I need some advice..

[Deleted member 150717]

I backed my 4 year old last summer. He started off nice and forward, but then became less and less forward. He moved noticeably better when he had hoofboots on. Vet x-rayed his feet and found some inflammation in his pedal bone caused by the hard ground and his thin soles. Obviously it's not hard ground at the moment, but could his feet be sore? What are his soles/frogs like?

Lovely horse, btw. He looks like he's going to be a lot of fun.

ahhh thank you lol hopefully his frogs and heels are fine. And I may invest in some hoof boots I haven’t stopped hearing good things about them. X

 

[Deleted member 150717]

i was just trying to advise that with a 3 yr old its best to go slowly and as you had asked questions i assumed you were new to having a youngster and didnt want you to do too much. YCBM who has a similar horse said exactly the same....... you have explained how much you are doing at the momentand that is fine, he will be a lovely horse once he has matured....

Totally understand I’m quite experienced with young horses but have never had any quite like him lol..

 

[Deleted member 150717]

@ester might have more ideas for you on the hoof side of things if you can post side on, ground level photos of each foot

Are you a qualified vet or farrier?

 

[Chinchilla]

Are you a qualified vet or farrier?

Why are you asking for advice if only to rubbish everyone offering it?
I tagged someone very knowledgeable, and if you will actually read, didn't offer hoof advice because I'm NOT qualified.

If you want 'qualified advice' on backing your horse pay a trainer instead of asking for it on an internet forum.

I hate half term on HHO.

 

[laura_nash]

Thank you!! I’m sure my farrier would of said something if there was something wrong surely.. seeing as he’s a professional unlike people in the forum. Unless they are a qualified vet or farrier, they may be experienced but not qualified to diagnose him with something or say he needs so and so done with his feet.

Unfortunately there are a significant number of bad farriers around. Not saying yours isn't doing a great job, there are of course lots of good farriers too, but its always good as an owner to know a bit yourself and to always question, as a general rule don't ever blindly trust professionals - vets, farriers, saddle fitters etc.

People are asking about his feet because you mentioned him tripping and not striding out.

If you have any concerns that the tripping might be sore feet showing up with rider weight it could be worth picking up a pair of hoof boots for his fronts - assuming he's reasonably easy to fit. They might be a handy thing to have around going forwards anyway, and if you find you don't need them have a reasonable resell value.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

Why are you asking for advice if only to rubbish everyone offering it?
I tagged someone very knowledgeable, and if you will actually read, didn't offer hoof advice because I'm NOT qualified.

I hate half term on HHO.

I asked for advice on keeping him forward whist I ride not advice on his hoofs as I say they’re fine he may just need hoof boots?! My farrier would have said if something was wrong. And what is “I hate half term” suppose to mean. And also, no need to be rude, I did read it I would rather get someone’s advice in person than over messages.

 

[Chinchilla]

I asked for advice on keeping him forward whist I ride not advice on his hoofs as I say they’re fine he may just need hoof boots?! My farrier would have said if something was wrong. And what is “I hate half term” suppose to mean. And also, no need to be rude, I did read it I would rather get someone’s advice in person than over messages.

Not going forward could be due to all sorts of things, that's the point; In a horse THAT newly broken it could be he's just confused, it could be bad tack fit, it could be lack of energy due to increased work load, it could be soreness anywhere, it could be lots of things, and it's worth suggesting all of them so they can be adequately explored in person. Don't throw your toys out of the pram because you got answers you didn't want.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

Unfortunately there are a significant number of bad farriers around. Not saying yours isn't doing a great job, there are of course lots of good farriers too, but its always good as an owner to know a bit yourself and to always question, as a general rule don't ever blindly trust professionals - vets, farriers, saddle fitters etc.

People are asking about his feet because you mentioned him tripping and not striding out.

If you have any concerns that the tripping might be sore feet showing up with rider weight it could be worth picking up a pair of hoof boots for his fronts - assuming he's reasonably easy to fit. They might be a handy thing to have around going forwards anyway, and if you find you don't need them have a reasonable resell value.

Definitely will get a pair and get the farrier out to have his feet checked and make sure he’s 100% sound. Thank you for your response.

 

[ycbm]

I asked for advice on keeping him forward whist I ride not advice on his hoofs

But you said he was tripping and that would most commonly, especially in a horse that young, be something that originates in the front feet.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

Not going forward could be due to all sorts of things, that's the point; In a horse THAT newly broken it could be he's just confused, it could be bad tack fit, it could be lack of energy due to increased work load, it could be soreness anywhere, it could be lots of things, and it's worth suggesting all of them so they can be adequately explored in person. Don't throw your toys out of the pram because you got answers you didn't want.

