Backing 3/4yr olds

Things were going well, I was mounting normally we had walk halt and steering was improving. Unfortunately an incident, 100% not his fault - he jumped saddle alipped a bit scared him so he jumped more - has left me off games for 8 weeks and highlighted that we don't have the facilities needed to bring him on safely, for me or him. So looking at sending him away for a few weeks post Christmas.

Any recommendations for a quiet professional, with a good arena, who is willing to work with a nervous horse who needs his confidence building not bullying into line. SW area, ideally Glos - Wilts.

Have appointment with saddler to check saddle fit and discuss options to avoid future slipping.
 
@YourValentine I'd recommend Vittoria Panizzon if she has space.
Very horse-centric, lots of empathy and I've never seen a yard of more confident, forward thinking horses.
I wish I'd sent giant ginger there tbh but I wanted him closer to home so I could visit him weekly- in hindsight, he'd have been better there which is a little further but I trust Vittoria implicitly.
She has had 2 of mine previously, the first was incredibly tricky and had 'failed' at 2 previous pro yards and been sent home in disgrace. Vittoria got him going so well and confidently in very little time- not with any force but by convincing him it was all good fun and lots of praise.
 
YourValentine said:
Things were going well, I was mounting normally we had walk halt and steering was improving. Unfortunately an incident, 100% not his fault - he jumped saddle alipped a bit scared him so he jumped more - has left me off games for 8 weeks and highlighted that we don't have the facilities needed to bring him on safely, for me or him. So looking at sending him away for a few weeks post Christmas.

Any recommendations for a quiet professional, with a good arena, who is willing to work with a nervous horse who needs his confidence building not bullying into line. SW area, ideally Glos - Wilts.

Have appointment with saddler to check saddle fit and discuss options to avoid future slipping.
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What a pain , hope you feel better soon .
 
Good day today with the boys.

Small pony has mastered the canter transition 😍
We did some cantering earlier this week and I was surprised by a few fly bucks in the transitions! It felt like he couldn't work out how to get into canter, rather than being naughty, so I didn't tell him off but we did quite a few to practice.
He's then had 3 days off and we had a look today and he did 2 perfect strike offs so had a pat and we finished.
He has a little arena hire planned for Sunday.

And, finally back on the giant ginger! £5500 later, with a terrible infection and wind operation, then a field kick, he has had about 3 months off.
I just walked up and down the drive, tomorrow we will venture around the village.
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Oh @Asha , they just love a curve ball, hopefully they don't come back. I had 5 or 6 treated on my (at the time) rising 5 year old, and they haven't come back.

Willow is still on barn rest, husband trotted her up yesterday for me and she looks 1-2/10ths lame, now on no pain relief. Stubborn swelling around the fetlock still, so chat with the vet tomorrow I think about what we do from here.

And we are BATTLING pastern dermatitis on her white leg, I am literally chasing it around, one bit clears up and then spreads to an area next to it 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
 
YourValentine said:
Things were going well, I was mounting normally we had walk halt and steering was improving. Unfortunately an incident, 100% not his fault - he jumped saddle alipped a bit scared him so he jumped more - has left me off games for 8 weeks and highlighted that we don't have the facilities needed to bring him on safely, for me or him. So looking at sending him away for a few weeks post Christmas.

Any recommendations for a quiet professional, with a good arena, who is willing to work with a nervous horse who needs his confidence building not bullying into line. SW area, ideally Glos - Wilts.

Have appointment with saddler to check saddle fit and discuss options to avoid future slipping.
Click to expand...

Mines been away under similar circumstances but yorkshire so probably too far for you but can highly recommend. Pm me if younlike
 
Small pony went on his arena hire this morning. Loaded perfectly, travelled well and was very good to tack up when we arrived.

I'm now that knob who turns up with a halter and long line to run a few groundwork exercises before getting on 😅
All non-eventful and then had a lovely relaxed ride. No looking or spooking at any of the jumps, fillers or advertising boards. Practised our canters too, that is still very new but he will show his best Welsh cob ENORMOUS trot instead if he's not ready/sure 🤣
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Giant ginger went around the village yesterday and, although nothing went wrong, he felt pretty unsure and didn't really seem to relax or gain confidence the further we went.
So today we went back out but this time took my older horse as a nanny and giant ginger thought that was much better!
Even in front, he was definitely more confident knowing my other horse was behind him
So, as I only have 3 weeks until my op, I'll probably just keep him hacking with a nanny so I can then turn him away on a few weeks of good experiences.
 
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