Furthering Youngster's Education - without an onsite school??

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Esme2015

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Hi all

I would value the opinion of people who have had two year olds before and are experienced with very young horses.

I have my mare and her two year old daughter in a small private yard, just us and one other person. We have been there for a year and my OH and I have done a lot of work and spent quite a bit of money to improve it. My youngster has just started being taken for in-hand road walks, although not by myself as I am a little nervous at present - she is rather big, although moderately well-behaved. I use a school less than ten mins hack away for my mare, and was thinking of seeing if they had spaces for my two in Autumn/Winter of this year, purely because of my youngster. I absolutely love where I am now though, the girls are happy, they have lovely stables and we can do what we want without any interference, they can live out as much as they want. If I go to somewhere like the yard up the road, they will be on restricted turnout when the weather's bad, and I'm not sure I want that quite yet for my youngster. Plus my older mare gets very grumpy if she's in too much. It will also work out to be more expensive for me. The up side is that if I did go to the yard up the road, I love all the liveries and owners, the school is amazing - and I could get help when I needed it rather than having to ring someone up and arrange it. And sometimes, I do miss the company of a busy yard.

I have not had a youngster before, and I wondered whether it was possible to further her education without having a school - and when I'm confident enough, to take her and her mum up to the school for sessions - long reining, lunging, free schooling etc. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to move to a completely new location because where I am is very horsey friendly and there is a great little community, the hacking is second to none and it's easy for me from my house. Plus, good livery yards/sole use fields are incredibly hard to find in my vicinity.

Help!
 
Yes, of course it is possible. It is only recently that so many people have had access to an arena, especially one with an artificial surface. Far better, IMO, to retain your independence and stay where you are. You can use a corner of the field, just as easily as a school. Tbh it sounds as if you have the best of both world's atm,, with access to the facilities along the road, with someone available to help, without having busybodies offering unwanted 'advice' all the time.
 
There is plenty you can do when your youngster is ready to start proper work without having a school, long reining in your fields then when ready to tackle the roads longreining to the school to do a bit more and home again, free schooling is not essential, I never do it with youngsters, the only time I would say a school is best is when you very first get riding, more for your own confidence than anything else plus having people to help will be useful.
Obviously ground conditions need taking into account it may be tricky to keep her in much work the first winter but still no reason you couldn't hack or long rein to the school if you don't want to hack all the time, if she is only a two year old she needs another full year to mature before being in any form of work or having restricted turnout so I would wait at least 18 months before considering a move.
 
I'd stay where you are and just hire the arena up the road or else get lessons/book them for a help session there when needed. sounds like the ideal setup
 
be positive said:
There is plenty you can do when your youngster is ready to start proper work without having a school, long reining in your fields then when ready to tackle the roads longreining to the school to do a bit more and home again, free schooling is not essential, I never do it with youngsters, the only time I would say a school is best is when you very first get riding, more for your own confidence than anything else plus having people to help will be useful.
Obviously ground conditions need taking into account it may be tricky to keep her in much work the first winter but still no reason you couldn't hack or long rein to the school if you don't want to hack all the time, if she is only a two year old she needs another full year to mature before being in any form of work or having restricted turnout so I would wait at least 18 months before considering a move.
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Thank you all for your replies - they have been hugely helpful. They back up what I have been thinking. I want to feel settled somewhere for a bit longer and I do feel I am lucky to have the field (although I pay through the nose for what it is, but livery is a premium around our area). If I feel I need to, I can always see if they have space after she is backed, which I am not planning on doing till she is nearly 4, in late 2018, and she will be sent away locally for that anyway, plus I do have someone who will ride her on for me. I did think it was too early for a youngster to have restricted turnout (she isn't 3 till August) and actually unfair on her too, although she loves her stable as good things happen in it! We do have a flat bit of the field that I can use for long-reining too.

Really appreciate the advice.
 
I have a yard with limited ish facilities, with a well established ridden pony and a 20 month old.

There is nobody experienced really at the yard that I trust enough to advise me with handling/future ridden/breaking etc.

I also do not take the young one out in hand, as they are sharp and bouncy, and I do not feel it is safe for me or others on the road/farm to take them.

I'd love to move them to a local competition venue, so I had everything for my ridden pony on the doorstep and a busy atmosphere/on site shows for the young one to learn around. However turnout is limited at local competition centres.

