I've got a 4 year old club

[Kenzo]

I've got a 4 year club

Hello and welcome you crazy people, why couldn't you be normal and buy something older, broken in, ready schooled and hacking out nicely, something you can take competing every weekend?

But oh no....you like spending money you haven't got, falling out with your OH's because there jealous....''you spend more time with that horse than you do with me'', breaking bones, getting trampled on, bitten, kicked, dragged, boxed, attacked, rope burns galore, head buts, being an emotional wreck, a farriers worst night mare,,,,the person everyone avoids at your livery yard just in case you ask that dreaded question ''is it ok if I ride out with you, just up the road...I'm sure he/she'll be ok'', being confined to the four corners of the ménage, find out why they invented sticky bum jodhpurs and body protects....and that's just for loading not ridiing lol! and finally have the letters V E T programmed as a speed dial on your mobile phone, your on first name terms with every tack shop in your area and you've seen more saddles than you can shake a stick at.

oh the joys the joys...and there just a few...if you aint had em yet...don't hold ya breath lol!!

So whats everyone got and are we all cooking on gas? please complete your joining details:-


Hands-
Breed -
Colour -
Birthday -
Buy or Bred -
Broken in yet -
Mare or Gelding -
Worst Moment So Far -
Proudest Moment So Far -
Future plans, dreams for the future -
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old -

Do you like how I've sloped my questions....couldn't of done it if I tried, its known as the sliperly side of owning a youngster, like a roll coaster, just waiting for everything to fall into place and things suddently pick up, taking you right up there back to the top and you can look back down and think yes it was all worth it, I LOVE MY HORSE!...while you all bandaged up and leg is in a brace

So come you lot, get typing away see how many of us there is!

 

[ihatework]

I'll join your club

Hands- 16.1 1/2 and growing (quickly)
Breed - 3/4 TB, 1/4 ID
Colour - Iron Grey
Birthday - May
Buy or Bred - Bought at 18 months
Broken in yet - Yes
Mare or Gelding - Gelding
Worst Moment So Far - Wrong brand of superglue and unexpected rendevous with concrete resulting in broken elbow
Proudest Moment So Far - .... urm, everyone elase seems to like him!
Future plans, dreams for the future - affiliated eventing
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - light hacking and schooling

 

[Theresa_F]

Hands- front end 15 - back end 15.1 to end up 15.1 - 15.2

Breed - gypsy cob

Colour - bay tobanio

Birthday - this weekend - born either last week June/first week of July

Buy or Bred - bought as yearling

Broken in yet - backed and basics estabished, fairly bomproof

Mare or Gelding - gelding

Worst Moment So Far - once only huge bucking fit when newly bucked - never repeated (touch wood)

Proudest Moment So Far - too many but probably sitting on him for the first time will always be proudest moment ever

Future plans, dreams for the future - win a BSPA championship and to have a true master jack of all trades

What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old

Picking him up Saturday from three weeks professional schooling then off to our second and showing show. Plan to spend summer doing showing and dressage and winter hacking and continuing schooling and starting little poles.

Can I now join?

 

[Halfpass]

Well actually I had every intention of buying anything but what I bought. In my mind I was buying a 16.1hh 5 year old + gelding that had some proven unaff comp history that I could just get on and ride. Instead 2 years ago I bough Alee. She is now:-

Hands - 16.3hh (and still growing!!!)
Breed - Selle Francais
Colour - Bay
Birthday - June 5th
Buy / Breed - Bought Nov 2006
Borken in yet - Hell yeh!!!
Mare / Gelding - Mare
Worst moment so far - Jumping out of the stable 3 times the week after I got her!!
Proudest moment so far - Yesterday in our lesson
Future plans, dreams for the future - affiliated dressage and if I'm feeling brave some BSJA
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - light hacking and schooling

 

[xxkatejayxx]

Can I join, though itll only be for a while as she'll be 5 in a couple of weeks.
Hands- 14.2
Breed - New Forest x
Colour - Bay Roan
Birthday - 13th July
Buy or Bred - Was an accident! I'll be having her on loan from my friend
Broken in yet - Yes, has been broken about a year & a half
Mare or Gelding - Mare
Worst Moment So Far - Can't think of one at the mo
Proudest Moment So Far - Getting a 3rd in the best turned out class at our 1st ever show
Future plans, dreams for the future - More showing, fun rides, beach rides maybe
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - Hacking, schooling and the odd local show

 

[eventgirl]

Hands- 16.2
Breed- TB
Colour- Chestnut
Birthday -April
Buy/Bred -bought in feb
M/G- mare
Broken in yet - finally backed after many a battle
Worst moment - galloping through the post and rail 4 days after getting her

Proudest moment - walking round the indoor school with me on without any sign of murderous thoughts on either part!

