Starting a rising 4yo

[JBM]

Hi

so mocha is 4 now in two months and I’d like to send her away to be gently started
Preferably someone to take their time and not rush her
She has been sat on before at the rescue but I’d just like someone to start her again as it’s been awhile
I’m based in Donegal if anyone knows someone but how would you go about finding someone? Do you ask trainers for videos? I feel a lot of people in ireland can be more rough with horses and that’s the last thing I want (not speaking badly about everyone in ireland just from what I’ve seen a lot of people have grown up with the “be the boss” attitude)
Unfortunately I have no arena and my field is 30 acres in the middle of a town so don’t feel confident starting her there

 

[FitzyFitz]

Ask horsey friends for recommendations but definitely see videos of the trainers at the very least and preferably watch them in person. Without warning if you can manage it but that's quite difficult.

I sent mine away to a highly recommended trainer from my old pony club and he got sent back labelled as dangerous, also head shy and with a bruised mouth. Funny, because I'd already been lightly hacking him round the town with absolutely no issues he just needed refinement.

If it helps, after that debacle, I restarted that pony and backed another one afterwards myself, just using my paddock and the bridleways/roads around the busy town I lived in. Maybe didn't get them so polished as a professional with facilities but better than them being beaten up. I do have human helpers though!