ShadowFlame
Well-Known Member
Someone please give me a slap round the face, because I'm still fuming from last night.
Scenario. I have a 4yo Arab, unbroken. I've spent the past (nearly) 3mths doing groundwork with him, getting him used to tack, rider weight, scary stuff, backing him and taking things slowly. He's picked it all up really quickly, and he's thrived on the work. Having said that, he only turned 4 at the end of May, so we've not rushed anything. Up until last night, the most he'd done is a bit of bareback to and from the field at walk, a couple of strides of trot here and there, and he'd been walked round the school once (literally once round on one rein, once round on the other, and back out).
I had a very close friend come up to see him yesterday, who'd accompanied me to the viewing when I was looking to buy said horse. She's been in horses for years, she's experienced. I told her I'd take him in the school so she could see how far he's come on and how good his attitude is, the idea being maybe 10mins tops. I walked him round, did a short trot down the long side on both reins, and he was golden. Really pleased with him. Friend asks if she can get on him, I agree, she knows exactly how much he's done.
So she gets on, wanders round for a couple of minutes, then pushes him into trot. I warn her again that he hasn't done much, I don't want him doing too much, and this is his first time really ever doing anything in a school. What does she do? Pushes him on more, gives him a boot in the ribs and shouts "we're going for canter!!". In fairness to him, he did it, but threw an almighty buck in the process and nearly decked her, she pulled him back up and claimed "well at least he came back to me!".
Having my last youngster hit confidence issues about 3mths after breaking, I was really keen not to push the new boy, take it all at his pace, and make sure he's 100% happy with what we're doing before progressing. Said friend knows what I went through with him, the fact I sorted it out but it took a damn long time. I wanted to get new boy happy at walk and trot, and hacking out before even debating canter.
Would you be angry?? I'm fully seething, but when I explain it people tell me I'm being silly. Thoughts, please?!
Scenario. I have a 4yo Arab, unbroken. I've spent the past (nearly) 3mths doing groundwork with him, getting him used to tack, rider weight, scary stuff, backing him and taking things slowly. He's picked it all up really quickly, and he's thrived on the work. Having said that, he only turned 4 at the end of May, so we've not rushed anything. Up until last night, the most he'd done is a bit of bareback to and from the field at walk, a couple of strides of trot here and there, and he'd been walked round the school once (literally once round on one rein, once round on the other, and back out).
I had a very close friend come up to see him yesterday, who'd accompanied me to the viewing when I was looking to buy said horse. She's been in horses for years, she's experienced. I told her I'd take him in the school so she could see how far he's come on and how good his attitude is, the idea being maybe 10mins tops. I walked him round, did a short trot down the long side on both reins, and he was golden. Really pleased with him. Friend asks if she can get on him, I agree, she knows exactly how much he's done.
So she gets on, wanders round for a couple of minutes, then pushes him into trot. I warn her again that he hasn't done much, I don't want him doing too much, and this is his first time really ever doing anything in a school. What does she do? Pushes him on more, gives him a boot in the ribs and shouts "we're going for canter!!". In fairness to him, he did it, but threw an almighty buck in the process and nearly decked her, she pulled him back up and claimed "well at least he came back to me!".
Having my last youngster hit confidence issues about 3mths after breaking, I was really keen not to push the new boy, take it all at his pace, and make sure he's 100% happy with what we're doing before progressing. Said friend knows what I went through with him, the fact I sorted it out but it took a damn long time. I wanted to get new boy happy at walk and trot, and hacking out before even debating canter.
Would you be angry?? I'm fully seething, but when I explain it people tell me I'm being silly. Thoughts, please?!
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or until your happy he's a at a steady, established stage. 