Future plans - eventing

What are you doing at the moment - well after 6 hard months, the ginger beast has finally allowed me to sit on her and walk around then dismount of my own accord!this is a major achievement. hoping things will now progress, maybe we will try a trot soon!! plan to spend the summer falling off as little as possible!!

please can I join?

 

[Kenzo]

Brilliant we have members!!!!!!!!!!

come on peaple dont be shy, I know there's more of you out there....come and join us

....we won't bite

 

[Ezme]

Yay! I spawned the idea for a club!

Unfortunatly Jakey isn't mine, he's owned by the National trust but I look after him, him 3yr old brother, 19yr old shire, 7yr brabant/boulanaise, but here goes:

Hands- 16.1 at withers, 16.2 on the bum, damn slow growin heavys
Breed - Pure Percheron
Colour - Currently Dapple grey, going lighter by the day
Birthday - 20something May
Buy or Bred - Bought
Broken in yet - Driving 2 months, saddle 2 weekish
Mare or Gelding - Gelding
Worst Moment So Far - Ummm not fond of traffic but the worst you'll get is a step to the side. Oh and he walks into hedges while ridden... steering is still an issue... lol
Proudest Moment So Far - Thats the subject of a whole thread!
Future plans, dreams for the future - He is going to be a carriage horse for the national trust arlington courts stables and carriage collection which he's already doing a little of, 6 rides a day, a couple days a week and can cope with a country skills day already! (see other post) He'll also be doing all the local parades, carnivals, weddings and TV work.
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - schooling for driving and working on suppleness, just getting him out and about undersaddle

 

[charlie76]

I have the ride on one at the moment:
Hands-
Breed - Hessen Warmblood
Colour - Dapple Grey
Birthday -May 2004
Buy or Bred - Bought
Broken in yet - Yep, just started competing
Mare or Gelding - Gelding
Worst Moment So Far - Spending 40 minutes at a water filled ditch until we were both exhausted!! Jumped it 6 times in the end!
Proudest Moment So Far - Coming 2nd in his 2nd novice dressage test and behaving beautifully at his first show.
Future plans, dreams for the future -To go up the levels BD
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - training and schooling for young horse classes. Starting to jump.

This is him:

 

[neigh]

Hands- 16.2

Breed - TB By Tinsley Faerie (sp?) Legend

Colour - Bay

Birthday - May

Buy or Bred - On loan

Broken in yet - Yes

Mare or Gelding - Gelding

Worst Moment So Far - Touch wood....yet to have one

Proudest moment - Going to first dressage competition and being totally well behaved and not even spooking at the white boards!

Future plans, dreams for the future - affiliated eventing

What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - light hacking and schooling. Aiming for BYEH. Low level dressage and SJ

 

[Kenzo]

me me me...my turn.....

Hands- 15.3 (last time I measured him, seems to be growing out wards rather than upwards!)

Breed - WB/TB/Devil

Colour - Steel Grey..or is it Iron Grey...not quite sure but its fur and it keeps his bones dry

Birthday - June ...same as moi...hence we have a parrrrrtay!

Buy or Bred - Bought, god help me I bred that beast (only kidding) bought him May 2007

Broken in yet - Yes by the breeder, beginning of Jan this year, been an absolute star and not yet gone out of the side,front or rear door ...dome day will arrive and you'll all hear about it lol!

Mare or Gelding - neither...he's gay....because he can be grumpy...and I dress him in pink (well just the headcoller and lead rope but he does have a sparkly brownband) just to humiliate him lol!

