New horse/no saddle

[Kezalco6920]

Hi, we’re in the process of buying a horse for my 16yr old daughter. She’s loaned for the last 18 months but it’s now time to find her something she can progress on.

We’ve found the horse we like, she seems a good match for my daughter. We have a 5 stage vetting on Thursday. If that goes well then her arrival could be pretty imminent. She doesnt come with tack so I’ve booked a saddle fitter be she can’t come until the following week. So, although daughter would ideally like to get out riding ASAP she’s going to have to wait.

Advice on how long to let horse settle before lungeing her etc. What else would you do whilst waiting for saddle? Ground work, walking out in hand?

 

[DabDab]

If it is a horse already in work then you can usually crack on with whatever the exercise routine will be from day one (helps to settle them sometimes).

Lunging, long reining, walking over poles etc. Basically just take everything steady and aim just for calm behaviour while getting to know them.

 

[Kezalco6920]

Thanks, that’s my plan. Although daughter would like to get on with riding straight away I’m now thinking it could be a positive experience for them both, getting to know each other and spending time adjusting to new surroundings. We’re also moving to a brand new yard with her, which is bigger and has more facilities than our usual one so it’s new for us too.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[DabDab]

Very exciting - good luck to you and your daughter ?

 

[PapaverFollis]

I think a plan to crack on with groundwork while waiting for the saddle is good. Have a plan B in case the horse has a meltdown about the move too. So be prepared to back off and keep things really slow and steady for a month or two (or 3 or 4) until they've settled.

My current horses one was straight into work and was a complete star. The other lost his head a bit and took a bit of time to come around. It was 8 months before I got on him in the end (it didn't need to be that long, 2 months would have done it easily, but circumstances got in the way) and he was back to being the super sensible horse I tried out and bought. But in the first week when I tried to work him he had major freak just being led around in the school, then lost a shoe throwing himself around in the field. So I went to plan B, took shoes off and gave him winter off.

I think I'm just saying that much of the time, as DabDab says, a horse in work is best kept in work through the move... but be mentally prepared and don't panic if that doesn't work out immediately. Some of them are more sensitive about moving house and changing their person.

 

[Kezalco6920]

Thank you, it’s been a long wait for my daughter who has saved up to purchase her own. We have two retirees already which definitely weren’t the right horses for a beginner rider back when we got them but after working in stables, riding a few horses in between times and then loaning for the last 18 months shes definitely ready for an upgrade.
im so nervous about the vetting this week though. It’s been a hard search as she’s not far off 6ft tall so needs horse but is still limited in experience compared with some of her age. Just keeping everything crossed now ?

 

[Kezalco6920]

I think a plan to crack on with groundwork while waiting for the saddle is good. Have a plan B in case the horse has a meltdown about the move too. So be prepared to back off and keep things really slow and steady for a month or two (or 3 or 4) until they've settled.

My current horses one was straight into work and was a complete star. The other lost his head a bit and took a bit of time to come around. It was 8 months before I got on him in the end (it didn't need to be that long, 2 months would have done it easily, but circumstances got in the way) and he was back to being the super sensible horse I tried out and bought. But in the first week when I tried to work him he had major freak just being led around in the school, then lost a shoe throwing himself around in the field. So I went to plan B, took shoes off and gave him winter off.

I think I'm just saying that much of the time, as DabDab says, a horse in work is best kept in work through the move... but be mentally prepared and don't panic if that doesn't work out immediately. Some of them are more sensitive about moving house and changing their person.

 

[Kezalco6920]

Thank you, that’s great advice. It’s just assumed that you hop on and get on with it isn’t it, I hear of a lot of horses going back to dealers recently as they didn’t settle. Obviously shows it’s doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the wrong horse for you but just need to take your time.

 

[sbloom]

I have a list of recommended groundwork programmes with links if it's of interest? If you pm me your email address I can send it over

 

[Kezalco6920]

Oh yes please, that would be great. I’ll message you.

 

[Kezalco6920]

I have a list of recommended groundwork programmes with links if it's of interest? If you pm me your email address I can send it over

I’m still trying to figure out how I can send you my email address. Guess I need some help from a teenage daughter ??

 

[Baywonder]

I’m still trying to figure out how I can send you my email address.

If you click on 'sbloom' under the picture in the avatar, a box will come up. Click on 'start conversation' - then a new page will come up for you to write a heading, and the message below. When you have finished writing, just click 'start conversation' and that will send a private message (PM) to @sbloom

If you want to see how the message looks before sending it, just click on 'preview'

I hope this helps!