Tronniehead
Active Member
Hi
I am new to these forums and riding, have been riding a year. I am very much a novice rider and still having regular lessons. I decided that I needed to gain more confidence and get out there, so placed an ad looking for a confidence giving happy hacking plod, for inexperienced rider looking to gain more experience preferred with school.
I had a few replys, some more suited than others. Long story short I went to meet a highland in his mid 20s on a private yard with own school, lovely hacking area and another horse on site. Owner no longer rides and has had the two horses for many years and still looks after them, wont obviously part with them.
On meeting, all seems well horse is very gentle and affectionate but has not been ridden for a year. I took the horse for a ride round the school and was very responsive to my aids all seems ok, have been out on hack and all good, although very slow. Have tried to trott but seems to go for a few minutes max, then stops not sure if this is old age and fact not been ridden or ignoring me! And doing as he pleases. Have been taken part in this horse share for about 3 weeks now and have been mainly doing school work, all good so far and feel trott is improving and lasting longer and I am stopping the trott first. My knowledge on horses is very limited but I am concerned is the owner putting him out to be ridden when he is really to old and wants to be in his retirement so that she gets a stable hand? I am doing yard duties although ltd a couple of times a week.
I notice when I put his bridle on, he does not want to take the bit and makes me feel bad like I am harassing him! Also on our loan hack, most of the time he seemed to be missing his buddy and kept stopping this made me nervous and I think he was nervous to, hence why I have stayed in the school since. Owner said he is just playing up take no notice?
Am I biting of more than I can chew? Is he to old? Is this me and my lack of knowledge? Also he suffers from chronic laminitis and spends most of his time in the yard rather the field? Any ideas? Advise? He is a nice gentle old guy and very patient with me, so in some ways is perfect.
I am new to these forums and riding, have been riding a year. I am very much a novice rider and still having regular lessons. I decided that I needed to gain more confidence and get out there, so placed an ad looking for a confidence giving happy hacking plod, for inexperienced rider looking to gain more experience preferred with school.
I had a few replys, some more suited than others. Long story short I went to meet a highland in his mid 20s on a private yard with own school, lovely hacking area and another horse on site. Owner no longer rides and has had the two horses for many years and still looks after them, wont obviously part with them.
On meeting, all seems well horse is very gentle and affectionate but has not been ridden for a year. I took the horse for a ride round the school and was very responsive to my aids all seems ok, have been out on hack and all good, although very slow. Have tried to trott but seems to go for a few minutes max, then stops not sure if this is old age and fact not been ridden or ignoring me! And doing as he pleases. Have been taken part in this horse share for about 3 weeks now and have been mainly doing school work, all good so far and feel trott is improving and lasting longer and I am stopping the trott first. My knowledge on horses is very limited but I am concerned is the owner putting him out to be ridden when he is really to old and wants to be in his retirement so that she gets a stable hand? I am doing yard duties although ltd a couple of times a week.
I notice when I put his bridle on, he does not want to take the bit and makes me feel bad like I am harassing him! Also on our loan hack, most of the time he seemed to be missing his buddy and kept stopping this made me nervous and I think he was nervous to, hence why I have stayed in the school since. Owner said he is just playing up take no notice?
Am I biting of more than I can chew? Is he to old? Is this me and my lack of knowledge? Also he suffers from chronic laminitis and spends most of his time in the yard rather the field? Any ideas? Advise? He is a nice gentle old guy and very patient with me, so in some ways is perfect.