Livery for a youngster

[Janeuk1]

I have bought a youngster (yearling filly), but I've started to lose confidence even though she is lovely I am really nervous leading her and I'm not getting as much time as I'd like to educate her. She's good to groom and picks up her feet, and will follow me around. I love her to bits and don't want to sell her so I'm looking at the option of putting her on livery somewhere (northwest) that will bring her on until she is ready for backing. Any suggestions?
(she's a welsh section d, expected to make 15hh)

 

[Herts05]

Can you get someone to work with you and help you so that you can keep your horse at home until you can send away for backing? You may find that with a bit of guidance and ground rule setting you can get through this little blip

 

[HBM1]

I have bought a youngster (yearling filly), but I've started to lose confidence even though she is lovely I am really nervous leading her and I'm not getting as much time as I'd like to educate her. She's good to groom and picks up her feet, and will follow me around.

that is all you really need them to be as yearlings...they don't need overhandling or they can become frustrated and then their behaviour deteriorates. It is great to hear of an owner of a youngster recognising when they need help though, we all have and still do in my case..it is far better to nip issues in the bud than continue and end up with a ruined horse...is there something she is doing that is making you lose confidence? Or why are you nervous leading her?

 

[Janeuk1]

She isn't doing anything really bad, not bolting off or dragging me around just the odd rear or buck or refusing to move forward. I think the problem is probably more me - I've handled bigger, naughty horses and don't really know why I've suddenly got so nervous! Perhaps I am worrying so much that I will do things wrong and ruin her I'm making a moutain out of a molehill. I keep thinking I should be doing more with her but maybe just handling her now is enough? (she doesn't bite or kick and you can touch her anywhere - her stable manners are really pretty good for a 1 year old)
am i just stressing over nothing?! I did put a local advert up to try and get a little help with her a couple of times a week from somebody more experienced but haven't had any respoinse yet. Fingers crossed!

 

[HBM1]

you sound like you are doing fine. One of my homebred fillies was hideously opinionated, I swear she came out running in the opposite direction. Her favourite game was to run along at a hearty trot with new handlers to make sure they had what it took to keep up. I have had her mother since she herself was four days old and can honestly say she was much easier! Give me boys any day though....I really wouldn't handle her too much if it was me...mine mostly live in a field until they need the farrier etc, they do remember their handling as foals and it is a nice time to just build up a nice relationship with them by not asking a whole lot. If she refuses to walk forwards when leading her, make her walk backwards, when she walks forwards give her lots of praise and neck scratches. Don't look at her when leading, just walk purposefully forwards and talk to her. Ignore her if she messes about by keeping firm and soon as she does good, more scratches etc but while still walking. I never give them treats at that age either, all they get from me in the field is attention, the occasional groom and me yacking at them (poor things).

 

[Janeuk1]

Thank you I am feeling a little more positive already and I think maybe I just needed a little reasurance that I'm doing ok. She's just being a normal youngster and I have to accept that its par for the course and she's pretty well behaved in the grand scheme of things.