what would you do?

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MrVelvet

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right background - I've had my just turned 3 yr old since he was weaned, hes so perfect. Lovely looking, moves nice and straight etc very easy straightfoward to do! I've now got an 8 month old baby and am planning going back to work full time next year. I am sending my boy away to be professionally broken possibly through winter with the view to give him rest of winter and spring off then ride away through summer. However, now with working full time Im worried I wont be able to give him enough of my time. He's kept on a small private yard with only me on it! I do have limited access to a school but its outdoor and not floodlit! the hacking is fantastic but I know you have to be consistent with youngsters and it has to be all or nothing.. so my question is:-

1) Do I put him out on loan (or is this farrr to risky to trust anyone with my precious pony!!??, although I would vet, keep in touch, keep paying insurance and farrier costs to keep myself involved etc, and asses riders and references etcetc!!)
2) get a sharer? same risks as above though?
3) let him have an extra long holiday ?
4) get someone to ride him for me (theres always people wanting horses to ride? Im aware of the risks here though too and would have to be careful.. ahhh!??!)
5) sell him - this is actually not an option at all, he is a horse of a life time for me!

also- with someone else riding him are they going to assume I just want the work done for free for me to reep (sp) the benefits?

does anyone know of perhaps a working livery type place I could send him? (although obviously hes not fit for a riding school? but perhaps a livery yard where he could be exercised [do they even exist?])

hmm I just really don't know what to do!? He's such a lovely person and I dont want him to be wasted with me riding every now and again.

help and advice muchly appreciated and you can even have one my celebrations.... although theres only snickers and bountys left :(
 
Why not leave him be for the winter as he is only 3, then have him backed late spring - that way, baby will be a little older, you will have settled into your job and with the longer days, will have more time.

Only thing about your yard (though it sounds lovely) is it might be hard to keep committed and on side with a newly backed horse so might also be worth finding a good instructor to help you too..
 
depends on the horse, we broke one in over the summer and rode it away for a couple of weeks and sent it back to the owner knowing it will be perfectly happy to be ridden only couple times a week and have frequent holidays. Other horses wouldnt be okay with that and would need more. Ask the opinion of the people you are sending him to to be broken when they ahve done it.
 
I had one backed professionally, rode her twice and then due to unexpected circumstances I didn't ride for 2 weeks. After that I only rode her twice a week.
She was absolutely fine and the lady I sold her too is very pleased with how she was started & brought on.

She was no plod by the way - far from it :D
 
I have a wonderful instructor Luci :) my only thought was will be adversely affected if I broke him in this winter, then left him possibly to the spring after (2013) ? or would it best to leave him completely till then. I lunge/long reing him in the school/field and lead him out on roads now.. would I stop tht or would it be acceptable to keep him ticking over then broken.. then left ? does that even make sense lol?!
 
cuppatea said:
depends on the horse, we broke one in over the summer and rode it away for a couple of weeks and sent it back to the owner knowing it will be perfectly happy to be ridden only couple times a week and have frequent holidays. Other horses wouldnt be okay with that and would need more. Ask the opinion of the people you are sending him to to be broken when they ahve done it.
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that would be ideal for me! yes I will definately ask them, then I suppose I wouldnt have a problem at all. I just worried about the inconsistency
 
I also have a just three year old, but he will not be backed until next year.
Whatever you do its not to say you cant change your mind later. You could always give him a holiday and get someone to share him next year. Or ride him youself and see how he goes, that may be enugh.
 
as above. How bout backing him as planned, turning him away, then when you have more daylight hours send him back to where he was backed for a couple of weeks to get him going again then have him home to ride yourself. If then he is not happy with infrequent work get a sharer, loan him etc etc....
 
As he is only just 3, I would leave him til this time next year when he is 4 and then have him backed. Your baby will be older and your horse a little more mature and the pressure will be off at a time when you have a lot to deal with.
 
i would let him enjoy being a youngster a bit longer and give him the winter then send him away in the spring - then you have the summer (long nights) to carry on with his education. xx
 
I think your all right, I think I'm just worrying about nothing! so really I could send him in the new year, give him spring off ride him in summer and then even if I had to leave him through winter or perhaps get a sharer its not the end of the world! thanks guys, I think sometimes you need people to put htings into perspective for you!
 
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