Answers I didn’t want?? Actually I got a lot out of this, I need to pick up a pair of hoof boots get voice commands sharper and work on them more, long line him on the road etc. This is Turing into a bitchy petty thread just shows how bitchy horsey people are... and just because I don’t want to take your advice on a random person you tagged. I would rather not...

 

[Deleted member 150717]

But you said he was tripping and that would most commonly, especially in a horse that young, be something that originates in the front feet.

I’ll Defo get his feet checked and get a pair of boots too.

 

[Chinchilla]

Answers I didn’t want?? Actually I got a lot out of this, I need to pick up a pair of hoof boots get voice commands sharper and work on them more, long line him on the road etc. This is Turing into a bitchy petty thread just shows how bitchy horsey people are...

No, not bitchy, giving you - as I said above - all the possibilities so you can investigate them fully and ensure your horse's welfare.
That is the polar opposite of bitchy.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

Thank you for all your lovely responses (well most of you!) I’ll leave it there thanks. Stay safe.

 

[laura_nash]

Are you a qualified vet or farrier?

This is unnecessary and rude. Chinchilla was suggesting getting advice from a well known HHO, not offering her own advice.

Esther has helped many people on here, some of whom have had their horses lamed by qualified vets and farriers.

For farriers in particular I really wouldn't have too much reverence for their qualifications, unless you admire metalworking. Look for experience, a willingness to learn and work with a client, who they apprenticed with etc.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

Not going forward could be due to all sorts of things, that's the point; In a horse THAT newly broken it could be he's just confused, it could be bad tack fit, it could be lack of energy due to increased work load, it could be soreness anywhere, it could be lots of things, and it's worth suggesting all of them so they can be adequately explored in person. Don't throw your toys out of the pram because you got answers you didn't want.

So that wasn’t petty or rude no?

 

[Deleted member 150717]

This is unnecessary and rude. Chinchilla was suggesting getting advice from a well known HHO, not offering her own advice.

Esther has helped many people on here, some of whom have had their horses lamed by qualified vets and farriers.

For farriers in particular I really wouldn't have too much reverence for their qualifications, unless you admire metalworking. Look for experience, a willingness to learn and work with a client, who they apprenticed with etc.

As I said previously “I’ll leave it there thank you” well most of you.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

This is unnecessary and rude. Chinchilla was suggesting getting advice from a well known HHO, not offering her own advice.

Esther has helped many people on here, some of whom have had their horses lamed by qualified vets and farriers.

For farriers in particular I really wouldn't have too much reverence for their qualifications, unless you admire metalworking. Look for experience, a willingness to learn and work with a client, who they apprenticed with etc.

This is unnecessary.

 

[ycbm]

For farriers in particular I really wouldn't have too much reverence for their qualifications, unless you admire metalworking.

?

 

[Gloi]

This is unnecessary.

But true

 

[ycbm]

This is unnecessary.

R12 you're a new member here, I think, and I'd like to offer you a little unsolicited advice that you can obviously feel free to ignore.

Unless you can develop a slightly thicker skin and be a bit less touchy and reactive, you probably are not going to enjoy being on the forum.
.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

R12 you're a new member here, I think, and I'd like to offer you a little unsolicited advice that you can obviously feel free to ignore.

Unless you can develop a slightly thicker skin and be a bit less touchy and reactive, you probably are not going to enjoy being on the forum.
.

?

 

[splashgirl45]

we have all come up with suggestions to help as you asked questions that some of us have had before and we can only quote our own experiences, in your first post you mentioned not going forward ,tripping and whether he needed shoes which is why so many commented on feet.. not all farriers are good with horses who stay without shoes and there have been many cases on here where forum members have helped with constructive advice.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

we have all come up with suggestions to help as you asked questions that some of us have had before and we can only quote our own experiences, in your first post you mentioned not going forward ,tripping and whether he needed shoes which is why so many commented on feet.. not all farriers are good with horses who stay without shoes and there have been many cases on here where forum members have helped with constructive advice.

Hopefully my horse won’t have to have shoes if the boots work. I’ve had a lot of advice from you and others what I’m grateful for I would rather just end the thread here before it gets out of hand ?

 

[Shysmum]

He is stunning ! I started my Shy at rising 4. For the next 18 months I was worried about how he didn't have any "ooomph". Now he is 14, and strides out beautifully, and has done since he stopped growing. Looking back, I realise how young and immature he was, and how much growing he had to do and how much energy that took ! He went from 13.2 to 15hh and didnt stop growing till he was 6/7. The key is to take your time, forget the whip, and go little by little. Ten to twenty minutes at most at three. Trust me, it will be worth it x Oh and don't forget saddle size changes, we went treeless in the end, he had me off with every treed saddle, which is why I'm bareback here ?

