horse arrives next weekend. Am terrified!

[surreygirl17]

So my first horse arrives next weekend. He is a 4yr old Welsh d gelding broken lay year and turned away till now. I've been riding section d for the last 4 years from age 3 upwards and only mares. I know age 4 is crazy for a first horse but I saw so many with bad habits.
Anyway, I'm getting rather nervous and just need some reassurance. Saddle fitter is coming on the Tuesday and I'll get the farrier in on the Monday as his feet look like they haven't been touched since he was broken.
He will be on grass livery and no I won't be re backing him myself!
Does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom?

 

[Frenchfancy]

Congratulations.

My only advice is don't be in a rush to jump on him. Do lots of ground work, take him out on a lead reign, get used to him and let him get used to you.

 

[webble]

Congratulations and good luck. Agree with lots of ground work and spending time getting to know him

Don't do what I did and be so desperate for him to like you let him get away with anything!!!

 

[Loubidy]

If you come across something your nervous of or not sure how to do GET HELP to many youngsters get ruined by stupid people thinking they know it all.

 

[surreygirl17]

Thanks guys. I've got an instructor ams have budgeted to 4 weeks of 5 days schooling ,But am definitely well aware of my limits. I want it all done properly the first time otherwise no point in buying a blank canvas.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Thanks guys. I've got an instructor ams have budgeted to 4 weeks of 5 days schooling ,But am definitely well aware of my limits. I want it all done properly the first time otherwise no point in buying a blank canvas.

This is good, to have an expert standing by.

Bear in mind that he will be very "green" i.e. not "produced" yet and you may not be able to do EVERYTHING you'd planned to do with him, just yet, as you'll have to build each other's confidence up gradually. But your instructor will be able to guide you and it might be an idea if they could ride out with you for a while yet, just to give you both confidence as with the best will in the world a young horse could well spook at things which an older horse would take in its stride, and YOU need to know how to deal with that.

Also bear in mind that any saddle fitting will need to be repeated at regular intervals as your youngster will develop and change shape, and the saddle that "fits" now, will very likely not do so in a relatively short time, i.e. a month or two, so be prepared to keep getting the saddle fitter out!!! If the saddle isn't comfy you could get habits such as bucking and/or spooking develop so you really do need to keep your saddle fitter on the go.

With a youngster like this, they WILL challenge your authority, and that can be un-nerving, especially when it happens the first time. So you need to have a plan in place BEFORE you start losing confidence; but again your instructor will be the best person to help you. The thing you want to avoid is a young horse getting away with rude/bad behaviour and THEN the bad habits start.

Groundwork is the key; if you've got a nice polite horse on the ground then you'll have a nice polite horse once you're up; and if you let him get away with being rude and bargey on the ground, be prepared for him to take the Pee once you're in the saddle.

Good luck anyway.

 

[surreygirl17]

This is good, to have an expert standing by.

Bear in mind that he will be very "green" i.e. not "produced" yet and you may not be able to do EVERYTHING you'd planned to do with him, just yet, as you'll have to build each other's confidence up gradually. But your instructor will be able to guide you and it might be an idea if they could ride out with you for a while yet, just to give you both confidence as with the best will in the world a young horse could well spook at things which an older horse would take in its stride, and YOU need to know how to deal with that.

Also bear in mind that any saddle fitting will need to be repeated at regular intervals as your youngster will develop and change shape, and the saddle that "fits" now, will very likely not do so in a relatively short time, i.e. a month or two, so be prepared to keep getting the saddle fitter out!!! If the saddle isn't comfy you could get habits such as bucking and/or spooking develop so you really do need to keep your saddle fitter on the go.

With a youngster like this, they WILL challenge your authority, and that can be un-nerving, especially when it happens the first time. So you need to have a plan in place BEFORE you start losing confidence; but again your instructor will be the best person to help you. The thing you want to avoid is a young horse getting away with rude/bad behaviour and THEN the bad habits start.

Groundwork is the key; if you've got a nice polite horse on the ground then you'll have a nice polite horse once you're up; and if you let him get away with being rude and bargey on the ground, be prepared for him to take the Pee once you're in the saddle.

Good luck anyway.

Thanks a lot for the advice. Certainly agree with youngsters challenging authority, have experienced this with friends' horses and one ion particular got very unnerved by it. I've ridden so many horses who have not had the most ideal start (eg lft in a field until 3 then backed and expected to lead nicely). I feel a bit more excited and less scared now, as you've all reiterated things that I know in my head.

I am a bit of a stickler for manners after a previous bad experience when one reared in my face, so that is important to me. Also things like standing still when mounted, massive bug bear! I have got him an adjustable saddle so hopefully it'll do until he is fully grown and I can get him a really nice leather one. I think he'll only be hacking to get his confidence up for the next few months, depends a bit on how he goes. I'd like to get him to a show (in-hand) to get him used to going out and socialising but that's just an idea as I don't want to over-face him. Just trying to work out what to feed him now!