Where to start a young pony advice

H

Huckleberryslp

New User
Joined
28 February 2020
Messages
8
Visit site
Hi everyone,

I figured this would be a good place to gather thoughts.

I have a young mini coblet turning 3 in the spring. The yard she is at is wonderful, everyone is helpful with chores, bringing in/turning out/feeding etc and everyone's horses are wonderfully mannered (it's a yard of 6, 5 mares and a gelding everyone else 8yrs plus). We've been at this yard just over a year and my little mare has come on leaps and bounds. I have had odd help from professionals here and there to help with groundwork/desensitising/rugs/fly sprays/tack being put on etc but nothing consistent only day to day handling. We go for occasional walks with others at the yard but we seem more focused on our own out and about and seem to absorb training better (forgot to mention she's my first youngster but have ridden and cared for horses for many years).
Options that im struggling to choose between. Sending her away to be lightly backed by a professional over the summer at a starting/breaking yard or a professional lady coming to my yard in the spring to back her. I trust both people.

One of the lovely girls on the yard is getting a foal soon, she believes it's fab that mine can finally have a playmate (the other horses are very very placid) on one hand I think it's fab as it will help me see my pony's maturity better, and that changes within the herd could be good for her. On the other hand I worry incase it sets her back a little in her mind. I feel mentally this year she is ready for a slow consistent bit of work (she shows signs of boredom escaping her stable when she has a chain across her door etc)

Apart from the new foal coming, The yard she's at is extremely safe and calm, nothing happens quickly, and we only have a schooling field not an actual arena as such to work in, we do have fantastic hacking with hills!

I need help deciding whether to ''throw her into the limelight' a little at a breaking yard with new horses/busier/spookier environment, with an arena, horse walker etc or get her started in a place she's already comfortable and yet maybe slightly bored already and send her away for further education a season or two later. I'll try to be as involved as possible with either option.

Sorry for the messy post I've been thinking as I'm writing haha

What can everyone advise?
 
I wouldn’t back anything until 3 and a half, especially a small horse. I have found they are often just that bit too weak physically until that point.

Sending your horse away, to a yard with suitable small riders, means it will be done on a schedule but also in a set-up designed for that purpose, with people who do this all the time. If your horse is well handled and well socialised, speed should be no issue. Then your local person can help with the harder bit - bringing your horse on correctly!

If your local person comes, you can go at the horse’s pace and you can be involved more. Then also you have the same person backing as bringing on.

I do mine myself, but my son recently did one for a friend at their yard. It worked fine, but probably took longer than it would have done if it was just us handling the pony. Remit was safe ride for a young child though, so that was probably a factor in the time!
 
My youngster is 4 in May. She has only just started being long reined. I have sent her away every summer for chance to wind down with full turnout for around 6 months every year. I do think every horse is different and they mature physically and mentally at different stages . Only you know if they are ready for this next step. I dont know when she will be sat on or ridden away but it will just be when shes ready. 6 months ago she was too mentally and physically immature. Now she is much better but is definitely not ready to be sat on.
 
Thanks guys, she will always get a full 7-8 hours turn out every day and probably only a 2 hours less if I got the local lady to back her. I was planning on backing her next year but she just seems so keen at the moment I don't want that positivity to fizzle out at the same time I don't want to push her body too far. She's a little on the chub side too so I feel if I can get her walking out nicely I'll be happy with that this year, but I also know she'll be having a few growth spurts. The mud on our yard is limiting us.

I would prefer things to take their time and feel sending her away might be more intense on her than someone coming to my yard.

Then like one of you mentioned is it important to have the same person to bring on a young pony or better for the pony to get used to different people working with her?
 
Why would you not start her yourself? If you have some nice and reliable people around you, and you know how you want her to turn out, it shouldn't be a problem. You only need to get the basics done this year, plus some in hand shows for extra education. Following spring get out hacking and hacking and hacking!
 
Thanks guys I think I will keep her at current yard and start with a professional there where she feels comfortable. I am planning to be involved as much as possible with her starting, just feel there are times with a young horse where some extra facilities and extra hands are worth finding. Sometimes I feel a change in environment and atmosphere can be good for their education/keeps them on their toes xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top