Sending a youngster for schooling

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Potato!

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Hi ive been looking into sending my boy to a professional trainer for some schooling. I had a chat with him on the phone and explained the few issues that I was having with my 5yo IDXTB and that I want to send him away for 6 weeks or so and then continue on with regular lessons afterwards. However cost is a big issure and at £175.00 per week plus the rent for my field im looking at
£200 per week which I just can’t afford right now. If I save up enough first then I can afford to send him away in September for six weeks. My issue with this is I would get him back in the middle of October where the dark evenings are coming and as I work full time and I do not have a school. I’m worried that I would not be able to continue the work with him outside of the lessons. I ride and school in my field as its nice and flat. But in the winter however whilst it’s a reasonably dry field all year it does get slippery so I can’t ride in there over the winter months.

When I spoke to the trainer over the phone last night he suggested that we could send him away for a few 2 week blocks and then I could continue working with him in between times. Which would make it more affordable and I would be able to send him away earlier.

My horse has been passed around a lot and im a bit worried that sending him away for 2 weeks and a time is going to screw his head up. The trailer is only a 20 minute hack away he does like to get the owner involved in process as much as possible so I would be going and riding him etc but not sure if I should do it like that or wait and send him away for the full 6 weeks in one go.

My question to everybody is what would you do if he was your horse? Also please give your reasons for your decision as im trying to decide which is best for both my horse and I.
 
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Someone I know sent there's away fro a couple of weeks or so, then had him back & sent him away later for another 2-3 weeks. This was the preferred method by the person who was doing the schooling. They considered that a lengthy period of schooling would be too intensive & breaking it up into managable periods was a better way to do it.
 
It sounds as if the trainer is offering a sensible compromise, it would allow you to progress over the summer, if the horse settles well he could do plenty in two weeks with you being involved during the time.
Most horses settle well in a pro yard there is plenty going on a routine and regular work, I would give it a go, if he does not settle you have the option of hacking over for lessons as much as you can over the summer then leaving him later if you still need to.
I used to have a pony from Mon- Fri to school, he went home every weekend, this worked really well, he never seemed bothered where he was as long as he had food.
 
As the trainer is local would he/she consider coming to you instead? If your horse has been passed around he may appreciate being trained at home.

I do not have much experience of this and the benefits of 'sending them away' I do know it works well with some, has helped to 'mature' the lovely connie youngster from my yard, but as you mentioned he has been passed around then a bit of stability might be better in this case.

Hopefull someone with more experience will post an answer for you!
 
It really does depend on how sensitive your horse is but I personally am not a great believer in "routine is best" sometimes too much routine causes issues when that routine is broken ie if you go to a show or away on holiday (taking your horse) or if you change yards/fields, new horse in the field etc. Why don't you give it a go and see how your horse copes. He might surprise you!
 
be positive said:
It sounds as if the trainer is offering a sensible compromise, it would allow you to progress over the summer, if the horse settles well he could do plenty in two weeks with you being involved during the time.
Most horses settle well in a pro yard there is plenty going on a routine and regular work, I would give it a go, if he does not settle you have the option of hacking over for lessons as much as you can over the summer then leaving him later if you still need to.
I used to have a pony from Mon- Fri to school, he went home every weekend, this worked really well, he never seemed bothered where he was as long as he had food.
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This sounds sensible..
 
If you're worried about him settling if he travels well would taking him over each day be an option? Would reduce the costs a bit & if he gets used to trainers yard he'd probably settle there for the next small block of training.
 
I would rather send him for schooling and then follow up with lessons as it would be alot cheaper and its an experience that i believe is good for horses to in effect go to boarding school. Also its alot cheaper in the longrun as he charges £50ph for lessons to come to me.
 
Also he is a very laid back horse and doesnt fret about things. If im involved and riding him and popping down to see him regularly then im hoping that it wont be like he has gone to a new home.

However we managed to trace his history and whilst he has had 10 homes (8owners/loaners). the poor boy is only 5
 
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you can only suck it and see...your trainers suggestion sounds great and that way you can at least enjoy your summer and feel like you are getting somwehere with your horse. I am paying to have my new baby schooled once a week by YO (professionial event rider) and a lesson myself to keep us on the straight and narrow and move things on. Same age and breeding as yours without being passed around though. Very very kind boy and also very very bright!
 
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