Would i be in the wrong

M

marmite

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I am working a 4 yr old who was partly backed last year although my boss got no further than leaning across her once.

She is a lush mare but mental she spooked yesterday because i sneezed and ran round me snorting and lashing her back leg out and her behaivour is very irratic.
I have issues even getting her to the school as she just jumps at everything.

Now she has not been out since last summer except for 2 days recently and frankly it was dangerous getting her to the feild and back as she is so quick and unpredictable.
Once i have her in the school on the lunge she is rather chilled bar scary water bottles with massive tommy guns trying to shoot her.
Now my problem is my boss wants to crack on and get her backed but i would rather start some long reining and do some de-sensitising exercises with her on the ground such as have people there destracting her with scary things and banging things.
And personally i would not feel safe attempting to sit on her until she has had a few weeks out and that hopefully should be two weeks from now they go out full time.
So if i suggested to my boss we start some de-sensitising exercises with her for a few weeks then see how she goes and aim to get on her at the end of may,Do you think i would be crossing the line by saying that to her would she think i was sticking my nose in?
Just as its me who will be getting on her and i have a feeling she is going to be a bucker and i know she is sharp,quick,irratic and unpredictable,i would just like to see if a few weeks in the feild calms her down at all as i am actually worried about sitting on this horse i think as she is at the moment she could seriously injure me.
 
I would do it sooner rather than later... Bung a saddle on her, she must have had all the breaking stuff done,? and as she has been leant over she is probably ready.
Saddle up and sit and tell her straight, don't pussy foot around with her...

and don't forget the camera!
 
I think you are absolutely right to be cautious and she needs a lot more work on the ground first. I'm assuming that backing horses is part of your job description and you've done this before?

I wonder if your boss would be so keen to crack on with it if she had to get on herself. Stick to your guns. Im not sure what sort of contract you have if any but be very careful as if you do get injured then she could say that you did it at your own risk and people get really funny when they have to start parting with money
 
I am working her in a saddle and she is fine with it tbh she is actually more relaxed in work i think she is just at that age where she should be backed already and i also think horses are like people some are happy to sit around and be on the dole and others want a job.
I think she wants a job and once she has a role in life she will work out who she is and what she has to do.
Like a say a lovley mare absoloutley gorgeous but very sharp and unpredictable.
 
Yes i have backed quite a few and most i have been happy to get on without batting an eyelid but something in my gut is telling me she is not ready yet like i say i can see her been a bucker i have spent alot of time with her over the past couple of weeks and i just dont think she is ready.
 
Hello darling how are you im planning on popping down to see you at some point next week if i find time.

Im sure M will be ok its me saying aim for backend of may as i dont think she will be ready anytime previous to that.
She is just sharp and unpredictable im hoping been turned out all the time she will really chill out but no im not insured and if i break something and cant work im screwed.
 
I also think that she could benefit from some natural horsemanship as she dosent trust anyone you can tell from her behaivour and if im going to back her i would really like a trust bond with her.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hello darling how are you im planning on popping down to see you at some point next week if i find time.

Im sure M will be ok its me saying aim for backend of may as i dont think she will be ready anytime previous to that.
She is just sharp and unpredictable im hoping been turned out all the time she will really chill out but no im not insured and if i break something and cant work im screwed.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't have a day off until the wedding now
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but we could meet up if you're off. It'd be nice to see you.

pssst have you rsvp-ed for the wedding?
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Which horse is it? Or is she a new one? You should really get insured. Rider insurance isn't to expensive and I don't want to have to be worrying about you!
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she is the little tri coloured in the main barn really pretty but is always stood in the back of her stable with her ears back and eyes all over the place.

Regarding the wedding i need to talk to you about that things not looking so good.
 
You will have to come down and have a look at her she is very pretty im just worried about how nervous she is i really feel sorry for her sometimes she is just so scared and unsure of everything and everyone and the poor lamb has started with sweet itch too bless her.
 
I'll come down next weekend if you like, or are weekends too busy down there? You remember what J was like when I first got him about coming in and out the field
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I'll lend a hand if you like though I'm sure there are plently of people at that yeard to help.
 
Im working until lunch time next saturday if you get time pop down i will be around im giving adam long reinging lessons.
 
Hi there
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, you can refuse to do something that you feel would put you at risk, and your boss has no right to ask you to do it if you are frightened for your safety.
If your boss is dodgy (and some equine bosses are LOL!) I would write her a friendly note (but keep a copy) saying that you are afraid the mare will injure you...you will be happy to back her but after she has been out, had some more work done or whatever, and that you hope she will support you in this.
I used to be a 'crash test dummy' and survived...but many I know ended up with broken pelvises, fracture spines etc...it's not worth it.
S
 
If she has already been 'partly backed' then most of the hard work should have been done. It should take days, not weeks, for her to remember everything that she learnt before and be able to continue off it.
Personally, I would turn her out totally for 2 weeks, then back her. By back I mean test everything that she should know (ie, lungeing, then roller, then ,longreining, then saddle, then leaning over. I have had similar horses go through this in 2 days. Her state of mind is paramount to this though, she is unlikely to co operate if she has been shut in a stable all winter.
 
If she has to be fully backed by May then I would completely agree with you about de-sensitising her totally before you even bother with the riding part. It honestly won't take 2 weeks to desensitise her - generally it only takes about a week max.

Good luck - take no chances though.
 
Yep thats good advice i mean dont get me wrong she dosent have a nasty bone in her body but she is a nervous wreck due to been cooped up so long or at least thats what i think.
I have been told once she is out she is a dream i just think she would benefit from having some chill out time or i fear her head will just blow and i want it to be a nice experience for her and not a stressful one if you see my meaning.
And she is not the most co-operative mare she just blows without thinking things through.

Like i say im not just thinking of my own safety which is obviously a big thing but been backed and then been ridden on a daily basis is a big transition in a babies life and i want it as calm and chilled for her as possible i would hate for her to get scared.
I like the mare but as she is at the moment i dont trust her not meaning that to sound nasty but i would not put it past her to accidently turn herself inside out with the frame of mind she is in.
 
I hope it wont take too long i have backed a few over the years but i have never come across a horse as sharp and erratic as her i dont think she means it to be nasty.
I think not seeing a feild since last summer has done her no favours all the horses are going mad including the schoolies.

I just want to make sure she is chilled and ready for her confidence and safety aswell as my own.
 
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