Who to start??

Anti-Silence · 01-08-2008, 08:15 PM

Wellll, the time has come! Almost anyways, LOL. This spring, hopefully two of my four will be started.

But the question is, if it were you, who would you pick to start? Bogey is already a definate. He'll be 4, and I think it's time for him to get a move on. But which of the coming 3 year olds will be the other one? But I already have a pretty good idea who it will be.

There's Parker... He had a vertical crack that made him lame for a few days until we could find a farrier since ours had retired without telling us. Since July, it has grown out and should be completely gone by summer. He's well over 15hh at the withers and still downhill, so even taller at the butt.

Smudge doesn't really trust new people and can be spooky. He wasn't even approachable when I got him. He's never been lame or injured.

Smores likes everyone. A bit lazy. Got his leg caught in a fence a year and a half ago, no permanent damage was done, just a huge chunk of leg missing for a while, but he's fine on all legs.

Who would you choose? Ask questions if you have any. I want honest opinions please.

Zypheir's Ring · 01-08-2008, 08:18 PM

I would choose #3 assuming his injury is 100% healed.

bay_blnd jmpr07 · 01-08-2008, 08:45 PM

Wait on Smudge. Just do ground work with him and desensitizing.

SaddleUp158 · 01-09-2008, 07:47 AM

I would start Smores. Parker would be my second choice if the crack was gone, and Smudge sounds like he needs more time to settle in and mature.

SC Sonoma · 01-09-2008, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaddleUp158

I would start Smores. Parker would be my second choice if the crack was gone, and Smudge sounds like he needs more time to settle in and mature.

I agree with this order.

JBandRio · 01-09-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Silence

B
There's Parker... He had a vertical crack that made him lame for a few days until we could find a farrier since ours had retired without telling us. Since July, it has grown out and should be completely gone by summer. He's well over 15hh at the withers and still downhill, so even taller at the butt.

I would not start riding a youngster who is more than 1" downhill. He's having enough trouble with his own balance and coordination, never mind the stress his unevenness is placing on his joints, without adding the weight of a rider. However, this does not mean groundwork is out

Quote:

Smudge doesn't really trust new people and can be spooky. He wasn't even approachable when I got him. He's never been lame or injured.

If his groundwork isn't solid, I wouldn't be getting on him. LOTS of groundwork for this guy

Quote:

Smores likes everyone. A bit lazy. Got his leg caught in a fence a year and a half ago, no permanent damage was done, just a huge chunk of leg missing for a while, but he's fine on all legs.

Everything else being equal, this guy sounds like the one who can be started under saddle, taking your time to make sure his groundwork has prepared him to carry a rider's weight properly. But, I would not get on him either unless/until you have established FORWARD from the ground. It's just so much easier to already have that part of the work ethic instilled than to try to instill it on his back. A lazy greenie can get quite resentful in some creative ways if you try to instill forward from up there

IIIBarsV · 01-09-2008, 12:33 PM

Bogey, Smores, Parker, Smudge, in that order. Smores is all set. Parker will be all set when the crack is gone. And Smudge (what a name! lol) will benefit from some more time and general handling.

I have a coming 3 yr old too... he was a real handful and very wary of humans (I suppose that comes from being roped out of a field with 30 other weanlings), so starting him in 2007 would've been rushing it and asking for a blow-up. Now he's a cutie-pie face and a big suck-up, right in the state of mind to start learning.

Then I have a coming 3 yr old large pony who just needs to be ridden, before he annoys the heck out of me. He was started lightly mid-summer, super-quiet, a natural "non-fighter, give to pressure" type. It's like he's already trained, lol, we're just waiting for him to slow down with his growth spurts.

It's a fun time of year.

Amigo · 01-09-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaddleUp158

I would start Smores. Parker would be my second choice if the crack was gone, and Smudge sounds like he needs more time to settle in and mature.

Yepo , i agree

Anti-Silence · 01-09-2008, 01:15 PM

Good. Smores was the one I had chosen myself. Smudge won't be until next year, I didn't really considered him for this spring, just thought I'd throw him on the list. Parker maybe this summer depending on that crack and if his butt stops growing where it is and the rest of him decides to join it.

01-08-2008, 08:15 PM	#1
Anti-Silence Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 2,306 Images: 621 Blog Entries: 109	Who to start?? Wellll, the time has come! Almost anyways, LOL. This spring, hopefully two of my four will be started. But the question is, if it were you, who would you pick to start? Bogey is already a definate. He'll be 4, and I think it's time for him to get a move on. But which of the coming 3 year olds will be the other one? But I already have a pretty good idea who it will be. There's Parker... He had a vertical crack that made him lame for a few days until we could find a farrier since ours had retired without telling us. Since July, it has grown out and should be completely gone by summer. He's well over 15hh at the withers and still downhill, so even taller at the butt. Smudge doesn't really trust new people and can be spooky. He wasn't even approachable when I got him. He's never been lame or injured. Smores likes everyone. A bit lazy. Got his leg caught in a fence a year and a half ago, no permanent damage was done, just a huge chunk of leg missing for a while, but he's fine on all legs. Who would you choose? Ask questions if you have any. I want honest opinions please. __________________ We're not insane, we just love the rush... The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? -- Psalm 27 RIP my beautiful little Artist.

01-08-2008, 08:18 PM	#2
Zypheir's Ring Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,273 Images: 436	I would choose #3 assuming his injury is 100% healed. __________________ I've got nothing to prove...I'm me, I don't care whether you like me or not. If you don't like me I won't hate you or blame you. I'm me.....just me.

01-09-2008, 12:33 PM	#7
IIIBarsV Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,181 Images: 27	Bogey, Smores, Parker, Smudge, in that order. Smores is all set. Parker will be all set when the crack is gone. And Smudge (what a name! lol) will benefit from some more time and general handling. I have a coming 3 yr old too... he was a real handful and very wary of humans (I suppose that comes from being roped out of a field with 30 other weanlings), so starting him in 2007 would've been rushing it and asking for a blow-up. Now he's a cutie-pie face and a big suck-up, right in the state of mind to start learning. Then I have a coming 3 yr old large pony who just needs to be ridden, before he annoys the heck out of me. He was started lightly mid-summer, super-quiet, a natural "non-fighter, give to pressure" type. It's like he's already trained, lol, we're just waiting for him to slow down with his growth spurts. It's a fun time of year. __________________ Three Bars The Fifth Wish I'd Get Lucky Chipped In Stone Zip Code Bay B Suns Eternal Flame How can you ride in order to make your horse's job easier for them?

01-09-2008, 01:15 PM	#9
Anti-Silence Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 2,306 Images: 621 Blog Entries: 109	Good. Smores was the one I had chosen myself. Smudge won't be until next year, I didn't really considered him for this spring, just thought I'd throw him on the list. Parker maybe this summer depending on that crack and if his butt stops growing where it is and the rest of him decides to join it. __________________ We're not insane, we just love the rush... The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? -- Psalm 27 RIP my beautiful little Artist.

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01-09-2008, 07:47 AM	#4
SaddleUp158 Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,544 Images: 59	I would start Smores. Parker would be my second choice if the crack was gone, and Smudge sounds like he needs more time to settle in and mature.