Here's Charlie!

Polos Mum said:
Lovely - could be the photo but he looks quite bum high still - so could have plenty more growing to do

Saddle fit for him will be tricky so that's well worth considering too in the mix - looking at the shape of him now.
Click to expand...

That had occured to me, is he actually the age the seller claimed? Some of these big cobs are started far too young, could explain a lot?
 
Jasmine2023 said:
His passport seems in order.

When you saddle fit could be tricky what does that mean? As in might have to be specially made?
Click to expand...

Definitely not specially made at this point - I think research is clear now that most horses don't stop growing until aged 7 or 8 years even. Don't buy a bespoke saddle until after 8 years old, or it won't fit six months later.
Don't buy a new saddle - like a new car they lose a lot of value after 2 rides. As he matures and gets stronger and more muscled he will need a different saddle (probably several) before he's 8 y/o.
Buy a good quality, recognised brand second hand saddle that fits him, then in six months when he's really changed shape (you have mentioned that he's not been in much work), it will be worth close to what you buy it for, and you can swap for something that suits his shape at that point.

The difficulty with being bum high and generally lacking in muscle is that the saddle will want to follow gravity and slide forward (or round) it's not easy to find something that is secure so it doesn't wallow about and throw you off balance but isn't restricting him in growing the muscle he needs or so tight it is uncomfortable for him to move properly.

Don't be too tempted by changeable gullets too - they only change one tiny aspect of the shape of a saddle - so IMHO don't offer that much flexibility in reshaping for a youngster putting on muscle.

Sorry for long reply!

My youngster at 5.5 y/o started bucking going into canter - he'd grown 1.5 inches bum first and all his body was being shoved down hill so he couldn't move his shoulders. I gave him six months off and his front end caught up - not had a buck in 3 years now.
 
Jasmine2023 said:
Yes it's an Irish passport.
Click to expand...

Thanks for reply. I only asked because if he was passported over here it is far from unheard of for sellers of young stock to age them up 18 months or so when ready to sell as a 4/5 year old broken and riding will fetch a far better price than say a 2.5/3.5 that has just been whizzed around a paddock a few times, rider legged up and taken down the lane a time or two. I am not saying this to alarm you at all, there is nothing inherently wrong or alarming if he is a bit younger than his passport says, just that it does show he possibly has some huge gaps in his training, and mentally as well as possibly a bit too immature physically to put too much pressure on him too quickly. A white Irish passport does tend to need a circumspect and open mind when reading the details. Not all of course but certainly a good few of them.

I am only guessing, but IMHO these bigger hefty types do look older than their appearance would suggest to the inexperienced eye even as two year olds and they would be the most common ones that a vet would happily take the owners word of their age at passport issue. It beggars believe really, because a youngster is probably the easiest set of teeth to accurately estimate age, but many vets are sadly lacking in accurate ageing and hence many just ask the owner.

I am glad to read all is progressing really well right now and at this stage you are probably best to keep going as you are. But - and this is a huge but and hopefully won't happen as he does sound a very accepting and chilled sort, if he does start to show signs of having a genuine meltdown I would turn away for the winter (turned out if possible with company) to just relax, catch up a bit on his growth and mental maturity and then get going again in the spring. That is only my opinion of what I would do, but I understand in your circumstances right now, it is not necessary as he has not shown any serious signs of distress and hopefully he won't. Just a well meant heads up to not despair if this does happen as usually a few months DR. Green gets them back to where they should be.

Also IMHO he is a super big cob and will be well worth anytime and wait you have to put in to him, you do have a good eye for a horse for sure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top