Trotting issues with horse

Jasmine2023 said:
I have had an offer of an experienced rider coming to see him and do an assessment of him which I need to think about.
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If you are sure of this person and they come with some sort of recommendation I would grab the chance ASAP. At least then you may have a reliable professionals input and it will help you make the best decisions both for you and for the pony.
 
Jasmine2023 said:
There is a lot of positive replies and I am grateful I just really worry about the ones that advise me not to get on him especially to hack out and to sell him. The hacking is the only thing I can do which I feel more comfortable about. So in my head I have to think between selling him and giving up riding altogether or persevering and trying to work with him and other more experienced people funds allowing. That's where I am at at the moment. I have had an offer of an experienced rider coming to see him and do an assessment of him which I need to think about.
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It's not being said to make you worry but what happens if he breaks into trot or, as can happen occasionally, into canter on the road?

I would personally have one of the trainers we mentioned see him, as "experienced" can mean anything, especially as you don't have a depth of knowledge to judge this person's abilities or correctness. I mean I wouldn't put most grand prix dressage riders on any horse I owned, personally, for all sorts of reasons. But figuring that it's not possible to have out another trainer to the riding school?
 
sbloom said:
It's not being said to make you worry but what happens if he breaks into trot or, as can happen occasionally, into canter on the road?

I would personally have one of the trainers we mentioned see him, as "experienced" can mean anything, especially as you don't have a depth of knowledge to judge this person's abilities or correctness. I mean I wouldn't put most grand prix dressage riders on any horse I owned, personally, for all sorts of reasons. But figuring that it's not possible to have out another trainer to the riding school?
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This why if she wants to hack him it is important to start with the jog trot work in an arena so if he breaks into trot hacking she can handle it with confidence , not later. now before she goes out on the road
 
tristars said:
This why if she wants to hack him it is important to start with the jog trot work in an arena so if he breaks into trot hacking she can handle it with confidence , not later. now before she goes out on the road
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Oh I get that, but most of us would be saying don't ride, and strengthen from the ground first, both horse and rider.
 
sbloom said:
We recommended several.
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I thought you asked if I knew anyone personally which I don't.

sbloom said:
Oh I get that, but most of us would be saying don't ride, and strengthen from the ground first, both horse and rider.
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The only issue I have with this is that having arthritis if I don't ride regularly I sieze up sadly and then it's like starting all over again with the muscles.
 
Jasmine2023 said:
I don't personally know any trainers.
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I think a couple of us have recommended Sally Mitchell, she is in West Yorkshire.

I also recommend Joe Midgely (recommended by someone else, although he historically has been more difficult to get to private clients where there isn't a clinic situation. He is the person who rode mine every week for ages when I wasn't at my most resourceful, but he is not as local to you as Sally would be. He was, however local to me, and fitted mine in before and after clinics on his way to or from home. I would have been happy for Sally to have ridden mine if she had been local.

Sally Mitchell Equestrian

Sally Mitchell is a BHSAI qualified horse trainer. She is a BHS Registered Instructor so is fully insured, holds an up to date first aid certificate and is CRB Checked.
sally-mitchell.com

www.joemidgleyhorsemanship.co.uk

Joe Midgley Horsemanship - Achievment through respect and trust

One of the Uk's leading clinicians, demonstrators and teachers in the field of good horsemanship.
www.joemidgleyhorsemanship.co.uk www.joemidgleyhorsemanship.co.uk
 
Red-1 said:
I think a couple of us have recommended Sally Mitchell, she is in West Yorkshire.

I also recommend Joe Midgely (recommended by someone else, although he historically has been more difficult to get to private clients where there isn't a clinic situation. He is the person who rode mine every week for ages when I wasn't at my most resourceful, but he is not as local to you as Sally would be. He was, however local to me, and fitted mine in before and after clinics on his way to or from home. I would have been happy for Sally to have ridden mine if she had been local.

Sally Mitchell Equestrian

Sally Mitchell is a BHSAI qualified horse trainer. She is a BHS Registered Instructor so is fully insured, holds an up to date first aid certificate and is CRB Checked.
sally-mitchell.com

www.joemidgleyhorsemanship.co.uk

Joe Midgley Horsemanship - Achievment through respect and trust

One of the Uk's leading clinicians, demonstrators and teachers in the field of good horsemanship.
www.joemidgleyhorsemanship.co.uk www.joemidgleyhorsemanship.co.uk
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Thanks for that I was just searching through to find them. Has anyone a rough estimate of cost involved before I do contact anyone bearing in mind hes not a complete newbie?
 
Jasmine2023 said:
I thought you asked if I knew anyone personally which I don't.


