Youngsters: 'over handling' v. poor handling

fburton said:
This. With the corollary being that someone who is good at handling will be able to see if what they are doing is benefiting the horse's behaviour and stop well before it becomes too much.
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Agree with this, plus the manner of the handling is vital imo. The people who bred my older Appy were real horsepeople, 'imprinted' but maintained disciplin at all times, the problems come with novices and the 'my little pony' mentality.
 
Maesfen said:
But therein lies the crunch and I'm afraid I have to agree with Popdosh that the answers you have been given by the more professional of us (by that I mean those that earn their living from handling horses day in day out so know from experience what they are talking about) are not what you want to hear.

Nowadays with so many novices taking on and breaking their own youngsters, I would hazard a guess that less than 50% of them actually have the knowledge to do so which means an awful lot of horses are being badly handled and broken hence why you see so many posting about problems they are having which are totally elementary problems that would not have arisen if the animal concerned had not been over handled by someone who did not know what they were doing in the first place.
None of us mean they should run wild as in feral but that the minimum of teaching the basics which, well taught will last them all of their lives is totally sufficient; to do more runs the risk of them becoming too 'immune' and losing their respect for their handler. The old saying of don't ask a boy to do a man's work is as true for their state of mind as their limbs and it behoves everyone to proceed with caution unless you want to spoil them forever.
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But what you're saying there doesn't contradict what I wrote - you as professionals are likely to get the difficult horses to deal with. The ones that have turned out well are likely to continue their training at home......
 
I'm interested then in what people's opinions of 'over handling' are. A lot of what I read (on here) seems to imply that anything beyond initial training to lead and pick feet up is 'over handling', which doesn't seem reasonable to me and doesn't fit with horses who are taken to shows and out and about on the lead rein.
I'm not sure why those of you who are that bit more experienced keep accusing me of 'not wanting to hear' what you have to say - it's a discussion thread! It feels more as though you're not willing to listen to others who have replied with different opinions.
 
soloequestrian said:
But what you're saying there doesn't contradict what I wrote - you as professionals are likely to get the difficult horses to deal with. The ones that have turned out well are likely to continue their training at home......
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If thats what you want to believe thats OK but you are only fooling yourself.
 
Hi solequestrian, I have a 10 year old 3/4 thoroughbred his mother refused to feed him for the first 3 days when he was born so I fed him. He was always handled with alot of love and affection. His mother took him on for 3 months and then lost interest. If he was trying me he got a swift sting on the bum. When he was 3 after alot of long reining I steped on him and he never looked back. He is 17.1 and could have bullied me at any point, as long as they know who is the boss. We have had alot of foals and never had an issue of over handling as long as you are a strong enough personality to let them know who is boss. Good luck and enjoy your horse. My boy is ten and never had any issues with his behaviour.
 
having broken a 4 year old who was handled from day 1 & loved to death (not in a good way, treats etc ) I would not want to do it again !

He had no respect whatsoever ! A really sweet horse but so naughty as well !! He was honestly a jekel & hyde.

Eventually got him broken, took so much longer than it should have & now he is riding away cracking but could have been so much easier !

I have just got 2 3 year olds recently, both not had much handling at all, 1 was living out "wild" in ireland 6 months ago & they are so easy. Will be breaking 1 this spring & turning away for summer & the other in autumn as she is less mature & when they are out 24/7 they won't get touched much other than checked over & farrier etc.
 
What I can't stand is seeing novice owners with young horses stabled rather than out in a herd environment. Then seeing these stabled horses being fed on buckets full of feed, stables full of every stable toy & lick known to man, rugged to the eyeballs, booted up, quarter marked, hoof oiled & plaited to walk up the lane, rubbed over with plastic bags and umberellas twice a day, and made to walk around some silly assault courses in the arena everyday. Just turn the bloody horse out in to a field to enjoy its self!!
 
An interesting thread at long last on HHO.