Worst Moment So Far - Occasions when he's tried to savage me in ménage, while teaching him to lunge

Proudest Moment So Far - First time I sat on him, every time I ride him, he just seems so willing to please and pick things up really quickly.

Future plans, dreams for the future - start of with some dressage, then introduce some jumping, do some hunting then hopefully evening.

What are you doing at the movement with your 4yr old - Schooling (walk,trot and canter transitions) keeping it enjoyable, short and simple, walking out in hand and little (very little) hacks out sometimes on our own. Gong to take him to some shows, just to potter about, get used to the change of atmosphere, travelling, improving his social skills and hopefully might win a rosette in a in hand class...perhaps!

Just having fun really, not building my hopes up too much and taking every day as it comes, so pleased with his progres and attitude to work that I cant complain as yet.

 

[Bossanova]

Technically she's Weezy's

Hands- 16.2
Breed - Warmblood, by Randi
Colour - Grey
Birthday - May sometime?
Buy or Bred - Bought 2 months ago from Teffy
Broken in yet - Yep
Mare or Gelding - Mare
Worst Moment So Far - Cant think of any
Proudest Moment So Far - Her first proper ridden session
Future plans, dreams for the future - Sell her as an sjer/ BYEH prospect
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - Schooling/hacking

 

[EarlGrey]

Yay! Can I join too?

Hands- 14.3 and growing height and widthways
Breed - Clydesdale x Hackney (strange combo)
Colour - Grey Roan
Birthday - June 2004
Buy or Bred - Purchased in Feb 2008
Broken in yet - Was broken in when purchased
Mare or Gelding - Gelding
Worst Moment So Far - Disgracing ourselves at the Amateur Showing Society by charging around the ring like a loon!
Proudest Moment So Far - Winning our first ridden cob show (his second time out) and qualifying for the Royal London Show

Plus last weekend I took him round the minimus course after the class had finished and he went so sweetly for me. I'd never jumped him before. They were very small jumps and he knocked a few down with his big old cob feet!!! but I was so thrilled as I haven't showjumped since breaking my ankle showjumping when I was 12!
Future plans, dreams for the future - I would love to get in the final line up at one of the big County Shows or even qualify for HOYS... Hmmm lots of work to then!
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - Lots of hacking and one or two schooling lessons a week. He gets 15mins with my experienced instructor then 20mins with me.

 

[josephinebutter2]

Oh wow - have I finally found people that understand me!!!

All I seem to get is "when are you going to start taking her to shows then" - give us a chance - I've only been riding her for 9 weeks!

Hands- 16.2 1/2 and still growing
Breed - KWPN
Colour - was jet black last year, but going a bit bay now
Birthday - March
Buy or Bred - brought her last year
Broken in yet - yes
Mare or Gelding - mare
Worst Moment So Far - being bucked off when I tried a new saddle on her - it had an A5 orange lable on it which I wanted to take off, but the saddler just tucked it in - needless to say, it came out, flapped about a bit and she showed her displeasure so to say! I was so dazed I brought the saddle, even tho I didn't think it fitted properly - managed to get my money back when I was in a better state of mind luckily! Lesson learned!
Proudest Moment So Far - every time she does something new or better!
Future plans, dreams for the future - to have lots and lots of fun!
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - light hacking & schooling - lunged her over her first jump at the weekend - she can definitely jump! Don't want to do too much with her at the mo as she is having a bit of a growth spirt and I don't want to break her before we have even started!

 

[1275gta]

Mines just 5 Can I still join11111111111

Hands- 14.2
Breed - Irish COB
Colour - Black
Birthday - May/June
Buy or Bred - Buy
Broken in yet - Yes
Mare or Gelding - Gelding
Worst Moment So Far - Cows running up inside of fence
Proudest Moment So Far - Our first and Second Lesson he was so well behaved
Future plans, dreams for the future - Hope to do some RC showing and maybe some jumping

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Another Member!
Hands - 16hh
Breed - ISH according to Denmead Stud Certificate
Colour - Appaloosa (white with big black spots on bottom)
Birthday - May
Buy or Bred- Purchased Oct 07
Broken in yet: Broken In with great care when purchased
Mare or Gelding - Gelding
Worst Moment So Far- Meeting 100's of manic mountain bikers on a race on bridleway so working through bike phobia
Proudest Moment So Far - Did 11 days hunting between 22 Dec and March- only 2 hours at a time (vet encouraged us to take him)and no jumping other than logs but was perfect with hounds, large fields of horses and was even happy to have a go at whipping in and catching loose horses, helping riders remount by standing quietly when the rest of the field comes charging past!
Future Plans and Dreams for the Future: Clearing the hunt jumps next season and some BSJA as he has a huge jump!

