Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
Thank-you.
Mylo & Myka
- Thread starter Ample Prosecco
- Start date
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
I was surprised to realise I first got on her 6 weeks ago when I worked it out. It feels like longer ago than that. So yes I am pleased with the progress. Mainly because I am riding her solo now - I am no longer dependent on having someone with me every time.
The video should be first 3months under saddle though. I need to edit the title - Joe got on her for several weeks before I first rode her.
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
So proud of Myka at Somerford!!
She’s taking everything in her stride and proving to be an absolute star. Just three weeks ago, at the Joe camp she was feeling pretty unsettled at times. It took a solid hour of groundwork before getting on even felt remotely possible. And even then, riding her felt like sitting on a coiled spring.
Fast forward to now: I’ve brought her with me to Somerford while I run a camp. This is a much busier setting — more people, more horses, tents, flapping flags, farm vehicles, and strong winds. The horses are stabled throughout camp, and the atmosphere is a lot more intense.
My plan was simple: run through our usual pre-flight checks and see if she felt ready. I had zero expectations — maybe a few flexions, a little pootle around, and hopefully a quiet walk back to the stables from the arena. Our very first 'hack'. You’ve got to start somewhere!
Well… she blew me away. She’s grown up so much in just 3 weeks. Her window of tolerance has widened significantly.
On Day 1, our checks took all of 10 minutes — she was calm, focused, and listening. Once I got on, we walked and trotted around while other horses cantered through grids just on the other side of the fence. Our little hack back to the stable block? Uneventful. She was relaxed and happy.
Day 2 was windier and she was definitely more alert and reactive — flapping flags, noisy horses, odd sounds — but after a little groundwork and connection, she settled beautifully. I got on and we rode around the 80-acre site with a nanny horse. She met new sights and sounds with curiosity instead of fear.
She stood quietly and watched another horse canter through the wate - curious instead of afraid.. She wasn’t quite ready to dip a hoof in herself, but she sniffed it. Baby steps — and most importantly, stress-free, positive learning.
Day 3 she was super calm again. And as a rider went home with a lame horse I nicked her dressage lesson. Mykas was awesome. We did polework and she serpentined through poles as well as finishing by trotting the full line. Calm as a cucumber. Absolutely thrilled with her attitide and the feel she is giving me under saddle.
I don’t want to jinx it, but it really feels like she’s turned a corner. The foundation Joe built with her is clearly starting to pay off — she’s trusting more, thinking more, and reacting less. Rather than defaulting to panic, she’s pausing, processing, and exploring.
I know there will be more challenges ahead, but for now, I couldn’t be happier or prouder of my baby pony.
Thanks @photo_jo for the fabulous pictures. Polework pics to come....
She’s taking everything in her stride and proving to be an absolute star. Just three weeks ago, at the Joe camp she was feeling pretty unsettled at times. It took a solid hour of groundwork before getting on even felt remotely possible. And even then, riding her felt like sitting on a coiled spring.
Fast forward to now: I’ve brought her with me to Somerford while I run a camp. This is a much busier setting — more people, more horses, tents, flapping flags, farm vehicles, and strong winds. The horses are stabled throughout camp, and the atmosphere is a lot more intense.
My plan was simple: run through our usual pre-flight checks and see if she felt ready. I had zero expectations — maybe a few flexions, a little pootle around, and hopefully a quiet walk back to the stables from the arena. Our very first 'hack'. You’ve got to start somewhere!
Well… she blew me away. She’s grown up so much in just 3 weeks. Her window of tolerance has widened significantly.
On Day 1, our checks took all of 10 minutes — she was calm, focused, and listening. Once I got on, we walked and trotted around while other horses cantered through grids just on the other side of the fence. Our little hack back to the stable block? Uneventful. She was relaxed and happy.
Day 2 was windier and she was definitely more alert and reactive — flapping flags, noisy horses, odd sounds — but after a little groundwork and connection, she settled beautifully. I got on and we rode around the 80-acre site with a nanny horse. She met new sights and sounds with curiosity instead of fear.
