New arrival - meet Winston

[mavandkaz]

First hack for the baby yellow pony.
A fellow livery offered to be test rider and take him out for me (she's brought on many youngsters and has a soft spot for heavies, so she loves him already). And I was able to borrow another horse to act as a nanny.
He was very good and didn't put a hoof wrong. We just walked round the first half of the field that attaches to the yard, so were only out for 15/20mins. Switched around so went infront, alongside and behind, and didn't bother with the noise of traffic on the other side of the hedge. It was all very tiring though, it's hard work picking up those giant feet.

 

[mavandkaz]

Ok, hints/tips/advice please.

1. Leading. He is pretty good at leading, can be a little bit hesitant and sticky but I can get his feet moving and then he's usually happy to carry on. Massive improvement from when he first arrived. But, he will only lead on my right hand side. I just cannot get him to lead on my left. He just plants and looks confused. If I do manage to get him going he tries to move him self over to my other side. Any tips? Or just keep persevering.....he's only been with me 10 days and has come on leaps and bounds in other areas. Eg he found lunging on the right rein really hard at first but has very quickly got the hang of it.

2. Picking up back legs. I've noticed he is wary of people behind him and around his back end. It took me 4 days to untangle his matted tail as he was just so worried about me being 'behind' him (well to the side). He is good with front feet, but when I head towards the back he moves forward or away from me (he is tied up). Left hind he will go to lift and take the weight off, but he's not keen on me lifting it up, but I can pull it forwards.
Left hind he's really not keen on and has now cow kicked twice.
What would you do? Go back a step and do the whole glove on a long stick and get him used to be touched?
I have been able to do it with someone holding a lick for him, but obviously not a long term solution.

 

[Tarragon]

No advice, but I do love his colouring! So smart

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’d keep it low key and carry on with someone holding a lick for now while you pick his hinds up. He sounds nervous and unsure.

Ditto stick to leading him from the near side for a bit while he settles and grows in confidence. Gradually build it up in bite sized chunks.

I was going to say is he from Ireland, and yes he is. This is often how they are - the well renowned dealer Patsy Day at Stubley Hollow Farm (of Hovis fame) used to take her time ‘anglicising’ the young new arrivals from Ireland . She had a really good eye for a horse and would let them settle in for a good while before they were ready to be tried.

You’ve got a lovely chap, but a rather raw one .

 

[webble]

I've followed the dealer you got him from for a long time and always thought the horses looked so well behaved ridden, interesting to see how green he is on the ground

He is gorgeous though and sounds like a nice person you can enjoy building a bond with

 

[mavandkaz]

I've followed the dealer you got him from for a long time and always thought the horses looked so well behaved ridden, interesting to see how green he is on the ground

He is gorgeous though and sounds like a nice person you can enjoy building a bond with

To be fair, she was very honest. And I jumped the gun in terms of seeing and buying him as she hadn't officially advertised him and was still assessing him. She warned me he was green and they hadn't really done anything with him.
I'm just extra cautious of getting it right with him, as I have no known history. So it's not even a case of he's a completely blank canvas and I'm starting from scratch. Some things have obviously been done hurriedly or possibly by force, and others not at all.
He is very genuine and honest, and that does seem to be the type she gets.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Some things have obviously been done hurriedly or possibly by force, and others not at all.

That’s very typical. He’s not likely to have seen much of life at all. Just carry being calmly authoritative when you handle him whilst giving him time to process what you’re after. Don’t be tentative or he’ll get worried, but do keep yourself safe.

Not sure your plans re shoeing but he might never have been hot shod before, so that can be an issue re the smoke.

They do come good given time, and it’s much better than taking on a horse who has been spoilt.

 

[mavandkaz]

That’s very typical. He’s not likely to have seen much of life at all. Just carry being calmly authoritative when you handle him whilst giving him time to process what you’re after. Don’t be tentative or he’ll get worried, but do keep yourself safe.

Not sure your plans re shoeing but he might never have been hot shod before, so that can be an issue re the smoke.

They do come good given time, and it’s much better than taking on a horse who has been spoilt.

Oh yes, definitely prefer this to one that has been spoiled. He's a big guy and I can't be doing with him being pushy and nippy.