The only issue I have with this is that having arthritis if I don't ride regularly I sieze up sadly and then it's like starting all over again with the muscles.
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I know I said about selling and getting a schoolmaster, but you are riding him and if you continue to build on that, well done, and if you need to for your own benefit you will build muscle, so will he, you can do other things ad well as ride

It's just 2 things at the mo being able to cope if trots, the circle work, just the odd circle not thousands will give you the feel of slight bend at times, that tiny bend can also be used to control him, stop him, if he needs it when on the road

If you could teach him leg yield so you can move over out of the road to side would be a help to get of the way if needed, it's easy jasmine just put your leg on to move over and let your weight into the direction you want to go and move your hands in that direction

You would be a lot safer if able to do those things hacking
 
You can search for someone in your area from the bhs website if the trainers already recommended don't work out

Also, look for riding clubs local to you as they often arrange clinics with local trainers which can give you more leads to look at.

In my area, there are several larger yards where they have more access to trainers than you would have at a RS. Groups of people can club together to get a trainer for a few hours in one session which can help with the cost but also some yards have multiple trainers coming on a regular basis and you just book into a session online, it's organised by YM / YO. If the RS situation you're in atm isn't working for you then it's worth considering a move - you can still get lessons if you have your own horse.
 
Jasmine2023 said:
Thanks for that I was just searching through to find them. Has anyone a rough estimate of cost involved before I do contact anyone bearing in mind hes not a complete newbie?
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Sally is lovely, I've had her come to my yard to give me groundwork lessons for a youngster I had at the time.
Give her a call and have a chat - that doesn't cost anything and see how you feel about what she says. You can ask about costs on the phone.

I also spoke to Adam Yates (for free) on the phone about breaking a 4 yo I had - after a long chat he recommended leaving him for another year - which is what I did. That call and advice didn't cost anything but gave me a really good insight into how he works and what he was aiming at.

I would speak to several and see which you think 'get' what your having trouble with and which you think would suit your personality most.
Whoever you get I would get several recommendations for and perhaps ask to speak to previous clients as references - good quality instructors won't mind that at all
 
At the risk of simplifying things too much for you, sorry if teaching my grandmother to suck eggs . Your riding school sounds so unhelpful and has given you terrible advice from start to finish here. You say you can’t move as you don’t have any other riding schools that do livery near you, my point is that you don’t need a riding school, you have a pony now. Find a nice yard with a supportive yard owner that allows external instructors and has an arena. Then get a freelancer instructor and in an ideal world a sharer, even if you don’t charge them but just have someone with ability to ride a baby.
The worst thing for him would be working livery in this very odd set up where they can recommend a pony as suitable for a novice rider but yet not get on it themselves when it arrives , makes zero sense.
Do the groundwork, there’s a great book called cobs can with loads of exercises, plus some of the kelly marks, perfect manners etc. ride in the school in walk, there’s loads you can do. Get some professional help to get him trotting confidently, even if that’s just once a week for a few months, then you get trotting confidently. Forget canter for now if needs be.
If you buy a baby, you have to be prepared to spend money on their education. I have a four year old cob and I’m a lot more experience than you, but I’m paying my instructor to ride her twice a week at the moment, to really get the foundations in place.
Don’t sell him and give up, make it work. He sounds like a dude and hopefully will be perfect at some point.
 
smiggy said:
At the risk of simplifying things too much for you, sorry if teaching my grandmother to suck eggs . Your riding school sounds so unhelpful and has given you terrible advice from start to finish here. You say you can’t move as you don’t have any other riding schools that do livery near you, my point is that you don’t need a riding school, you have a pony now. Find a nice yard with a supportive yard owner that allows external instructors and has an arena. Then get a freelancer instructor and in an ideal world a sharer, even if you don’t charge them but just have someone with ability to ride a baby.
The worst thing for him would be working livery in this very odd set up where they can recommend a pony as suitable for a novice rider but yet not get on it themselves when it arrives , makes zero sense.
Do the groundwork, there’s a great book called cobs can with loads of exercises, plus some of the kelly marks, perfect manners etc. ride in the school in walk, there’s loads you can do. Get some professional help to get him trotting confidently, even if that’s just once a week for a few months, then you get trotting confidently. Forget canter for now if needs be.
If you buy a baby, you have to be prepared to spend money on their education. I have a four year old cob and I’m a lot more experience than you, but I’m paying my instructor to ride her twice a week at the moment, to really get the foundations in place.
Don’t sell him and give up, make it work. He sounds like a dude and hopefully will be perfect at some point.
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This - I have no faith in that riding school.
If you get a sharer, can you put their share contribution towards lessons for you (either with your new pony or on a schoolmaster)
 
It is unfair to blame the riding school. They are a riding school and that does not mean that they should offer a service to ride livery horses. Holding an AI does not make an instructor a wealth of experience.

