Ben2684
Well-Known Member
Hi, this is my first post so please go easy on me!!
I purchased scooter nearly a month ago, he's a step up for me as I had been loaning a TB/Cob x for quite a few years who never put a foot wrong, if anything I found her a bit lazy and her owner and I took the decision to retire her as she just wasn't able to do what I wanted to do any more.
I have had Scooter just over a month and he has been like a dream, I've had an amazing couple of jumping lessons and some great rides out on the New Forest. The first time I rode him out alone he got a little nappy (nothing major, just lack of confidence) but couldn't fault him at all. The lady I bought him from warned me not to feed him anything too heavy as it turned him loopy!
His feet aren't great as their grass wasn't very good and so I have been fed if him baileys lo cal balancer and a handful of safe and sound daily for the vitamins and minerals to help his feet (which my farrier has said are already improving) and he has been fine.
I stupidly bought some mollichaff extra (cheaper than safe and sound!!) and neglected to realise that it was 20% sugar, the second day after feeding it I rode out and had possibly the worst ride I've ever had, he was spooking at nothing every ten seconds, threw massive bucks for no reason and at one point (during a nice collected trot) decided to whip round and try to gallop in the opposite direction. This happened several times on the ride. He was so wound up that on returning to the yard he even managed to break his leather head collar shying at nothing whilst I untracked him.
Tonight (two days with no mollichaff) he was back to his old self, I fed him his balancer and he was relaxed as I picked out feet and fly sprayed etc before turning back out. I'm riding tomorrow for the first time since 'that ride' and feel confident that he will be okay now that he hasn't had a high molasses feed and that I am ready if he does play up. My YO has said not to ride him alone for a fe weeks as he is trying it on bit I feel it is my fault for not checking the composition of what I am feeding him. I'm going out with company tomorrow but planning to ride alone the day after, am I being to relaxed about this or should I be worried? Sorry for the essay!!!! 😃
I purchased scooter nearly a month ago, he's a step up for me as I had been loaning a TB/Cob x for quite a few years who never put a foot wrong, if anything I found her a bit lazy and her owner and I took the decision to retire her as she just wasn't able to do what I wanted to do any more.
I have had Scooter just over a month and he has been like a dream, I've had an amazing couple of jumping lessons and some great rides out on the New Forest. The first time I rode him out alone he got a little nappy (nothing major, just lack of confidence) but couldn't fault him at all. The lady I bought him from warned me not to feed him anything too heavy as it turned him loopy!
His feet aren't great as their grass wasn't very good and so I have been fed if him baileys lo cal balancer and a handful of safe and sound daily for the vitamins and minerals to help his feet (which my farrier has said are already improving) and he has been fine.
I stupidly bought some mollichaff extra (cheaper than safe and sound!!) and neglected to realise that it was 20% sugar, the second day after feeding it I rode out and had possibly the worst ride I've ever had, he was spooking at nothing every ten seconds, threw massive bucks for no reason and at one point (during a nice collected trot) decided to whip round and try to gallop in the opposite direction. This happened several times on the ride. He was so wound up that on returning to the yard he even managed to break his leather head collar shying at nothing whilst I untracked him.
Tonight (two days with no mollichaff) he was back to his old self, I fed him his balancer and he was relaxed as I picked out feet and fly sprayed etc before turning back out. I'm riding tomorrow for the first time since 'that ride' and feel confident that he will be okay now that he hasn't had a high molasses feed and that I am ready if he does play up. My YO has said not to ride him alone for a fe weeks as he is trying it on bit I feel it is my fault for not checking the composition of what I am feeding him. I'm going out with company tomorrow but planning to ride alone the day after, am I being to relaxed about this or should I be worried? Sorry for the essay!!!! 😃