Ahrena
Well-Known Member
I'm just havin a bit of a musing.
I'm bringing on a young horse for someone to sell but I am lacking a bit in the facilities ect I would normally have to hand in this kind of situation, so just thought i'd post on here for some thoughts.
Basic background info is he's an ex racer, was being ridden out of racing last year but i have no idea how much he did. My client is very novice. She bought him with a friend to bring on and sell, she was going to do day to day care and friend ride. Then they had to move yards and have gone separate ways, her friend disappeared off the face of the planet for a few months. She finally got hold of her as she was stuck with this horse and no passport, and bought her out.
So that's when i started working with him. I've been working with him a couple of weeks and he seems nice enough. Did a fair bit of groundwork; long reining ect as like I said, had no idea what he's done and she hasn't even seen him ridden so was slightly concerned I might be getting on a nut job.
The basic set up is it's on a farm. She has a young horse (a 5 year old I think), which is why I originally started working with her as she wanted someone to ride him and get him hacking out alone as he hadn't done a lot of it, and being quite novicey, she wanted someone else to do it. I have done so, he's now going out quietly with me, he's a lovely sensible chap, a really nice sort. She's only been riding him herself with me walking with her and he is a bit more backwards with her, but it's fine.
There aren't really any facilities there, there's a field to ride in and a few jumps but am obviously a bit limited due to ground conditions. The hacking is okay, country lanes but the one you go out on to start with (and have to stay on for quite a bit) is quite busy and has a fair few big vans/small lorries on it.
I've ridden him a few of times and he's going very sweetly, a little worried to start with as the field is surrounded by pigs, geese, chickens ect so a LOT to look at but he's fine.
Now obviously, I need to get him hacking ASAP so i don't trash this field.
But I'm a bit worried about how to go about it as the only company I have to take him put with is the other youngster and the novicey owner which isn't the greatest lead. Apparently the other horse is excellent in company but they do play off each other with spooking ect. Last time I rode him, she rode in the field with me. The riding field is a little bit down a track from their turnout field so I got on at their turnout field with her holding him, and waited for her to get on hers. However during this waiting, the horse I'm bringing on was very unsettled and started doing bunny hops and felt like he wanted to rear. Not knowing his history and only having ridden him a few times, I didn't fancy chancing it, so when he did stop mucking about and waited quietly a moment, i hopped off and led him to the field.
Once in the field he was absolutely fine though together thry were very nappy and awkward leading down to the riding field.
I've asked her to feed them separately as they are very bonded, so to lead 1 (pref the one who is to be sold) down towards the riding field/farm yard to feed in order to get them used to being apart for a bit and also to associate them that going that way doesn't always = work. Also think it will help settle him around the farm animals as he is going up there to have his tea, which is obviously a pleasant experience!
But anyway, back to the hacking. Does it sound like a suicide mission to take these horse's out together? I don'r want to take him alone to start as with 1 running around neighing i think he might be rather nappy and I'd rather get him out in company to make sure he is actually sane to hack and in traffic. He is fine with the cars passing his field.
So anyway, any thoughts? I did think perhaps one of us lead him and the other ride the other horse to start with, but worried if he is a prat then she may not be able to handle him on the ground, and if she rides, I'm worried the other horse will be a bit nappy as I don't think she is hugely assertive, and that then the one on the ground will be a prat playing off this!
I hope this post doesn't make me sound hugely inexperienced, I'm not, and have done this sort of thing plenty of times before, but previously always had a school so able to ride the horse enough first to really get to know it and always had a sensible schoolmaster and an experienced rider to accompany us!
I'm bringing on a young horse for someone to sell but I am lacking a bit in the facilities ect I would normally have to hand in this kind of situation, so just thought i'd post on here for some thoughts.
Basic background info is he's an ex racer, was being ridden out of racing last year but i have no idea how much he did. My client is very novice. She bought him with a friend to bring on and sell, she was going to do day to day care and friend ride. Then they had to move yards and have gone separate ways, her friend disappeared off the face of the planet for a few months. She finally got hold of her as she was stuck with this horse and no passport, and bought her out.
So that's when i started working with him. I've been working with him a couple of weeks and he seems nice enough. Did a fair bit of groundwork; long reining ect as like I said, had no idea what he's done and she hasn't even seen him ridden so was slightly concerned I might be getting on a nut job.
The basic set up is it's on a farm. She has a young horse (a 5 year old I think), which is why I originally started working with her as she wanted someone to ride him and get him hacking out alone as he hadn't done a lot of it, and being quite novicey, she wanted someone else to do it. I have done so, he's now going out quietly with me, he's a lovely sensible chap, a really nice sort. She's only been riding him herself with me walking with her and he is a bit more backwards with her, but it's fine.
There aren't really any facilities there, there's a field to ride in and a few jumps but am obviously a bit limited due to ground conditions. The hacking is okay, country lanes but the one you go out on to start with (and have to stay on for quite a bit) is quite busy and has a fair few big vans/small lorries on it.
I've ridden him a few of times and he's going very sweetly, a little worried to start with as the field is surrounded by pigs, geese, chickens ect so a LOT to look at but he's fine.
Now obviously, I need to get him hacking ASAP so i don't trash this field.
But I'm a bit worried about how to go about it as the only company I have to take him put with is the other youngster and the novicey owner which isn't the greatest lead. Apparently the other horse is excellent in company but they do play off each other with spooking ect. Last time I rode him, she rode in the field with me. The riding field is a little bit down a track from their turnout field so I got on at their turnout field with her holding him, and waited for her to get on hers. However during this waiting, the horse I'm bringing on was very unsettled and started doing bunny hops and felt like he wanted to rear. Not knowing his history and only having ridden him a few times, I didn't fancy chancing it, so when he did stop mucking about and waited quietly a moment, i hopped off and led him to the field.
Once in the field he was absolutely fine though together thry were very nappy and awkward leading down to the riding field.
I've asked her to feed them separately as they are very bonded, so to lead 1 (pref the one who is to be sold) down towards the riding field/farm yard to feed in order to get them used to being apart for a bit and also to associate them that going that way doesn't always = work. Also think it will help settle him around the farm animals as he is going up there to have his tea, which is obviously a pleasant experience!
But anyway, back to the hacking. Does it sound like a suicide mission to take these horse's out together? I don'r want to take him alone to start as with 1 running around neighing i think he might be rather nappy and I'd rather get him out in company to make sure he is actually sane to hack and in traffic. He is fine with the cars passing his field.
So anyway, any thoughts? I did think perhaps one of us lead him and the other ride the other horse to start with, but worried if he is a prat then she may not be able to handle him on the ground, and if she rides, I'm worried the other horse will be a bit nappy as I don't think she is hugely assertive, and that then the one on the ground will be a prat playing off this!
I hope this post doesn't make me sound hugely inexperienced, I'm not, and have done this sort of thing plenty of times before, but previously always had a school so able to ride the horse enough first to really get to know it and always had a sensible schoolmaster and an experienced rider to accompany us!
), but if it's not too far from me I can always bring Raff down and ride out with you. As you know he doesn't do anything daft and is good in traffic, and he's always up for a ride. Just let me know. xx
- try leading for the first few times so he can see you for a bit of confidence! 