Hello, here for advice.

ThePinkPony

ThePinkPony

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Hi, A friend told me about HHO and how helpful everyone is on here so i thought id come on and pick peoples brains with a whole load of questions. You'll be sick of me soon!

Basically i'm getting a horse in a few weeks, shes rising 4 and has only done some minor groundwork. I'm only taking her on because i have a place for her and the family member wants her to stay in the family if possible.

Shes really cute and very sweet and i kind of know some basics enough to care for her. i used to ride and did a little bit of yard work for a while but thats it and i really would like to start bringing her on by getting some lessons and advice especially on lunging her and manners because thats what i'll have to start as soon as she trusts me.

So if anyone has any advice or stories of how they did it or anything you think might be helpful then i'd be eternally grateful.

Thanks
 
OI, im not a troll!
i wont get offended, i am genuine and i even promise to put up pictures when she gets here!!!
 
lol, shes not going to kill me, i know how to be safe around horses, just not how to bring them on. ive always been the one holding the horse or something to do with it. Ive also done ALOT of watching but no actual 'doing' and id like to do it right.

obviously im going to be getting alot of professional help. I'm looking around for instructors to help me with groundwork and i have some ''horsey'' friends more than willing to help me with things, but knowledge is precious and everyone has a bit of advice you havent heard before.
 
I suggest you read the book 'Fly by Night', that'll give you an insight into first time pony keeping.
 
sarcasm is obviously very helpful. (and i read that book about 20 years ago thanks)

its a pity that none of you remember what it was like when you were first starting out. i wonder where you and your horses would be if everyone around you had been as rude and unhelpful as you have been with me.
 
ThePinkPony said:
sarcasm is obviously very helpful. (and i read that book about 20 years ago thanks)

its a pity that none of you remember what it was like when you were first starting out. i wonder where you and your horses would be if everyone around you had been as rude and unhelpful as you have been with me.
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Theres been quite a lot of trolls around recently posting very similar posts to yours, so no wonder people jump to this conclusion. I'm sure if they thought you weren't a troll they wouldn't have given you the same responses. TBH when I first read your post I wondered if you were a troll.
If you want better answers, then ask more specific questions "How do I bring on a horse" is just too open a question, it would take days to answer it fully and makes you seem very novicy. Hope this helps!
 
trouble is Pinky...
If you really have been 'watching' then you know - a Green 4 yr old unbroken horse IS NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM the ideal 1st horse.
I wouldnt be suggesting that to anyone i know, even if they lived in Monty Roberts Annex, and were working with the sweetest most lovely of lovely doped up to the eyeballs decendant of the best horse ever!!!

Good Luck! :)

Also - I dont think you have actually asked a question - Is there something specific you would like to know??
 
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My advice, seriously, is not to take this horse. You don't have enough experience to bring up a baby horse and there are so many ways you can confuse her and get things wrong. You'd obviously get some things right as well, but there is a lot of room for problems to start. A 4 year old is not suitable for a novice horse owner like yourself. People will come on here and tell you how it worked for them, but save yourself and the horse the pain and find her an experienced home. Then get yourself a nice easy older horse that you can try out thoroughly, or even have on loan, and take to a friendly yard with a good yard owner who is prepared to give you support and advice.
 
i am novicy, and maybe you are right but at least i admit it.
none of my friends who own horses, even the couple who have degrees in horse care and management would be like that to anyone, and if anyone came to me asking about a canine issue i would try to be as helpful as i could not just shoot them down and would NEVER poke fun at them.


shes coming to me on loan, as her owner wont sell her, and to be honest i have a nice well managed paddock 10 yards from my kitchen window, and all the time in the world to give to her. also lots of friends willing to help who have experience and seem to think i stand a good chance with her. Id rather she came to me even as a feild ornament than stuck in a grassless paddock untouched.

like i said, they should remember the times they have asked for help. i dont think i should carry this on, its rather hurtful if anything.
 
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If the horse has an easy temperament then providing you have an experienced/knowledgeable friend or YO then it may work out. It isnt ideal but there is no reason why things should go badly wrong. But you cant do a young horse alone IMO. I have just bought a yearling and when she is old enough I will back her with help from my OH and then she will be sent away to be started. I have had lots of experience and that experience tells me that finding someone good to start a horse is well worth the money.:)

Re the manners...