I think it is vital not to move the goal posts when handling young stock. They learn bad just as quickly as they learn good, yet so many people will accept poor behaviour and make excuses for it. There are umpteen threads on here asking for advice on horses that will not lead to or from the field, why - because they were never halter broken as babies. There is a massive difference between 'wears a headcollar' and halter broken. have bought horses that had no idea how to walk at my side, turn round in the gateway and step back when the door is opened - Why !

I had extra work to do on the yard this morning, so to make use of the extra time, I caught one of the 3 year olds and brought it into the yard to have an hour tied up. She was taught to tie up as a yearling and despite rarely coming into the yard she has not forgotten. I could see and get to her if I needed to so she was safe. Such simple and basic training that will help her when she is standing on the lorry at a show in the future.
 
Best not to overlook the role of the rest of the herd. During this time of 'minimal' handling, the young horse is learning much more from the other horses than a human can ever teach. They need to be out with well behaved, older horses whose attitude will rub off.

The two NF colts we had from foals and backed last year hadn't had much in the way of handling, beyond a fuss and scratch in the field, and the very occasional catch, tie up to groom and walk down the lane. All that time they were learning how the others behaved towards us, and when the time came, they couldn't wait to do some work and be told they were clever!
 
This is an interesting thread for a cold Sunday afternoon - I'd like to ask some advice.

Got a late 2014 foal still with mum (no weaning facilities so waiting until she can go back to stud) and haven't done much with him yet. He was unhandled at stud so he found it hard when he came here.

He now stands for the farrier (just!) and I lead him in and out to the field with his mum, although occasionally have got her in and gone back for him so he leads on his own for a short distance. He likes a good scratch but that's about all I do with him - should I do more?

In the field he has a couple of small 3 year olds to play with and gradually I have turned out some of the older geldings so they go out as a herd. I had intended to keep the geldings away but the herd seems to work - foal plays with the older geldings as well as the 3 yr olds and they are all very patient with him.

I wonder if it's mum keeping a beady eye on them that stops them being a bit tougher on him. He rarely stands with mum now but wanders off and pesters the others for long periods and I love watching the herd interacting. So when I take her away, is it likely the others will still be patient with him?
 
DuckToller said:
This is an interesting thread for a cold Sunday afternoon - I'd like to ask some advice.

Got a late 2014 foal still with mum (no weaning facilities so waiting until she can go back to stud) and haven't done much with him yet. He was unhandled at stud so he found it hard when he came here.

He now stands for the farrier (just!) and I lead him in and out to the field with his mum, although occasionally have got her in and gone back for him so he leads on his own for a short distance. He likes a good scratch but that's about all I do with him - should I do more?

In the field he has a couple of small 3 year olds to play with and gradually I have turned out some of the older geldings so they go out as a herd. I had intended to keep the geldings away but the herd seems to work - foal plays with the older geldings as well as the 3 yr olds and they are all very patient with him.

I wonder if it's mum keeping a beady eye on them that stops them being a bit tougher on him. He rarely stands with mum now but wanders off and pesters the others for long periods and I love watching the herd interacting. So when I take her away, is it likely the others will still be patient with him?
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I have found that most adult horses, both male and female have lots of patience with weanlings. They make far more allowances for them than they do for their herd mates. Once they become yearlings though they will start to lay the law down, if need be. I don't really think you need 'weaning facilities' to wean a foal. In fact I think completely separating them (such as sending one away) is downright cruel. We just moved the foal into the next box and the next paddock. The whole point of weaning is so the mares milk can dry up and you can do things separately with them. Weaning them gradually like I have described is far less traumatic.
 
@Ducktoller

My colts went in with an established herd of 3 stallions and 5 geldings. They have always been kind and patient with them, except of course to enforce manners, which isn't necessary once the youngster learns their place - which they do very quickly.

Now that they're grown (and still entire) the whole lot still get along really sweetly.
 