She stood quietly and watched another horse canter through the wate - curious instead of afraid.. She wasn’t quite ready to dip a hoof in herself, but she sniffed it. Baby steps — and most importantly, stress-free, positive learning.
Day 3 she was super calm again. And as a rider went home with a lame horse I nicked her dressage lesson. Mykas was awesome. We did polework and she serpentined through poles as well as finishing by trotting the full line. Calm as a cucumber. Absolutely thrilled with her attitide and the feel she is giving me under saddle.
I don’t want to jinx it, but it really feels like she’s turned a corner. The foundation Joe built with her is clearly starting to pay off — she’s trusting more, thinking more, and reacting less. Rather than defaulting to panic, she’s pausing, processing, and exploring.
I know there will be more challenges ahead, but for now, I couldn’t be happier or prouder of my baby pony.
Thanks @photo_jo for the fabulous pictures. Polework pics to come....
!CobsCan!
Well-Known Member
You are an inspiration AE!! I'm a total lurker on this thread and the Backing 3/4 yos thread but you give me such hope for my young mare who is wired similarly. You two are incredible!!
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
Thank you. She’s a little star. Such a sweet natured horse.
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
Poles!
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Thank you for letting us see your progress, I mainly come on H& H now to get a horsey fix as can’t ride myself anymore , mentally would love to but physically it’s too risky for me after a serious brain bleed. Myka is looking great and has good movement already, will be interesting to see when she is more established..
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
So sorry you can no longer ride. I am loving this journey and find it really helpful that people are interested in following it and offering encouragement and support. It helps to give me a sense of perspective, to sense check my decisions and the advice is super helpful.
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Thank you, it’s not easy as I’ve had horses in my life for over 60 years. I am single so if I didn’t have dogs I would have carried on and accepted the risk but although I have arrangements in place for them it wouldn’t be right to risk it
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
And it was all going so well......
I have been on holiday so Myka went to trainer B for some schooling to maintain momentum. She has been teaching me weekly and also rides her for me sometimes. Day 1 she had a day off in the field to settle into new surroundings. Day 2 was groundwork - the trainer is both TRT and classical in-hand dressage trained. Day 3 Myka gave her some lovely work. Day 4 Myka exploded on mounting and sent her flying and hurt her. Trainer got back on just to get back on, and Myka seemed not to have been scared by the incident but she's not been ridden since and I am picking her up tomorrow. I am also getting her saddle checked as after launch-gate Trainer B checked her over and felt the saddle bars are causing problems over the lattissimus dorsi one either side. This was a new (2nd hand) saddle fitted to her in May after Joe told me the last saddle I had fitted for her which went with her to Joe's also did not fit. Arggggh how can it be SO HARD to get a saddle fitter to fit a saddle that actually fits the horse. She may have changed shape in a few weeks but the saddle seems too wide not too narrow and if anything I'd have thought she'd have muscled up. But we shall see. The fitting is tomorrow with a new fitter, and the million dollar question is do I ride her at it. I really should but......
Pics of her looking like butter woudn't melt.
I have been on holiday so Myka went to trainer B for some schooling to maintain momentum. She has been teaching me weekly and also rides her for me sometimes. Day 1 she had a day off in the field to settle into new surroundings. Day 2 was groundwork - the trainer is both TRT and classical in-hand dressage trained. Day 3 Myka gave her some lovely work. Day 4 Myka exploded on mounting and sent her flying and hurt her. Trainer got back on just to get back on, and Myka seemed not to have been scared by the incident but she's not been ridden since and I am picking her up tomorrow. I am also getting her saddle checked as after launch-gate Trainer B checked her over and felt the saddle bars are causing problems over the lattissimus dorsi one either side. This was a new (2nd hand) saddle fitted to her in May after Joe told me the last saddle I had fitted for her which went with her to Joe's also did not fit. Arggggh how can it be SO HARD to get a saddle fitter to fit a saddle that actually fits the horse. She may have changed shape in a few weeks but the saddle seems too wide not too narrow and if anything I'd have thought she'd have muscled up. But we shall see. The fitting is tomorrow with a new fitter, and the million dollar question is do I ride her at it. I really should but......
