Backing 3/4yr olds

Took Storm to meet the pigs today. After Brenin's melt down last week, I wanted to make sure he hadn't picked up on Brenin's "pigs are the spawn of the devil" philosophy.

I took him in hand as, for the moment, I have more control on the ground and he can use me for reassurance.

We walked across the fields and came out on the road right by the smallholding, and then I just let him stand and look at them. He jumped a bit when they came squealing up to the fence (understandably) but then he wanted to go have a closer look. He was happy to stick his nose up to the fence and have a good sniff.

We wandered home up the lane for a change of scenery, met hardly any traffic, and had a lovely stroll in the sun.

It's his 4th birthday today so I bought him a swede 😁

Win win today!
 
We had first explosions today, I think not actually AT the saddle but more dramatic because he had one on.
A little jink and buck turned into some pretty high leaping and dramatics.
However, it only lasted 10 seconds or so. He wasn't trying to pull away and stayed with me. Once he'd done another circle of walk and realised he didn't die, I then got lovely forwardness instantly when I asked for another trot.

So actually pretty pleased it happened and with the outcome. His initial reaction is usually dramatic, as he's big and athletic, but I was happy he thought about it and moved on easily.
I actually need to seek out these sort of things, so he can have a little push outside the comfort zone, he learns he can cope and I learn more about him.

Rinse and repeat tomorrow!
 
Ambers Echo said:
4 1/2 hours, tonnes of elbow grease, a load of products later..... and my 2 horses still look scruffy :D

I can't turn out well to save my life. Still it's all good experience!
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I was out with the microcob today and she's as clean as I can do - still looked like I'd dragged her out of the field compared to the others there! One grey cob was so white he looked like he'd been soaked in vanish.

Have fun tomorrow!
 
Well they nailed the ‘spending 7 hours tied to a lorry’ part of eventing. They were as good as gold all day. Loaded well, travelled well. Loads of firsts ticked off: first bath, first time plaited, first trip with other horses on the lorry or trailer, first ring experience, first experience of standing tied anywhere but at home, and for any length of time.

Felix wasn’t prepared to wait for his own bucket of water!

Myka was very spooky in her first class 1, though to be fair a working hunter class was in the next ring and a rider clattered a fence as we walked past it. Felix didn’t manage trot in his first class. It belatedly occurred to me that I’ve never trotted him in hand!

But Myka was calmer in class 2 and Felix trotted find in his 2nd class. Both improved through the day. Mission accomplished !

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Typically Myka's legs were clean when we set off. I was not prepared to put boots on her as she's never worn them before, and they got a bit mucky travelling. But not overly bothered by that. Myka did some fab floaty trot. I am hoping the photographer there got some nice pics.
 
Ambers Echo said:
Typically Myka's legs were clean when we set off. I was not prepared to put boots on her as she's never worn them before, and they got a bit mucky travelling. But not overly bothered by that. Myka did some fab floaty trot. I am hoping the photographer there got some nice pics.
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Both plaited too - well done!

Good first outing by the sounds of it.
 
We’ve kept Amara out of the school and just concentrated on hacking . Today we popped her in the arena for the first time and did her first trot and even over a trotting pole . This is the best photo I could get as the rest is very wobbly unbalanced . But she was good as gold . IMG_9545.jpeg
 
We're hiring a school Sunday for our first time off the lunge line. Reggie hasn't really done much wrong, but I've had the wobbles a couple times. Freelancer has suggested we should give canter a go while we're there 😱. Brave pants are being thoroughly tested.

Bless him he tries so hard and is very tired after every session with the freelancer. You can see the cogs turning while he tries so hard to learn everything. Then he turns to Freelancer to ask 'did I do good' he's a real people pleaser.
 
Got a pic today of my 4yr old, first sit on, she is quite gangly and wafty so it's all being taken very slowly. Very proud of her.
Also I know it's the wrong thread but also a short video of my 5 yr old first solo hack out 1😍
 
My boy had a busy weekend. First trip to somerford farm ride on Sunday with 2 buddies. Good as gold. Had some good canter stretches through every water, splash along the river, walk up and down the steps. I didn’t jump but he wanted to. Had quite an effort steering away from the little jumps his buddies were doing. He is a bit sideways atm esp in canter.
Then Sunday large local arena hire for a trot and canter round. Good trotwork, but canter very difficult to keep straight, his shoulders are all over the place. Work in progress. He will have learnt a lot. He is pretty fit from lots of hilly hacking. Want to keep him fit now that the spring grass is here and he is a greedy pony.
 

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Nooooooo Felix!

A walker appeared at the yard saying there is a horse in the car park down the road 1/4 of a mile away. Yard owner's daughter and a livery ran down to find Felix! Somehow jumped out of his field (5 foot gate on a steep downhill slope onto a gravel track).

He was poking his head into cars. I am at Somerford with Myka so maybe he was looking for her! He is not alone in that field but Myka is his best pal.