I also feel that although I would probably love it, it is not the right thing for either of my horses. The young one needs to be out as much as possible, and the ridden pony loves to be turned out too. They are both very settled in their herds and the idea of disrupting them does not sit right with me.

I intend to send my 20 month old to be produced for in hand showing this year in order to gain experience and handling etc.
 
they are still so young- completely agree you may want more facilities when they are 4. however, there is no rush at the moment to over handle them.
I only have fields and hacking, and I backed 2 ponies aged 4. I initially rode them in a field but quickly moved to hacking as they were more naturally forward that way and weren't doing too many tight circles. I like having a place with only 2 other ladies, not livery yard.
It is only this time of year than i really miss a school to ride in
 
jaffa2311 said:
I have a yard with limited ish facilities, with a well established ridden pony and a 20 month old.

There is nobody experienced really at the yard that I trust enough to advise me with handling/future ridden/breaking etc.

I also do not take the young one out in hand, as they are sharp and bouncy, and I do not feel it is safe for me or others on the road/farm to take them.

I'd love to move them to a local competition venue, so I had everything for my ridden pony on the doorstep and a busy atmosphere/on site shows for the young one to learn around. However turnout is limited at local competition centres.

I also feel that although I would probably love it, it is not the right thing for either of my horses. The young one needs to be out as much as possible, and the ridden pony loves to be turned out too. They are both very settled in their herds and the idea of disrupting them does not sit right with me.

I intend to send my 20 month old to be produced for in hand showing this year in order to gain experience and handling etc.
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You sound in such a similar situation to me! Shame we aren't nearer, we could help each other! My youngster definitely went through that stage that you describe, last summer at around 20-22 months. She is now a lot quieter, hence why I felt we could take her on the roads, but because I know I get nervous, I get someone else to take her and I take my mare. And yes, completely agree about doing the right thing, not only do I want the youngster to be out as much as possible, but mare gets so grumpy if she is in for ages too. She is grumpy with her daughter but I think she has taught her manners too, and they now have an understanding - they are in a herd by themselves. My intention is also to take them to a show this year - if we can find transport, my little one went to one at about 11 months, but hasn't been since as I just didn't feel she would be sensible enough. Good luck with your youngster!
 
pippixox said:
they are still so young- completely agree you may want more facilities when they are 4. however, there is no rush at the moment to over handle them.
I only have fields and hacking, and I backed 2 ponies aged 4. I initially rode them in a field but quickly moved to hacking as they were more naturally forward that way and weren't doing too many tight circles. I like having a place with only 2 other ladies, not livery yard.
It is only this time of year than i really miss a school to ride in
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Thank you. I feel so much better after reading all these responses. I have a lovely young friend who can help me to do things with the youngster in the field, when she is a bit older, and hopefully we can get to the stage where we can lead her to the school up the road.
 
Ive never had a school, only ever backed horses and ponies in a grass field. All of which Ive started from scratch as 4yo's and got them out competing successfully. Its perfectly doable, just harder!
 
I've never backed in a school or spent much time in one on a young horse. I back in the field and once settled and steering, straight out on to quiet roads with a foot soldier. My last youngster didn't see the inside of a school until he was five. Too much emphasis on schools these days. In the past they were such a rare thing. Young horses benifit for going out and seeing the sights before being backed. OP if you can't handle your horse on the ground how are you going to handle her from the saddle.?
 
Sukistokes2 said:
I've never backed in a school or spent much time in one on a young horse. I back in the field and once settled and steering, straight out on to quiet roads with a foot soldier. My last youngster didn't see the inside of a school until he was five. Too much emphasis on schools these days. In the past they were such a rare thing. Young horses benifit for going out and seeing the sights before being backed. OP if you can't handle your horse on the ground how are you going to handle her from the saddle.?
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Firstly, this post is to get opinions on whether I should move my youngster to somewhere with an onsite school so thank you for your comment about that.
Secondly, where do I say I can't handle her? I said I wasn't walking her out on the roads YET because I am nervous of doing so, that's quite a difference. I want her first experiences of roads etc to be positive, not with me being nervous and not because I can't handle her. Once she has had a few more positive experiences, I will then lead her. Which is exactly the same premise as sending her away to be backed, and having someone more confident than me to ride her on for me. In my book, I'm doing things correctly.

Thanks
 
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