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Post by sami4971 on Jan 25, 2010 18:32:38 GMT
I'm new to this forum and looking at some past posts i think this is a great place to ask for advice. We have a rising 4 yo welsh gelding who is certainly ready for breaking in but I just don't know where to start with him really! I guess most of his schooling will have to come from groundwork as he is going to be a lead rein pony for my beginner nieces.
I bought him as a 2yo with the view of producing him into a county level lead rein pony but personal circumstances meant that we didnt get out to a single show last year (he had a good season as a 2yo aswell so it is a shame) so this year I would like him to just do a couple of riding club shows but it isn't really important, my main priority is that enjoys working. I plan on doing him myself because he doesn't really seem to 'gel' with anybody else and funds don't allow for professional backing.
So please may you give me ideas of what I should be doing with him to get him ready for the ring, or even just little walks round the block with the kids? I'd like to long rein him but not 100% sure how to get them started long reining? I have longreined my older gelding before but he already knew how.
Any advice would be very much appreciated!
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Post by lillicob on Jan 25, 2010 19:26:23 GMT
I take it he has been mouthed and had tack on etc?
Personally i think plenty of long reining is key. Ive started on my boy who is 3 but 17 hands, he knows the voice commands already through endless teaching when leading him in and out. So if he knows your voice commands its alot easier. Having someone by his head for the first few times would be safer, and if you arent 100% in doing it do you know anybody that could help you? When i first long reined my boy i first lunged him, only walking and a bit of jogging as he's a baby with one lunge line then lunged him on the long lines and went from there, you use the long lines to encourange them forward, some of them get frightened by it hence why someone by the head is helpful.
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Post by mady on Jan 25, 2010 19:49:00 GMT
A lot of long reining and getting them forward on the lunge. Agree with Lillicob, get someone to help you as an extra pair of hands are always needed. When their confidence grows and depending where you are you could always long rein them out and get them seeing things. I always start off with the lines not running through anything ie stirrups until they get used.
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Post by lillicob on Jan 25, 2010 20:03:44 GMT
Agree with Mady i wouldnt run the lines through anything until he's more established, personally i find it easier.
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Post by amumwithapony on Jan 26, 2010 12:11:04 GMT
agree with everyone else about the groundwork first, lots of lunging, longlining etc. I also with my l/r pony walked her out a lot with tack on, stirrups flapping around and got her used to doing her job, but minus the jockey. went through every schooling move, practised through cones, over trotting poles, changes of rein, 20m circles, figure of 8's, standing nicely in the school, transition changes etc etc. Then i started my jockey (who was 18 months old!) leaning over her to give her a cuddle, then sitting her on bareback (always with a hat on, and 2 people, one for pony one for child). then after each 'schooling session', when i knew pony was quiet enough and in a working frame of mind i let jockey sit on her (again 2 people), then sit on her and walk a few paces and so on and so on until she could sit on her after 1 walk around the school, which i still do now,just to check pony is concentrating on work.
It took a long time, and she still isnt perfect, a bit pokey nosed, as I have never used side reins (dont like them but personal thing), but she is safe for my daughter to ride, and wasnt frightened or upset at all during the whole process which took about 6 months. and TBH as I had no small jockey was the only way I could do it. making sure they understand your voice commands, and are responsive to that I think is the most ompotant thing in a l/r pony. and that they trust you, and you them!
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Post by sami4971 on Jan 26, 2010 20:01:14 GMT
Thank you. He hasn't had a bit in yet, I really am starting him from scratch other than him being easy to handle in a headcollar. He will stand and I can lean on his back and pat his other side but I will start him wearing his tack then lunging and longreining. I will get my mum or stepdad to help me with him when longreining to begin with just in case he panics. I will go with all advice above and just let Honeyblossom take his own time, he won't be rushed. Thanks everybody!
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Post by lillicob on Jan 26, 2010 20:18:43 GMT
Good luck with it, he sounds a sweetie so i'm sure you'll be fine.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2010 23:00:34 GMT
Feel free to call me- if you want some advice Personally I would never break a pony just for lr- it may need to do fr one day.
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Post by rosefinch on Jan 27, 2010 19:53:24 GMT
Think key is continuity. As i have small children i can't always guarantee the time and consistency and also with little ponies think they need a jockey that can wrap there legs round them so they get to understand the commands. agree with lunging long reigning and voice commands but when it comes to jockey think they need someone who can ride. i have always done the ground work and then sent them to be backed to cayberry stud - they are very reasonable and have done a fantastic job on my 3 ponies and my friends pony. even if you just want some advice give them ring
good luck
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Post by brookhouse on Feb 1, 2010 21:05:09 GMT
first back and teeth check asap then bit for a few days.leave him in the stable for a bit with an old briddle on with out reins over a few days then lung in bridle learn over him tapping his tummy firmly over the few days lean more and more weight. then add saddle next time add striups child size and let them flap about may be long reining in the school just walk . after a week if all is going well lean over in the stable with out the tack full weight , but have some one to hold him in the head collar. keep doing more and more each day but you must be consistent and always end on a good knote do not push if he is not ready. you will be suprised how qick they pick it up but you must do it over a short period a little each day as they take well to routene lots of phrase too
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