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Post by angelena on Aug 13, 2012 19:42:38 GMT
This may seem a daft thread.
My 3 year old mare is the sweetest mare I have ever owned. She never says no to anything. I have had a couple of issues with feet and trotting up on lead. However she is a fast learner and picks all four feet up before I get too them now and trots lovely on the lead.
I have started jumping her on the lunge and schooling her with the De-gouge on a few nights a week to build he neck and get her balanced etc, she seems to enjoy her work but because she is so sweet and never says no I feel like I may be pushing her and for some odd reason I feel cruel. I'm pretty sure I only feel like this because she is so good natured & sweet.
Just wanted some feedback to put my mind at ease. I hack her out probably twice a week but mainly play around with her.
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baggygirl
Full Member
King Brian Boru :D
Posts: 452
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Post by baggygirl on Aug 13, 2012 19:48:46 GMT
If she is loving her work and never says no, then you probably aren't pushing her. At 3 years old, you should be doing these sort of things and if you start to experience any problems etc then maybe you might be pushing her for what she is capable of at that age. But, as far as I can tell, your mare doesn't seem to have any problems so Im sure your mare is happy and capable of doing these things required  |
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Post by GinaGeo on Aug 13, 2012 21:42:24 GMT
Just take it steady and ask for a little advice from a professional if you're unsure. If your gut instinct is saying you're going too fast then back off a little. Jumping on the lunge is quite hard on them as they're having to jump on tightish circle, lunging alone is quite a workout for a baby.
I'd use plenty of hacking at this stage getting her going forward off the leg and not worrying about the head too much, although a light contact should be accepted in a very babying outline. I think you can teach a baby more lessons out hacking than in the school.
My youngster's another that never said no and I found you have to be very careful not to overface them, or they may lose their trust in you, if they find they can't do something you ask. It's paid off with him and he's turning into a very level headed and mature boy who's living upto our expectation of him.
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Post by elmere on Aug 13, 2012 21:57:41 GMT
Just take it steady and ask for a little advice from a professional if you're unsure. If your gut instinct is saying you're going too fast then back off a little. Jumping on the lunge is quite hard on them as they're having to jump on tightish circle, lunging alone is quite a workout for a baby. I'd use plenty of hacking at this stage getting her going forward off the leg and not worrying about the head too much, although a light contact should be accepted in a very babying outline. I think you can teach a baby more lessons out hacking than in the school. My youngster's another that never said no and I found you have to be very careful not to overface them, or they may lose their trust in you, if they find they can't do something you ask. It's paid off with him and he's turning into a very level headed and mature boy who's living upto our expectation of him. Agree with this, I wouldn't worry about being balanced or going in an outline at all at that age and concentrate more on going forward, too much too soon and it is very young to even be broken tbh, have you planned on giving her a break in the field sometime soon? |
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Post by sageandonion on Aug 14, 2012 8:14:01 GMT
I think you are pushing too much by jumping this 3 year old and you won't build a neck this way. Why do you want to build his neck?
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Post by Kaseyleigh on Aug 14, 2012 8:16:20 GMT
To be honest she shouldnt be jumping as a 3yrs old as her bones are not ready for it and i wouldnt lunge in daft equipment hacking is all a 3yrs old needs to learn to go forward not schooling, schooling and more schooling i broke my boy this year as a 4yrs old and hes been ridden less than 10 times in over 8 months of breaking him because i dont want to rush him and also i bought my traditional that is only 4yrs old and he had been hammered with waterfords in his mouth and a grackle i remouthed him and have ridden him about 6 times in 5 months and he has come back such a better boy. just take it slow you have another year till you can show her so why rush it ?
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Post by angelena on Aug 14, 2012 9:28:48 GMT
I think I am just scared of her getting lami as I have just lost my 8 year old mare in my signature to acute lami. She hasn't got shoes on at the moment her feet are chipping and she's getting a little sore so not doing much hacking until next Wednesday then will hack out 2 days a week. So thought I would lunge her 2 days a week to stop her getting fat. I have only lunged over tiny jumps 3 times since owing her and don't over do it, I do put protective boots on, not lunged her over the jumps for a while and the ground too hard so thought I would knock it on the head. I only ride in a snaffle but she likes to go above the bit, I need to get her teeth done as they are sharp so she probably is resisting the bit because of this. As for trying to get her balance, neck built up a bit, this is why I asked if I was pushing her and obviously I am. I will stop the lunging and long rein her one day a week, hack/school her a couple of days a week and give her time out over the winter months to give her bones time to develop / grow. I have owned a 3 year old some years back now and he turned into a stunning, very brave boy, who would turn his hoof to anything. I will do the same with this girl, she just seems more mature than the other 3 year old but I shouldn't go by that. I feel a bit of an idiot now as I have years of experience and just made myself look like a complete novice.  |
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Post by sageandonion on Aug 14, 2012 12:53:39 GMT
No you haven't made yourself look an idiot, of course you haven't. Idiots are those that do not ask for opinions. You can take on board what you want and ignore that which isn't for you. At the end of the day we are all learning so we are all novices really.
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Post by fanfarefan on Aug 14, 2012 17:25:01 GMT
you never stop learning , and completely understand your worries about weight and lami , i have a now 5yrold who injured himself 18months ago , he recovered well enough to be broken at 4 , but is intermittantly lame , so we only do light lunging when hes sound , but he is also laminitic ,it is very easy to carry on with a youngster when they are going so well , but feet and legs need time to mature and set,so the light hacking at 3yrs is probably your best activity at the moment ,and maybe the odd lunge , but dont get carried away , the old saying " If you take time at the begining, you'll have time at the other end",and actually the fact that you have asked a sensible question , is really your answer
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