Thrown in at the deep end...

jess2353

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Basically I have always loved horses, since I was young.
My mum always had them when I was growing up & I used to do the odd riding lesson at a riding school or go out on a hack on her steady plod.

well when her last horse was pts due to having colic she swore she'd never get another & true to her word didn't for nearly 8 years.

But recently my mum decided she was going to buy another horse & we were going to share it, she'd show me the ropes ect...(novice)

Her friend knew of a man who was selling a horse, a 3yo that had pulled a cart but never been backed, anyway both fell in love with this horse as soon as we saw her, lovely sec d mare. nice attitude & a real stunner.
So mum paid the 3 grand for her & within a few days we had this new horse.

first few weeks went great, we done everything together,then suddenly she started backing off abit as she was leaving me to muck out ect claiming she had plans & after a month of having her mum has turned around & said she is giving me her & that she won't be round to help :/

I just feel totally out of my depth & wander if I should sell her on, have spoken to my mum about it all, but she just says I'm old enough to learn(it's not hard she'd say) I've managed to back her with a girl who's abit expirenced, but just feel at a complete deadend atm.
selling her would be hard as have grown so attached to her over the last 5 months.

the only other thing I can think of is sending her away to be professionally backed/schooled & practice on my own riding whilst she is away.

Do I hang onto her & battle it out ?
Or sell her on?

Sorry for the long message
 
Oh dear, what made your mum give up with you. ? Having horse pro broken in would be best as you don't have the experience yourself and it is so easy to go wrong with youngsters, then I would get an experienced sharer to help you along. Failing that I would have to say , sorry, but sell and get a school mistress to help you learn and a helpful livery yard . Sorry am not much help but have been there and done it on my own and it was nearly a disaster.
 
She just said that her job has offered more hours now which takes up alot of her time.

I'm Lucky enough to be on a good yard with alot of expirenced people. I've just applied to work at a riding stables helping out to gain some more expirence in return for riding lesson's so hopefully that might help.

really don't want to give up on her if I don't have to, if I could get her professionally schooled for a few months, I could then loan her out
To someone to stay at same yard though, as i help out there with there horses so could still see her, is this practical or just an idea that seems good at the time..... Difficult :(
 
If you're already on and riding, and there is a lot of experience on the yard, perhaps book yourself regular lessons? I don't know how old you are, but is there a local pc/rc you could join, who would put you in touch with instructor and help?
 
Is your mother paying all your horses' costs? If so, as you say you and another young woman have backed her, turn her away for the winter, whilst still doing basic handling in and out of the stable, and see how you feel in Spring. Keep going with the lessons, learn as much about general horse management and starting youngsters and find a mentor whose opinion and horse management skills you respect and trust. Any chance your mother will become interested in the horse again? If she is not paying the horse's costs, if you can find a suitable full loan at your current yard, that might be an idea. Very difficult situation for you. Hugs and good luck.
 
So the horse is only three? I would turn her away over winter. She has done a lot for a young horse and a break would do her no harm at all, it would also take the pressure off you while it's short of daylight.

Learn as much as you can and try to arrange for an experienced helper/trainer for the spring, when you bring the horse back into ridden work.
 
do you want a horse?
Totally yours with all costs?
if yes then its worth sending horse to a professional and working on your riding and knowledge as you already have a relationship with this horse.

If you don't want 100% of this horse them speak to your mum. Tell her she's goes back to sharing the horse with you or you sell it.
Be firm and totally honest.
 
Im 23 :) ive taken over paying for all her cost,I've just her teeth done,her feet,first jabs,wormed & chipped, I can afford it so I'm not worrying about money ect.

but like someone said I have turned her away for the winter, but tbh think i will keep her struggle on,I think she'll be a lovely horse with the right guidence.

I have found someone who will do her backing/ schooling about 45 min drive away, only a young girl but has archieved alot & brought on a few cast offs that others had given up on. £60 a week including all feed/bedding
Stable/turnout. & she'll be worked everyday.

not sure I'm quite ready to give up on her just yet. Love her more than anything
 
argh no ive wanted a horse for years, just never been in a position to afford one being young & having a 4yo child. but I juggle the too quite good.

She's rising 4 she'll be 4 in April. she has done alot I just wanted to get her gently backed as I got told it's the best time to do before
They hit four with the attitude,she's only done walk & trot & a few walks out in hand.
 
It sounds like with the right support and help (which you seem to have sorted) that you should be able to cope with this horse. :)

I love walking youngsters out in-hand. You could continue to take her out for a walk if there's a nice day and you want to.
 
yeah she enjoys her walks out :) think they keep her sane,there's real poor grazing where she is, so there being stabled 24-7 atm... Which isent good but she's moving yard in a couple of weeks. Il still have the help though
 
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