I'd be interested to know your thoughts re. work/horses

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Half-Halt

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I'm contemplating taking on a 3 yr old (posted a pic of her in app/spottie piccies the other day). She's been backed and hacked out a bit. Lovely temp, she's such a happy pony.

She's my cousins pony atm, and being kept there - but they have no school.

I was just wondering everyone's thoughts on how i'd be able to juggle a 9-5 5day a week job with bringing on a youngster slowly. In winter, it will be dusk by the time i get there from work so would only reaaaally be able to ride at weekends. But then is this a problem if she's being brought on slowly? Or would this hinder progress the stop-start all the time, should the work be consistent? I think she's nearly 4 now, not been overworked and she loves attention and being ridden.

The other option is to keep bringing her on until the nights turn darker again and then turn her away for the winter. Then start again next summer and consider livery in the winter where i could ride say every other day in a school (with lights ;) ) then hack at weekends?
 
what about turning her away for a while ? That's what I'm doing with my boy, other than taking him for a walk every day and doing groundwork. Honestly, don't worry about not being able to do too much, you can take all the time in the world.

I spoke to the back man yesterday, and he told me my boy won't be fully mature till he's six (the pelvis slides into place i think he said), and he'll grow another couple of inches, but filling out all round. So the next few years, I'll be taking it easy.

Hope that helps. How are you doing, been thinking of you. sm x
 
I don't see a problem with this.

I'm taking it slow with my boy - he's 4 (and I'm fully aware of the not mature until they are 6 business) - we do bits of schooling, hacking, lunging, beach rides, in hand showing and even the odd jump but only a max of three times a week and sometimes less. Want him to enjoy his work and not be soured by the time he's 5.
 
Yeah i've been contemplating that. Have been offered a field not far from my house and have got a companion at the ready!

I've told myself all along i was going to wait and buy an older horse that's been there and done it but i just love the idea of having something at this age, they've not been through any trauma and you can learn to know them like the back of your hand and do everything your way :) Especially as she's such a nice sort.

Thank you :) In a way i'm glad he was pts in the end. I just hated the thought of him bleeding to death, even if it was painless. 2 years ago i had nearly the same thing! - had my tonsils out and i got an infection in there and it attacked the artery (was like a scene out of casualty :P) so i know how it feels to have blood gushing out...

My cousins taken it v. bad atm but going to get her stuck in with Spottie pony this weekend. She's had him since he was a foal and he was such a lovely character it's odd not having him around. The worst bit is he was going to be for my 9 year old cousin to show and she loved him to bits. Every pony we go to look at for her now will always be compared to him. I could talk about him all day but better stop there :P thank you for thinking of us! x
 
Thanks Vanner :) Priority is to get her out and seeing the big wide world so would also take her to a few in-hand shows although unsure of what classes?
Wil post a pic of her here. Can you give me your thoughts on her?
 
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ooooo she's lovely !! Yup, i would go for it ! I always wanted a youngster to do myself, and I've loved every minute of it. I'm so proud of the boy for having put up with me tbh, as I got most of it out of books :eek: But tho i say it myself, he's turned out a cracker :D even if the not riding atm is hard.

It will certainly give you something to get stuck into. I'm so glad you are ok, and yes the pts option was the kindest way to go for little Bear. But the gap they leave beind is just huge. :(

sm x
 
Hi Halfhalt,

First of all wanted to say how sorry I am about Bear.

With regard to youngsters, I bought all 3 of my boys as foals/yearlings (they are now 10,10 and 8 respectively). At the time I rented a very basic field about 10 minutes walk from my house. I had no facilities whatsoever, the field was on a steep hillside (no flat ground at all) and nowhere to do any work with the horses except about 300 yards of track and a quiet housing estate.

I started my boys very slowly though, aged 4, and walked them in hand up and down the track and through the housing estate. When they were backed I did the same. I did take it very slowly with them and yes, in the winter they only got exercised at the weekends, and even in summer not every day. However they were (and still are) living out 24/7/365 so they got adequate exercise anyway.

I can honestly say that I had no problems with doing things that way. My plan had always been to take things slowly - and in hindsight I'm very pleased that I did.

When the boys were finally ready for more serious/proper work, I did eventually need to move them to another place (still on my own rented land) in order to bring them on further. However, I still had no menage (still don't). The new place, however, did have a decent flat grass schooling area and far better hacking.

Anyway, I could go on, but won't. Just want to say that it can be done, and without too much difficulty either. You DON'T need posh facilities. I have absolutely no regrets and even in hindsight wouldn't change the way I did things.

PS: One of my boys just needs 1 more qualifying ride to become an advanced endurance horse. One is competing at novice level endurance and the third competes at unaffiliated dressage. So, you can even be successful in competition with no facilities!
 
Thanks Faro :)

I was always one to have the "ready-made" horse/pony and every single one had it's own deep seated problem because of something that had happened to it so it appeals greatly to me having something to work on myself.

Bear was one of 3 foals that was bought to show and he's the one that was kept when he became a yearling as he was most suitable for little cousin - even though he was the least successful in the showing scene, he had the best temperment. I do like having the younger ones around and seeing their individual characters develop.

I appreciate your example and obviously it can be done. I have all the time in the world and she'll be with me for life. We have plenty of hacking on and off road, she's already very good in traffic as we have lots of tractors and lorries that go whizzing around here, and there's always a field available to school in. Can always box up every now and then and get her out seeing places also :)

Going to get on her again this weekend or i might just take her for a few walks on her own cause she hasn't done too much on her own. Really don't want a clingy, nappy pony!
 
fantastic - keep us posted !! Shy had never been out on his own and just took lots of encouragement - as he got to know me better, I don't think he was alone. Once you develop the trust you'll both be fine sm x
 
I had my two at 3 and four year olds, backed myself Sept last year and brought on slowly through winter with work being done on them at weekends...only being able to work with them twice a week has ensured they arent doing too much too soon especially with the oldest being slowest to mature, groudn work and gentle hacks will be no problem, you can even school whilst hacking :) I`ve taught mine to leg yield down roads, on tracks, we do circles in random fields, voice command, transitions, it can all be down whilst hacking you dont have to have a school :)
good luck and hope you have lots of fun :)xxx
 
Thanks!

So for now would the following be ok..
Walking out in hand
Riding short distances in company
Possible short amounts of schooling in a field e.g walk and trott
What about lungeing/long reining?
& of course il be doing plenty of groundwork. She's got perfect stable manners anyway but bathing, brushing, backing up etc.
Also need to work on our standing still.. :P

She was backed a few months ago, has been hacked in company for about 20mins each time - but i think only around 10 times or less, on road and through a wood/field but the route is in a circle so she never turned round to go home. She has seen virtually all traffic types.
 
I am being careful with lungeing tbh - it can put a lot of pressure on the joints. the boy hasn't quite worked it out, and tends to tear around, so I have let that drop for now, esp during this growth spurt. the vet said he'd be fine on 20 metre circles, but i don't have enough contol to do them that big (yet) !!!.

You do have more control long-reining (I think) so that may be much better. Will be interesting to see what peeps say :) sm x
 
I think much depends on her temperament and outlook on life. If she is laid back and placid, then riding at weekends will probably be fine. If she is a little more stressy and excitable then you may find that riding at weekends might not be enough for her, in which case you are better to turn her away until the evenings are lighter and you can work her more consistently.
 
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