Pics of her looking like butter woudn't melt.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Saddle issues are something I hate about babies. I seem to go through saddle after saddle and then, all of a sudden, they fit and stay fitted!
Hope trainer B is OK from the fall too.
Hope trainer B is OK from the fall too.
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
She's not great. I feel awful. But I guess pro riders will fall at times if they school babies. Especially babies that come with in-built springs and a tendency to reactivity.
nutjob
Well-Known Member
I thought this also about a just backed 4yo I bought last year. The saddle fitter confidently told me he would get narrower at first, before bulking up again, which he did!
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
Oh maybe that's what's happened then. I was advised to check after 3 months but sounds like babies need them re-checking much more often than that.
Cloball
Well-Known Member
I wonder if it's a bit like kids as they go up and lanky before going out again.
ihatework
Well-Known Member
It’s probably nothing and just sensitive young horse itis, but if she were mine I’d have precautionary set of back X-rays done
nutjob
Well-Known Member
That's what I was told also, then after 3 months mine had gone down a gullet size and needed the flocking adjusted as it was lifting at the back. He's not particularly sensitive so had just put up with it. I'm nearly a year on now and he's still in the same saddle and has just had some minor adjustments since. Not back up to the original gullet size.
I probably would as well but I'm a horsachondriac or what ever is the technical term for someone who can think their horse into a career ending issue
.
daffy44
Well-Known Member
I agree. Its most likely that the saddle needs adjusting/changing, in my experience young horses cant have their saddles checked frequently enough, most of them change shape almost daily in the early stages, narrower, wider etc etc, keeping them comfortable can be a nightmare, and if the bars are digging in thats certainly enough to cause a sensitive horse to react badly, especially a horse that already has a sensitivity to the saddle.
But, if it was me, I'd want some back xrays just to put my mind at rest, other I think I'd have a mental niggle about it, and thats not good for either the human or the horse.
Boulty
Well-Known Member
I’d say definitely get the saddle checked as if she’s sensitive she may just need more frequent checks whilst young and changing shape.
My other thought is given her history of sometimes needing quite a lot doing with her on the ground in new places before being ready to mount (& her being used to that happening in a certain way) maybe she was giving some very subtle signs that she wasn’t quite ready for someone to get on that day that someone who knows her and the method she’s been started with really well like yourself or Joe likely would have picked up on but someone else may not?
My other thought is given her history of sometimes needing quite a lot doing with her on the ground in new places before being ready to mount (& her being used to that happening in a certain way) maybe she was giving some very subtle signs that she wasn’t quite ready for someone to get on that day that someone who knows her and the method she’s been started with really well like yourself or Joe likely would have picked up on but someone else may not?
SEL
Well-Known Member
Is she on a gut supplement? I found my now 7yo was a bugger for internalising stress when we went out & about when he was younger and the trigger stacking would happen hard & fast. 2 new hats in 10 days is a record I'm too old to repeat.
Helping his gut made a huge, huge difference.
Helping his gut made a huge, huge difference.
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
I hate saddle fitting. I just bought my 4 year old his 4th saddle. Saddle fitters are also an incredibly frustrating group sometimes! Having a good fitter is like striking gold and they're worth their weight in gold. I've just added it up and I've spent $16k on saddles. Some of those were used and saddles seem to be more expensive here.
So anyway, I feel your pain! When it comes to saddle issues, mine generally loses some forward, and starts walking away/moving around when I saddle him. He can be more reactive about other things though.
I can't do mounting issues (we all have our "thing"), they shatter my confidence, but they're also something that can be worked through. Especially if it's a matter of just having a different piece of tack/equipment.