My girl had been abruptly weaned just a few days before I collected her (nothing to do with me, that's just how the stud preferred things!). When she came home I had ideas of her being separated from my two older boys for a few days before going in with them. She was having none of that - she was desperate to be with them, so I just turned them all out together (after a night stabled next to each other) and watched through my fingers. The boys were brilliant with her - kept her in line without any real aggression. They've been like that ever since, though one is definitely more of a 'father figure' and the other plays with her more.
 
pinkypug1 said:
What I can't stand is seeing novice owners with young horses stabled rather than out in a herd environment. Then seeing these stabled horses being fed on buckets full of feed, stables full of every stable toy & lick known to man, rugged to the eyeballs, booted up, quarter marked, hoof oiled & plaited to walk up the lane, rubbed over with plastic bags and umberellas twice a day, and made to walk around some silly assault courses in the arena everyday. Just turn the bloody horse out in to a field to enjoy its self!!
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It's a terrible shame to label everyone who stables a young horse as a "novice". I have a rising two year old and over winter he is in at night and out in the day with no problems (out 24/7 from mid march-early nov). Yes, I would prefer that he could be out in a field with a shelter with other horses his age but unfortunately none of the studs around have any room and grass livery is severely limited in my area. He gets a small feed once a day to help him keep weight on over the winter despite the fact he has ad lib hay both day and night. He's only in as every horse on my livery yard is also in and it would not be an option to leave my mare out with him as she is fully clipped and stresses when other horses start coming in despite being in the field with said youngster. She is a fantastic nanny for him though and really teaches him the manners he needs. He very occasionally (3 times so far) comes for a walk down the road with the other horses and he absolutely loves it! He's very interested in looking at everything and doesn't put a foot wrong, when he gets back in his field after his five minute adventure he hoons around for leg stretch and then it's back to being sensible. Everyone comments on how well mannered he is, he's learnt what gets him his dinner at night and what doesn't and now takes 5 steps back from his stable door and turns his head away. I can skip out around him if I need to with the stable door wide open and he won't attempt an escape (something I expect of all my horses/horses I work with). He's never in my face or bolshy and has never nipped.

In my opinion he's going to be a big lad and needs his manners now so that when he's 17hh I'm not dealing with a bargy animal with the manners of a goat. His stabling has no affect on how he behaves, if he was unhappy in his stable I wouldn't find him snoozing in his bed most mornings. I'm not sure if what I do counts as over-handling as the above poster has put it, he's not made to walk over bridges or have plastic bags tied to him (think he'd eat them anyway) but he does get to see what's beyond his field every now and has the same routine he'll have as a ridden horse. Of course there are preferred methods but it's certainly not doing him any harm and out of all the horses on the yard (all significantly older 5-26 years) he's the most well mannered.

The five year old can be the most ignorant bargy sod who gets right in your space and he lived out untouched in Ireland for the first three years of his life.
 
The quality of the handling g is so important. I've had youngsters in both handled daily and good handling then turned away. I've had a lot of youngsters as I never had the money to buy adult or ready made horses.

Mine were expected to lead well, stand tied - I had one who would untie himself and his friend and then they'd hi tail it across the field. They all picked up their feet and stayed quiet for the farrier, loaded well in a lorry or trailer and were easy to worm.

My last youngster was shown a few times with her mum, then turned away, four days under a year she was caught, loaded on the lorry to a friends place, practised leading for a few days and went to a show that weekend and won hunter Youngstock championship. You would have thought she had been handled every day of her life.

I know from only having a youngster that you work/play with them for much the same time as others who have a riding horse do.

Make sure handling, work is quality, keep lessons short, don't set yourself up to have problems, if the horse shows signs of confusion or you can see a battle may be starting, change the subject before the battle gets going.

Eg horse says "not sure about walking through the ford", if alone, don't force the issue, go back the way you came and next time come with a trusted friend.
Yes it happened to me many years ago and I had the battle, I had not long caught her out of the river scoffing watercress. She then refused point blank to walk through the ford. It took me a long time to get her through and she never forgave me and was a madam whenever we came across water on rides years later.

Have fun with your youngster.
 
pennyturner said:
Best not to overlook the role of the rest of the herd. During this time of 'minimal' handling, the young horse is learning much more from the other horses than a human can ever teach. They need to be out with well behaved, older horses whose attitude will rub off.
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This (again). Proper socialization is essential for young horses. The younger they are the more important it is, but the process goes on for years.
 
