Rescue Horse

[smolmaus]

I just need someone to tell me I'm a crazy person

Right so I work 1 day a week as a volunteer at a rescue yard. We have everything from just rescued pony stallions to relinquished horses who used to be used for RDA to ponies who just can't be rehomed for well, personality reasons.

Been there since Feb 2020, learned a lot, especially about not-broken, food aggressive idiots.

I have "lesson/hack a week" riding experience from 7-25yo including green-ish horses (5-6yo) to proper dressage schoolmasters. My old instructor has retired, hence the need for advice. I have no real idea of my riding ability. All horses schooled by the same person!

I had a 5 year break, started lessons again JUST when covid happened so have sporadic lessons since. But HYPOTHETICALLY if there were an unbroken rescue pony... am I fit for them?

Questions
1. Is a rescue pony (sensitively broken) ever suitable for an experienced novice?
2. Am I capable of finding a yard suitable for very sensitively breaking ponies available in Northern Ireland?

HYPOTHETICALLY I find a yard fit to break them sensitively, with the basics being done at "home" (leaning over, walk in saddle) is this an insane idea? For a first horse?

 

[Kaylum]

First of all if your looking to get a rescue from a charity it really depends on the horse. Like you say some are suitable for the RDA. Why dont you see if you can get a horse share for a while and get some more experience that way?

 

[DabDab]

No not completely bonkers. I wouldn't consider an unbroken rescue to be much different to an unbroken not rescue in terms of a first horse challenge, so I think you'd be alright on that front.

As to whether an unbroken youngster is a suitable first horse...it really depends. Some people make it work, and the main success factors are probably 1)picking a horse that isn't on the high sensitivity, high energy end of the spectrum, and 2)being in a setup where they can get both regular structured instruction and easily ask for casual day to day advice and assistance from experienced and capable others.

With young horses, the things that catch you out if you haven't trained one before are often the little things like letting them get into the habit of marching off the moment your bum hits the saddle or letting them collapse in a heap after the first few times you canter etc. And you just have to accept that there will be stuff like that that you miss along the way and just be pragmatic about fixing it as and when you become aware of an unwanted pattern of behaviour.

Ultimately though the most important thing with young horses is to be clear and consistent in everything you do with them. Inconsistency of message is the biggest thing that will upset a young horse. Some people are already very good in that respect, some people have to work at it, and some people are oblivious to the fact they are inconsistent as hell.

 

[DabDab]

Oh, just to add, youngsters are quite hard work and that isn't for everybody. You will spend 1-2 years having to plan everything you do with them quite carefully, make sure you're always in the right frame of mind etc., before you get to the point of being able to enjoy them in a more carefree sort of way. Buying a more established horse will give you that much more quickly.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Presumably, you'd sort out basic manners and handling long before trying to start this pony, so I don't see the need for emphasising it being from a rescue background. If it were still having difficulty functioning due to its background, then why would you even want to try starting it? Just don't send it off to anyone who'll muck it up.

 

[Griffin]

My friend bought an unbroken youngster last year (she has no experience of breaking). They are getting on well but I think it helps that my friend doesn't have to work, so she can spend hours at the yard working with her youngster with no time pressure.

I think most horses have their quirks, so I don't think a rescue horse necessarily makes it harder. If anything, knowing a little about his background probably helps.

 

[ArklePig]

Smolmaus I suggest you have a chat with Jenna at MINT- I know a few who've sent their horses there for everything from learning ground manners and confidence to breaking and all have been happy with the results. She is the far side of Bangor which I think is a bit of a trek from you but might be worth looking into.

 

[tristar]

just be prepared to put in loads of work before and after, lots of prep, you cant do too much, then when rideable a minimum of 4 times a week under saddle, hacking and baby schooling, ie bending, straightening, getting on the aids even in walk to start, you could do 4 times mon tues, rest wed, thurs fri then have the weekend off or just walk in hand or play, thats what i aim to do, allowing for weather etc.

you could get some lessons or any kind of riding in before to set your muscles and confidence up, and you need to allow time for the other things like training to box, picking up feet, leading out in traffic, time consuming, and you could have help from a suitable person to assist you

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Horses don’t know they’re “rescued”. You can have as difficult a time with a horse who has been badly produced or had a bad experience and isn’t “rescued”.

