Who would ride this sort of horse?

Snowysadude

Snowysadude

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 October 2009
Messages
2,124
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
Basically this is a post on behalf of a very nervous friend of mine. She naiively bought a 6yr old 15hh connieX(trotter we think) from a dealer (although he was and still is very honest) who had only been in work for 3 weeks (turned away before) and was a bag of bones so of course was quiet as a mouse! She bought him to hack out with her husband and mabye have the odd lesson on but is incredibly nervous.

Of course when she got him she fed him up, I started lunging him and she and one other girl started hacking him. The second week of him being with her and the second time the owner had hacked him at the end of the hack he threw one buck and her not being a strong rider it threw her off. However he is not at all spooky and was fine the rest of the way home. Anyway as he is getting fitter he has his food cut right back and is now off of food completley. Then yesterday a girl borrowed him and out of the blue he bucked and she fell off (not nasty she said he was really chilled before so she wasnt sitting tight or expecting it) but she does normally have a pretty sticky bum. None of us saw it unfortunatley just saw her on the floor.

Hes got a little spooky but literally didnt do anything other than step sideways but had started to occasionally buck/shoot fowards on the lunge, just when he gets unbalanced. This horse is not spooky at all and would be right for the owner eventually but against original advice from everyone she did buy a young, unfit, green and skinny horse so he is obviously pushing his boundaries going through the "teenager" stage. Hes had teeth and saddle done and his back is not at all sensitive, hes not tence through the back or anything but she will be getting it looked at. He passed a 5 stage vetting 2 months ago (when she bought him) with flying colours.

So my question is do you think she could find a competant smallish (max 10.5 stone and not too tall) rider who would want something to hack out/school (he can walk, trot, kind of canter better on one rein but can canter on both and pop a small jump) for free - potentially to do jobs but if a good enough rider she doesnt need jobs doing, she just cant afford to pay anyone! And how do you go about finding someone? Just to clarfy hes NOT nasty/dangerous just green and a little unpredictable - both times someones fallen off hes been behind and we do think he gets wound up. There is always loads of people to hack with on our yard in Herts and days flexible just need someone reliable. Thank you :)
 
She may be able too find a teenager or somelike that who is desperate to ride and won't mind schooling someones horse for free.
Maybe someone on their hols from college or whatever.
Personally if it was me I would want paying, I wouldn't school up a young, unpredictable horse for free.
Can't she get some lessons?
 
If I was littler I would love to do it as no work for 3 months and back in herts in 2 weeks. But I am definitely too heavy for him and my legs would look stupidly long. Seriously, yes I think you would find someone but it may take a bit of looking around. The problem will be finding someone good enough who will do it for free for the experience so maybe someone from equine college or off for the uni hols.
 
Its possible.
I currently just ride (hack/school) a horse for the owner. No payment either way and no jobs to do.
I'd also fit the criteria
I'm 10st, 5'10" but look fine on a 15'2
Ridden for 47 years, competed BE, BS, BD but now just like to ride for fun.
I just dont live in the right area but if I did I would be happy to help out.
You just need to find a me in your area.
 
Are you sure the horse won't carry a bit more weight, my boy is similar type, but has good bone, and I ride him, though I don't ask for much and I am 13plus stone, another horse I see regularly stands 16.00 but is has spindly legs , so I would I would not ride him.
It is difficult to be sure, but he is going to get fitter, and no guarantee he will not put in a buck. Why did she go against all advice>>>>maybe try a loan swap for an oldie.
 
Last edited:
I am sure you will find someone.

Another option is getting a good instructor or NH person that can help the new rider get the confidence to work through this issue.

I know lots of older mums, (was in a adult riding club with them ) most getting back into horses after a break (kids leaving home etc) , and the biggest issue was working through whatever issues their ponies had, and having the right kind of instructor makes all the difference, a few years on and these ladies are getting out and competing, some have bought new young horses to bring on, and their confidence levels are fantastic.


It sounds like he is a nice young horse, but in the end it is the rider that needs to work on herself, as much as having someone work on the pony, (although that helps as well.)
 
Thanks everyone cant some of you move closer! Well that gives us hope, any ideas where to look/advertise him as it is free and if he was a bit bigger I would ride him, hes not nasty just green (although I did say to her depending on the level of rider you may have to pay something to someone - but to her confidence is really important then ability)

MrsD123 said:
Are you sure the horse won't carry a bit more weight, my boy is similar type, but has good bone, and I ride him, [obviously] and I am 13plus stone, another horse I see stands 16.00 but is has spindly legs , so I would I would not ride him.
It is difficult to be sure, buy he is going to get fitter, and no gaurantee he will not put in a buck. Why did she go against all advice>>>>maybe try a loan swap for an oldie.
Click to expand...

I do think in time he will carry more weight but he was so malnourished when bought and due to the owner loosing confidence and him being so unfit has only been in work 3-5 days a week (1 - 2 of lunging and the others hacking - getting fitter and vary long/short hacks) and has little muscle to carry anyone heavier. He does have good bone for his height though but its just getting him muscled up enough to be able to comfortably carry more. I think abseloute max at the moment would be 12st so long as the rider carries themselves very well but could increase to 13st once muscled again so long as the rider carries themselves well! As for the loan swap its just finding someone that would do that I think she would deffinatley consider it and has hopefully now learnt from her mistakes! Thanks everyone :)
 
jeeve said:
It sounds like he is a nice young horse, but in the end it is the rider that needs to work on herself, as much as having someone work on the pony, (although that helps as well.)
Click to expand...