 

[Deleted member 150717]

He is stunning ! I started my Shy at rising 4. For the next 18 months I was worried about how he didn't have any "ooomph". Now he is 14, and strides out beautifully, and has done since he stopped growing. Looking back, I realise how young and immature he was, and how much growing he had to do ! He went from 13.2 to 15hh and didnt stop growing till he was 6/7. The key is to take your time, forget the whip, and go little by little. Trust me, it will be worth it x Oh and don't forget saddle size changes, we went treeless in the end. View attachment 66501

Thank you and wow 13.2hh to 15hh!! Mines grown since I’ve had him from 14.2 to 15.1 and the back lady said he still has some growing and filling and of course building muscle to do. I have all the time in the world with this one so hopefully no excuses as I’m no rush to get him backed.

 

[Shysmum]

Thank you and wow 13.2hh to 15hh!! Mines grown since I’ve had him from 14.2 to 15.1 and the back lady said he still has some growing and filling and of course building muscle to do. I have all the time in the world with this one so hopefully no excuses as I’m no rush to get him backed.

Yours wont stop growing till between 5 or six, and has a lot of filling out to do. Trust me, I was gutted to think Shy was a plod, but it all came down to growth and age. And yes he did stumble sometimes. As an ex RSPCA inspector I wish you both the very best life together xxx

 

[Deleted member 150717]

Yours wont stop growing till between 5 or six, and has a lot of filling out to do. Trust me, I was gutted to think Shy was a plod, but it all came down to growth and age. And yes he did stumble sometimes. As an ex RSPCA inspector I wish you both the very best life together xxx

I could of never of done your job. I would just adopt them all lol. ?? and thank you and you hopefully he’ll turn into a nice ridden horse xxx

 

[Lois Lame]

Unless you can develop a slightly thicker skin and be a bit less touchy and reactive, you probably are not going to enjoy being on the forum.
.

Which is a shame. This place can be so good if only posters leave off the last little sting at the end of a post. (And I don't mean your quoted post, YBCM)

Sometimes, to me, even just an ! at the end of a sentence can change the whole tone.

Several weeks ago, a poster was revered and crowned as Royalty because she didn't get reactive or touchy. I found that praise and carry-on a bit off, because it sounded like some posters were saying (in effect) if you listen to us and do what we say, you are fantastic.

Anyhow... yeah...

Rescue, I suspect your lovely boy doesn't quite understand what is wanted. Maybe if you have someone lead him using voice aids at the same time as leg aids, he can start to learn what the leg aids mean, but I've never dealt with a youngster who wasn't already broken in so I cannot advise.

For the record, I enjoyed watching the clip of that Aussie, Warwick Schiller, but I think his reasoning was incorrect. Quite totally incorrect, really. That's the first thing I've ever seen of him. He seems kind enough, though.

 

[Deleted member 150717]

Which is a shame. This place can be so good if only posters leave off the last little sting at the end of a post. (And I don't mean your quoted post, YBCM)

Sometimes, to me, even just an ! at the end of a sentence can change the whole tone.

Several weeks ago, a poster was revered and crowned as Royalty because she didn't get reactive or touchy. I found that praise and carry-on a bit off, because it sounded like some posters were saying (in effect) if you listen to us and do what we say, you are fantastic.

Anyhow... yeah...

Rescue, I suspect your lovely boy doesn't quite understand what is wanted. Maybe if you have someone lead him using voice aids at the same time as leg aids, he can start to learn what the leg aids mean, but I've never dealt with a youngster who wasn't already broken in so I cannot advise.

For the record, I enjoyed watching the clip of that Aussie, Warwick Schiller, but I think his reasoning was incorrect. Quite totally incorrect, really. That's the first thing I've ever seen of him. He seems kind enough, though.

Thank you for your response someone leads me when I’m out and I’ll work on leg aids and voice command as well. I’ll work on voice commands on the ground even more. Thanks.

 

[Chinchilla]

So that wasn’t petty or rude no?

No? It was true: speaking from personal experience, newly broken horses not going forwards can be due to all sorts of things, undoubtedly many, many more than I have mentioned, and I stand by what I've said that getting touchy at the suggestion that it might be his feet isn't actually doing your horse any favours, especially considering you were the one to bring it up in the op.

When breaking horses, you need to be open minded.


Best of luck with your boy anyway.