So fingers crossed that a new saddle will get it sorted. Maybe also just check her back for soreness? and focus on some core and posture work from the ground too. In addition to that I'd really focus on making sure that you're (or anyone riding her) "hearing" her. Sometimes signs are so subtle or we brush things off, but it's actually really "big" for the horse. I don't doubt that you know this, especially from working with Joe.
I do appreciate that you post about the good, bad and everything in between. There's a lot of up and downs with bringing along a young horse.
So anyway, I feel your pain! When it comes to saddle issues, mine generally loses some forward, and starts walking away/moving around when I saddle him. He can be more reactive about other things though.
I can't do mounting issues (we all have our "thing"), they shatter my confidence, but they're also something that can be worked through. Especially if it's a matter of just having a different piece of tack/equipment.
So fingers crossed that a new saddle will get it sorted. Maybe also just check her back for soreness? and focus on some core and posture work from the ground too. In addition to that I'd really focus on making sure that you're (or anyone riding her) "hearing" her. Sometimes signs are so subtle or we brush things off, but it's actually really "big" for the horse. I don't doubt that you know this, especially from working with Joe.
I do appreciate that you post about the good, bad and everything in between. There's a lot of up and downs with bringing along a young horse.
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maya2008
Well-Known Member
My record from perfectly fitting saddle to not fitting at all was 3 weeks. I know enough to check fit and it was perfect at first fitting. Three weeks later…nope. Couldn’t even adjust flocking to fit.
Today I popped a saddle on a just turning 4yo that fitted great a week ago - nope. She has lost weight with the lack of grass so I needed to add more padding. Luckily it’s not a whole new tree shape we need!
I’m really sorry someone got hurt. I was hoping that your story would be different.
I have horses here who arrived under threat of pts for behaviour - and those who have been and gone on to new homes. We have had ones that exploded when you sat down or couldn’t cope with the saddle at all (or reins!). We did not try to ride them - we worked, for months if needed, on that crucial acceptance. Why? Because if you do not, nothing changes and someone eventually gets hurt.
A fully backed horse needs no pre flight checks. Hop on and go. Some stall due to medical issues. Some due to trauma, but it is never safe in my experience to just ignore what they are telling you and crack on anyway. In the end the cracks widen and can no longer be papered over.
I say this because once I didn’t. Your life and health matter.
Today I popped a saddle on a just turning 4yo that fitted great a week ago - nope. She has lost weight with the lack of grass so I needed to add more padding. Luckily it’s not a whole new tree shape we need!
I’m really sorry someone got hurt. I was hoping that your story would be different.
I have horses here who arrived under threat of pts for behaviour - and those who have been and gone on to new homes. We have had ones that exploded when you sat down or couldn’t cope with the saddle at all (or reins!). We did not try to ride them - we worked, for months if needed, on that crucial acceptance. Why? Because if you do not, nothing changes and someone eventually gets hurt.
A fully backed horse needs no pre flight checks. Hop on and go. Some stall due to medical issues. Some due to trauma, but it is never safe in my experience to just ignore what they are telling you and crack on anyway. In the end the cracks widen and can no longer be papered over.
I say this because once I didn’t. Your life and health matter.
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JenJ
Well-Known Member
This is exactly what I was thinking. I know your pro is a pro, and familiar with Myka, and I'm sure is perfectly competent at doing what she does, but you have mentioned here how Myka is a very reactive horse, and that Joe and yourself have spent a lot of time doing your pre-flight checks before getting on, maybe this pro didn't do them, or do them enough, or got some of the feedback wrong.
It's good that Myka didn't seem to have been scared by it though. I hope the pro recovers swiftly x
Errin Paddywack
Well-Known Member
I thought the same. First day went well so second day pro just cracked on without taking that extra bit of time to observe her. For whatever reason that did not go well.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I just saw this on FB...