Plan is to take him barefoot, so don't need to worry about shoeing for the time being. He came fully shod and wouldn't be surprised if he was twitched and roughly handled to get them on. Farrier is next due in 5 weeks to trim him so I do have time.

Quietly authoritative I can do, I'm pretty 'low energy' and happy to wait things out. It's one of the reasons why I liked him so much, he seems to be a watcher and a thinker, rather then reactive.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I would agree with the give him a bit of time to settle in advice, but also I find that if you can get a rope around the top of the leg and let it fall behind the fetlock and then put slight pressure on, it works better than a hand on a stick, as quite often it's that bit that triggers the unhappiness, and it means you can stand far enough in front not to be in the line of fire. It's how I taught Dex when he first came, please do remember to wear gloves though!

 

[mavandkaz]

Another week of learning for little Winston.
He had physio on Monday - I wasn't expecting to find any issues and she didn't find much other then a tight poll. But it was a good experience for him to be handled by someone else and touched all over. He did begin to relax which was great to see.
He was introduced to the hose, and generally wasn't bothered, which is great as he really does need a bath if we get some warm enough weather.
A little blip on Thursday when I got on him. He stood fine as I got in the saddle, but then when allowed to walk forward he rushed off and felt a little like he might start broncing, but quickly came back to me. I think it's where my reins were caught in his mane, I automatically moved my hands out wide and 'shook' them. He would have caught the movement in the corner of his eye. I also have to remember not to pat him as it spooks him

Then big day on Saturday. Firstly the local shoot were out and about, in the nextdoor field. As expected he was agitated and tense, it's the noise of the beaters flags that are the real issue. But they will be there every 2 or 3 weeks for the rest of the season so he needs to get used to it.
Then in the afternoon we joined in with the yard pole work clinic. Just as I was tacking up the shoot came back for another drive so he got a little worked up, but didn't last long.
There were four of us in the group, so first time working with others in this way. The group was carefully chosen as we were all happy to just walk and keep it simple. He was a star! Happy to stand and watch the others and move away from them for his turn. A little bit of drifting towards them but nothing awful. Walked over and around various pole exercises, wasn't bothered if he hit them or trod on them (even the foam ones).
And finished with a little trot through a simple line. Very pleased with him, and surprisingly careful with his feet, considering they are so big!

Aim is to get him out hacking this week, as really don't want to get stuck in the habit of going in the school.

 

[webble]

Fantastic progress well done! I love that you call him little Winston (he's really not)

 

[AutumnDays]

He is an absolutely gorgeous boy! His little concentration face in your pictures

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I really do love him, no wonder you snapped him up, have to say though he is going to be a Biiiig boy! I agree with others, I would say he is a very genuine sort and is just behaving like a typical Irish horse broken in fast and furious to get him sold on ASAP. Not necessarily unkindly as some tend to assume, but just a little too fast and with a little less finesse than one would like to see IMHO. He will come good, very good indeed I guarantee it. Very jealous.

 

[mavandkaz]

I refuse to hear any talk of him being big . And am completely ignoring the fact I tried a 6"9 rug on him and was a little bit small..... I mean, I know he's big, but he's not overly tall (at the moment) so I can cope with that.
Yes, he's certainly been rushed and has big gaps. But so far he's still being very genuine and honest. He is coming out of his shell a bit and is beginning to make his feelings known - he already expects to be turned out as soon as he's finished eating his breakfast, so he's going to get a few lessons on patience!

 

[mavandkaz]

Oh, the highs and lows of baby horses. Couple of days after the pole work clinic he came in lame from the field, not awful but noticeable in walk. Only lasted a couple of days and think it was just a bone bruise. For the rest of that week he was great, a really nice 'schooling' session and then we went out with nanny horse round the big field where he was foot perfect, even when the other horse spooked.
This week has not been so good. Another outing round the field all got a bit too much - there was quite a bit going on including another horse doing some interval training (they were great and walked whenever near us), a dog walker, and a tractor ploughing in the next field. By the end his little brain couldn't cope and we had a few leaps at scary noises, but nothing awful. Tried another little schooling session and although he didn't do anything he was quite on edge.
Yesterday the local shoot were out and he got rather stressed in the stable hearing the gun shots.
Then today we ventured around the field again. He was being a very good boy when unfortunately our nanny horse jumped at something (just a tiny little movement), which caused Winston to do the same. Wouldn't have been a problem but it caused him to slip, and as we were on a slope his feet slid from under him and he went down, ending up on his side. Luckily I managed to roll clear, and he got up unharmed and just stood there in shock. Walked him home a got back on in the school for a couple of mins. We are both unscathed but he just looked really upset by it all
He can have a quiet week and we will do some groundwork and leading out, and I've got an instructor coming out to give me some pointers and tools to help us both.
Pics are from his sale and, and ones I took last week, so four weeks apart. Planning on taking regular pics so I can see how much he changes.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

