Young Field Ornaments

[MrsElle]

Who has one and do you feel guilty?

It has recently dawned on me that my 4 year old Fell gelding is destined to be a field ornament forever. If I get him backed I am too heavy to ride a youngster of his size. If he were 10 years old and well muscled it would be a different matter but he isn't. The hacking here is crap, bit of road work to get to the one and only bridle path and even if I was light enough to ride him I would be loathe to take him out alone initially but know of no one round here who could babysit us and go out with us. He could be shown but has rubbed all his mane off as I didn't get a fly sheet on early enough. Plus what I know about in hand showing could be written on the back of a postage stamp. A friend is an m&m judge and says he would do very well in the show ring and given his sire and breeding I can well believe it.

The little Welsh filly is a different matter because she is only a baby, but again she is a show prospect.

Am I alone in having a fit and healthy field ornament? I feel the poor lad is destined to a life of being stuck in a field forever, and much as I love him to bits am wondering if it wouldn't be the best thing to let him go to someone who could bring out the best in him and get him into some sort of work.

 

[joeanne]

I'm sure he doesn't give a stuff one way or the other!!
Infact i'm sure if you asked him, he would say "Bu**er off mother....fine as I am!"
But if you are really bothered, why don't you get him backed and get a loaner?

 

[team barney]

You could show them in hand.

You could take up driving.

If you are worried about their lack of mental stimulation there are lots of options available to you.

There are young show riders/handlers out there desperate for the experience of working with different horses.

You could even slim down and ride him yourself if you felt like it, fells are tough ponies, you probably wouldn't need to lose as much weight as you think you would if you built him up first with groundwork.

 

[pixie]

Roughly whereabouts in Yorkshire are you?

 

[3Beasties]

I must admit I don't like seeing horses without a 'job' if they are fit, sound and healthy, but that is just personal preference.

Could you not loan him out or advertise for a share that may be able to help get him going?

 

[hudsonw]

Your horse will love his life as long as he's fit, looked after and loved...just because you own a horse, doesn't mean you don't have to compete, go round in circles in a school or be hacking around the lanes all day.
If your happy looking after him and having him as a pet then who cares...your horse doesn't have any aspirations...they just care that they have food, water and mates to play with.
If you feel you want to do things with him then there are plenty of things to do on the ground...