Mine was living on the edge of a moor semi feral (mum is feral ) until 5 months old , rounded up taken to market and bought by a lady who halter broke her , picked out front feet (read risk of death with back legs ) and taught to lead . I got her at 15 months old , took her for small walks to end of road or throug the woods that backed onto the farm , taught her to tie up and stable in a barn environment so all horses in a big barn together , and taught her manners . Between two and three she was a heller so I left her alone ,mchucked hay at her twice a day , caught her to change rugs when we had no shelter and move her fields . On her third birthday I'd had her moved a week before to a yard with facilities for me to back her with the idea of sending her off for breaking and riding away. I backed her and ended up riding away myself . She is a well mannered mare now rising 5 . The only issue I have with her is if she senses you lack nerves or brains lol she will go up to run off when you bring her in . She doesn't try this with me . What I'm trying to say is what's right for one may ruin another as horse owners we need. Listen to the horse , they can't always co ply to the way we know and sometimes babies are best left alone others need to be taught things essentials etc and then left . Others can be wild and broken and polite in weeks but each horse needs to be treated individually , depending on the horse , the facility's eg herd turnout / studs/ livery yards etc , it's breeding all needs to be taken into account
 
Lammy said:
It's a terrible shame to label everyone who stables a young horse as a "novice"

I didn't label Everyone who stables a young horse as a novice!! I said I can't stand seeing novice owners with Young horses stabled!!
IMO and its only MY opinion if u can't keep a young horse as it should ideally be kept ie in a herd environment with others of a similar age and older babysitters until at least 2.5 years you shouldn't have a young horse. This does not mean out feral it means out but coming in for good quality, experienced, necessary handling
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pinkypug1 said:
Lammy said:
It's a terrible shame to label everyone who stables a young horse as a "novice"

I didn't label Everyone who stables a young horse as a novice!! I said I can't stand seeing novice owners with Young horses stabled!!
IMO and its only MY opinion if u can't keep a young horse as it should ideally be kept ie in a herd environment with others of a similar age and older babysitters until at least 2.5 years you shouldn't have a young horse. This does not mean out feral it means out but coming in for good quality, experienced, necessary handling
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I do understand where you are coming from - however if you cant afford a ready-made horse, but equally dont have the 'ideal' facilities then are you saying everyone in this position should remain horseless forever?!

I have a rising 2 year old, bought when he was a yearling. I am fortunate enough to have him at a yard that offers grass livery so he lives out 24/7, however the only horse he can live out with is a rising 9 year old gelding who is not particularly well behaved - so there isnt a large herd for him to live with and the horse he lives out with isnt the greatest role model! However for a horse of his breeding there is NO WAY ON EARTH I could ever afford him once he gets to 3 or 4, I had to buy him as a yearling.

If we followed your theory I should not have purchased him and instead spent my small budget on what? I have ridden everything and anything put my way over the last few years, learnt loads but I want a serious dressage prospect and the only way to get something with quality is to buy a youngster. For the money I spent I could have purchased another horse, but it wouldnt have any quality breeding, would not have been a purpose bred dressage horse and I'm 99% certain it would have had many issues (behavioural and probably health) as almost all horses I see for low budgets have something wrong with them.

So I appreciate that youngsters do need careful handling and if we lived in an ideal world then they'd all be living out in a lovely big herd and growing up in the best possible way. But for those of us in the real world where we have to make small compromises we are doing the best we can - my boy is not stabled and has lived out all through the winter, and I was lucky enough to buy a yearling with a temperament to die for which has meant he has not picked up bad behaviour from the 9 year old, instead he is sensible enough to recognise the 9 year old is an idiot and he often leads him up the path from the field when 9 year old decides to have a special moment.

I am completely in agreement that overhandling is one of the worst things you can do for a youngster, my boy is markedly better behaved than the rising 3 year old that is living in a stable, bathed daily, hooves oiled, bandaged to go out for a walk etc. I've seen first hand the silly behaviour from overhandling with some of the youngsters on our yard (there are 2 3 year olds and my 2 year old - I'd love them to live out together but their owners would keel over at the thought of precious baby being out in the cold at night!).