He really is gorgeous. My then 2 yr old cob struggled to walk on my right hand side. It was as if she forgot which order to move her legs in. I just persisted for a very short distance on the way back to the field after her evening bucket feed. She got it pretty quickly.

 

[TPO]

I know your post asking was a wee while ago, but highly recommend this book and working your way through it will build a solid foundation and find any holes.

https://amzn.eu/d/8dWDkxD

You might find it cheaper on Ebay or via bookfinder

 

[Surbie]

Wow he's cracking!! What a great find.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

He is so lovely. The stronger the foundations get, the calmer he will be about life and 'scary' things. He's young and lots of things are new to him. Glad you were both unhurt x

 

[mavandkaz]

Another little update - more for myself then anything
A couple of weeks ago I was really wondering if I had.made a mistake and wasn't good enough to take on a baby horse. At one point I took him into the lunge pen to do a little lunging and ground work. He'd never lunged before coming to me so like to do a little as it's a skill he needs to learn. But I obviously confused him and by the end he just rooted to the spot, or would back up and turn to face me.
I also started walking him out in hand round the field, and although not awful was pretty reactive. He was the same when another experienced livery rode him out - just big spooks at little things.
Bit over the last couple of weeks it feels like we have turned a corner. Saddle fitter came out and so we have a new saddle. He was obviously tense and nervous having a stranger put saddles on him, but he held it together and was very good.
I can now get on him by myself at the mounting block (he never actually did anything, but was obviously worried about the process) and he calmly stands and waits for me to sort myself out. His 'schooling' is coming on, and his trot feels so much stronger.
I had an instructor out to help me with the leading issue. She was also surprised at how adamant he was to be on the right hand side. But she got him going on the left, and was very interesting to watch.i was also able to use some of what she showed me, and he now lunges really well.
Other experienced livery, out of the blue, asked if she could take him round the big field, with her step daughter on her ex-racer. So off they went, at this point he hadn't been out there for over a week. When she came back, she was full of praise and said he was so much better.
So she convinced me to take him out with her the next day. I'm so glad I made myself do it - he was absolutely brilliant. Maybe two little spooks, and he got a little tense at one point on the way home. But we went out the big field, through the gap in the hedge and a little way up the lane, which was his first time. We did it again two days later, and went a little further. And did the whole thing without a single spook
He has also now had all his legs clipped, which he has been great with. It obviously tickles at times but he does nothing other then lift his legs up. Poor boy has quite bad mallenders, a fair few sores on his heals, and what is looking like mild cpl on hinds, so it's good he's happy to be clipped as I'm going to have to keep on top of it.
But currently very happy with the yellow one.

 

[Cloball]

I had more than one occasion when I first got D when I thought what am I doing and she wasn't even a youngster, that even naturally unreactive horses can be overwhelmed and reactive with lots of change and upheaval. I found D was very quiet for the first few weeks then very sharp and reactive before she started to settle properly.

 

[ElectricChampagne]

I'm only seeing this now, what a gorgeous boy.

He reminds me so much of a cob stallion over here in Ireland called Pebbles Maguire. He even has his own Facebook page.

He seems a lovely fella and I've enjoyed reading your updates about him.

 

[mavandkaz]

I'm only seeing this now, what a gorgeous boy.

He reminds me so much of a cob stallion over here in Ireland called Pebbles Maguire. He even has his own Facebook page.

He seems a lovely fella and I've enjoyed reading your updates about him.

Just went look him up.....ooo he's lovely. His FB page doesn't go back far enough for Winston though.
The dealer mentioned a stallion called 'Euro'(?) as she's had a few through by him

 

[Birker2020]

I've only just seen this. He looks amazing x

 

[Lucky Snowball]

That’s a lovely update. There’s bound to be ups and downs, when you look back you’ll see how far you’ve both come.