"Hello have you got my friend in your boot?"

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Ambers Echo said:
Nooooooo Felix!

A walker appeared at the yard saying there is a horse in the car park down the road 1/4 of a mile away. Yard owner's daughter and a livery ran down to find Felix! Somehow jumped out of his field (5 foot gate on a steep downhill slope onto a gravel track).

He was poking his head into cars. I am at Somerford with Myka so maybe he was looking for her! He is not alone in that field but Myka is his best pal.

"Hello have you got my friend in your boot?"

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In that area I wonder how many people parking up to walk just thought there were feral horses on the Roaches like the (now extinct) wallabies 🤣 ?
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Ambers Echo said:
Nooooooo Felix!

A walker appeared at the yard saying there is a horse in the car park down the road 1/4 of a mile away. Yard owner's daughter and a livery ran down to find Felix! Somehow jumped out of his field (5 foot gate on a steep downhill slope onto a gravel track).

He was poking his head into cars. I am at Somerford with Myka so maybe he was looking for her! He is not alone in that field but Myka is his best pal.

"Hello have you got my friend in your boot?"

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I’d be super proud of his jumping ability. Should make a great hunter!!😆
 
Ambers Echo said:
Nooooooo Felix!

A walker appeared at the yard saying there is a horse in the car park down the road 1/4 of a mile away. Yard owner's daughter and a livery ran down to find Felix! Somehow jumped out of his field (5 foot gate on a steep downhill slope onto a gravel track).

He was poking his head into cars. I am at Somerford with Myka so maybe he was looking for her! He is not alone in that field but Myka is his best pal.

"Hello have you got my friend in your boot?"

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That made me laugh out loud!
 
My pony thinks he is the big man and all grown up! Ive been riding him a bit at the yard he is at to be broken in and they have done a fantastic job!

Hacked him (very brave!) and had a proper solo session in the school with him tonight.

They are taking him to his first low key comp soon and I will very much enjoy watching from the ground.

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Willow was officially 4 on Sunday. I totally forgot 🤦‍♀️

Picked her back up from a 2.5 week 'holiday' on Saturday. Glad she had some downtime, she came back eager and responsive. She's definitely grown about half an inch too. Farrier had given her a bit more of a tidy up/back too as we are gradually correcting her slightly long toes in front, and she was also due another worm as we are still battling her redworm infestation. Interestingly, she's looking a lot better posturerly following this.... can't help but feel her tummy hasn't been feeling amazing.

Last night we went back to car watching, we are blessed with a sort of triangle junction at the top of our lane where we can stand out of the way with lots of space. We then went for a walk up the quiet lane and back. Trying to build confidence and enjoyment for going out and about before I brave taking her out on the long lines. She has the chiropractor tomorrow for a once over.

Look at those ears!!! Disclaimer, not her bridle so not the best fit on the nose but super loose to accommodate.
 

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Amaras first attempt at canter in the arena this morning, i think its fair to say shes not sharp. We had lots of 'Tranter' . But managed a few strides on each rein. Her trot work has improved without a doubt. So now we will get back out hacking for a bit and try some canters in the field.
Its been interesting to see her reactions under saddle, not phased by a tap of whip / kick . A little scoot forwards if unbalanced /scared of something.
On the lunge a few shapes have been shown. Like when the gardener surprised her by cutting the grass right next to the arena with his hard hat and orange ear protectors on. We had a couple of loops of humps. But once she calmed down and went to see him she was ok.
Overall i think shes doing really well
 
Sounds great Asha. I am taking it slooooooooooooow.

Myka is still funny abut the saddle and every so often just says 'nooooooo'. After 10 weeks + under saddle I still have to tack up slowly, carefully, doing up the girth a mm at a time some days. Other days she can cope ok. It's always worse after a couple of days off so day 5 she is great, then 2 days off and day 1 of the next cycle of work we are back to 'OMG it;s A SADDLE'

I am beginning to ponder the pain rabbit hole but surely if a saddle being placed on your back was painful, a rider getting on would be too. She does not give two hoots about being hopped on bareback. And is fine to mount once the saddle is on. Has never reacted negatively to being mounted. Stands calmly and quietly.

And while she hates the girth too when combined with a saddle, she is ok girthed up with a roller.

And the reaction looks so much like fear.

And it all started that day when the saddle 'attacked' her wen the stirrip smacked her in the face. She went ftom zero issues to traumatised in a split second!

Urghh if only they could just tell you what they were struggling with.
 
Some trauma just sticks with them.

Hermosa was never worried about bridges untll on an in-hand walk (before she was backed), Mr. Caol Ila and I stupidly led her over a really slippy one. Fin had done the bridge in question in all conditions, but it was stupid to thing to think a non-feral youngster would have the same skills as him. I don't know what we were thinking. She almost decked it. She stayed upright, just about, but she's had doubts about wooden bridges ever since.

We can go over them, but not with as much confidence as I'd like.
 
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