Lets just all keep an open mind - daily handling in a fussy way (i.e. bandaging, bathing, loads of groundwork etc) is the most obvious cause of the problems. If you dont have facilities to have the horse living out then you can still have a well-mannered horse you just need to be careful of not doing too much beyond brining in/turning out. And if your youngster lives out then occasional handling is not going to be detrimental as long as its done properly.

My boy was handled a bit when I first got him (taught him how to tie up, lead, pick up feet etc), he learnt quickly so left him alone after that, havent done anything since apart from usual farrier/vaccs/worming etc, he still remembers everything from last year so I've left him alone over winter. He is miles away at the bottom of the field anyway, too far away to be messing around with in this weather!

One final thing to remember....everyone was a novice with youngsters once, we all have to start somewhere - this is my first youngster and I'm sure I'll make mistakes along the way but I have great supervision from Y/O who has bred horses for decades so providing you have support around you, I dont see why 'novices' cant buy a youngster if they cant afford the ready-made all singing all dancing version. I dont mean a 'novice' in the sense of someone who has never been near a youngster before or someone who wants a youngster as their first horse....I know there are some people that really should not be going near youngsters but for someone like myself, who has worked with horses before (only in my spare time at weekends) and has ridden every kind of problem horse going I dont see why buying a youngster is the wrong thing. In my situation it was the best option to get a quality horse that will be my forever horse.
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kc100 said:
pinkypug1 said:
I do understand where you are coming from - however if you cant afford a ready-made horse, but equally dont have the 'ideal' facilities then are you saying everyone in this position should remain horseless forever?!

I have a rising 2 year old, bought when he was a yearling. I am fortunate enough to have him at a yard that offers grass livery so he lives out 24/7, however the only horse he can live out with is a rising 9 year old gelding who is not particularly well behaved - so there isnt a large herd for him to live with and the horse he lives out with isnt the greatest role model! However for a horse of his breeding there is NO WAY ON EARTH I could ever afford him once he gets to 3 or 4, I had to buy him as a yearling.

If we followed your theory I should not have purchased him and instead spent my small budget on what? I have ridden everything and anything put my way over the last few years, learnt loads but I want a serious dressage prospect and the only way to get something with quality is to buy a youngster. For the money I spent I could have purchased another horse, but it wouldnt have any quality breeding, would not have been a purpose bred dressage horse and I'm 99% certain it would have had many issues (behavioural and probably health) as almost all horses I see for low budgets have something wrong with them.

So I appreciate that youngsters do need careful handling and if we lived in an ideal world then they'd all be living out in a lovely big herd and growing up in the best possible way. But for those of us in the real world where we have to make small compromises we are doing the best we can - my boy is not stabled and has lived out all through the winter, and I was lucky enough to buy a yearling with a temperament to die for which has meant he has not picked up bad behaviour from the 9 year old, instead he is sensible enough to recognise the 9 year old is an idiot and he often leads him up the path from the field when 9 year old decides to have a special moment.

I am completely in agreement that overhandling is one of the worst things you can do for a youngster, my boy is markedly better behaved than the rising 3 year old that is living in a stable, bathed daily, hooves oiled, bandaged to go out for a walk etc. I've seen first hand the silly behaviour from overhandling with some of the youngsters on our yard (there are 2 3 year olds and my 2 year old - I'd love them to live out together but their owners would keel over at the thought of precious baby being out in the cold at night!).

Lets just all keep an open mind - daily handling in a fussy way (i.e. bandaging, bathing, loads of groundwork etc) is the most obvious cause of the problems. If you dont have facilities to have the horse living out then you can still have a well-mannered horse you just need to be careful of not doing too much beyond brining in/turning out. And if your youngster lives out then occasional handling is not going to be detrimental as long as its done properly.