Facebook
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Also, I was thinking, even with steady, cooperative H, he did his very first Somerford camp and was ace. Over the next week or so, he started to show signs of being uncomfortable. He isn't at all explosive but he became resistant and resentful. It was the saddle! The work and improvement he'd made at camp had totally changed him - in the space of a couple of weeks.
I had a second camp booked 3 weeks after the first, was unable to get a saddle in time, by the time I realised, and had to cancel the second camp, and lost all of my money
A couple of weeks later, I'd got him a new (second-hand) one and he was fine again. I went for a highly adjustable one, that was also rather expensive, and, of course, he's never needed it to be adjusted since
With yours, you know your horse best, but, if I were not 100% convinced it was the saddle, with her reactive history, I would not be doing a ridden saddle fitting until she'd been checked out medically. Life is too short.
www.facebook.com
Also, I was thinking, even with steady, cooperative H, he did his very first Somerford camp and was ace. Over the next week or so, he started to show signs of being uncomfortable. He isn't at all explosive but he became resistant and resentful. It was the saddle! The work and improvement he'd made at camp had totally changed him - in the space of a couple of weeks.
I had a second camp booked 3 weeks after the first, was unable to get a saddle in time, by the time I realised, and had to cancel the second camp, and lost all of my money
A couple of weeks later, I'd got him a new (second-hand) one and he was fine again. I went for a highly adjustable one, that was also rather expensive, and, of course, he's never needed it to be adjusted since
With yours, you know your horse best, but, if I were not 100% convinced it was the saddle, with her reactive history, I would not be doing a ridden saddle fitting until she'd been checked out medically. Life is too short.
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Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
I do think people underestimate how sensitive she can be because when she's calm she's totally calm. People at my yard eye roll at my 'pre-flight checks'. Tell me she's totally fine and just like any young horse. Some friends do too. Especially those who were at camp!!! They think my version of she's 'sensitive' is sort of like the way a novice says their pony 'bolted' when it tanked off. Sure, scary, but nothing anyone competent couldn't handle.
I asked Joe if this was normal young horse behaviour and he said she was 'normal' as in not a horse he was worried was intrinsically dangerous or in pain, but was very sensitive. 'Typical stressy warmblood' - quite like Sophie's hotter horses. And her communications were very, very subtle. He missed them sometimes too and had to then just 'get out of the way'. No working through that - just keep everyone safe and then take a few steps back and start again. He ran his 4 day starting clinic while she was with him and I asked him what would have happened I had rocked up with her at that. All 12 participants got on in the 4 days - Would I have done? No, was the simple answer! He does not guarantee anyone will get on and it's not a race anyway - but most horses are fine to be saddled and mounted in that time-frame so the clinics are a condensed version of what he did with her over 8 weeks not 4 days.
Re pain - I am keeping all options open as I always do. Joe did not think so when he had her - too many different triggers, there was a reason for her saddle reaction, and she was fine ridden bareback even after saddle issues were still present. And his body worker said she felt great, and the saddle fit her. BUT just because it was not pain then, does not mean it's not pain now. Or next time. It's ALWAYS on the list and always kept under consideration.
Maya I don't remotely consider her 'backed'. We are in the backing process. Which will take months more I expect. She's never cantered under saddle. She's not working in any kind of a contact. She is just learning where the buttons are. And seeing the world a bit.
Re the pro not reading her - I sent the launch video to Joe and he wold not have 'passed' her because the pro moved the mounting block to Myka, not letting her coming to it. Seems pedantic to me as the rest of the checks were done too, and she was standing quietly at the block, and 99.999% of the world's horses are not mounted by asking the horse to 'pick you up' - but he said drawing the hip to the mounting block is important. And I am happy to be pedantic right now! This is of course not going to always necessary - but he recommended do it this way for 6 months or so. So I will!
I also think (and I really hope I am not deluding myself) that Myka trusts me. Or is beginning to. As she did Joe. And maybe for her trust is a big deal.
