Equilibrium Ireland
Well-Known Member
To be honest it's a bit of a whine but for anyone that needs to send a horse away to be started you need to read.
I am fet up reading how horses have been ruined by bad horse starters. But when you get further details you realise the biggest consideration was who was cheapest. I have zero sympathy for you. You get what you pay for.
People worry about finding the best trainer for when they are riding their horse, the best tack, the best feed, the best practitioners ect but feel that having a properly started horse is a nuisance in the money department. You all will spend 50£ for a one hour lesson in addition to livery costs but cringe if someone says they charge 20£ a day for caring for your horse properly and sending you back a super going safe mount for you to enjoy. Oh and you want this super star of a horse going like a bombproof 15 YO in 4 weeks. By the way I don't even get the above mentioned figure as it's in euro and not even that in euro. But now I'm done and tired.
When you visit your horse with me, anytime you wish I might add, you will find a properly cleaned and bedded stable. Your horse gets free choice hay or haylage, your horse enjoys individual all day turnout, and a proper feed program. Clean water at all times ect. In short they get treated as my own and I have somewhat higher standards than just about anybody in this country anyway. I don't know how to do them any other way nor would I as it's not beneficial to the horse IMO.
So after sending back a pony, that came to us with unbelievable baggage, that is now riding very well, I will never do it again. A pony that when came to us couldn't be caught in the stable and would try and kill you. She spent the first 3 weeks trotting into the stable because we couldn't catch her. But I feel it's counter productive to leave one in 24/7 besides work. We just never made an issue of the catching thing. Funny enough she left here coming up to us every evening. Her owner decided that the bill was too high, less than 100 euros a week. I knew the guy that used to break his ponies, this one would have been dead after he got done beating the crap out of her. Won't go into details but you can trust me on that. So I'm done trying to make a difference for the horses and ponies when nobody really gives a fig.
For those of you with horses ready to be started, go to these places unannounced. Have a look everywhere. Look at what they feed, turnout, hay ect. Do not make price the biggest point in your decision. You want a solid horse that looks and acts well when they come back to you, then pay for it. Ask for references. I have plenty I can give though no one would give a crap. Put off expensive lessons or plans for just a few weeks. In the long run you'll be so thankful.
While to short a time is not beneficial for your horse, 3 months and not being sat on is taking the pee out of an owner. Plenty of bad breakers too obviously. That's why references are key.
Sorry, I needed to vent
Terri
I am fet up reading how horses have been ruined by bad horse starters. But when you get further details you realise the biggest consideration was who was cheapest. I have zero sympathy for you. You get what you pay for.
People worry about finding the best trainer for when they are riding their horse, the best tack, the best feed, the best practitioners ect but feel that having a properly started horse is a nuisance in the money department. You all will spend 50£ for a one hour lesson in addition to livery costs but cringe if someone says they charge 20£ a day for caring for your horse properly and sending you back a super going safe mount for you to enjoy. Oh and you want this super star of a horse going like a bombproof 15 YO in 4 weeks. By the way I don't even get the above mentioned figure as it's in euro and not even that in euro. But now I'm done and tired.
When you visit your horse with me, anytime you wish I might add, you will find a properly cleaned and bedded stable. Your horse gets free choice hay or haylage, your horse enjoys individual all day turnout, and a proper feed program. Clean water at all times ect. In short they get treated as my own and I have somewhat higher standards than just about anybody in this country anyway. I don't know how to do them any other way nor would I as it's not beneficial to the horse IMO.
So after sending back a pony, that came to us with unbelievable baggage, that is now riding very well, I will never do it again. A pony that when came to us couldn't be caught in the stable and would try and kill you. She spent the first 3 weeks trotting into the stable because we couldn't catch her. But I feel it's counter productive to leave one in 24/7 besides work. We just never made an issue of the catching thing. Funny enough she left here coming up to us every evening. Her owner decided that the bill was too high, less than 100 euros a week. I knew the guy that used to break his ponies, this one would have been dead after he got done beating the crap out of her. Won't go into details but you can trust me on that. So I'm done trying to make a difference for the horses and ponies when nobody really gives a fig.
For those of you with horses ready to be started, go to these places unannounced. Have a look everywhere. Look at what they feed, turnout, hay ect. Do not make price the biggest point in your decision. You want a solid horse that looks and acts well when they come back to you, then pay for it. Ask for references. I have plenty I can give though no one would give a crap. Put off expensive lessons or plans for just a few weeks. In the long run you'll be so thankful.
While to short a time is not beneficial for your horse, 3 months and not being sat on is taking the pee out of an owner. Plenty of bad breakers too obviously. That's why references are key.
Sorry, I needed to vent
Terri
