Riding youngsters on your own

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ironhorse

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Do you do this - I mean, with no-one else on the yard at all?
There's a guy at our yard that I'm a bit worried about. He's got a newly backed 3yo and rides on his own in the evening - I was only around tonight as I was faffing about cleaning tack.
As I was leaving, it was refusing to go forwards, then rearing/broncing. He didn't look like he was about to fall off, but I couldn't help worrying that if something happened he'd be on his own until someone missed him at home!
Didn't want to interfere - my horse (a much older, trained horse) is a bit of a madam and if we're having a row the last thing I'd want is someone coming to see if I'm OK.
Was in two minds whether to ring the YO and have a quiet word but didn't want to worry her unnecessarily or 'tell tales'.
Opinions please!
 
Unfortunately I have no choice - I am on my own 4/5 days a week and have half a yard of youngsters to ride. I would rather somebody was around, but keep reminding myself that the neighbour would be round like a shot at the first unusual sound/sight from my yard (he is very nosy:D)
 
Yep, I have always ridden the young horses I have had on my own, nobody used to go up the same time as me, so it was a question of needs must.
 
tbh I have always ridden youngsters on my own as I don't really have much choice. I NEVER think about falling off though, never been one for "what ifs" and "maybes". I guess in hindsight it could be tricky if I do fall so I make sure I don't!
 
yep i ride my youngster on his own cant always ride when others do so i just crack on with it or wouldnt get far always have a phone with me in case but no matter how old the horse is this is a good idea
 
I organise my day so I don't have to ride when there's no one else around. It is hard to do though and big bind. But it's totally worth it, she hasn't been the easiest.
 
I also have no choice, I have to ride youngsters on my own. I also ride problem ponies and Horrid Herbie my latest is far more dangourous than the youngster i have, i ride Herbie on my own to (mainly because he is so horrid noone else will ride/walk out with me). I always make shore i have my mobile (on silent) attatched to me so i can call for help if needed.
 
Usually there's someone about, but needs must. Then again, my baby hasn't been that difficult. If he had been I'd probably feel differently.
 
I used to ride Dizz every morning on my own, with only a couple of Polish workmen in the farm house who may or may not have been in (and their English was very limited). As a youngish DWB who frequently span, twisted, back-upped, bounced, and generally threw her toys out of the pram, it probably wasn't ideal :). D insisted that I rang him by x o'clock so as he knew I was okay. Luckily the day I came off in style there were loads of people around, but since then I haven't ridden on my own :o
 
No i wouldn't ride on my own now, knowing how unpredictable my new youngster is, i wouldn't risk it. I've been "lucky" that there have been people in the school the two times he's decided to play up and although it's pretty embarrassing and you get lots of (dubious quality and conflicting) advice. Still, I'd rather they were there in case I was hurt. My horse (I discovered on Saturday) isn't the caring sort to check you're ok after he's ditched you either... more of the p*ss-off-to-the-other-side-of-the-field-and-graze kind of chap!
 
I try not to - but do if no one else is there. I do like MrsMozart says tho, tell OH when I am riding and ring him when finished!
 
ecrozier said:
I try not to - but do if no one else is there. I do like MrsMozart says tho, tell OH when I am riding and ring him when finished!
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We do the same. If no-one is on the yard we make sure some-one else knows we are riding one of the four youngsters and ring them when we have finished.
 
i do too, i back my youngsters and ride alone, i am on my own all the time. i have ~ID tags on my tack and carry a mobile
 
I used to have the ride of a pretty sharp 3/4yo when I was 16 who I rode every evening usually with nobody else in the yard, and in the dark! And hacking out. Kept a phone on me, unfortunatly I had little choice!
 
I was having this drama with my youngster the other day (being a bit 'sticky' and I couldn't establish if he was being a bit nappy or lost his confidence) Fortunately there were people on the yard and one of them was kind enough to offer to help, so he lead my horse around and we overcame the problem...

Reading through the posts it seems that everyone who rides alone does so because they have no option- perhaps your yard pal is the same? I think it would be very generous of you to offer to help him next time you see him tacking up :D
 
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