Advice on freshly broken 4 year old!

[Ruth89]

I have just bought my first horse for riding (already own an elderly mare as a pet).

She is freshly broken and has very good manners under the saddle. There are two queries I'd like advice on.

1) my plan for the summer is to hack her out 5 times a week to build her experience with different sights and sounds. Is it ok to just do this for her first summer?
2) her only quirk so far is trying to run off and stomping when first mounted, someone else has to hold her. Any advice to overcome this?

Thank you for any suggestions ?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I am in no way qualified to give any advice on this, so I won't - but do you have someone experienced with young horses around that could help? I wonder if there's the potential for lots of these kinds of quirks/things to come up and having someone there might help keep things on track. Sorry if that's not much help, good luck with your new mare.

 

[tallyho!]

5 times a week ?! Wow such a lot IMO. But then you could alternate in-hand too... don't overface and don't bore in equal measure I would say but then I am only going on my experiences of young horses.

The running off and stomping can only be a confidence issue or possibly even pain - never overlook that part. Only ever had one horse go mental on mounting and it was the saddle!

p.s. in this fourth year I work the summer in no more than 30mins sessions (perfect the simple aids only like stops, turns, flexing and yielding) and turn away once the winter grounds are open in Oct. Bring back after easter.

 

[Ruth89]

I am in no way qualified to give any advice on this, so I won't - but do you have someone experienced with young horses around that could help? I wonder if there's the potential for lots of these kinds of quirks/things to come up and having someone there might help keep things on track. Sorry if that's not much help, good luck with your new mare.

Thanks your reply yes I do. The person I bought her from is very experienced with them and just lives about 5 mins from me. He has advised me to just keep mounting and dismounting a few times a day and she will learn nothing terrible is happening. Apart from this she is real pet with anything else and very placid. Looking forward to many years together

 

[Ruth89]

5 times a week ?! Wow such a lot IMO. But then you could alternate in-hand too... don't overface and don't bore in equal measure I would say but then I am only going on my experiences of young horses.

The running off and stomping can only be a confidence issue or possibly even pain - never overlook that part. Only ever had one horse go mental on mounting and it was the saddle!

p.s. in this fourth year I work the summer in no more than 30mins sessions (perfect the simple aids only like stops, turns, flexing and yielding) and turn away once the winter grounds are open in Oct. Bring back after easter.

Thank you for your advice! My plan was to take her out 5 times but not for a long period (30-40 mins). I also have a large flat field which will be great for practising the simple aids as you say above.

I'm going to ask the physio to come check her back to make sure its not a pain issue she is having.

 

[P.forpony]

I would think about swapping two days hacking a week for one lesson.
With an instructor who understands your youngster and what you’re hoping to achieve together.
This would be the best way to make sure her education stays on track without becoming too much or boring,
3 hacks and one lesson a week should be plenty to get you going.

 

[tallyho!]

Good idea on lesson but try not to find someone too competition oriented... been there!

 

[Ruth89]

Well...it has been a week and the running off and stomping has stopped when mounting. However...she has now taken issue with the bridle AND halter...

Its quite strange, she lets me pet all round her head, touch her ears she lowers her head if I put pressure near the poll. But if I try to put the halter on she giraffes the head and runs back. Bribery with treats is not working

 

[LaurenBay]

Ruth, have her teeth checked.

 

[Ruth89]

Ruth, have her teeth checked.

She had full check from the vet (including teeth) and there were no issues. I think she's might be just testing to see what she can get away with

 

[Inda]

My four year old mare was being difficult with her mouth. After a month the canines, full set upper and lower, finally started showing themselves. Still not broken the gum.

 

[Ruth89]

My four year old mare was being difficult with her mouth. After a month the canines, full set upper and lower, finally started showing themselves. Still not broken the gum.

Oh very interesting thank you! I will keep an eye on this incase it could be the same issue

 

[Starzaan]

I would have her teeth checked ASAP, and check bridle is fitted correctly.

I have to say I agree with the above that this is an awful lot of work for a 4 yr old. I would be turning away for a year and then starting again slowly next spring.

 

[Ruth89]

I would have her teeth checked ASAP, and check bridle is fitted correctly.

I have to say I agree with the above that this is an awful lot of work for a 4 yr old. I would be turning away for a year and then starting again slowly next spring.

Hi, as I have said above her teeth have been checked. Also has been professionally fitted for her tack.

 

[honetpot]

Young horses get tired very quickly and soon learn to say no, and that when the problem starts, and they develop ways of avoiding you. If you are not experienced you quickly 'lose' the situation. To find out if putting the bridle on is a straight forward evasion, get a headcollar with a noseband that undoes a cross the nose, with the head collar still on and the horse either tied upor held by someone else, put the bridle on. Then take the headcollar off, this is a trick I use with children, as the pony will often wander off.
30mins tops is enough with a young horse, its getting them used to new things with no buts, and not getting them too fit. A pro will have very different attitude, as they are producing something for sale, you want something that needs to be a companion for you. Hacking with another horse four times and perhaps the odd longer hack instead of a lesson.
After they are broken they often get their fifth leg, this is when they become more confident in their balance, before they have been constantly adjusting to your weight and that takes effort, so now they get extra space to find your gaps. So you always need to be one step ahead, spotting what to avoid and picking when its best to avoid an argument.
Young horses are lovely , you have to think for you and for them,and they can find your weakness quickly, you have to think I am going to put in twice the work, alot of which is mental, for half the fun, for a long time.

 

[Starzaan]

Hi, as I have said above her teeth have been checked. Also has been professionally fitted for her tack.

The thing with young horses is that they change all the time. When I have youngsters in for schooling their have teeth back and tack checked once a month to avoid any issues.

 

[Ruth89]

The thing with young horses is that they change all the time. When I have youngsters in for schooling their have teeth back and tack checked once a month to avoid any issues.

Vet (who does teeth) and saddler came to see her last week.

 

[Ruth89]

The person I bought her from came out this morn and showed me a trick they'd used... behaviour stopped in less than a minute!