Horse away for backing. Asking for updates etiquette

T

The_Silver_Donkey

New User
Joined
24 April 2016
Messages
9
Visit site
Hi there!
So my mare is currently away at a breaking yard. One week down three to go.
This pony is literally my life so I'm lost with out her at the moment haha
I was just wondering what the etiquette is asking for updates on how she is, or am i supposed to leave her to it? I tend to message every 3 days but don't want to bother the lady that has her!

Thanks (:
 
I didn't have to ask. the lady who started mine put photos and videos on FB every day, or if it was too wet she messaged me to let me know what they'd done.

She does this for everyone btw, wasn't just me!

If she hadn't I would probably have asked every few days - but I wouldn't have liked doing it as I would have felt I was being THAT owner. But I think if you want to know, ask! Maybe she's really busy and just doesn't have time to update everyone every day - but that doesn't stop you worrying :)
 
My place u don't have to ask there is always a message or photo either text or sent to Facebook when mines been worked. Otherwise I'd ask end of each week to see what she'd done that week.
 
You're paying them. I know it isn't "British" but ask as often as you want. In these connected days I would expect some form of social media contact pretty much every day.
 
I would ask the lady how often would be OK. If she were mine I would want regular updates too so I would just check first and come to an arrangement up front so things work well for everyone.
 
TBH I'd be expecting an update after every 2-3 sessions, and I wouldn't be wanting to ask, I'd expect them to be forthcoming!
 
My friends horse is away for schooling after being backed and your lucky if she gets an update once a month!! He's been there almost 6 months & it's very expensive. She's always asking for just a simple text or fb message, but gets very little. The odd picture gets put on her facebook page maybe once every 8 weeks or so. I would be wanting to know exactly what was going on each week with my horse.
 
ihatework said:
TBH I'd be expecting an update after every 2-3 sessions, and I wouldn't be wanting to ask, I'd expect them to be forthcoming!
Click to expand...
This.

I've had horses away for training in the past, and the trainers (various, not just one) seems to have been most put out when I enquired how the horse was getting on. It was very much a case of 'don't bother us, we're too busy to deal with owners, let us get on with the job'.

Glad to see that others expect regular updates too, about twice weekly seems about right. A two line text takes a minute to compose and send. Plus I visit at least weekly to see the horse.
 
Oh thank goodness it's not just me. Really did think I was being 'that' owner haha
I'll stick to messaging her twice a week as it seems to be the average people expect!
She told me she'd keep me updated regularly but doesn't as she said she's got a lot on with show season .
I'll stop when she tells me I'm bothering her 😅
 
Never mind waiting for updates, I would be wanting to visit regularly to watch the horse ridden and discuss how he was getting on. I was really lucky that mine was started at home (I bought him from my YO) so even in the first month or two before I got in the saddle I was able to feel quite involved with things. Not so easy if the horse is a long way away from you though. This is a really exciting time for you as an owner, don't miss out by being shy!
 
The_Silver_Donkey said:
Oh thank goodness it's not just me. Really did think I was being 'that' owner haha
I'll stick to messaging her twice a week as it seems to be the average people expect!
She told me she'd keep me updated regularly but doesn't as she said she's got a lot on with show season .
I'll stop when she tells me I'm bothering her ��
Click to expand...

So you should ask yourself if the rider is away showing, or whatever, who is doing the work with your horse and are they competent, or is it being left. I know how expensive breaking/competition livery is, and have learned not to send a horse during the season when the rider is off competing.
 
I got sent a text every day with a short update, videos sent when a step was made and I went to visit once a week to see what he was up to.
 
I would expect to be given updates and progress regularly and I would expect to be able to visit weekly to watch the horse being worked.

I also think if the owner is a hobby rider and the horse is going back to be a fun horse, the breakers should be involving the owner in the latter parts of the process and certainly when the hacking out starts. For one horse owners it is a partnership they are after and the learning process should be a joined up one to help ensure that when the horse comes home the owner can continue the education correctly and with confidence.

Obviously breakers doing big number for pro or semi pro yards will just get the job done and send them back into experienced hands.

My quirky young horse had very specific needs and his breaker encouraged me to be present when I could. That certainly helped me understand the horse more.
 
Should I send a horse away for breaking/schooling, I would discuss the feedback and visiting arrangements whilst dicussing fees and before the horse left my yard.
 
