Bringing on a young horse

[EmmaJ]

Just wanting to know other peoples experiance's & progress and if you have ever bought on a young horse - if so how did you find it etc? As some may know i bought a 4yr old mare who's just turned 5 in March sometimes i feel & get frustrated with her & i know it take time as i've been told many times by my instructor also. Some days she works really well & others its just like im back to square one with her. Would be nice to see if other's feel this way too?

 

[badgerdog]

I've had my very green 4 year old nearly 5 horse for 7 weeks now and I feel a bit like you. Some days he's an absolute dream and others a nightmare. My friend told me I shouldn't put myself under so much pressure, some days he might not be feeling like it, his muscles may be aching after an increase in work etc. I get frustrated but I'm trying not to put a timescale on things. If he's feeling tense I'll just go for a long relaxing hack instead of schooling him. Like me you haven't had your horse long so you're still getting to know each other and like any relationship it takes time to build up trust and respect. It will gradually get better. People who I only see once every few weeks have said how much he has improved but I can't really tell that much because it's so gradual, but their comments have made me realise that yes, he is better than he was! Hopefully you will be getting feedback like this from your instructor.
Let me know how you are getting on but don't get disheartened, you've just got a new horse! Enjoy getting to know her and don't put too much pressure on yourself and never forget it's supposed to be fun!

 

[helenhorse]

i know how you feel, we do it for a living...produce/buy younsgters and then bring on and sell when they are at their peek...i is hard work but so rewarding..literally lol! I know sometimes you'l feel ht hyart taking into account what they have learnt in previous rides etc but they are only youngsters, what helps me when i get frustrated when schooling is always remember..dont get frustrated by the mistake, just concentrate on correcting it. No younsger or horse for that matter will do something delibaratly naughty,make sure you give the right aids and if they are still confused dont get mad, just in a way, explain it more clear to them for example jumping. If they dont understand that you want them to go forward over it. Put it on the floor and walk over it, always try different ways of asking and never 'nag' over and over once they do it right reward and move onto something else for the time being!
It is hard work as i have discovered but it is rewarding, and if you feel frustrated think how they must feel if they are making mistakes. Just quietly correct them

 

[EmmaJ]

Thank you its nice to hear how others are doing! How much do you do with him sometimes i dont know if im doing too much although i tend to vary what i do with her so she dont get to bored. I've got her June last year she had done pratically nothing before that so i know in time it will pay off. I was thinking about getting a "pro" to school her but thats what i got a young horse for - To do it my way! I feel guily at times too cos i lost my horse about 3 weeks before i got her & sometimes think i may have got her too soon as haven't quite go over the loss of him, not sure if thats why i feel ike i do with her at times????

 

[nic_]

i got my first pony when i was 8 and he was 3

lol
bless him, weve grown up together and hes amazing now

weve had so many tears and me just wanting to give up and sell him but now
hes safe enough for little children to ride in their lessons

i have another 4 year old who turns 5 next month

he tries his heart out, and alot of people say i push himt too far but he loves his work so im happy

i get really frustrated with him and its horrible but weve worked through everything,
i love buying ponies that our babies and you can work on yourself

 

[badgerdog]

I've only had him 7 weeks and before that he'd been turned away for winter since last september. He was totally unfit so most of the time I've just been hacking him out to fitten him up and to try and get him to walk straight (instead of snaking along the road!) I've had a few lessons but I haven't put them into practice much because I don't have an arena at home, I have to school in a field and it's been too wet. I probably ride him for an hour, 5 days a week. In my lessons I've been walking, trotting in an outline, doing lots of turns (he's quite hard to steer and he's 17hh!) and we've popped over a few cross poles. I've done a little canter but he's so unbalanced we've been concentrating mostly on trotting. My first outing is to a mini cross country schooling day at the end of the month which is a five minute hack away. I just want him to have a look at the jumps (they start at 1 foot so I'll not be overfacing him!) and see if he'll have a go. I think it's a nice low key thing to start off with. Good luck with your mare and enjoy the good days!

 

[pocket]

You will find that you will have good days and bad, sometimes you will think 'what have i done?' Its a matter of taking the rough with the smooth.

I would suggest that you get a good trainer as they can help you through these phases and advise you. Do not be afraid to ask advise or for help as there is always someone who has been throught the same experience.

Do not rush things and take your time, I'm a great believer in taking my time.

I took Ralph on when he was 4 and he is now coming up 11 and we have taken our time........and its been great fun and well worth the wait

 

[magic104]

helenhorse - How refreshing to read some very intelligent comments. I think one of the worse things people can do with a youngster is go over & over the same thing as there is no reward for the horse in that. This is especially true with jumping. Yes they learn by repetitive actions, but little & often is far better.

 

[Nosey]

I have brought on a few and my current one has been the most challenging...but also the most talented and rewarding for most of the time!
I kept a diary this time at a period when I thought I wasn't making any progress. It gave me confidence to look back and to see we were clearly improving. The learning curve is never a nice even upward curve..it has peaks and troughs at times!!

Keep it varied never make big issues over things. Sometimes mine has had complete mental blocks - we have left it gone on to something else then come back to original point and hey penny drops!! Good luck sounds like you are working along the right lines!