OP has already bought a horse unseen and had a bad experience. I fail to agree how it is the fault of the RS that OP has done the same thing again. OP was given a lot of advice on the previous thread, all of which strongly directed them away from purchasing in this manner.

Now it is a case of improving a, currently, risky situation for a very novice rider with limited time and exposure around horses, let alone young green horses.
 
NR88 said:
It is unfair to blame the riding school. They are a riding school and that does not mean that they should offer a service to ride livery horses. Holding an AI does not make an instructor a wealth of experience.

OP has already bought a horse unseen and had a bad experience. I fail to agree how it is the fault of the RS that OP has done the same thing again. OP was given a lot of advice on the previous thread, all of which strongly directed them away from purchasing in this manner.

Now it is a case of improving a, currently, risky situation for a very novice rider with limited time and exposure around horses, let alone young green horses.
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People are blaming the riding school as they advised the OP that this would be a suitable horse to buy .
Obviously it’s their choice to ride it or not if it just appeared from nowhere but it didn’t , they advised her to buy it.
They should have said “ no, that’s a terrible idea, please don’t “ but it seems they didn’t so ..
 
tristars said:
I know I said about selling and getting a schoolmaster, but you are riding him and if you continue to build on that, well done, and if you need to for your own benefit you will build muscle, so will he, you can do other things ad well as ride

It's just 2 things at the mo being able to cope if trots, the circle work, just the odd circle not thousands will give you the feel of slight bend at times, that tiny bend can also be used to control him, stop him, if he needs it when on the road

If you could teach him leg yield so you can move over out of the road to side would be a help to get of the way if needed, it's easy jasmine just put your leg on to move over and let your weight into the direction you want to go and move your hands in that direction

You would be a lot safer if able to do those things hacking
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I can do the leg yield I have been thought that and use it.

smiggy said:
At the risk of simplifying things too much for you, sorry if teaching my grandmother to suck eggs . Your riding school sounds so unhelpful and has given you terrible advice from start to finish here. You say you can’t move as you don’t have any other riding schools that do livery near you, my point is that you don’t need a riding school, you have a pony now. Find a nice yard with a supportive yard owner that allows external instructors and has an arena. Then get a freelancer instructor and in an ideal world a sharer, even if you don’t charge them but just have someone with ability to ride a baby.
The worst thing for him would be working livery in this very odd set up where they can recommend a pony as suitable for a novice rider but yet not get on it themselves when it arrives , makes zero sense.
Do the groundwork, there’s a great book called cobs can with loads of exercises, plus some of the kelly marks, perfect manners etc. ride in the school in walk, there’s loads you can do. Get some professional help to get him trotting confidently, even if that’s just once a week for a few months, then you get trotting confidently. Forget canter for now if needs be.
If you buy a baby, you have to be prepared to spend money on their education. I have a four year old cob and I’m a lot more experience than you, but I’m paying my instructor to ride her twice a week at the moment, to really get the foundations in place.
Don’t sell him and give up, make it work. He sounds like a dude and hopefully will be perfect at some point.
Click to expand...
We had a large livery only yard close recently so many yards took those people on that's why finding a yard space is hard. I already know a freelance RI SO that wouldn't be an issue it's just finding a space.
 
NR88 said:
It is unfair to blame the riding school. They are a riding school and that does not mean that they should offer a service to ride livery horses. Holding an AI does not make an instructor a wealth of experience.

OP has already bought a horse unseen and had a bad experience. I fail to agree how it is the fault of the RS that OP has done the same thing again. OP was given a lot of advice on the previous thread, all of which strongly directed them away from purchasing in this manner.

Now it is a case of improving a, currently, risky situation for a very novice rider with limited time and exposure around horses, let alone young green horses.
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I don't want to go over all that again it nearly broke me and sent my depression spiralling. Ozzy was a totally different horse to Charlie. I have bonded with Charlie. The advice I got was poor and I don't feel confident where I am for the help I need. He may be green but he has no badness in him and seems to have a old head on young shoulders in most respects. I just want to make the best of the situation I am in now and not look back.
 
Jasmine2023 said:
I thought you asked if I knew anyone personally which I don't.


The only issue I have with this is that having arthritis if I don't ride regularly I sieze up sadly and then it's like starting all over again with the muscles.
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No, I said personally what I would do. How have you selected the freeleancer you're thinking of using? I would go from a recommendation from those on here as again, you don't have a lot of experience or help to then choose a suitable instructor.

