Alternatives to long lining??

[1alex1moose]

I have just taken on helping with two horses because their owner is (after a series of unusual circumstances) non-horsy and stuck with them.

One is a 4yo ex-race trained TB, the other is a 7yo ex-polo pony (apparently). Both approx 15.2.

They are both very unfit - to a point where they certainly cant be ridden until a lot of fittening work is done.

Both are rather backwards thinking and have both been known to stand up. I'm going to start with walking in hand and then some long-lining... worried lunging will be too much, certainly to start with.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for what to do with them? The owner wants them sold so I'm afraid I'm not really out for the whole happy horsemanship make friends with them effort.

Reading this back I think i may have lost the plot agreeing to help with them at all.... oh dear....

 

[lilpinkso]

are you getting paid for doing this??!

if your hearts not in it, i don't think you should take the job on at all really...

 

[1alex1moose]

Heart is in it as ponies are lovely and I feel very sorry for them at the moment!
no not getting paid... just want them to go to a home where they get someone to love them and do things with them and someone who has time for them.
poor current owner has no time and no money and no horse experience!

 

[lilpinkso]

i'd suggest loose schooling, then ground work... but i have been trained by a whisperer, so no surprise there!

if you're going to do the best for them i can't think of advice that doesn't involve any 'make friends with them effort' to some extent.

what part of the world are they in?

have you got any pics.. we like pics

 

[1alex1moose]

will get you some pics tomorrow provided the owner doesnt mind

they're really cute but they look like a right pair of rejects at the moment.... all bones with grass bellies. One fluffy one not fluffy... bless em... if i had the money i'd buy them tomorrow!

I'm in the Channel Islands, so not very easy to sell horses here either!

 

[mavandkaz]

ooohhh, which one are you from? i'm originally from guernsey.

 

[debradley]

I'd use a good amount of hill work in walk to start - really gets them using their backs and lifting their abs.