 

[Ezme]

This makes me feel so good, look at all these horses being allowed to be horses and develop fully! Especially as alot of these are big girls n guys that definalty need the time!

 

[Kenzo]

Hi Ezme,

Do you think some of us are doing too much with them at 4 years old?..not sure what you meant by your reply, just wondering what your thoughts were (not in a bad way) just genuinly wondering, or do you actually mean that most of us are taking things at a reasonable rate compaired to perhaps what others do.

I'm worried now, I honestly dont push my lad too hard at all....or am?

 

[Ezme]

I meant the good thing! Everyone on here seems to be taking thier youngsters at a reasonable rate, not thrashing them all the time inorder to get results, forgoing the long term view. Sometimes jakey is worked more often than he should, but he's a working horse and has to earn he keep as early as possible or he's out the door, but he's never over worked in a single session and always has enough time to recover i.e. he did 6 carriage rides wednesday, went for a hack for 40mins in walk with a 30s trot yesterday and will do 6 rides today and have saturday off.

You see all these "professionals" who get on them at 2 1/2- 3 thrash them, compete them at everything going to sell them on then they propmtly fall appart mentally and physically when new owner gets them home. All these lovely sounding beasts on here are being listend to and all sound wonderful and because everyones taking there time there seem to be very few "worst moments"

 

[cazmoreton]

New owner of a 4 year old

Hands- 15hh (bum high 15.1)
Breed - Welsh Sec D
Colour - Bright Bay
Birthday - April sometime
Buy or Bred - Buy (last weekend)
Broken in yet - Yeah
Mare or Gelding - Gelding
Worst Moment So Far - Only had him a week tomorow

Proudest Moment So Far - Every moment, he's been a star! They YO's OH who has no interest atall in horses pointing out how stunning he is

Future plans, dreams for the future - Get as far as we can with jumping

What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - Getting to know him, Hacking/ Schooling.

(THE TWO MIDDLE PHOTO'S IN MY SIG)

x

 

[htobago]

My 4yo is H Tobago:

Hands- 15.1/15.2
Breed - Arab
Colour - Chestnut
Birthday - March
Buy or Bred - Buy
Broken in yet - No
Mare or Gelding - Stallion
Worst Moment So Far - Poor chap freaking out all night at an international show as a 2yo
Proudest Moment So Far - Far too many to say!
Future plans, dreams for the future - Probably dressage, and breeding more fab babies...sport horses as well as show-Arabs
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - He's in his second very busy stud season so, er, mostly he's bonking a dummy-mare...

 

[Eira]

Ooooh Can I join pleeese

Hands- 17
Breed - ISH
Colour - Red and White
Birthday - 2/3/04
Buy or Bred - Bought as an untouched 3yo
Broken in yet - Broken in December 07
Mare or Gelding - Mare
Worst Moment So Far - Breaking my finger last year
Proudest Moment So Far - Her competing last weekend
Future plans, dreams for the future - For her to make it round Badminton (

)
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old -
Hacking/Schooling
She is off to boarding school in the next few weeks

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
I've got a 4 year club


Hands- 16.3ish in front, 17.2ish behind

Breed - Shire x TB
Colour - Black
Birthday - July
Buy or Bred - Bought, met when helped foster her (orphan)
Broken in yet - No
Mare or Gelding - Mare
Worst Moment So Far - Colic surgery
Proudest Moment So Far - Surviving colic surgery
Future plans, dreams for the future - To finish pulling her mane...it's like the Forth Road Bridge - I start at one end...
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - feeding her, and exhorting her to grow more evenly so she's less croup high.