My boy was handled a bit when I first got him (taught him how to tie up, lead, pick up feet etc), he learnt quickly so left him alone after that, havent done anything since apart from usual farrier/vaccs/worming etc, he still remembers everything from last year so I've left him alone over winter. He is miles away at the bottom of the field anyway, too far away to be messing around with in this weather!

One final thing to remember....everyone was a novice with youngsters once, we all have to start somewhere - this is my first youngster and I'm sure I'll make mistakes along the way but I have great supervision from Y/O who has bred horses for decades so providing you have support around you, I dont see why 'novices' cant buy a youngster if they cant afford the ready-made all singing all dancing version. I dont mean a 'novice' in the sense of someone who has never been near a youngster before or someone who wants a youngster as their first horse....I know there are some people that really should not be going near youngsters but for someone like myself, who has worked with horses before (only in my spare time at weekends) and has ridden every kind of problem horse going I dont see why buying a youngster is the wrong thing. In my situation it was the best option to get a quality horse that will be my forever horse.
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What an intelligent post. :)
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kc100 said:
pinkypug1 said:
One final thing to remember....everyone was a novice with youngsters once, we all have to start somewhere -
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While I totally agree with this (rest of post was very good too but this stood out for me) the pity nowadays is that far too many novice horse handlers are doing this without a clue how to plus many of those same people have the 'my little pony' attitude which is why we see so many bad mannered horses. It's not the horse's fault, it's the handlers.
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Maesfen said:
kc100 said:
While I totally agree with this (rest of post was very good too but this stood out for me) the pity nowadays is that far too many novice horse handlers are doing this without a clue how to plus many of those same people have the 'my little pony' attitude which is why we see so many bad mannered horses. It's not the horse's fault, it's the handlers.
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Totally agree with you on this - the reason why I took the leap and bought my yearling was because I'd worked as a groom at weekends at a professional DR yard where I'd handled the rider's 2 and 3 year old's (who were cooped up 24/7!) and found the experience enjoyable, that gave me the confidence that I am capable enough to handle youngsters. Plus my Y/O is very experienced with breeding and handling youngsters so I have support from experienced people around me to help when I'm not sure what to do. Then I've bought a hell of a lot of books and read a lot online to top up what I already know - of course that doesnt prepare you for owning a youngster (especially when he decides to jump a huge metal gate out of the field and cause a huge injury!), but every little helps!

If I hadnt ever been near a youngster before and didnt have my Y/O around to help I wouldnt have done it - I'm sure in some people's eye's I've still not had enough experience to own a youngster but it felt like the right time to me and I've been lucky to choose very carefully based on breeding & temperament which has meant I have the best 2 year old ever and he is just a dream.

The people who treat them like babies are the worst, and these are often the ones that lunge their 2 year olds on tiny circles......takes all my strength to walk past our outdoor school sometimes and not shout at them!
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Really interesting thread!!

Totally agree about over handling! I bought my lusitano foal last summer she came to me straight off mum at 6 months and spent 2 months on the livery my big mare is at. She was turned out with big mare and two other mares where I believe she learnt a lot about how to behave herself. In that time she was taught to lead, tie up, pick out feet had farrier and as when I got her she wouldn't let me past her tummy I got her in a month letting me touch her everywhere without batting an eyelid.
She was grumpy and bargy around her feed to start off with and she reprimanded in the same way big mare would be. We did a walk out on the roads and around the little show my yard had. We did loading and I basically installed the manners I expect my big mare to have.

I then last November shipped her down to Devon to live out on 20 acres with a herd of 6 including matriarchal mares :) up until 2 weeks ago she was out 24/7 but it was noted she had a massive a growth spurt and dropped A LOT of weight so she is in at night now until the grass comes through then back out. And guess what I am happy to report that she is still the same lovely mannered young lady she was when she left :)

I am happy to admit that I am a novice youngster owner. Pearl is my first baby and my reasons for that was I lost my other mare due to too much to soon and I wanted a blank canvas. She is a year old next week and well over 15hh she is going to be a big girl and where she is the people looking after her are very experienced and I know when she comes home she will come home a lovely animal to be around because of their correct handling.

