Fun Rides with Young Horse!

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Milly Moo

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Hi

I have done a few fun rides quite a few years ago but I am hoping to take my 5 yr on her first fun ride on Sunday - Cotswold Farm Park Fun Ride. I have not taken her out but she did show in hand as a baby before she was broken (with her previous owners) so I think she should be used to going out in the trailers etc, and she has travelled ok before.

Riding wise, she is normally pretty good and has been out riding around the farmer's fields including alongside roads and even pretty close to the edge of the motorway and has been on the road once or twice. She can get a little excited (normally in canter) but I am hoping she will chill out as the ride goes on. I think staying in walk and trot will also keep her calm.

My only fear is lots of people bombing past me at top speed and upsetting Milly. I thought about starting the ride towards the end of the start times to avoid big crowds etc but I was wondering about also putting a green ribbon in her tail. Is this a bit 'old school'? Would it make people take a bit more care around her? What are peoples thoughts??

Thanks for any advice - I am desperate to get her out and going to competitions and I know i need to start somewhere!!

Laura
 
Hi,

We started taking Mr P and a friends youngster out on fun rides this summer.

Cotswold Farm Park is a brilliant one (there is a Fjord about halfway round so take wellies if your beastie isnt so great with water).

I would also suggest taking a snack and a drink as there arent refreshments on the course.

Rather than a green ribbon I would put a red one in, people tend to take a little more notice is they think them and theirs could be in danger rather than just yourself.

We try to set off late/ last horse as the ride was much clearer and prevents anyone who is in a rush going past!!

Have fun!!! and post an update and piccies with how you get on
 
Would take my little one right at the end of the day, would go the long way round everything so you dont get caught up in pileups (like, stick to the verges of tracks etc), and then I would probably just let her go! Wouldn't pull or try to manage behaviour too much.
 
I took my very babyish 6 yr old (my fault not hers, lack of time to get her out and about!) to miserden fun ride in April. I was expecting the worst as she hates horses she doesn't know coming up behind her, so I stuck her behind her nanny horse and kept an ear open for other horses. When we heard them we pulled over to one side, let her look and everyone except 1 person walked past calmly, asked if they were ok to pass, and did so at walk! I was hugely grateful to all of these people who were hugely polite!

The 1 person that did bomb past us got a massive telling off from her 2 friends she was riding with, looked very sheepish, turned her horse around, walked back to us and apologised profusely! I forgot to take a green ribbon but I had intended too! Most people get the hint your horse is young/nervous/inexperienced if you pull to one side to let them past!

Hope this helps x
 
Hello,

On some fun rides they have people that test the run first - you could look into that. I haven't got a youngster but everyone at my yard aim to be one of the first out rather than wait till the end.

I would take a nanny type horse with you from your yard to help get her grounded.

I haven't ever had a problem with people bombing past, but people infront do try to create space between you both and have been known to canter off whilst we are still in view - much to the excitement of my horse!

Not too sure about the green ribbon - I wanted to write on my hi-viz vest that my horse isn't too brave but was told that it could effect my insurance cover should anything happen as apparently you are admitting a fault?

I am sure you will both have fun!
 
I'm currently sulking cos my git of a brother has pulled out of doing the CFP ride this Sunday which means I can't go :( Apparently we have to go up the gallops instead - fun but not the same. Anyhoo.... other than a whinge my reply should be...

We were planning on taking 2 TBs one 5 one 4 yo. The 5yo has hunted and P2P last spring, the 4yo is hopefully racing this winter but hasn't done anything yet. They both went round the fun ride at Twigworth the other week, sensibly. There were a few people that hooned but usually at a distance or across the field and as you/they came past checked we were ok for them to come past and we did the same when passing other people. I think most people are pretty considerate (Twigworth was busy so you had to be!) Probably worth putting a ribbon in - people pay more attention to a red one in my experience - and worth taking a "nanny" if you can.
 
Hi there,

I have a 6yr old cob who i have had since he was 5 months old, these fun rides are what we wanna do but he goes madd if a horse goes past at speed he will buck and throw a big wobbler so I agree maybe asking to be the last lot of horses to go will be a massive help and also you can relax and enjoy it, I know exactly how you feel and it is a worry but just make sure you think your youngster is ready and enjoy the day x
 
Thanks for all your advice!! it is making me feel sooo much better! I think going later on will be the best advice and just let everyone come on past me. As long as everyone treats me like I would treat them then i should be fine!

I am going with someone who just likes to plod and their horse will be a total nanny for milly, and she is totally bombproof!! So really I am not going to get a better time to take her out and as with everything I think it is just me who thinks about all the issues rather than just being brave and getting on with it. Milly is a brave inquisitive youngster who will check out everything, she is just really green about new things. Its my fault as i had a major ski accident that took me out of riding for a year so she is rising 6 and low mileage.

I hope that as it all new she will stick to her nanny horse like glue and will be relatively unfazed by everything else. I also hope that as she will be pooped at least half way round that she will be too knackered to play up! She has only done major rodeo stuff when I tried to teach her to gallop in the fields, a steady canter she was fine but try and put it into fifth gear and she gets far to excited! So i think sticking to walk and trot and maybe a canter towards the end!

Do you think it will be ok for me to quickly trot her round on the lunge before i get on, providing i can find space? I am talking a few mins just to let her settle a bit?
 
I take our pointers out on fun rides as fitness rides, there is a good one our way round an eight mile route with xc course jumps all the way round it, we go out first of the day as we canter the entire ride.

We do slow down and walk past others if they so happened to have started earlier than us.

My youngster will be going out next year and i'll go in the middle of the times, she needs to get used to people coming past and cantering off etc...... good for her, to learn that she isn't to mess around. but only do this if you are confident you can handle your horse if it does mess around. :D
 
One of the best bits of advice I was given when in the same situation is to trot on, don't dawdle or stop when people come past you as that way your horse is thinking forwards, isn't being restrained which is when it's more likely it will bronc. Agree about the red ribbon too.

NP, you're just being an old grouch; it doesn't become you!
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Took my four yearold last week to one his first and mine haha trailered there and back i had all your worries and he was exceptional beyond relief one buck <another in front did as well > so pleased with him, i realised we both should have been fitter than we were though !He kept up with the fitter competiotion ones as well and pulled up and went when i asked i went to the loo about fifty times before hand though haha good luck im sure youll be fine x
 
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