XmisshorsestyleX
Well-Known Member
Hiya,
Ive just been asked to help back a 14.3hh 4yr old Welsh Cob in return for lifts to shows etc.
The owner has been doing lots of long reining, walks around the village in-hand, and has been lead around with someone leaning over her back. Because hes abit too heavy for her he obviously cant back her himself. Shes quite a nervy mare which from what the owner can work out that she wasnt handled much until she was a 3 yr old as previous owners were scared of her. She is now lovely to lead and be groomed.
So I went up there sat morning to carry on with what they had been doing. First we took her for a walk around the village, she was good as gold despite the idiots and bus drivers on the roads today, then we into the small paddock back at the yard, first i lend over her back whilst being led around, she was perfectly happy with this so we decided to put my leg over her whilst being down on her neck, I was happy that she was settled enough to sit up very slowly this was when she flicked her ear back, saw me above her and freaked out. When i felt every muscle in her tense up i knew there was nothing i could do and i was coming off.
Luckily when i fell in front of her she stopped dead! So we calmed her down and walked her round, i lent over again, then sat astride gradually sat up then she was fine this time so we called it a day.
Sunday morning I go up and do exactly as we did before this time something spooks her when im sat on her and she knocks her owner flying, at this point i know im not going to be staying on for very long, she does a sharp turn and im on the floor. This time it did hurt.. Eventually we caught her and walked her around with me lent over her.
So heres the problem.. I dont really want to be thrown off everytime i sit on this mares back and because i really took a bashing to my knee I had to cancel my riding lesson with my own horse as I can hardly bare any weight on it.
I really wanted to get my horse out this year showing and as im unable to drive her there myself I have to find transport from elsewhere.
So can anyone suggest what we can do with this mare im breaking.. Should we take a step back and do things very slowly?? I think she could really benefit from having a relationship with someone who was doing the backing which she currently doesnt have.
Also she now has no horse friends as a girl who had her horse there left a week ago, I think she would benefit from having other horses of her age group.
I would love to have her in with mine but as I share the field I could risk other peoples horses getting kicked. Also she can be very strong on the ground which i dont think I could comfortably handle on my own. Shes very immature for her age, which I believe is because she hasnt had horses of her own age group to socialise with.
So what do I do carry on as i have been again running the risk that the tiniest thing can result to me being on the floor?? and not knowing if I can even ride my horse the same day??Help..
Ive just been asked to help back a 14.3hh 4yr old Welsh Cob in return for lifts to shows etc.
The owner has been doing lots of long reining, walks around the village in-hand, and has been lead around with someone leaning over her back. Because hes abit too heavy for her he obviously cant back her himself. Shes quite a nervy mare which from what the owner can work out that she wasnt handled much until she was a 3 yr old as previous owners were scared of her. She is now lovely to lead and be groomed.
So I went up there sat morning to carry on with what they had been doing. First we took her for a walk around the village, she was good as gold despite the idiots and bus drivers on the roads today, then we into the small paddock back at the yard, first i lend over her back whilst being led around, she was perfectly happy with this so we decided to put my leg over her whilst being down on her neck, I was happy that she was settled enough to sit up very slowly this was when she flicked her ear back, saw me above her and freaked out. When i felt every muscle in her tense up i knew there was nothing i could do and i was coming off.
Luckily when i fell in front of her she stopped dead! So we calmed her down and walked her round, i lent over again, then sat astride gradually sat up then she was fine this time so we called it a day.
Sunday morning I go up and do exactly as we did before this time something spooks her when im sat on her and she knocks her owner flying, at this point i know im not going to be staying on for very long, she does a sharp turn and im on the floor. This time it did hurt.. Eventually we caught her and walked her around with me lent over her.
So heres the problem.. I dont really want to be thrown off everytime i sit on this mares back and because i really took a bashing to my knee I had to cancel my riding lesson with my own horse as I can hardly bare any weight on it.
I really wanted to get my horse out this year showing and as im unable to drive her there myself I have to find transport from elsewhere.
So can anyone suggest what we can do with this mare im breaking.. Should we take a step back and do things very slowly?? I think she could really benefit from having a relationship with someone who was doing the backing which she currently doesnt have.
Also she now has no horse friends as a girl who had her horse there left a week ago, I think she would benefit from having other horses of her age group.
I would love to have her in with mine but as I share the field I could risk other peoples horses getting kicked. Also she can be very strong on the ground which i dont think I could comfortably handle on my own. Shes very immature for her age, which I believe is because she hasnt had horses of her own age group to socialise with.
So what do I do carry on as i have been again running the risk that the tiniest thing can result to me being on the floor?? and not knowing if I can even ride my horse the same day??Help..