Ahhhhhh stressful morning........

Halfpass

Halfpass

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Just been told that grazing is now on alternate days as fields are so wet. Geldings out today mares out tomorrow. I'm not bothered by this as I know we have had it really good so far with all the horses being out 24/7 until now.
As i'm sure you will all remember Aleeta has 'issues' with her stable and is just getting comfortable about being in it again, so on her part this is bad timing but it does give me the kick up the arse that I needed to start doing a bit more with her.
Although I handle her everyday for 1/2 - 1 hour and have started walking her out out I have been avoiding the school as this is another place she has 'issues' with. So this morning a friend and I (friend is experiences in IH) build a pen to do some join up in with the thought that we will put a rollar on and begin training her to long rein. ( she has had all the build up to this done already) She was a complete cowbag. Rearing, napping, galloping around school, charging towards us etc etc. We did though get 10mins of positive work at the end walking over poles just in hand not on the long line.
Anyway I have started to think that I may send her away for a couple of weeks. I have a bad back and all this covorting around really isn't helping it.
I have a guy called Jason Webb coming out to see her next week. He was recommended by another livery, I have just spoken to him and if he feels that he can work with her she is going to him straight after he has been to see her next Thursday. I am going up to see his place tomorrow here is the link to his website, what do you think and am I doing the right thing?
http://www.australianstockhorses.co.uk
 
She'll be 3 in June. Only got her in Nov pretty much unhandled. I just want to make sure I start her education the right way, don't want to end up with a ruined horse on my hands because I messed up!!!
 
She sounds quite wild LOL. Unfortutely the reduced turnout is only going to make the situation worse - so sending her away could well be a good solution.

But

Will she have turnout where she goes?
Will you be able to continue backing her when she comes home?
How will you resolve the lack of turnout ultimately?
 
Ok so when she comes back plan is to continue with the work he does. My asks from him were:-
To get her walking and trotting inhand (ready for showing)
Get her concentrating in the school and try to resolve the rearing
Begin long reining

Hopefully I can then take over from him at theis point and continue with the long reining taking out for walks etc etc and then begin to lightly lunge her at the end of the summer. I would then hope that she will go back to him novermber / december time to be started properly.
Does this sound feesable?
T/O wise if she goes to him I will find out tomorrow when I go visit him.
Back at home the turnout will get better once we get some dryer weather. The way I see it is if I can actually manage to work her on her days in going out every other day won't be such a problem. Just had a call from a friend and she is happily munching her swede and hay now so obviously not too bothered about being in!!
 
Oh I'm sure you're going along the right track - my concern would be about turnout ultimately. Although as you say with the drier weather this should improve.

If she were mine though, I wouldn't contemplate having her anywhere where there wasn't turnout all year round - it's just not good for their heads.

And something that was so unhandled until you got her - and has an issue with her stable - could be an accident waiting to happen (obviously only typing my thoughts out loud here, so nothing meant by it).

Is she a big girl??
 
An acciddent that has already happened. She jumped out the first day I got her and then had to be on a 5 day wormer!! Easy to see now why she has issues with it! It was a nightmare but she is doing better now. Have never had problems with turnout at this yad its just that the very wet weather has meant it had to be done. Luckily our fields drain pretty quick so hopefully if the rain holds off it may only be a week or two. If the place I am hoping to send her to does not have T/O I prob won't send her.

She is 16hh and still growing (quickly) so yeh she's not small
tongue.gif
 
I'd recommend Jase Webb every day of the week!
He's got a wonderful way with horses (more so than with people!) and I'd trust him with any of mine. His methods can offend some people, but I've never seen a horse come out anything other than perfect.
So...if you are going to send her anywhere, Risebridge is a great place. X
 
His place is GORGEOUS! Not so much the physical things, but the 'feel', it's just so relaxing.
My sister was lucky enough to spend some time there on work experience....working his Agrade polox ponies in the day, and having lessons on her own horse in the evening. How lucky was she?!
My mare might be going down to make friends with Diesel, though I haven't told Jason yet! x
 
Youngsters involve a lot of hard work and time if they are to be educated properly. I would suggest that a 3 year old needs at least 3 hours handling per day split up in at least 2 if not 3 sessions. At the very least they require daily turnouut.

Sending her away will kick start her training but you must be able to find more time to spend with her if you want to be able to have a well mannered and controllable horse one she returns.

Hard as it sounds if you do not have the time to dedicate to this task then you are better off buying a ready made horse.
 
Can recommend him no end, he is an extremely knowledgeable person, he know's his stuff and backed and broke in all our polo youngsters for us last year. Can only say good things about him he is a really nice guy and very good with horses. You cannot go wrong using him. Best of luck and let me know how your horse gets on.
 
Blimey - I've never done anything like that much. In fact I think less is more with youngsters and would generally not expect to do more than about 20 mins at a time and then only a few times a week.
 
Hmm really sorry but not sure that I agree with you there.
Have had previous experience with youngsters though not as young as my girl now is and yes I agree once you begin starting them the time you spend is paramount. She does get daily turnout its just this week while the ground is drying out. She did 1 hours work this morning and would definatly not have focused or benefitted with anymore. I will see her tonight for some handling grooming etc so another half hour and be turned out tomorrow. This I feel is fine for a young horse, somthing to keep her occupied on her days in and and some time to grow and mature on her days out. Again this is my opinion, maybe this is why it is not working for me though. Will take advice from Jason when I see him tomorrow 3 hours does seem an awful lot though especially when i'm not planning to back her till next year.
Obviously work commitments determine how much time I spend with her on some days. It difficult I know and your advice is very much appreciated.
 
Jason is really good, and I thought he was good with people as well as horses. I sent one of mine there to help with getting her hacking out, and my friend send her really difficult and spooky TB and he's a different horse.
You need to continue where he leaves off. He's very consistent in the way he handles them, and without being mean, he doesn't let them push him around at all. The horses learn useful things like learning to stand tied up for decent periods of time, and just general good manners.
I think this is a good move on your part, provided you can keep her doing something interesting and be consistent when she comes back.
In my experience you don't need to spend 3 hours a day at this age, it's the quality not the quantity. You can do a lot just when you're leading to and fro the field and on the yard.
 
Thanks for that tinypony. This is what my feelings are handling is quality not quantity. I seem to have got so far with her training and she leads well and really respects her handler in the too and from field scenario but in other situations she is rude and obnoxious. I have just got to the point where I realise I need some input from someone with a little bit more experience than me. Once over this hurdle i'm sure i will be able to carry on myself for a while until the next hurdle comes along. To me its important to realise when you need help rather than just battling on and making a hash of it.
 
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