Think I've found me a horse..maybe

[TrasaM]

My friend owns an IDxWB 17hh mare who's about 8 years old. She's owned her two years and she's not been used for anything but hacking so she's very unfit at the moment.
She was trained as a SJ horse but sold on because she would never jump clear. This is not an issue for me as I'm more interested in dressage and having a horse that I can continue to improve on. I've ridden her a few times and we've got on really well. She even stayed calm when a pheasant erupted from under her nose last week! Wonder of wonders for a spooky horse who can at her own shadow at times.
She's lovely to handle on the ground but it'll be a case of restarting her completely and getting her back to full fitness.


So, just how long does this process take? I've got a good RI who will train us both but I think she also needs schooling before to establish some basics first.
She's a lot more horse than I'd planned to acquire as a first horse but she's such a lovely girl and I can feel the trust building between us now and am slowly but surely falling in love.

 

[Passtheshampoo]

Firstly just because she's used for hacking doesn't necessarily mean she's unfit. We just hack ours and they regularly do 10 - 12 mile rides. With regards to training / reschooling, how longs a piece of string? It's an ongoing process so with a good RI you'll continue to improve together. Good luck with her I hope she enjoys her new career.

 

[FfionWinnie]

She may get a lot sharper as she fittens up.

What if you get a passion for jumping?

 

[Auslander]

I doubt she'll need re-starting if she was showjumped, and has been hacking with no problem for two years. I think you'll find her a bit rusty, but unlikely to have forgotten her early training completely. She'll probably be fine after a bit of fittening work and some schooling from a suitably experienced person. Good luck with her

 

[TrasaM]

She may get a lot sharper as she fittens up.

What if you get a passion for jumping?

Funny.. Before I learnt how to jump it was a real ambition of mine but having done it I can take it or leave it. Nah, don't think I'll develop a passion for it just yet apparently she used to be quite sharp whenbshe first arrived but two years of having her sides booted has dulled her somewhat.

It's really encouraging to know that once she's got some proper schooling again that she should pick it up quite quickly. I've been trying to do little bits with her on the road and I think I can already see some improvement in her responses. Show her a Shetland and she does the most incredible airs above the ground quickly followed by a perfect extended trot she has potential just have to harness it without showing her a Shetland

 

[FfionWinnie]

Are you buying her then? Lets see some pics?!

 

[TrasaM]

Have a picture on my phone but it won't link with iPad
I will have a chat with owner when I get home and see if I can convince her to part with her. She never rides her and has no time for her so fingers crossed.

 

[noblesteed]

I bought my horse as a 9 year old from a hacking/jumping home. He was unfit as he'd been turned away for winter. He hadn't schooled properly in the 2 years these people had had him and had learned some bad habits. His feet were an uneven mess too.
Once I got his feet sorted and started having lessons it all came back to him - I don't think they forget really. It took about a year of my VERY dodgy riding and irregular lessons to be scoring 60s in prelims. So don't worry about it! She'll be fine, it'll just take a bit of work.

 

[kateo]

Has the owner actually said anything about selling?

 

[TrasaM]

Has the owner actually said anything about selling?

Yes, she's acknowledged she's got too many horses and as mare's regular rider was no longer riding very often that she needed to think about what to do with her. Whether or not that will translate to her actually letting her go is another matter. Either way I can continue to ride her and get lessons sorted for her. Just that it would be better if I were in a position to prevent her being ridden by all in sundry if I'm forking out for her schooling.

 

[TrasaM]

I bought my horse as a 9 year old from a hacking/jumping home. He was unfit as he'd been turned away for winter. He hadn't schooled properly in the 2 years these people had had him and had learned some bad habits. His feet were an uneven mess too.
Once I got his feet sorted and started having lessons it all came back to him - I don't think they forget really. It took about a year of my VERY dodgy riding and irregular lessons to be scoring 60s in prelims. So don't worry about it! She'll be fine, it'll just take a bit of work.

Same here. Her feet are not good and she's just had an abscess from a bruise on one front then went lame on other front after she was ridden just after her front shoes were removed. Then original abscess then flared up again.

You must be very proud of your boy

 

[kateo]

Ok, wasn't sure what you meant by needing to convince her to part with her! It's hard if you are putting time, money and love into her already if you're not sure of the outcome. Good luck, hope it works out!