Am I wrong..??

My mare apparently has rare and valuable blood lines, but I'm pretty sure she's not desperate to pop out foals every year! She's a companion, too - oh the shame of it!

Oh and she's 13, barely backed (starting again, soon, but not exactly busting a gut) and hating every minute of walkies out, clicker training, lounging in the sun...
 
Poppy, who doesn't even have any discernible talent to be wasted:D, came to me at 5 having done very, very little had a brief spell as a possible dressage horse, we decided it wasn't for us.
Over the last year we have moved slowly ( her favourite speed :D) and now at 6, she is developing solo hacking and popped over the tiniest jump in the world this week.
She is perfectly happy, I am perfectly happy and that's all that matters
 
Sounds to me like you are doing the right thing. Slow and steady wins the race as they say! I have a very green 8 yr old and I am so tired if everyone telling me to do things with her i.e. jump her, take part in the yard dressage league with her etc. eh hello, she can barely walk a straight line in the school! There is nothing wrong with taking it slow and you will end up with a better horse rather than one who's training has been rushed and forced. Good luck :)
 
Do you know, there are loads of horses with potential being 'wasted' in loving private homes.They have a much nicer life than most competition horses and would much rather be where they are.
 
Thanks everybody for your input, you have all been super as usual :D
Dont get me wrong, I did buy him specifically to jump. Im under no illusions that we are going to be world class showjumpers or any crap like that lol and he will always be more talented thsn I am....I just want to let him "be a horse" as much as possible. He hacks out well on his own despite his reservations about buses and tractors but he trusts me and he has definately improved.
Im glad that most other people see things the same way as me...I have 3 year old too and I donitend to do anything with him til 4 (plus he has had a tricky past). I only want whats best for them. They live simply as I cant afford the luxury of a school/stables/electric etc but I am lucky enough that the live literally a 2 min walk from my house.
I feel he is ready to do slightly more which is why Im going to start flatwork lessons.
Thank you guys so much...I genuinely feel more relaxed now...!!!! :o
 
Id just laugh at them. Its proven that your horse will have a longer working life for going slow now. Well done for not been a sheep and just doing what everyone else does... keep doing whats best for your horse:)
 
I have the good fortune to own a simply stunning Sec A pony who drives like a dream. I am told over and over again that she should be shown and indeed I'm sure she would be extremely eyecatching in the show ring. But we're not going to do it because for one thing I simply don't have the financial resources to buy the enormous amount of expensive equipment I would need. More importantly driving her out for half an hour around our locality in her little homemade trap is what it's all about for me. I'm simply not interested in showing and I'm sure the pony couldn't care less either.
 
My mare told me yesterday that she's bored out of her mind in the field eating fresh grass and mooching about with her friends, and she'd far rather be doing dressage, eventing, jumping, hacking and hunting, and she's just being wasted as she's so talented, and instead of worrying about getting in the saddle I should just get on with it...

No, wait. It wasn't her telling me this, it was everyone on the yard who doesn't get confidence and fitness issues thinking they know what's best for me and my horse. The rescue horse that cost me less than the price of a decent bridle.

:rolleyes:
 
Just love all your stories of bored depressed horses praying you owners would start doing something with them lol like you lot i believe horses in general just love being horses :)
 
amymay said:
Tell whoever is saying this to you to bog off and mind their own blimmin business.
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Exactly - they are jealous, probably hoping to destroy your confidence in your horse and get you to sell cheap to them :eek:

Mia&Vin said:
Id just laugh at them. Its proven that your horse will have a longer working life for going slow now. Well done for not been a sheep and just doing what everyone else does... keep doing whats best for your horse:)
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Exactly - the slower you take it now the longer your horse will be fit and healthy for.


I have an 8 year old mare who has done very little due to being allowed to grow up, me having surgeries etc etc.
It has done her the world of good as over the last few years she has filled out and matured a lot so has done her a lot of good to go slowly and she's happy which is the most important thing.


Listen to yourself, take it nice and slowly and enjoy your horse for years to come while all of theirs are having expensive joint injections, lameness issues etc
 
It sounds like you are doing exactly the right thing. I have a 5 year old that I bought 6 months ago. Its taken us that long to get into a regular riding routine including hacking, lunging and schooling. He's in no rush (he'd rather be eating!) and neither am I. We are very much enjoying each other, building a bond and finding out about each other. He's my horse for life and I fully intend to be able to enjoy riding him when we're both old :D I don't want him broken or hurt by being pushed too hard as a youngster. I already worry about trotting too much on the road (hurting his joints), lunging too much (more pressure on the joints) my bad riding (confusing him) etc etc. But you know what? He loves me to bits, he has a sparkle in his eye, a shine to his coat and a spring in his step when I collect him from the field. What more can I ask for?
You're doing the right thing - enjoy your baby. Spend a day just hanging out with him in the field just telling him about all the things you might want to do as a team one day :)
 
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