Be firm but quiet. Dont get into a fight. Take things steadily and read what the mare is saying to you. Establish leading, tying up and picking up feet. Make sure she respects your personal space. Make sure she understands move over/back etc. Dont feed treats. Keep a good routine. Dont overdo the learning. Be prepared to take a step back from time to time. Make sure she accepts that when you go into the stable she doesnt barge out and when you put a headcollar on to lead her she waits until you are ready (dont make her wait for ages though- just ebough to establish that that is what you want.). Lots of little things really. And consistent praise ( e.g.a pat and good girl)when she gets it right.( Not sure how far down the road she is in terms of handling.)
 
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I don't think I have been nasty to you?
I'm giving you my heartfelt advice, based on my own experience in starting young horses and working with "problem" horses. Also my experience and observation of many partnerships between more novice owners and young horses. I don't always agree with Pat Parelli, but in this case I do; "Green on Green = Black and Blue".
Even if you send her away for professional handling and backing, you will need to learn how to deal with her when she gets back. The initial backing and riding away is only the start of the process, it takes some experience and sometimes some courage to turn the green youngster into a safe, happy and well balanced riding horse.
 
Hi, I suggest you get hold of one of the Richard Maxwell books, either From Birth to Backing or Train Your Young Horse. They are full of lots of useful information.
Glad to hear you are planning on getting some professional help, as we have all needed with our first youngsters. You'll have good times and bad times, just be honest enough with yourself to realise if and when you are getting out of your depth and don't be afraid to ask for help, even though you may have been put off by some who have replied to you on here. Good luck.
 
I agree with Dozzie... just make sure you don't try to do too much too soon, and make sure you've got the help and support of a good instructor and yard owner. I'm sure she'll be lovely. Please let us know how you both get on!
 
Hello OP and welcome to HHO!

I'm sorry we all jumped on you, as others have explained there have been some trolls with very similar posts lately so if you're genuine I'm afraid you got some of their flack.

It does sound as though you have a bit more experience than some of the trolls so that is good. And, based on that, and with the right support you should be able to have a go at starting the youngster off.

One thing I would say though is that equine company is very important for your youngster to grow up well-balanced.

And human company will be invaluable for you in terms of all the first-time experiences (e.g. would you be able to safely remove a half-off shoe? A nail through the hoof could be potentially lethal for your youngster but removing a shoe is pretty easy for an experienced YM.).

Could you put the youngster on part/diy livery somewhere with knowledgeable people around to start off with? You can always move horse home (along with a non-ridden companion) once you're under way a bit more.

Best of luck.
 
okay so i may have been hasty, thankyou everyone else who have offered helpful advice.

put it this way, she has been known to be spooky with strangers, to the point where a lady came to buy her and she ran to the other end of her feild. (shes fine with her vet/farrier ect) i walk in to greet the other two and she bowls up to me, sniffs my pockets and then follows me around like a puppy. i got her to pick up each of her feet , stroked her all over, played a little game of hide and seek behind her feildmates and then when i left she stood at the fence waiting for me to come back. hence why fam member wants her coming to me, she thinks we do well together, fam member has owned horses for almost 50 years and said she knows when something shouldnt be missed.

she is appaloosa and from all the research ive done on her the appaloosa breed is a very balanced, hardy breed with a good temperament, and someone else had a thread on them yesterday i think and everyone was saying how great they are. If i was that desperate for a horse i would have bought one years ago.

I will be enlisting a qualified instructor at least twice a week to make sure i am lunging her correctly and then can aid me with how to go on.
 
Tickles said:
Hello OP and welcome to HHO!

I'm sorry we all jumped on you, as others have explained there have been some trolls with very similar posts lately so if you're genuine I'm afraid you got some of their flack.

It does sound as though you have a bit more experience than some of the trolls so that is good. And, based on that, and with the right support you should be able to have a go at starting the youngster off.

One thing I would say though is that equine company is very important for your youngster to grow up well-balanced.

And human company will be invaluable for you in terms of all the first-time experiences (e.g. would you be able to safely remove a half-off shoe? A nail through the hoof could be potentially lethal for your youngster but removing a shoe is pretty easy for an experienced YM.).