[/ QUOTE ]

There - can I join?
S

 

[checkmate1]

May I join too??
Hands- 16.1 1/2
Breed - WBxTB
Colour - Skewbald
Birthday - April 24th 2004
Buy or Bred - Bought april '07
Broken in yet - Yep, in march
Mare or Gelding - Mare
Worst Moment So Far - When she jumped onto the muckheap and sank to her belly (2 weeks ago), when she cut her head open loading in the trailer(last year), when she couldn't walk 2 months ago from a crippling injury(lol there are a few!!)
Proudest Moment So Far - Hacking her out for the first time + getting her to work in and outline when longreining her last night

Future plans, dreams for the future - To be able to ride her again!! hopefully event, show, generally have fun
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old -
Starting to bring her slowley back into work after injury, long reining and lunging.

 

[amanda123]

I'm new here so hopefully I can join whilst I'm still alive!
Hands:16.2hh at least!
Breed:KWPN by Metall
Colour:Bay
Birthday:May I think
Buy or Bred:Bought by friend she's not actually mine unfortunately, about 4 weeks ago.
Broken in yet:Yes and No, bought as unbroken but since found she was sent away (somewhere much posher than me )and thay asked old owner/breeder to come and collect her after about 8 weeks, unbroken! Not very clear what happened. Something to do with someone comeing off her the 2nd time she was sat on and putting a dummy on her and loosing her and she doesn't (didnt) lunge or longrein.
Mare or Gelding:Mare
Worst moment so far:There hasn't been one yet!
Proudest moment: My 14 year old daughter leant across her in the stable and she happily walked forward a few steps. (I'm in the get on them in the stable fan club). We are taking things from the beginning very slowly, so dont expect me to be riding her next week! PS she lunges nicely now and has just started to go for a little trip on the long reins.
Future plans/Dreams: to give her a good start so she can go and be a superstar for someone.
PS I sort of agreed to take her on to see what i could do with her, not for payment, so I must be really mad! I dont do horses for a living but have had quite a lot of experience over quite a lot of years ,I dont profes to be an expert though! I'll keep you posted.

 

[Salcey]

Hands- 15.1
Breed - Amercian Paint
Colour - Grey
Birthday - July sometime?
Buy or Bred - Bought Feb 08
Broken in yet - Yep
Mare or Gelding - Mare
Worst Moment So Far - discovering her very stubborn streak
Proudest Moment So Far - Her first proper ridden session
Future plans, dreams for the future - PC/Jump Prospect
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - Schooling/hacking

 

[Shilasdair]

I see people are concerned at the amount of work they are/aren't doing with their youngster, and just wanted to say that all 4yos are different in terms of maturity.
I have no issue at all with people working them properly...and the only reason my girl is not yet broken is that she's quite immature (she's actually still 3yo), she has had mouth ulcers from her incisor permanents growing in (now just about finished), and she is physically very immature compared with some of your guys, being really croup high.
I'll probably lunge her, long rein her, and back her starting next month, with the plan to just sit on her then turn her away til next year.
S

 

[MagicMelon]

I think I can join although my current 4yo project is only ickle so not a "proper" horse

Hands- 13hh
Breed - Welsh B
Colour - Grey/blue/strawberry roan (bit of everything!)
Birthday - end of April '04
Buy or Bred - bought
Broken in yet - yep, gently backed in february whe bought
Mare or Gelding - gelding
Worst Moment So Far - loading beautifully to leave to go to be ridden in a hired indoor school and then refusing to load to come home, it was dark (9pm at night!), PISSING freezing rain and I had work the next day. Hacked off wasnt the word. Although this has been the ONLY bad moment Ive had with him so not bad! Loaded great last time out
Proudest Moment So Far - He was easy as hell to back and is so willing so Im proud of his temperament and attitude.
Future plans, dreams for the future - He'll start competing soon if my (small) rider will hurry up and stop being away, right now shes jumping at Hickstead, the nerve! lol. Then he'll be up for sale.
What are you doing at the momement with your 4yr old - About to start jumping spooky things like rolled up tarpolin under jumps etc. so he'll find fillers etc. a breeze at his first jumping comp soon. Otherwise working on getting him to relax on a nice contact more consitently.