Can I do it?

D

dallastheo1

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Some of you may have seen my last post about loosing my mare. ( sec D and only want another sec D!)I'm going viewing some young horses at a stud in a few weeks.
They are supposed to be amazing tempermeant wise, but unhandled . I've spoken to some and all have said they have been great. I'm a very experienced owner , my old mare being the most testing and crazy horse I've come across even when I used to be a groom on various types of yards! I've helped break horses in - doing the leaning over and so on but never done it myself. I've seen some of these young mares and think they would be perfect and would love getting to know each other and building that trust again. But I'm also really worried because I've not done a young horse before I might do things wrong, I wouldn't really want to send it away for breaking unless t was a great place as I want to be part of it but just wondered what you think , I'm a calm assertive person there's just these areas I worry about! Luckily there is lots of people I'm
Sure could help me but not on the same yard so won't be there a lot unless I pay them to come xx
 
Life is about worrying if we're ready.

Personally - no I would not take a youngster. Not only because I have broken my back - although that is an obvious excuse! - but even before that because I am too afraid that I don't know enough and I'm be scared of ruining them.

But actually - I don't think we ever know enough. If you think you can do it go for it. Everyone had to have a horse that was the first for them. You know enough to know that you don't know - if that makes sense - and to ask. Its the ones who don't seem to realise the challenges who scare me!
 
I had a similar conversation with a very experienced friend not so long ago - her reply was:

"It's like worrying you're a psychopath. If you're worried you might be a psychopath you're definitely not one as a psychopath wouldn't care if they were or not. If you worry you might ruin a young horse, you won't as you'll know your limitations and when to ask for help."

Find the right help and I'm sure you'll be great. Good luck!
 
none of us can say really, as we don't know you or your level of experience. But I agree, we all have to start somewhere... you WILL make mistakes (we all make mistakes ;) ) but horses are generous creatures and if you are careful you can generally sort things out :)

One thing I would say, is be prepared to get paid help in. Sometimes you need an experienced hand on the ground, and it's better to fork out for a good person to come and be reliable help than try and make do without.
 
annagain said:
I had a similar conversation with a very experienced friend not so long ago - her reply was:

"It's like worrying you're a psychopath. If you're worried you might be a psychopath you're definitely not one as a psychopath wouldn't care if they were or not. If you worry you might ruin a young horse, you won't as you'll know your limitations and when to ask for help."

Find the right help and I'm sure you'll be great. Good luck!
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This is brilliant lol. I am a worrier and usually everything is fine anyway . We would
Be fine. I just worry lol. Thank you 😊
 
milliepops said:
none of us can say really, as we don't know you or your level of experience. But I agree, we all have to start somewhere... you WILL make mistakes (we all make mistakes ;) ) but horses are generous creatures and if you are careful you can generally sort things out :)

One thing I would say, is be prepared to get paid help in. Sometimes you need an experienced hand on the ground, and it's better to fork out for a good person to come and be reliable help than try and make do without.
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Thanks - guess I just needed some positive vibes! I know I'll be totally fine just a new thing for me . I am very experienced just not in the field of teaching a baby! But I certainly wouldn't do anything major without help first then I'd carry on once I knew what's best. I think eventually I would be so glad I did it. I wished I had my old mare from a baby so I'm sure I'd feel the same way again. They are supposed to have great temperaments and easy to do, so we will see! I can't see it being a bad idea - I can get all the help I need and won't surely do anything critically wrong :) xx
 
Shay said:
Life is about worrying if we're ready.

Personally - no I would not take a youngster. Not only because I have broken my back - although that is an obvious excuse! - but even before that because I am too afraid that I don't know enough and I'm be scared of ruining them.

But actually - I don't think we ever know enough. If you think you can do it go for it. Everyone had to have a horse that was the first for them. You know enough to know that you don't know - if that makes sense - and to ask. Its the ones who don't seem to realise the challenges who scare me!
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Totally agree they scare me too! I can do it , I just worry about things always have lol. I guess we only learn through doing things, I would do all the handling myself and then as we come to bigger things I would get help or a shadow to show me the right way. I just want it to go well so I tend to worry about this and that even though when it comes to it there's never an issue! My mare I lost last year was older but no experience and I taught her lots, all the time in the world lots of pateience and reward! X
 
I backed 2 ponies 1.5 years ago now. I had re-backed a horse who had only been briefly ridden before 2 years off, then loaned to someone who mistreated her before I got her. Took 9 months of ground work as she was so nervous, but she did know basics like lunging from the past . 5 years on you would never know. Also my first horse is an ex-racer. He had a year off the. 3 months retraining with a pro before I had him and I had weekly lessons to help.

I decided I wanted to back a horse myself before I had children. Did it in the nick of time as for pregnant in the winter after the summer I backed them! Their owner did not have time for them so I took them on out of pity really (new forest mate and gelding). They had not been handled much at all for the past year before I got them, so took a few weeks just doing leading with headcollar, then got teeth done and introduced bit. Did some lunging, but they both took better to long lining. One day I just decided to gently get on board. They were both chilled out! From barely handled and bolshy to walking hacks on their own only took 3 months.

I think it depends a lot in the horse as well- mine have lovely temperaments and were keen to learn. We learnt together!

If you want I put in the work it is well worth it. I think often problems arise when people either think they know it all and won't except advise or alter things as all horses respond differently (e.g my mare was good at lunge work quite quickly, my gelding never really got the hang of it and was much happier long lining)
Or people who want to rush and achieve fast results, so don't give the horse enough time to mature and take it all in
 
pippixox said:
I backed 2 ponies 1.5 years ago now. I had re-backed a horse who had only been briefly ridden before 2 years off, then loaned to someone who mistreated her before I got her. Took 9 months of ground work as she was so nervous, but she did know basics like lunging from the past . 5 years on you would never know. Also my first horse is an ex-racer. He had a year off the. 3 months retraining with a pro before I had him and I had weekly lessons to help.

