Starting a sharp and nervous 3yo?

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eventer28

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I have started loads of youngsters done all the groundwork, backing and basic schooling but my new 3 yo youngster is a different kettle of fish. He is very athletic and sharp. He has the concentration span of a goldfish and can be very nervous and skittish. He is in a very good routine, handled daily etc but i just have a hunch he will be VERY difficult to start. Do you think i should leave him untill he is 4 or maybe send him away to get him started under saddle?
 
i would spend ages on the prep work, leading around in tack, then lungeing/long reining, and see how he is. making sure one like that has a really really comfy well-fitting saddle from the start is crucial too, i've found out in the past.
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i'm in the same boat, have a 3yr old here i am not looking forward to getting on!
i always back mine for the first time in a large stable (without any beams!), keeps them calmer, nowhere to shoot off to, they can get used to the new weird feeling in a safe enclosed place where they'll relax quicker. helper usually has a bucket of grub for distraction too! just an idea.
 
Same as my daughters pony. He was left till he was 5 and he can still be a bit sharp. he is still nervous and I suppose always will be. The lady who I got him from had spent ages on the ground before backing him but didnt make much difference. We try to do as much handling as poss but has just resided that he wont change.

Daughter loves him and thats the main thing and has no intention of getting rid so Id say if he is for keeps take the extra time if he is to sell you might have to wait a bit long!
 
If its just an immaure thing then I will keep but I have a hunch he will be better in the hands of a pro showjumper.. shame for me
 
i've got 2 to do already. will be just my luck to crock myself so i can't event! i always wait till it's high summer anyway, when it's nice and hot with no wind they're less inclined to be wild.
i've never sent one away, seen/heard too many bad results, you never know what they'll do with them, and not everyone is patient and kind all the time, and at this stage it is particularly crucial imho.
 
Her pony would definately be better with an older person but she has put so much time into him I reakon he could set back very easily so she wants to make something of him (she is now competing BSJA PC ODE and unaff XC & wants him as her first BE pony) so it can be done but its time and patience she was ready to give up loads of times in the first 3 months but it paid off. The reason we got him for a good price is the seller was aware he would be difficult.

If he has potential it might be worth looking into sending him away and funds permitting of course.

Decisions decisions!! good luck whatever you do, it will be worth it im 100% sure
 
i had this problem with my sharp and nervous 3 year old. i sent her to michael peace for some ground work couse i could never picture anyone sitting on her just yet. i went to see her after a few weeks and she was a different horse. we decided he could sit on her if he felt she was ready. i went back maybe a week later and rode her in the round pen walk, trot and cantered! amazing. she never put a foot wrong with him. she is turned out now and we will think about bringing her back in to work end of the year begining next year. cant recommend him enough. of course she will always be a sharp horse but at least she is heading the right way.
 
My Horse (in sig below) was a very sharp 3 year old so I sent her away to be broken and she stayed in light work until she was 5. The girl who broke her said it would not be wise to give her time off as she was far too sharp to get on and after a 4 week break at home needed to be re-backed!

She is 6 now and is actually a superstar to ride all be it a bit sharp at times but she doest do the wild fly bucking anymore
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He might surprise you ... I backed my Arab at 4 with all sorts of trepidation because although he had been well handled, lunged and longreined, he was extremely sharp, spooky, unable/unwilling to concentrate for more than 10 seconds. To cut a long story short, I had two helpers and we were all togged up with hats and body protectors ... and nothing happened. I got on, he was led round the arena, then he walked round on his own and I got off.

Since then he has not been an easy horse but I have only come off twice in 4 years.

I wouldn't advocate sending him away - you don't have total control over how it's done and you will still have to ride him yourself for the first time when he comes home.
 
Mine was the opposite - all seemed well in the handling, rugging, doing feet department, until I started the lungeing, backing and riding. It was hell. She was so nervous, sharp etc etc.

She was scared of every new thing I tried.

She's still rather quirky and very spooky 13yrs later, but we got there in the end, and sometimes I can't believe I stuck with her!

If I have another one like that again, I'd want a safe horse around me which she could follow/draw confidence from as I feel that was the main issue, me having to do everything alone
 
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