Is It Natural For Horses...

I think you have a lovely horse there. From what you have written, I think the very simple changes posters have suggested for you will transform things for you and this horse. I found it sad to read you YO is so stoic about her choices for what is essentially YOUR possession, however, I think that she probably thinks she is doing the best she can.

I think it's positive that you are here asking and taking things in. You should take up offers of members to come and help you. If not t least tell your YO you would like a second opinion as it is worrying you. She can't seriously stop you from doing that.
 
Pigeon said:
Also you sound pretty inexperienced, I feel that you should move to another yard, where you have more freedom over his regime, and can enlist the help of a recommended instructor. They can help you learn about things like tack and stable management as well as how to work the horse properly, without the restrictions this riding school is giving you.

Here's a before and after of one of mine, he looks a bit like yours at the beginning. There's 18 months between pictures. You can turn a horse around in only a few months with the right work, but it is not a cheap thing to do by any means.

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Mine didn't come with tack, so I didn't have a choice in buying a new saddle, but even discounting that, tb types in particular take a lot of feeding, supplementing, vet care, dentistry, farriery bills, even equine physio! As a horse's age increases, it needs these things even more.

A horse with an ill fitting saddle is in pain, I'm afraid :( How does he move when you ride him? And do you fund him, or do your parents? Horses are horribly expensive I'm afraid, there's no getting away from it, and it sounds as if you've jumped in at the deep end! Saddles don't have to be majorly expensive, you could go for a synthetic one?
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your horse looks stunning:eek::D and yes my parents fund for him.
in my opinion i am not as novice as i sound when it comes to horses, but obviously i won't say i'm a master in saddlery as i am not and i still have A LOT to learn:D. i used to loan this horse before my parents bought him for me but i have never come across ANYTHING like this which in a way is a good thing because i never knew what muscle wastage was ect. and i want to thank everybody for telling me what i thought was a completely normal that turned out to be something that could become serious in the future because me and my parents thought he came with good fitting tack but it has turned out not to be the case:(

it's just a shame that a pony that i bought from a place that i trusted never told me about anything like this:(
 
tallyho! said:
I think it's positive that you are here asking and taking things in. You should take up offers of members to come and help you. If not t least tell your YO you would like a second opinion as it is worrying you. She can't seriously stop you from doing that.
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thank you soo much for telling me this. my parents have arranged for the YO daughter (who is VERY knowledgable about horses) to check my saddle over with me and explain if there are any problems.:)
 
Thankyou! I was pretty inexperienced when I bought him, had never owned an ex racehorse!! He taught me a lot :o

It's sad, but in riding schools and such, especially if they themselves are tight on cash, they sometimes overlook things like that, and sometimes horses don't get the same individual attention they would get when they are privately owned.

How much livery do you pay for him to stay at the riding school? You can PM me if you prefer! And how much is it subsidised for him being used in the school?

There are definitely certain things you don't learn until you become a horse owner :p It's often a steep learning curve, and it's really good that you've been asking questions, instead of just following what the rs instructor tells you!
 
Please just pay for a saddle fitter...no matter how 'experienced' people are they're not master saddlers.

If you go on eBay and type in saddle company, they are a brand of saddle that imo make lovely comfy saddles for both horse and rider. They can be fully adjusted anywhere and everywhere by a qualified saddle company saddle fitter and normally on eBay very cheap. buy one and them have it fitted to your horse :) that's the only suggestion I can think of without spending lots of money. Just please never put a wintec on him!
 
I'd still be tempted to have a qualified fitter look the saddle over. Do you know when he last had his teeth looked at?

A horse that is comfortable and happy is a great thing to ride. :D
 
What saddle do you have at the moment ? Many saddlers will take a good quality saddle in px and I always think its better to buy a second hand quality saddle than a cheaper new one, so long as its fitted correctly. Get advice on here as to recommended saddlers in your area and bear in mind that your overall goal is to put on a bit of weight/condition and muscle which will alter the way a replacement saddle fits. Explain that to your saddle fitter.
 
Sorry if i am being dense here but if you own this horse why is the rs saying you arent allowed to hack out?? I get that this may be working livery but its your horse right?
 
