Bangagin
Well-Known Member
After having a 17 year partnership with my previous mare, I've now bought a sweet natured Irish cob who has just turned 5. I bought her in May this year, and so far she has been an absolute superstar on the ground and out hacking.
She is very sensitive - for example my saddle fitter recommended a Prolite anatomical girth, and when I tried it on her the first time (borrowed a Shires Arma one for the first couple of rides) she shot forward as soon as I mounted which unnerved me. (I'm an older rider, and my confidence is shaken easily these days on a new horse as I knew my other mare so well and trusted her implicitly.) We overcame this by swapping back to the Shires girth but she remembered the discomfort and would not stand still to be mounted (which was the case previously) - so my friend held her for me, and once she realised there wouldn't be any discomfort she has now reverted to standing stock still.
The only other time she has unnerved me was when I had a bit fitter out. We were riding in the school to try out a few different bits and she did some weird stag leaps completely out of the blue. These didn't really unseat me (I'm a fairly balanced rider) but they were quite explosive for a quiet, calm cob. We managed to carry on with the bit fitting (although I did want to quit!), but we haven't ridden in the school since and I don't really want to. Funnily enough she has done one weird leap in the air out on a hack (similar but more upwards than forwards) when we were brushing past some prickly undergrowth and I just thought perhaps she had been stung or bitten or something. She's also spooked at a water cannon - she was fine with it circling round towards her, but when it went behind her she panicked and shot sideways into a stubble field. Neither of these incidents worried me - probably because I could see a valid reason for her reacting that way.
So - I would like to find someone (instructor) who could school her for me initially, and then once I can see she is going confidently and happily in the school, to give me lessons on her. It would also be useful to have someone school her once a fortnight in the autumn/winter when it's too dark to hack after work as I work full time. She's very green in the school, and I really don't like schooling (unless it's a lesson which focuses me). So back to my original question - I've asked my friends if they could recommend someone, but no luck so far. I may have to post on our local horse riders group on Facebook asking for recommendations (which I hate doing as a rule) as this way it would go out to a much wider audience. But I'm not sure how to word the ad? It needs to be someone kind, considerate and experienced with youngsters. Would welcome all advice here please. I've only ever had sharers in the past, but don't want to risk a sharer with my mare being so young. (Well I have had instructors, but never one that rode my horse regularly - just hopped on now and again to show me something or get a feel for the horse.)
She is very sensitive - for example my saddle fitter recommended a Prolite anatomical girth, and when I tried it on her the first time (borrowed a Shires Arma one for the first couple of rides) she shot forward as soon as I mounted which unnerved me. (I'm an older rider, and my confidence is shaken easily these days on a new horse as I knew my other mare so well and trusted her implicitly.) We overcame this by swapping back to the Shires girth but she remembered the discomfort and would not stand still to be mounted (which was the case previously) - so my friend held her for me, and once she realised there wouldn't be any discomfort she has now reverted to standing stock still.
The only other time she has unnerved me was when I had a bit fitter out. We were riding in the school to try out a few different bits and she did some weird stag leaps completely out of the blue. These didn't really unseat me (I'm a fairly balanced rider) but they were quite explosive for a quiet, calm cob. We managed to carry on with the bit fitting (although I did want to quit!), but we haven't ridden in the school since and I don't really want to. Funnily enough she has done one weird leap in the air out on a hack (similar but more upwards than forwards) when we were brushing past some prickly undergrowth and I just thought perhaps she had been stung or bitten or something. She's also spooked at a water cannon - she was fine with it circling round towards her, but when it went behind her she panicked and shot sideways into a stubble field. Neither of these incidents worried me - probably because I could see a valid reason for her reacting that way.
So - I would like to find someone (instructor) who could school her for me initially, and then once I can see she is going confidently and happily in the school, to give me lessons on her. It would also be useful to have someone school her once a fortnight in the autumn/winter when it's too dark to hack after work as I work full time. She's very green in the school, and I really don't like schooling (unless it's a lesson which focuses me). So back to my original question - I've asked my friends if they could recommend someone, but no luck so far. I may have to post on our local horse riders group on Facebook asking for recommendations (which I hate doing as a rule) as this way it would go out to a much wider audience. But I'm not sure how to word the ad? It needs to be someone kind, considerate and experienced with youngsters. Would welcome all advice here please. I've only ever had sharers in the past, but don't want to risk a sharer with my mare being so young. (Well I have had instructors, but never one that rode my horse regularly - just hopped on now and again to show me something or get a feel for the horse.)