Cantering Carrot - thank-you. It feels very exposing to be so frank about all the twists and turns. So far people are being supportive and constructive but I am well aware that this could change! I am anxious about messing her up, and can lack confidence in which way to go, so I know that I would find criticism quite hard.
I am also clear in my own mind that I may one day reach the conclusion that she's not the right horse for me. That she needs someone further along in their education to help her move along in hers. Especially if she is more a 1-person horse who needs a relationship/trust with their rider, so me costantly getting different people to ride her as I don't quite dare do the 'firsts' might actually not be helpful to her. As has been said, life is too short to take big risks. Having said that I have never felt unsafe on her. And I am definitely not there yet and until I make that decision I will carry on as best I can with the skills I have and Joe's support.
I asked Joe if this was normal young horse behaviour and he said she was 'normal' as in not a horse he was worried was intrinsically dangerous or in pain, but was very sensitive. 'Typical stressy warmblood' - quite like Sophie's hotter horses. And her communications were very, very subtle. He missed them sometimes too and had to then just 'get out of the way'. No working through that - just keep everyone safe and then take a few steps back and start again. He ran his 4 day starting clinic while she was with him and I asked him what would have happened I had rocked up with her at that. All 12 participants got on in the 4 days - Would I have done? No, was the simple answer! He does not guarantee anyone will get on and it's not a race anyway - but most horses are fine to be saddled and mounted in that time-frame so the clinics are a condensed version of what he did with her over 8 weeks not 4 days.
Re pain - I am keeping all options open as I always do. Joe did not think so when he had her - too many different triggers, there was a reason for her saddle reaction, and she was fine ridden bareback even after saddle issues were still present. And his body worker said she felt great, and the saddle fit her. BUT just because it was not pain then, does not mean it's not pain now. Or next time. It's ALWAYS on the list and always kept under consideration.
Maya I don't remotely consider her 'backed'. We are in the backing process. Which will take months more I expect. She's never cantered under saddle. She's not working in any kind of a contact. She is just learning where the buttons are. And seeing the world a bit.
Re the pro not reading her - I sent the launch video to Joe and he wold not have 'passed' her because the pro moved the mounting block to Myka, not letting her coming to it. Seems pedantic to me as the rest of the checks were done too, and she was standing quietly at the block, and 99.999% of the world's horses are not mounted by asking the horse to 'pick you up' - but he said drawing the hip to the mounting block is important. And I am happy to be pedantic right now! This is of course not going to always necessary - but he recommended do it this way for 6 months or so. So I will!
I also think (and I really hope I am not deluding myself) that Myka trusts me. Or is beginning to. As she did Joe. And maybe for her trust is a big deal.
Cantering Carrot - thank-you. It feels very exposing to be so frank about all the twists and turns. So far people are being supportive and constructive but I am well aware that this could change! I am anxious about messing her up, and can lack confidence in which way to go, so I know that I would find criticism quite hard.
I am also clear in my own mind that I may one day reach the conclusion that she's not the right horse for me. That she needs someone further along in their education to help her move along in hers. Especially if she is more a 1-person horse who needs a relationship/trust with their rider, so me costantly getting different people to ride her as I don't quite dare do the 'firsts' might actually not be helpful to her. As has been said, life is too short to take big risks. Having said that I have never felt unsafe on her. And I am definitely not there yet and until I make that decision I will carry on as best I can with the skills I have and Joe's support.
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stangs
Well-Known Member
I would have thought a large part of the reason for doing the checks is giving her a routine (which in the long term you’ll want to get rid of as much as possible) - the mounting block being moved to her also meant a change in routine which iirc she doesn’t appreciate?
Does ‘drawing the hip to the mountain block’ refer to their mental state of coming over or is it about having them bent slightly towards the block?
maya2008
Well-Known Member
Our backing progress stages go something like this:
1) Confidence in catching and basic yard equipment, walks out in hand (you've got this).
2) Confidence in ridden equipment - saddle (being able to put it on without a care, doing girth up as normal, stirrups flapping, able to be led out with stirrups down in walk and trot), bridle.