And I would strongly recommend, as I've said a couple of times, to do some work off horse. I recommended Equimech on YouTube, I specialise in rider fit when fitting a saddle and she's great for helping riders improve their performance and abilities in the saddle. She has free content available. Someone mentioned someone else, there are a lot to choose from as it's a growing sector of the industry, some will be all talk, some will be great so again, select through a combination of what feels right to you but in the context of the experienced advice you are getting here. You can always come up with a short list and ask if anyone can rate any of them.

If you find me on Facebook, I use my real name (and make sure it's my current page not the old one I've lost access to) I share content from all sorts of people who might offer useful information for you.
 
It’s rubbish you’ve been given such terrible advice but it’s done now.

Realistically I would budget £100 per week to train him as he will need someone competent to train him.

This maybe a rude question but how much is full livery these days ? It might not be much more to find a schooling livery that can do the work for you and you just enjoy little hacks and groundwork till he’s more established. The only issue with a green horse and green owner is that you will also have to put work in yourself and have regular lessons whilst he’s being brought on. He sounds a nice sort and I’m pleased you have bonded … I just wish he was a 16 year old schoolmaster whose happy to teach a novice.

I struggle with my balance as I’m hyper mobile but it really helps if you work on your fitness too , especially core strength, there’s plenty of YouTube videos you can do at home. Walking him out in hand is also good for both of your fitness and exposes him to the world.

This is not going to be a quick thing so you just need to commit to a plan and stick to it.
 
sbloom said:
No, I said personally what I would do. How have you selected the freeleancer you're thinking of using? I would go from a recommendation from those on here as again, you don't have a lot of experience or help to then choose a suitable instructor.

And I would strongly recommend, as I've said a couple of times, to do some work off horse. I recommended Equimech on YouTube, I specialise in rider fit when fitting a saddle and she's great for helping riders improve their performance and abilities in the saddle. She has free content available. Someone mentioned someone else, there are a lot to choose from as it's a growing sector of the industry, some will be all talk, some will be great so again, select through a combination of what feels right to you but in the context of the experienced advice you are getting here. You can always come up with a short list and ask if anyone can rate any of them.

If you find me on Facebook, I use my real name (and make sure it's my current page not the old one I've lost access to) I share content from all sorts of people who might offer useful information for you.
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It's a member on here. They are not a freelance instructor but someone experienced working with horses who has offered to ride him and give me her opinion on him for me and I am grateful for that. It might give me an idea of whether I should pursue putting anymore money into him.
motherof2beasts! said:
It’s rubbish you’ve been given such terrible advice but it’s done now.

Realistically I would budget £100 per week to train him as he will need someone competent to train him.

This maybe a rude question but how much is full livery these days ? It might not be much more to find a schooling livery that can do the work for you and you just enjoy little hacks and groundwork till he’s more established. The only issue with a green horse and green owner is that you will also have to put work in yourself and have regular lessons whilst he’s being brought on. He sounds a nice sort and I’m pleased you have bonded … I just wish he was a 16 year old schoolmaster whose happy to teach a novice.

I struggle with my balance as I’m hyper mobile but it really helps if you work on your fitness too , especially core strength, there’s plenty of YouTube videos you can do at home. Walking him out in hand is also good for both of your fitness and exposes him to the world.

This is not going to be a quick thing so you just need to commit to a plan and stick to it.
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I am paying 112.00 for full livery but if I move him to schooling livery I will have to pay the yard I at to keep the stable for me. Not a full livery price though.
 
Jasmine2023 said:
It's a member on here. They are not a freelance instructor but someone experienced working with horses who has offered to ride him and give me her opinion on him for me and I am grateful for that. It might give me an idea of whether I should pursue putting anymore money into him.
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Good stuff, worth reading their other posts, whoever they are, so you get where they're coming from, and their level of experience (casting no aspersions!).
 
Gloi said:
Why would you want to move him back to the riding school which has already failed you very badly.
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sbloom said:
Good stuff, worth reading their other posts, whoever they are, so you get where they're coming from, and their level of experience (casting no aspersions!).
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They seem very experienced. I won't mention any names that's up to them of course.

We do have a reasonably close couple of places that do schooling that maybe be able to help so it's an option if I can afford it. But surely he will still be somewhat green even after this depending on how long he is schooled for?
 
Amymay Again said:
OP's had some great advice, and some good contacts to investigate.

Can I suggest, at this point, that we now all wish her well and wait for an update in a couple of weeks time.
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Excellent suggestion and look forward to OP's updates a bit further on when she lets us know how it is all going.
 
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