Am I looking for the impossible?

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mrsh2010

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Wasn't sure which board to post this on but I know you lot will understand and be able to offer words of wisdom.

I have a just turned four year old mare. I've owned her since she was just short of 4 months old.

She is Welsh Section D x TB x Irish sports horse, but currently standing just short of 14hh, I know she's likely still got 3 years of growing to do. At the moment she is too small for me and I'm coming back from my knee surgery, so am over cautious at times. But I'm wanting to hold on to her and she's always had *something* about her, and if she doesn't grow big enough for me, my mum will take the ride, but she too is having surgery next month (we are a right pair!)

I had someone look at her for me earlier this year and we decided to hold off backing her as her knees and hocks were wobbly. But she's getting bored, she's really bright and quick.

She takes tack etc, she jumps the jumps in the field (loose schooling, she's never made to do it!), jumps the 4ft electric fencing and has lovely movements. I showed her successfully as a 1 and 2 year old. She didn't do a lot last year due to my surgery. Got walked out in hand and met sheep etc.

So the question is, am I looking for the possible by looking for someone to have her for a year (minimum) I'm ideally wanting her to go to a hunting, showing or eventing home, as she needs an experienced rider and she needs a job. I'm willing to send her away for backing if I have to, or let the rider do it.

Brownies all round for listening to me ramble on!
 
Bit tricky as someone will put the work in for you to take it back once it's established. Someone might fancy it, but getting someone good who also fancies it, isn't going to be very easy.
 
That's what I was thinking.

I just don't want to sell her, as my old boy who was ISH x TB, was 16.1 when I got him as a 5 year and grew to 17.2hh. So there is a big chance she will grow to 15.2 which will be perfect, but I hate seeing her wasting away.
 
Why not get her professionally backed and well ridden away and leave her another year to see what occurs. My 7yr olds both grew an inch at the end of last year so nothing is impossible!
 
Either do as FW suggests or you could also approach an equine college, they break youngsters as part of their course work and will ride them away afterwards. Otherwise, I imagine that anyone who would take her in the scenario you outline would not be knowledgeable enough, and could ruin her. If they were, then they would be charging for it. There's no way out of this that won't cost a fair bit I'm afraid.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/class...y-irish-horses
 
You might get lucky with an experienced rider whose horse has an injury/needs time off, who wants a project but doesn't have the money to pay for it.

I did this kind of thing when I was a teenager and had to share the old pony with my sister - owner paid horse's running costs but not for my work.
 
It could be worth asking a local yard if they have a working pupil & would they like to take the horse to back and bring on for a year or so?

Problem is you want her professionally backed and properly produced, which people will want paid for (and could be a lot!) so you could a yard that has full schooling livery & may be happy to back her.
 
I'd send her away to be professionally backed and then liaise with your local PC to see if they know of a competent teenage to ride her from yours.
 
FfionWinnie said:
Why not get her professionally backed and well ridden away and leave her another year to see what occurs. My 7yr olds both grew an inch at the end of last year so nothing is impossible!
Click to expand...

I would do this then in a year you can always send her back to the pro to start again ready for you and your mum to ride, I wouldn't bother loaning to someone for a year it could do more harm than good.
 
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