3) Confidence with something up above them (being led off another horse, then with increasingly sized dummies (medium piggy, bigger teddy, 130cm teddy - dummies get plopped on any old way, moved around etc, tied on firmly for all paces before we consider a rider)
4) Confidence feeling contact on the reins and seeing them move (single strand wool 'reins' tied to bit and dummy's arms - light contact, easily snapped if needed).
5) Confidence having a rider mount and dismount.
6) Confidence moving with a rider on.
7) Confidence taking direction from the rider (following then off lead).
8) Increasing confidence over several months with a rider doing normal basic schooling and hacking.
Each step must be fully complete before we start the next one. The full process must be complete before arena hire off yard, clinics, shows etc.
With a sensitive horse I would wait 6 months after step 7 is complete to introduce a new rider. I would wait 3-4 months before arena hires and taking them out and about. We have one 'backing' rider who switches to the second 'riding away' rider at stage 7. That rider is then set for the next few months. For both stages though I am the person on the ground so they have that consistency constantly. Until you've completed step 8, you're at the stage where the horse trusts the PERSON more than they trust the process of being tacked up and ridden. They need to feel safe and settled and have the person they trust. Go too fast through the stages and in my experience someone will eventually get hurt. I say that having taken 9 months for stage 1 once, then another 3 to get to stage 7. That horse took a 7 year old novice rider down the road today in complete safety and confidence. It will be another year yet until I ask her to do more than arena hire.
1) Confidence in catching and basic yard equipment, walks out in hand (you've got this).
2) Confidence in ridden equipment - saddle (being able to put it on without a care, doing girth up as normal, stirrups flapping, able to be led out with stirrups down in walk and trot), bridle.
3) Confidence with something up above them (being led off another horse, then with increasingly sized dummies (medium piggy, bigger teddy, 130cm teddy - dummies get plopped on any old way, moved around etc, tied on firmly for all paces before we consider a rider)
4) Confidence feeling contact on the reins and seeing them move (single strand wool 'reins' tied to bit and dummy's arms - light contact, easily snapped if needed).
5) Confidence having a rider mount and dismount.
6) Confidence moving with a rider on.
7) Confidence taking direction from the rider (following then off lead).
8) Increasing confidence over several months with a rider doing normal basic schooling and hacking.
Each step must be fully complete before we start the next one. The full process must be complete before arena hire off yard, clinics, shows etc.
With a sensitive horse I would wait 6 months after step 7 is complete to introduce a new rider. I would wait 3-4 months before arena hires and taking them out and about. We have one 'backing' rider who switches to the second 'riding away' rider at stage 7. That rider is then set for the next few months. For both stages though I am the person on the ground so they have that consistency constantly. Until you've completed step 8, you're at the stage where the horse trusts the PERSON more than they trust the process of being tacked up and ridden. They need to feel safe and settled and have the person they trust. Go too fast through the stages and in my experience someone will eventually get hurt. I say that having taken 9 months for stage 1 once, then another 3 to get to stage 7. That horse took a 7 year old novice rider down the road today in complete safety and confidence. It will be another year yet until I ask her to do more than arena hire.
SEL
Well-Known Member
AE - does she need to be ridden while you're away? I appreciate that might mean going back a few stages on your return rather than riding, but given she's a very reactive baby I wonder if slow & consistent would be better than asking a pro to crack on.
Ample Prosecco
Still wittering on
That pro already rides her once a week at the start of my lesson - and has done since she came back from Joe. And she was taking it slow. She is TRT trained so mixed days off with groundwork and ridden work. So I thought it made sense. I think the saddle was the issue this time. Turns out the tree was flexing far too much and I need a new one. She has no top line and has gone bum high so like someone upthread said - gone up before filling out again! Saddle fitting for a new saddle is not for a few weeks so she can chill in the field and do groundwork/in hand hacks for a while now. Have some soak time.