I don't think people just send horses away to professionals because they have messed up. I have already sent mine to professionals because I want a lovely riding horse in the future. I also know I won't back her she will be sent away for that or I will have a professional come to me. Again because I want a lovely a riding horse and I am not willing to allow my own novice self to mess her up :)
 
AmiRobertson said:
Really interesting thread!!

Totally agree about over handling! I bought my lusitano foal last summer she came to me straight off mum at 6 months and spent 2 months on the livery my big mare is at. She was turned out with big mare and two other mares where I believe she learnt a lot about how to behave herself. In that time she was taught to lead, tie up, pick out feet had farrier and as when I got her she wouldn't let me past her tummy I got her in a month letting me touch her everywhere without batting an eyelid.
She was grumpy and bargy around her feed to start off with and she reprimanded in the same way big mare would be. We did a walk out on the roads and around the little show my yard had. We did loading and I basically installed the manners I expect my big mare to have.

I then last November shipped her down to Devon to live out on 20 acres with a herd of 6 including matriarchal mares :) up until 2 weeks ago she was out 24/7 but it was noted she had a massive a growth spurt and dropped A LOT of weight so she is in at night now until the grass comes through then back out. And guess what I am happy to report that she is still the same lovely mannered young lady she was when she left :)

I am happy to admit that I am a novice youngster owner. Pearl is my first baby and my reasons for that was I lost my other mare due to too much to soon and I wanted a blank canvas. She is a year old next week and well over 15hh she is going to be a big girl and where she is the people looking after her are very experienced and I know when she comes home she will come home a lovely animal to be around because of their correct handling.

I don't think people just send horses away to professionals because they have messed up. I have already sent mine to professionals because I want a lovely riding horse in the future. I also know I won't back her she will be sent away for that or I will have a professional come to me. Again because I want a lovely a riding horse and I am not willing to allow my own novice self to mess her up :)
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With your attitude there's no way you're going to mess up.
 
Goldenstar said:
With your attitude there's no way you're going to mess up.
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Ah thank you :) I have to say I miss her loads! But she is in the best place for her! She will come home around September 2016 to start minimal ground work (with professional input) and so we can build our relationship towards backing in summer 2017! She will have big mare who will probably then be small mare ;)
 
There are some experienced people on this thread, so I was just hoping to get an answer on this (if ok!)

I take my rising 4 yr old for 2x short weekly walks down a quiet lane to get used to sights and sounds and the odd car that passes us. So far so good. However, I feel that I may be creating a future issue.

On the way home, she really picks up the pace, but never leaves my side -I just have to walk quicker!. She just wants to get home quicker.
She is led in a bridle with couplings.
I have tried leading her out with my very steady retired horse, but it doesn't make any difference, she still tries to jog until I slow her back down to walk.
Do I ask her to stop to compose herself when she speeds up, or turn her and do a few steps away from home, then forward again?.
I do not have a hacking buddy (on own yard) so I need her to be confident going out on her own for when I start hacking her, but I want good experiences for her at the same time.
Any input appreciated.
 
MissMistletoe said:
There are some experienced people on this thread, so I was just hoping to get an answer on this (if ok!)

I take my rising 4 yr old for 2x short weekly walks down a quiet lane to get used to sights and sounds and the odd car that passes us. So far so good. However, I feel that I may be creating a future issue.

On the way home, she really picks up the pace, but never leaves my side -I just have to walk quicker!. She just wants to get home quicker.
She is led in a bridle with couplings.
I have tried leading her out with my very steady retired horse, but it doesn't make any difference, she still tries to jog until I slow her back down to walk.
Do I ask her to stop to compose herself when she speeds up, or turn her and do a few steps away from home, then forward again?.
I do not have a hacking buddy (on own yard) so I need her to be confident going out on her own for when I start hacking her, but I want good experiences for her at the same time.
Any input appreciated.
Click to expand...

Fwiw I would just stop leading here up and down a lane you are setting her up to do what's she's doing .
I would be getting her started .
But you will need to arrange a suitable regime when you ride her away that may include arranging hacking with another horse at times .
 
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