Saddle fitters in Herts area that don't sell saddles or aren't too biased!
Its currently on page 7 !! Not sure how to post it as a link :o
 
The good thing though April is that you are taking on advice! A lot of people ask for advice and then shoot it down if its not what they want to hear. Bravo for not only seeking advice but also listening to it.
When you get sorted it would be nice to hear how she does in a few weeks/months time :)
 
Fii said:
Sorry if i am being dense here but if you own this horse why is the rs saying you arent allowed to hack out?? I get that this may be working livery but its your horse right?
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because my stables is by a busy road and apparently there was some accident with one of the horses or something and YO doesn't want that to happen again. i think your only allowed if your horse is 16hh or bigger and your like 16 or 18. i can't remember but something of that sort
 
What about if you went out with someone who fits that description?

I would definitely advise trying to find a place where you can hack, I think you learn the most, and bond with your horse when out hacking, and it's so much harder (and more boring!!) to get an animal fit if you can't ride it out.
 
ex racer rider said:
The good thing though April is that you are taking on advice! A lot of people ask for advice and then shoot it down if its not what they want to hear. Bravo for not only seeking advice but also listening to it.
When you get sorted it would be nice to hear how she does in a few weeks/months time :)
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thank you, i'm grateful that people have realised that despite me being inexpierienced in a situation like this, i have been open to any advice even though some may be unsuitable for my circumstances (for example hacks)but if i do move stables i can look back on this forum and use all these ideas.:D:D
 
Are hacks totally out of the question? And is lunging also? Because if those two are totally ruled out, you're really fighting an uphill battle in terms of sorting out his topline! Could you speak to the riding school owner about maybe lunging in an empty field or something? :)

If you are limited to ridden work in the arena, trotting poles might help! But saddle fitter is definitely first thing, if you can stretch your budget I would probably get his teeth checked too. Do you know when was the last time he had them done?
 
to be honest, the ground would be too uneven and hard. i think she is just trying to prevent acidents happening but to be honest, nothing in the world of equestrianism is safe and we should be allowed to lunge but i'm afraid not:(
 
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thank you:D
also i know it's very hard to recommend me ways to build up his muscle back (he's going to get his saddle checked so dw;)) and everything because my yard is soo restricted so i'm really sorry about that.
 
yes, i don't get why people get soo defensive when other posters are trying to help.:confused: i mean i'm not saying everyone does but quite a few do sometimes
 
You're a breath of fresh air. It's a shame yard is so restrictive but those rein backs someone suggested earlier and also, lots of carrot stretches will help stretch those muscles and wake them up. Do left and right and between the legs so it stretches the longissimus Dorsi... Do as much as the horse can offer to begin with.

Strapping might be an idea?
 
I know where you keep Tucker and worked their for many many years, the yard owners are the way they are because of past accidents. You can pay the staff to lunge on days you don't ride. Children are not allowed to lunge because of past trouble and being a riding school they do everthing possible to protect liveries, clients, horses and dogs. Please don't forget they have to opperate within certain guidlines to keep there bhs riding school licence too.
 
That's fair enough barney&buzz... Perhaps paying for lunging sessions are something that can be incorporated into Tuckers exercise programme aprilblue?
 
I assume your horse is in working livery at the yard and used for lessons?
I can totally understand this as it keeps the bills down.
However, as well as the saddle issue, the fact he is on working livery will have a huge impact on his muscle development .
For your pics I would say that he is a quiet easy ride so I imagine he is used for less experienced riders and children? This type of rider will have ( through no fault of their own as they are riding for pleasure ) no concept of riding the horse correctly into a round , correct out line,therefore you will always be battling against this.
I would also question the yard owner as to how much hay he is having, what rugs he is wearing and what hard feed he is eating?
 
Ahh I feel for you so many riding schools can be like this (and alot arent)

Ive seen riding schools who have like 5 saddles and they will literally chuck them on whatever is going in that lesson regardless if 11.2hh or 16.2hh :eek:

Its a good job the horses are so forgiving.... they also scoff at you for wanting a saddle fitter or a dentist etc.... :rolleyes:

People think we are mad as we have the dentist every year (more if there is an issue) and the physio every 6 months and then 'waste of money things' like the saddler fitter out..... :eek: and people wonder why our horse is fit (the older one not Spring she isnt started yet) and can hunt etc and there horses are forever lame or on box rest or colicing or acting up... hmm I wonder why..... most of the horses that are 'naughty' are either coping with badly fitting tack a bad back sore mouth or all 3 :(

We have to use the line 'you see to yours and we will see to ours' including 'wasting' money on physios and dentists lol :rolleyes:

Its hard when your stuck on a place like that...... :(

Keep us posted with what the saddle fitter says :D
 
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