The things we see....(sorry long!!)

[NewHeights_SJ]

I was asked to help today with a youngster who is very green, as the person breaking him was alone and needed an extra pair of hands. Now i must say, ive started a few horses in my time, but today i was in for a bit of a shock.

Said ponio is around 14hands, and was bought as a project for someone that was previously at a breaking yard in Ireland (he has alot of experience) to eventually be sold on. The gelding arrived yesterday and this was the first day of his 'education'.

So, he was tacked up and put on the lunge no problems and looked quite nice trotting around, he is very fat but has nice paces and seemed to settle well. The owner (lets call him X) decided he was quiet enough to lean over his back and see what happened.

Now, i think the pony has been ridden before, but from what i gather he needs alot of work and has done anything except perhaps have someone sit on him. So X leans over and the pony is a little frightened but X gives him a pat and he seems to settle. The pony is lead around like this a couple of times and eventually X decides to get on board. (I was thinking it was all a bit quick, but not being one to interfer.....)

He is lead around with X sitting quietly and you have to give the pony his dues, he was so good considering he probably hadn't done much and only arrived in the new place the day before! Anyway, to my shock X decides pony is ok to be ridden so he is taken off the lead and walked/trotted around the school...again, the pony is a complete star, even though it doesnt really understand the concept of steering and so on. After ten minutes or so, he decides to canter!

I must admit, i wasn't at all shocked when the pony turned into a bucking bronco and X hit the deck. I almost patted the pony until i realised he was going to get a 'good talking too' by way of a lunge whip.

I dont really want to say much, but lets just say said pony was very nervy afterwards, and had a couple of marks and cuts.

In the end the pony did canter around the school very nicey, but i cant help thinking how quick and heavy handed the methods were. Do you think its justified to be so tough to get results? I know he wants the pony ready to sell asap...but....

 

[Mbronze]

Absolutely not, like you say I think the pony was progressing quite well until the plonker got on him..

I would leave that for a while until it was familiar with its surroundings and who its new owner is...poor thing...even if they do want to move it on quickly it sounds like it will be at the cost of the pony's education.

Would keep well away from people like that and hopefully the pony will chuck him off a few more times!! hee hee

 

[wizoz]

That's disgraceful, so, the bloke wants to make a quick pound or two but who the hell is he to beat up a pony who probably wondered what the hell was happening to it? Stupid ar**ho**, i'm glad he got bucked off but sad the pony got hurt. That is not right at all

 

[Tia]

Most of the slightly older pre-owned horses I own (bought as 3 and 4 year olds) were brought up like this. Not something I would choose to do, but you sure as heck get a good horse out of it. The ones here that have been harshly trained are pretty darned good horses.....having said that, the ones I have backed myself using kind but firm training have been wonderful too.

I don't get too het up with stuff like this anymore I'm afraid; seeing these sorts of things pale into insignificance compared to the really nasty stuff I see on a fairly regular basis.

I'm sure the pony will survive. I very much doubt it will have any lasting effects because of the lunge whip and it will likely turn out to be a decent mannered little horse.

 

[NewHeights_SJ]

Tia - to be honest i have seen alot worse, and the bashing with the lunge whip didnt do any lasting damage. I was just quite shocked at how quick it all was. Reminded me of a few gipsys we have around here, the 'get on and go' technique.

Also i gather its alot harsher over in Ireland for our four legged friends, but in both respects they produce alot of nice horses.

At the same time i couldn't help feeling there was no need for the beating. I got the feeling it was just freshness or excited nerves that came with the canter. I think he would of got the same result by climbing back on board and trying again.

 

[Tia]

I know what you mean. I never enjoy seeing this sort of thing going on either but then I try to take myself out of it and look at the lasting effects.....actually often I buy the darned horse LOL!!

 

[mischa]

money before welfare theres just no need to beat a horse like that not to the degree of leaving marks and cuts he was moving to quick in a short space of time hope hes got a bruise or two x i mean.