First Horse, would love some tips!

angie j · 10-21-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livingthedream

Thank you TrickPony! ...you are VERY right with your reply to my comparison...!

I'm a social worker too. So I'll give you another comparison. When dealing with a realy high needs client, would you choose newly graduated councellors to put on the case or seasoned experienced persons? That's realy what we are all talking about; Matching a 1,000lb untrained animal with a person with 'zero' equine knowledge, is very much like handing a high needs client over to someone who has had 'zero' schooling/training, to now help them build a solid future.

Plainly put, how can you teach a horse to be a 'good mount' when you can't ride? I would never choose a 'green horse' for a new rider... never, never, never.... and I must emphasize...never.

Add to that, I can't even begin to explain to you how many realy decent horses end up at auction with their very lives on the line, simply because they have been poorly trained or otherwise mentaly confused by inadequate trainers/riders... everyone here has seen it first hand!

Let me add... I'm sorry. I know this is not what you wish to hear

Beeks · 10-21-2009, 12:51 PM

Ha! I did EVERYTHING wrong when I bought my first horse. I had experience with horses growing up as far as riding, but that was about it. Just enough to be a danger to myself. I bought the very first horse I saw, which was a TB who had run his last race that very day. I took him home, two days later I was riding him down the road in a western saddle complete with breast color, belly cinch, saddle bags, and let's not forget the nifty headstall/bit combination you see for sale cheap, in every ag store across the nation.

This horse could have killed me that day, but I think my absolute lack of fear, which came from absolute lack of knowledge, made him think everything was as it should be.

That was 23 years ago, and I still have him. I think this horse is part saint, for all the crazy, uneducated things I did with him, for never even so much as blackening an eye.

Ideally, a well behaved, well schooled, older but not geriatric horse would have been ideal, but we are delt the cards we are given and it is what we do with them that is important.

Good luck with your boy, become a sponge for all things "horsey", know that not everything works for everybody and most importantly, in time, you will come to understand that the more you learn, the more you realize there will always be so much more to learn. That came from my mentor and horse training friend who turned 78 years old this summer. If HE is still learning, well, all I can say is Holy Cow.

ParkedOut · 10-21-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livingthedream

Thanks! "Right from The Start" is by Michael Schaffer........... thanks for the info, on my way to get it!

So it is! Good Luck. Its an excellent book.

Livingthedream · 11-09-2009, 01:32 PM

Just wanted to fill you all in on my progress so far! I have decided to send "Diesel" away for professional training next year. For now, we are just getting to know one another and I am filling my head with all sorts of "horsey education". I'm reading, reading, reading! I'm looking around for a great stable to take some lessons at and have also been thinking about doing some volunteer work at a nearby rescue. It's weird how much I enjoy having a horse, even though I can't ride him?! I'm pretty impressed with him at this point, considering he had no/little human interaction before me. When I first joined this forum, I couldn't get near him at all... he now comes when called, runs along side the fence with me, leads and lets me brush him all over.
I think we're doing pretty good?!
Now, what's next haha!

draftlover · 11-09-2009, 02:28 PM

I think lots of grooming and just spending time with your new horse would be a good place to start.

One suggestion I have, if he isn't already, is to get him gelded ASAP. Working with a gelding is much easier than dealing with a stud colt. You want his focus to be on you.

10-21-2009, 12:51 PM	#42
Beeks Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Washington Posts: 4,341 Images: 351	Ha! I did EVERYTHING wrong when I bought my first horse. I had experience with horses growing up as far as riding, but that was about it. Just enough to be a danger to myself. I bought the very first horse I saw, which was a TB who had run his last race that very day. I took him home, two days later I was riding him down the road in a western saddle complete with breast color, belly cinch, saddle bags, and let's not forget the nifty headstall/bit combination you see for sale cheap, in every ag store across the nation. This horse could have killed me that day, but I think my absolute lack of fear, which came from absolute lack of knowledge, made him think everything was as it should be. That was 23 years ago, and I still have him. I think this horse is part saint, for all the crazy, uneducated things I did with him, for never even so much as blackening an eye. Ideally, a well behaved, well schooled, older but not geriatric horse would have been ideal, but we are delt the cards we are given and it is what we do with them that is important. Good luck with your boy, become a sponge for all things "horsey", know that not everything works for everybody and most importantly, in time, you will come to understand that the more you learn, the more you realize there will always be so much more to learn. That came from my mentor and horse training friend who turned 78 years old this summer. If HE is still learning, well, all I can say is Holy Cow. __________________ Your horse called. He said "Get off the computer!" I've been "Gobbled" and I liked it.

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11-09-2009, 01:32 PM	#44
Livingthedream Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 18	Just wanted to fill you all in on my progress so far! I have decided to send "Diesel" away for professional training next year. For now, we are just getting to know one another and I am filling my head with all sorts of "horsey education". I'm reading, reading, reading! I'm looking around for a great stable to take some lessons at and have also been thinking about doing some volunteer work at a nearby rescue. It's weird how much I enjoy having a horse, even though I can't ride him?! I'm pretty impressed with him at this point, considering he had no/little human interaction before me. When I first joined this forum, I couldn't get near him at all... he now comes when called, runs along side the fence with me, leads and lets me brush him all over. I think we're doing pretty good?! Now, what's next haha!

11-09-2009, 02:28 PM	#45
draftlover Full Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 191	I think lots of grooming and just spending time with your new horse would be a good place to start. One suggestion I have, if he isn't already, is to get him gelded ASAP. Working with a gelding is much easier than dealing with a stud colt. You want his focus to be on you.