I decided I wanted to back a horse myself before I had children. Did it in the nick of time as for pregnant in the winter after the summer I backed them! Their owner did not have time for them so I took them on out of pity really (new forest mate and gelding). They had not been handled much at all for the past year before I got them, so took a few weeks just doing leading with headcollar, then got teeth done and introduced bit. Did some lunging, but they both took better to long lining. One day I just decided to gently get on board. They were both chilled out! From barely handled and bolshy to walking hacks on their own only took 3 months.

I think it depends a lot in the horse as well- mine have lovely temperaments and were keen to learn. We learnt together!

If you want I put in the work it is well worth it. I think often problems arise when people either think they know it all and won't except advise or alter things as all horses respond differently (e.g my mare was good at lunge work quite quickly, my gelding never really got the hang of it and was much happier long lining)
Or people who want to rush and achieve fast results, so don't give the horse enough time to mature and take it all in
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Aww they sound lovely. And these will
Be a blank canvas so hope they see me eventually as I am the one they trust. I will do everything I can to get them used to everything . I must admit nearly everyone round here seems to be on and jumping within 3 months 🙁🙄 I'm
In no rush at all. Would want everything right and that's the reason I worry!! I would enjoy getting them
Used to things. My mare even at 26 wasn't into lunging! Makes me feel better though when you say problems come with know it alls or rushing - as I'm deffo not a know it all, I want to learn it all instead lol!
Xx
 
dallastheo1 said:
I must admit nearly everyone round here seems to be on and jumping within 3 months ���� I'm
In no rush at all.
Xx
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I have steadfastly ignored all those around me who say "why aren't they doing this yet, why aren't you doing that". Take your time and enjoy every moment, it really doesn't matter how long it takes and I think you will get so much more from allowing things to happen when they are ready - I know I have. Listen to your pony and work it out together, they really do tell you when they are ready to learn and when they need a bit of time out as long as you are ready to hear it. I have loved every second of my ponies maturing, and know there are a lot more to come - why would I want to rush it just to get on their backs, that's not why I have them!
 
Have you got the friends / funds to get help if and when you need it? If not think carefully. If you have go for it! It's a slow process if done properly so if you're willing to take the time I don't see an issue.
 
calm, assertive and you want to, three very important signs you could do it.

its only really loads of prep, lots of effort, a plan of action, and take as long as the horse takes.
 
We all have to start somewhere! everyone that backs a horse will always have a first horse!

Just make sure you have someone good on the ground! someone with a good nanny horse that you can ride out with!

I always thought my mare was hard, I could deal with a young horse, if I could ride her! but young horses come with different areas that make them hard too! it wasn't until I moved my young horse to a yard with experienced people around me, that I started getting the best out of him! It meant that I had horses on two yards but it did him the world of good!! before he'd hack out alone but once I found a nice older well behaved experienced horse to ride out with, he really started to gain confidence from her! I started doing so much more with him, more than I could have imagined doing with him at his age!

Remember having too much confidence is never a good thing, at least if you're worried you will be willing to take advice from others, if you're too confident you might just do it your way and not realise that some times another way is going to work better!
 
Coarse you can! I have backed a couple of my own, one being a section D. You do need someone trustworthy on the ground to help. I spent months long lining, hand walking over scary things, grooming him above eye level etc.
My thoughts are if you send them away you will have to learn to ride your horse the way they have been taught which may be different to your way of riding/training. My section D was a very fast learner, which means he would of easily learnt bad habits as fast as good ones. We had no trouble at all backing him but he was left until he was 5 and I felt I knew him really well and had his trust.
It meant the world to me when we were pulled in first at a big county show (about 70 welsh c/d in the class!) thinking I had backed and produced him myself, I even cried!!.
 
Yes luckily I have funds and enough knowledgeable people to help me. I'm in no rush to get riding , I can't wait to start handling and getting to know them more than anything ! Xx
 
i found the handling etc was something i really enjoyed. i took my youngster to a few in hand shows when she was 2 and 3 , she got used to big lorries, horses trotting and cantering past and people and dogs and kids milling about and i think that really helped her to cope with things once she was under saddle...once you build trust on the ground backing should be easier. please make sure you have a helper when you do back....just pick a youngster that has a good calm temperament and not the sparky one!!!!! good luck and we need pics when you get him/.her.
 
splashgirl45 said:
i found the handling etc was something i really enjoyed. i took my youngster to a few in hand shows when she was 2 and 3 , she got used to big lorries, horses trotting and cantering past and people and dogs and kids milling about and i think that really helped her to cope with things once she was under saddle...once you build trust on the ground backing should be easier. please make sure you have a helper when you do back....just pick a youngster that has a good calm temperament and not the sparky one!!!!! good luck and we need pics when you get him/.her.
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Aww thanks . I would love to get them used to as much as is possible! I guess if they do react to things you just keep doing it until they find it the norm? Will see what happens when I go to the stud in a month :) xx
 
splashgirl45 said:
i found the handling etc was something i really enjoyed. i took my youngster to a few in hand shows when she was 2 and 3 , she got used to big lorries, horses trotting and cantering past and people and dogs and kids milling about and i think that really helped her to cope with things once she was under saddle...once you build trust on the ground backing should be easier. please make sure you have a helper when you do back....just pick a youngster that has a good calm temperament and not the sparky one!!!!! good luck and we need pics when you get him/.her.
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I agree, I enjoy the handling and groundwork so much I was almost sad when I started to ride because it left much of that behind. Still got one to work on though so not lost it all just yet!
 
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