 'hacking' round the village with a man on the ground on a lunge line and myself on board. Slowly the controls are being moved from man on the ground to rider and Reggie is picking up things quickly as we add extra buttons.

How lucky am I that the freelancer is also a marathon runner/iron woman competitor too? She walks and runs miles round the village with me and Reggie and all the while chatting and giving instructions and advise. She is happy to remove the lungeline and let me go it alone now, but I still feel I need the security of the comfort blanket in open spaces for now. He's not fazed by traffic or anything as his home is on a main trunk road so he see's everything daily.

We have our first session in a proper arena this weekend. Arena hire round the corner at a local livery yard. first time he's been in this environment so it's another thing ticked off the list. Freelancer thinks we might get a few strides of canter on the lunge (with rider onboard) if he settles into the environment OK.

I'm really excited to see where our little pity purchase goes in the future. I expect zero from him but I'm starting to think he might turn out a little bit special.

ETA - compulsory photos. Sorry about the quality there from a video.
 

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nagblagger said:
Reggie met his first mule today, he was hiding behind the hedge as i was plodding down the road, we heard this enormous snort, Mildred just turned with her normal distain, and then Reggie followed us down the hedge line prancing. He looked so good.
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It's so good for him being in that field. He's getting to see so much more horsey traffic and other goings on. He had his first arena hire session today and said hello to your others on the way past.
 
Reggie had his first experience of a proper yard environment today. Lots going on and slight confusion with times but all good experience for reggie with lots of other horses around. The school has tracks either side from the yard to the fields so there were ponies moving around and walking past lots. He saw his own reflection which was sweet- he thinks he's very handsome! Did some lunging and longreining with him and then I hopped on for a quiet walk around. He did really well to concentrate on what was being asked even though he wanted to say hello to everyone and play. He really tries hard to please. So really positive session today. No photos today unfortunately.
 
Another Reggie update!

Freelancer had a sit on on saturday in the school. She instantly noticed the saddle wasn't sat straight. It's me not the saddle - I'm wonky, but a lot more wonky than I realised. I have a chiro appointment tomorrow to see what I need to do to straighten myself up. I've had hip/pelvis problems for a long time so it's not unexpected that I'm not sitting straight, I just didn't realise how bad it was.

Reggie was reluctant to go forwards with FL onboard so she didn't get a lot out of him, but it was nice to see someone else on board. The next people to hire the school started setting up jumps before we finished so Reg got to see some jump wings and poles which is new. All good experience for him.

Then yesterday he went to the pub! He loves going for a walk round the village but does think everyone should say hello to him. He saw his first pony pulling a cart, which was very exciting. But he settles quickly after any excitement.

FL has suggested she feels he could be a rig as he is so confident and is very interested in other horses. W do get a 5th leg on occasion too, but that doesn't coincide with excitable behavior. I've been around stallions and colts most of my life and I really couldn't see what she meant at first and dismissed it as him being a confident welsh cob. But the more we do with him the more I'm questioning the possibility. I mean his castration was a massacre so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that some tissue was left behind. I'm going to call the vet and price up a testosterone test.
 
dorsetladette said:
Another Reggie update!

Freelancer had a sit on on saturday in the school. She instantly noticed the saddle wasn't sat straight. It's me not the saddle - I'm wonky, but a lot more wonky than I realised. I have a chiro appointment tomorrow to see what I need to do to straighten myself up. I've had hip/pelvis problems for a long time so it's not unexpected that I'm not sitting straight, I just didn't realise how bad it was.

Reggie was reluctant to go forwards with FL onboard so she didn't get a lot out of him, but it was nice to see someone else on board. The next people to hire the school started setting up jumps before we finished so Reg got to see some jump wings and poles which is new. All good experience for him.

Then yesterday he went to the pub! He loves going for a walk round the village but does think everyone should say hello to him. He saw his first pony pulling a cart, which was very exciting. But he settles quickly after any excitement.

FL has suggested she feels he could be a rig as he is so confident and is very interested in other horses. W do get a 5th leg on occasion too, but that doesn't coincide with excitable behavior. I've been around stallions and colts most of my life and I really couldn't see what she meant at first and dismissed it as him being a confident welsh cob. But the more we do with him the more I'm questioning the possibility. I mean his castration was a massacre so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that some tissue was left behind. I'm going to call the vet and price up a testosterone test.
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Sometimes horses can be a false rig where they have no retained tissue but act riggy. They continue to display stallion behaviour even after a completely successful castration.

Or a true rig means they have retained testicular tissue and therefore they have too much hormones - testosterone.
 
Birker2020 said:
Sometimes horses can be a false rig where they have no retained tissue but act riggy. They continue to display stallion behaviour even after a completely successful castration.

Or a true rig means they have retained testicular tissue and therefore they have too much hormones - testosterone.
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Yep - so I think (if I'm not throwing a huge sum at it) the testosterone test would be useful to put a pin in it or not!
 
I sold a badly behaved obnoxious gelding to @TheresaW . She still has him so I conned her well!🤣
He covers mares in season and does it visually properly. 😳.
I can’t remember if T or I had him tested but I know he was in normal range.
 
Clodagh said:
I sold a badly behaved obnoxious gelding to @TheresaW . She still has him so I conned her well!🤣
He covers mares in season and does it visually properly. 😳.
I can’t remember if T or I had him tested but I know he was in normal range.
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We shared a field with a gelding who would 'perform' when the ladies were in season. A large dose of agnus castus did the trick for him. But he was polite to handle and fine when ridden.

I hope he's just excitable and the more he see's other horses the easier he will be.
 
re your wonkiness in the saddle. I suggest a lesson with your saddle on a simulator / mechanical horse. I thought either the saddle was wonky or I was. The lesson showed it was the pony. It was most interesting, informative and worthwhile.
If the wonkiness is you the instructor can see how to correct position and balance that would be so useful coupled with physio or chiro help
 
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