Could you put the youngster on part/diy livery somewhere with knowledgeable people around to start off with? You can always move horse home (along with a non-ridden companion) once you're under way a bit more.

Best of luck.
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shes in with a mare and a gelding at the moment and they pick on her something rotten, her owner says she much prefers human company and you can see that as she stands as far away from the others as possible but my neighbor has 3 ponies who will be next door, so though she wont be in with them she will be able to see them and have a sniff. neighbor also has offered all the help in the world and had already given me full permission to use her horses with mine whenever i need to.

i know for the first few weeks/months all i'll be doing is walking around with her and grooming her and asking her to do basic things for me.

as for a shoe, she is barefoot at the moment, her feet are in excellent condition, but i will be asking the farrier for anything i'll need to know regarding her feet, i know what an abcess looks like, and can spot a horse beginning to go lame.
 
Everyone has to start somewhere, usually at the begining, but sometimes things happen and you find yourself deeper in than you would normally have chosen. So you are addmitting that you are novicy and would like some help, there is nothing wrong with that. Even experienced horse people find that sometimes they need some advice when confronted with a new to them situation. You seem to be surounded with people that will help you out, and I think getting extra opinions and using common sense is not a bad thing.
It is a pity that some forum members are quick to jump on new members. I would rather risk feeding a troll with sensible answers and waste a bit of my time, than jump in to accuse without 100% certainty and putting off what could be a prospective legit new forum member.
If you have questions that crop up before and when your horse arrives, don't be put off by the few that are quick to judge. Brave it and ask until you get the more trusting people on here who are willing to help, we are about!!
Sorry for spelling and bad grammer-fighting off a migraine.
 
Hey there, I can recommend the Richard Maxwell books too, they are very good! I break in all of my young ones perfectly well on my own, usually hop on them for the first time on my own as well. I have no one else here to help! I'll probably be shot down in flames on here for that.... but the bottom line is that ANYONE can start a young one as long as things are taken slowly and the young one is not frightened (the book will explain this better)

It's very tiresome when some of the people on here all gang together and start blathering on about 'trolling' and stuff, try and pick apart the helpful stuff from the unhelpful, they'll soon find someone else to do it to. *puts saucepan on head, ducks under kitchen table*

Good luck....and buy that book!
 
thanks so much. im searching amazon for it now. :D

it sounds terrible but at least with her, if i do find im in too deep (which i am almost certain i wont) then i can send her back within a day which is some kind of insurance. BUT i 100% dont want that to happen, she deserves a home instead of just being an impulse buy that is bullied by the other more expensive horses.
 
Hi, I took on a young horse thinking he was older than he was - I have had help bringing him on but 2 years down the line we are doing well - it s a massive learning curve & I did need experienced help - but we are getting there - there have been a few problems along the way but hey who's to say you wouldnt of had problems with an older horse - we have always been committed to him giving him plenty of time & patience -I am a 1st time horse owner - maybe I have been very lucky as he has a lovely personality but we seem to be doing ok & were thrown in right at the deep end but I took advice & have tried to learn as much as I can (& the Richard Maxwell books are great)- best of luck xx
 
Good luck! At least you sound sensible! Take your time with her and gain her trust. Fine an instructor who is used to young horses - and maybe one who could help you back her. In other words find the best help you can and take the best advice offered. And most important of all - build the best relationship you can with your horse - its worth its weight in gold!
 
charmeroo said:
Good luck! At least you sound sensible! Take your time with her and gain her trust. Fine an instructor who is used to young horses - and maybe one who could help you back her. In other words find the best help you can and take the best advice offered. And most important of all - build the best relationship you can with your horse - its worth its weight in gold!
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thankyou so much.

thats how i feel. To me, she will be my one and only horse and i want the same bond with her as i do my dogs. it sounds silly but i know 100% what my oldest dog is going to do before she does it, and we actually do communicate with looks, people cant believe it but its true. i know her inside out and i want that from a horse, who is a lot bigger and potentially alot more dangerous than a dog. i know people can and do achieve that with their horses.

Shes got alot of love to give, you can just feel it from her.
 
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