Sorry I didnt give quite the full story..... she has 4 horses and will never sell one or PTS (I dont agree here) once shes bought it. 1 has shredded its DDFT in the foot so perminatly lame and a field/stable when he goes too lame ornament (advised PTS), another scared the bejeesus out of her (bought from france unseen :O) and now has severe athritis so just a light hack. One she had on a 2 week trial - first time she rode him he threw her off but she kept him as he "had potential" according to the husband who now rides him (taught himself to ride on the athritic one so you can imagine how that goes) but she has never got on him again. She then bought a very quiet 6yr old who turned out she had cancer so had to be pts and this new one is her "replacement" which she didnt want to do but then decided that she wants to ride :).

So she has never had confidence or rode as a child - he is actually really nice and so has the right attitude to life just is green! Hes so sweet though and nothing he does is nasty its just he doesnt know any better. Thanks again! :)
 
BSJAlove said:
hes was incredibly underweight but passed a 5 stage vetting?

where abouts in herts are you?
Click to expand...

Yes I know tell me about it.... apparantly the vet said "he cant see his personality changing when he gains condition and gets fitter as hes so sweet and honest :rolleyes:..."

We are in West Herts, horse stabled near Rickmansworth (on Croxley Green) xx
 
Snowysadude said:
Sorry I didnt give quite the full story..... she has 4 horses and will never sell one or PTS (I dont agree here) once shes bought it. 1 has shredded its DDFT in the foot so perminatly lame and a field/stable when he goes too lame ornament (advised PTS), another scared the bejeesus out of her (bought from france unseen :O) and now has severe athritis so just a light hack. One she had on a 2 week trial - first time she rode him he threw her off but she kept him as he "had potential" according to the husband who now rides him (taught himself to ride on the athritic one so you can imagine how that goes) but she has never got on him again. She then bought a very quiet 6yr old who turned out she had cancer so had to be pts and this new one is her "replacement" which she didnt want to do but then decided that she wants to ride :).

So she has never had confidence or rode as a child - he is actually really nice and so has the right attitude to life just is green! Hes so sweet though and nothing he does is nasty its just he doesnt know any better. Thanks again! :)
Click to expand...

Sounds a bit af a disaster all round for your friend, she is pretty green herself by the sound of it, you know what they say, 'Green on green equals black and blue', lol, a very true saying I've found.
 
Post an advert on Pre Loved. I answered an add on there a couple of months ago and now have 3 lovely ex race horses that I ride and school. You may well find that people, like me, who have the knowledge and experience but not the funds for their own horse, are more than happy to come and school/ ride for free. I saw a LOT of adverts for people wanting someone to come and ride and school THEIR horses, but they wanted the rider to pay THEM!
 
I don't think it would be a problem to find a teenager to ride this horse, what animal doesn't throw the odd buck when excited and besides he is only very young and green.
I doubt this has anything to do with a physical problem.
If they lady really is that nervous and novice I would advice she gets something older and more established.
 
Pale Rider said:
Sounds a bit af a disaster all round for your friend, she is pretty green herself by the sound of it, you know what they say, 'Green on green equals black and blue', lol, a very true saying I've found.
Click to expand...

Never heard that, but am writing it down for future use!

What a shame. Why do these scared/novice riders convince themselves that they would be ok with a youngster! Even the calmest youngster tests the limits at some point.

Despite him needing muscle, I would be inclined to have an adult, experienced rider on him now and again before he learns that he can ditch people by bucking, and end up a much harder horse to sort out.
 
i would so do this! i have done this several times. im am 18 5'7" and about 8 stone.. this is my favourite type on horse, and have had them on part loan so i was (and am) paying to ride. ive ridden a bucking and very green pony, an ex racer, again very green, fast and threw the occasional rear, and currently riding coco and she is a nutter!! so you probably will find someone.. although most people think im insane but i love doing it! :)
 
what a shame people can't teleport, i would've been happy to do this: i've just finished college and share rather than own, i'm the right size and have dealt with horses very similar to this lad. just keep asking around and put an ad or sign up locally, people who are used to paying for sharing would jump at this! good luck
 
I think you'll find a teen/ small adult easily. My Andy sounds a bit similar and plenty people can ride him even when he has a tantrum. Ask around your PC but just watch out you don't get these kids who over inflate their ability and get hurt. :)
 
Honey08 said:
Despite him needing muscle, I would be inclined to have an adult, experienced rider on him now and again before he learns that he can ditch people by bucking, and end up a much harder horse to sort out.
Click to expand...

Agree with Honey08. You could really do with a good strong adult with weight and strength behind them that can sit a buck.

Pretty soon, he'll be bronking if you all keep dropping off so easily and he really will be a problem then;)
 
Thanks Koko.

Yes I agree he needs an adult rider but being 15hh (or a bit smaller), bum high so still growing, no wither, no muscle at all and not much weight (think just backed 3yr old - its what he looks like) whos not massivley built (not stocky like a connie at all) I think it is unfair to put anyone over max 11st on him and thats if they are a balanced rider. Before I got a medical condition I was 5ft9 and 11st and I would have still felt too heavy to ride him! But an adult or experienced teen would suit (I know some amazing 17yr old riders but unfortunatley they live 100+ miles away who I would have no issue putting on him - hes not nasty afterall just green and doesnt have an experienced enough rider). :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top