These businesses that take horses and don't bother to fill owners in annoy me. I sent my mare to stud a few years ago, and she was there for about five months. I rarely got a phonecall from the owner, I felt like I was being a nuisance, and when I rang to say I was coming over one time I got a "is everything ok?" Reply, as thought I was criticising them.
 
I sent one of my ponies last Sunday

I had an update on Sunday evening and another on Monday telling me how he had settled in then another update yesterday

I went today to see him and watched him being worked, I left enough stuff (supplements and rugs) to last him a couple of weeks and said I would not come next weekend and just let them crack on with things.

I probably wont contact for another week or so but dare say the lady will drop me a couple of updates

At the end of the day (though I know its easier said than done) you either trust someone to do right by your animal or you don't

I've found it enormously hard to let go, the pony has had a rough old ride healthwise so I always worry about him, I cried in the car after dropping him off but i know he is in kind experienced hands so am doing my best to relax about it all
 
Micropony said:
Never mind waiting for updates, I would be wanting to visit regularly to watch the horse ridden and discuss how he was getting on. I was really lucky that mine was started at home (I bought him from my YO) so even in the first month or two before I got in the saddle I was able to feel quite involved with things. Not so easy if the horse is a long way away from you though. This is a really exciting time for you as an owner, don't miss out by being shy!
Click to expand...

^^^ This, for the reasons below

cundlegreen said:
So you should ask yourself if the rider is away showing, or whatever, who is doing the work with your horse and are they competent, or is it being left. I know how expensive breaking/competition livery is, and have learned not to send a horse during the season when the rider is off competing.
Click to expand...

Unanounced visits can reveal a lot, never assume you can trust anyone with your horse, unfortunately far too many of us have had learn this the hard way.
 
rowan666 said:
^^^ This, for the reasons below



Unanounced visits can reveal a lot, never assume you can trust anyone with your horse, unfortunately far too many of us have had learn this the hard way.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this. I wouldn't send my horse anywhere now without regular contact and also letting them know I will pop in when I can.
 
Thanks everyone!
I messaged her and she sent me a load of videos with her being worked and she's doing amazing.
She has help so I know she's being worked when herself is busy.
I fully trust the girl who has her; she just seems to be a bit ditsy in remembering to update me haha.
I'll be popping over next week and riding her so all is good. Thanks for all your advice (:
 
I don't break FOR people per say, but i do break the ones i have on livery or loan as a fun hobby. I always update on fb when i do something.
 
Hi I would want to see my pony twice a week and ask to ride aswell once backed so they can see if any niggles with you on...at the end of the day you are paying for a service and they should ahve said to you how updates will be given...
 
cundlegreen said:
So you should ask yourself if the rider is away showing, or whatever, who is doing the work with your horse and are they competent, or is it being left. I know how expensive breaking/competition livery is, and have learned not to send a horse during the season when the rider is off competing.
Click to expand...

Many people have learnt this the hard way! Most professional yards won't take horses for breaking during the spring/summer months when they are busy showing. Its the smaller yards where maybe someone has had a good season the previous year or two and then begun taking horses to break, 'produce'. Often these people see it as a money making venture but don't have either the time or back up to compete - which they want to do - and look after other horses. I would be visiting at least once a week and if this wasn't possible expecting a text or video of progress. Having been seriously let down in the past if there was a lack of response to emails or texts I'd be appearing on the yard un-announced.
 
Personally if I sent a horse away for backing (I dont, I prefer to do my own) then I would basically have chosen a yard close enough I could go up most days to watch as I think you learn a huge amount about their personality / trainability by their reaction to backing.
 
I have the 'Do I send away or get someone local I know to back?' dilemma coming up in around 2 years. I have to be honest, my little girl is my substitute baby, she's the only living thing I've had from birth, so I would want a daily update!! I personally think that if you're paying for a service, and one that's critical to get right, not to mention cost, one text or Facebook message per day is nothing. I'd also want to visit at least once a week if possible, but clearly distance can be an issue. I've read some horror stories about professional yards so would just want to be sure that they were doing what I wanted. So I don't think there's anything wrong in being 'that owner!' If I didn't hear anything, I'd be driving up the next day I should think!!
 
I wouldn't care if someone thought I was "that owner" - my horse and my money. It's not a case of lack of trust or wanting control, it's a case of being interested and wanting to be involved.

I had one away for eight weeks. Had a text every evening and visited once a week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top