Advice and Opinions pretty please?

Bri

Bri

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As some of you might remember from other posts I was trying to find a loan home for my horse as I felt I didn't have the time for her whilst back at uni.
Had some truly awful people view her, which lead to YO offering to keep my horse at the yard on livery but not charge us any extra as he'd hate to see her ruined.
Thing is, my YO is very competition orientated and has suggested he'll have someone ride my horse and keep her fighting fit and continue her education. This wouldn't be a problem, except my YO and I have very differing views on how much a 4 yr old should be doing and I'm worried he'll push her too much - especially with jumping.
It's quite likely I'm just being a bit possesive and silly about it all - but I think I'd prefer it if my horse was just kept ticking over with light hacking or whatever.
What would you do if you were in this situation? Am I just being foolish for not taking advantage of the situation? Is it going to do her more harm than good to do very little for the next year or so? YO has suggested that it would be taking a huge step back in her education and would be a waste of time?
 
Turn her away. If she is for keeps and you are not wanting to sell her in the near future, I would turf her out and leave her. In reality with holidays etc you will be able to continue her education with handling/long reining etc. Are you in final year?
 
She's definitely a keeper. My YO is very ambitious and wants her out competing, but to be honest I'm in no rush and would much prefer to be the one bringing her on and doing her first competitions with her.
In my 2nd year, but finish uni in March so she would only be out for 6 months ish.
Was just worried that I'd be perhaps hindering her if she wasn't doing it from an early age- but I guess if she has potential it's not gonna disappear whether she starts competing at 5 or 7 is it?
 
Nope, you will have a nice big summer holiday anyway, where you can continue her education etc. Unless you can find someone you really trust, dont do it. A completely green 6/7yo will be easier than a ruined one that needs to get confidence up again.
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B_G...my horse needs 6 + months off with injury (see vets lounge) if you want someone nice to go for baby hacks etc and who loves skewbald mares just PM me. Honestly.
 
She's only been broken since xmas - and I don't think it would suit her to be honest! Her staying at my current yard is the ideal solution, just was concerned about whether putting her education off for another year or so would be the wrong thing to do!
 
Thanks very much for the offer Prittstick, really kind of you. Have got someone from here coming to see her tomorrow hopefully, who would be riding her once or twice a week. If that doesn't work out, I'll let you know!
 
I'd be very careful who you give her to, especially at that age. I find with younger horses, and with fussy ones like O, different people riding them get them upset and they start going backwards progress wise. I think as Kat says turning her away might be a good idea. Yes you will have some making up to do when you get round to her again but at least you can give her the education you want her to have, not your YO. x
 
I'm not loaning her out. I know my YO would be likely to do too much with her, hence why I was asking if it would be a problem for her not to do anything.
 
Do you want my opinion?
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Four is still awfully young. I am not a fan of the four-year-old jumper classes at all - very few horses at that age, in my opinion, can support the level of training required without long term implications. Although I see why commercial breeders and producers are often in favour of such classes, I do not think they are the best choice for most people with "forever" horses. I had a discussion about this with a German producer a few years back, about "trading" short term for long term, and he basically said, "Why would I want horses to last? That doesn't help my business long term." Um, okay. Also, those classes are "attrition" based, which means the prodigies will rise to the top and the others will fall by the wayside. They are numbers games and simply do not allow for a horse with a slower course or even a horse who has not been pushed. The common feeling is they aren't even a good indicator of success, they are a plan for marketing bloodlines/stallions and selling youngstock.

I do feel, from experience and from investigation, that there are "windows" for learning, just in the same way there are for people. Kids learn some things more easily than adults because their brains and bodies are more "plastic" - this has a biological basis. So teaching a horse at 8 is not the same as teaching a horse at 4. Not doing anything with young horses is not the answer either, especially if there are long term competative goals. Of course there is a balance and everyone has to walk their own line. A great deal of the decision making process has to be "feel" based and involves listening to the individual not just following the "rules".

And you have to factor in your own tolerance. If competative success is hte primarly goal, other things may have to be risked. If longevity is the prime concern, a different plan is possible but it might not be the BEST plan if the horse will be asked to be competative in the future because it won't be properly prepared.

Complicated. And, alas, no easy answer. So you take into account all the information, examine your goals, realistically appraise your situation . . .and then go with your gut.
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Its a very young horse, and personally I'd be more inclined to turn away for the time you're at uni, I think it's more important that they have time to be babies than be pushed into doing things too young, and her first experiences of things should be with you
 
I wouldn't hesitate to keep her - but not have anyone else ride her.

I know plenty of kids at Uni with horses, and they all manage really well. The horses are ridden on weekends, and holidays - and none of them suffer.
 
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