I’d take the “rescue” element in out of the equation and focus on the horse in front of you.

Honestly, if it’s “rescued” as an unbroken yearling off a field somewhere it’s probably no different to a bought and paid for feral yearling.

If it has been through abuse rather than neglect, I think you’d need to judge what it’s issues are and work out whether those issues are going to prevent you from being able to enjoy horse ownership.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Honestly, if it’s “rescued” as an unbroken yearling off a field somewhere it’s probably no different to a bought and paid for feral yearling.

Agree. I've fostered two young ponies from the RSPCA, one as a 2yo, one as a yearling.

The 2yo had been found abandoned to starve in a bare field in winter, was in with a dead companion. But she was friendly and not afraid of humans. The yearling was more feral, it took months before they could handle her, but once she came round and gained confidence in humans she too was easy.

 

[SusieT]

If what you describe above is your only riding experince, no you are definitely not ready for an unbroken horse from any background. a 5-6yr old being ridden by someone else most of the dtime is a very different prospect to a green horse only you ride/look after. If you have had experience before this it then depends on your skill nad confidence leel tbh. Hard to tell from what you've written.

 

[planete]

I have an older rescue pony and many issues are coming to light as we go back to basics. If you decide to go ahead, get one as young as possible as some are being made to drive or even ride at a very young age leaving a legacy of physical and behavioural problems, and make sure you adopt from a rescue who will take the animal back if it does not work out. I am trying to sort out a bridling problem at the moment and slowly eliminating possible causes one by one in the hope of ending up with a happy pony. The pony also has a thing about hands anywhere in the vicinity of his head and will grab them if somebody is merely using them to gesture when talking near him (it hurts!). He never flinches or shows fear though which delayed my understanding of the problem, and he is fine if he knows what you are doing with them like grooming him.

 

[SusieT]

If what you describe above is your only riding experince, no you are definitely not ready for an unbroken horse from any background. a 5-6yr old being ridden by someone else most of the dtime is a very different prospect to a green horse only you ride/look after. If you have had experience before this it then depends on your skill nad confidence leel tbh. Hard to tell from what you've written.

 

[smolmaus]

Posted this thread after a lot of wine last week (in the middle of a complete crisis of confidence, honestly one of the worst weeks of my life) and have come back to it now after only a few glasses of wine today after ignoring it to say thank you for all responses. So much good advice ?

If what you describe above is your only riding experince, no you are definitely not ready for an unbroken horse from any background. a 5-6yr old being ridden by someone else most of the dtime is a very different prospect to a green horse only you ride/look after. If you have had experience before this it then depends on your skill nad confidence leel tbh. Hard to tell from what you've written.

Very fair. I definitely don't have the experience to hop on and go, I know that. I've ridden "tricky" ones before, a few actually from the rescue I'm volunteering at (just 15 years ago) but yeah, they were schooled by someone other than me. Reality check accepted.

@ArklePig I will PM you about Jenna!

Just don't send it off to anyone who'll muck it up.

But that was the kind of advice I was looking for. Who is good in NI for slightly complicated breaking. Basic handling can be done at the sanctuary, I'm not after a baby (although we have one VERY tempting little asshole yearling colt who has already tried to strangle me with my own coat, I love him), it would be a 5-6+ yo handled and mannered but unbroken horse.

Since I posted this I have actually been offered some groundwork "lessons" with someone at the sanctuary which is exactly what I need. I will be having regular riding lessons (once I get over aforementioned confidence crisis) and would expect the "process" from applying to matching to breaking to take at least 6 months, probably a year or more. Still very much a hypothetical as well. So plenty of time to improve my own riding. Or yes, a share, which is possible at my current RS, I just need to talk to the owner about what my goals are and what is feasible. I'd like to keep mt own pony on the RS livery to have access to experience advice but that will have a hefty waiting list.