How to approach this issue?

Paint Me Proud

Paint Me Proud

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Gentleman moved onto the yard on Friday - 2 horses - a 4 year old Freisian that he has had for a month and a 6 year old 15.2h chesnut that he has had for 2 weeks - both geldings.
Put them out in field to live out.

I spoke to him and he said the chesnut was for sale, he had had it from a friend who bought it but it after it had thrown two people he no longer wanted it. Gentleman said he would have it and school it for a few months then sell it on, told me he could cope with it no problem.

Today when i got to yard the pony was running loose, fully tacked up, in one of the bottom fields. I went down and caught it to see the man walking across the field. The pony had thrown him.
I suggested he use the school as it was secure and would be a soft landing :p:D

So he took pony into school where he tried again to get on again, as soon as he landed (with a thud i add) on the saddle the horse took off again and he hit the deck. He then said he needed a whip as he had see on youtube you have to use a whip if they buck. So he looped the reins over the back of the saddle and just left the pony standing in the school while we wandered off to get a whip.

Came back with whip, tried to get on again and oops, he hit the deck again!

He then led the pony out, untacked and put it straight back into field.

Finally he used the same saddle to then ride his Friesian.

So my question is - What is the best way for me to go about educating and helping the man with his chesnut horse?
 
Unfortunately, I agree with don't interfere. There is nothing more annoying! However, if it gets to a point where you think the horse could be in danger or at risk, or be putting other horses or people other than the "gentleman" at risk etc, then by all means perhaps mention it to the YO. However, at the moment it sounds like the horse is winning and will continue to do so, so leave them be! He will soon realise the horse is to much hopefully.
 
Point in the direction of a good instructor. From the brief bit you have written he is not sounding very open to sensible help. All you can do is support him as and when he is willing to ask for help. Good luck and fingers crossed there are no injuries.
 
He has only owned a horse for 4 weeks and is very very novicey.
After he was thrown he said we would just 'school' the horse for a few weeks, but he didnt mean actually on the horse, and he had to ask me what a lunge whip was called. He also didnt know what lunging was.

The pony seems very genuine but basically scared when the guy mounts him.

I do want to help the guy as he is obviously out of his depth and is doing it all wrong. I'm not criticize him as we all had to learn once, and it is with support and advice that we got to know what we all know now.
 
Paint Me Proud said:
He has only owned a horse for 4 weeks and is very very novicey.
After he was thrown he said we would just 'school' the horse for a few weeks, but he didnt mean actually on the horse, and he had to ask me what a lunge whip was called. He also didnt know what lunging was.

The pony seems very genuine but basically scared when the guy mounts him.

I do want to help the guy as he is obviously out of his depth and is doing it all wrong. I'm not criticize him as we all had to learn once, and it is with support and advice that we got to know what we all know now.
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has he actually asked you for help though?
agreed. i think offering to put him in contact with a good instructor would be the best thing. unless he has specifically asked for your help you cant really make it your business to tell him where he';s going wrong on your own bat.
sorry if this sounds harsh.;)
 
i suppose you could speak to him and ask him if he would mind you helping him so that YOU can get more experience with all sorts of horses. then at least he may be open to suggestions from you.
it's hard to suggest things though without actually knowing him. but i think if you went in guns blazing it would put his back up and then you won't be able to offer any advice without him getting funny and doing the opposite.
 
Personally I'd have a quiet word with the yard owner, coz if something like this was going on on my yard then I'd want to know!!

As a YO I would then have to be terribly diplomatic and suggest maybe that he seek out some help, etc etc.

BUT I really think you should let the YO know what's happening and then leave it to him/her to sort out as they see fit. But please tell them coz it would be awful if YO didn't know, and something awful happened.
 
everyone on the yard knew what was going on today and the YM was contacted immediately.

The guy isnt the kind who would refuse help or think you were interfering, he is a genuinely nice guy.

We suggested an instructor, the yard regular, but i dont think he really understood what we were getting at - his english isnt the best which makes it harder to communicate.

I dont want to 'interfere' in a know it all way, just give him gentle advice.

Do you think teaching the guy how to lunge might be a good first step?
 
Some people you can tell them that an electric fence will zap them and they will believe you.
Some people will not believe you and test it.
Others will have to pee on it before they believe you.

He obviously thought that riding was easy and is not going to listen to anyone just yet.
He will eventually learn the hard way. I feel sorry for the horse!

It is never easy when a horse has learned to buck someone off as they mount and it takes a lot longer to sort out than actually just breaking one from scratch.
 
if he is a genuine guy, i would maybe ask if he'd be interested in watching you lunge your horse so he could maybe try with his? if he gets a bit lost as most people do the first few times, offer to give a hand.. that way i don't think it sounds interfering/condescending
 
Leeds_Girl85 said:
if he is a genuine guy, i would maybe ask if he'd be interested in watching you lunge your horse so he could maybe try with his? if he gets a bit lost as most people do the first few times, offer to give a hand.. that way i don't think it sounds interfering/condescending
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that's a really good idea, thanks.

I will have a quiet word with him if i see him today and just offer some support etc.

I do feel for the horse, it is a lovely stamp of a horse and will make a superb jumper judging by its confirmation.

Fingers crossed xx
 
if he really is open to help and suggestions maybe you could say that you really love working with horses like his and would like the chance to do it more often and would love it if he would let you help him

Other than that I would leave him too it and wait until he asks
 
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