Do You Ride Horses? V.4

[lilac sky]

Ok, so I have come on here to rant about this girl that I know. I'm going to pretend the girls name is Kylie. Kyle has been riding for four/five years and I have been riding before I could walk. She only has one horse that she received around a year (maybe 2) ago, before that it was a riding school. She told me that she likes it when her horse is 'naughty' becuase then she gets to hit it. She thinks her horse is worth 5-10 thousand when it's only 2k at very most. She currently wants to get a bigger 'eventer' becuase she thinks her horse can only go up to grade 2. She is currently sitting on grade 4 and is not ready to go up any time soon. Kylies mother recently started leasing a horse. Kylies family has no idea about horses and none of them have grown up around horses or horse people. The horse that their leasing is only meant to be walked but the day after they got the horse she showed me videos of her jumping and cantering on this horse that they were only meant to walk because of a (ongoing) shoulder injury. Kyle also wants to enter the leased horse in jumping comps. This annoys the hell out of me and soon I'm going to tell the owners what she is doing. This next part is what is really driving me insane. A few days ago she said she was going to get a 'project pony' to break in. When I asked her how she was going to break in a horse she replied with, "I'm going to put the saddle on it." I told her that was not the correct way to break in a horse and she replied with, "well I'll put the saddle on it and then lunge it." As if that would help. Her parents are actually planning to get this horse for her to break in, her parents are not horsey at all and will let her use any method to break in a horse, even the quick way. I have broken in 3 horses and retrained 2. I have 'confronted' her multiple times as she still is planning on breaking in the horse by just chucking a saddle on its back, at one point she replied with, "well you don't know everything." Correct. I don't. But at least I admit it. Her family are not horsey, have not grown up with horsey people, and she only got her first horse like a year ago. Me on the other hand. I have grown up around horses and so has my mother. I've been going to pony club and lessons and a super super young age. I've seen first hand, good horses, bad horses, bad horse people, good horse people, bad training methods, good training methods. I have seen and learnt so much about horses and the package that comes with it. I would know better than her on how to break in a horse properly. Please help me persuade her that she shouldn't break in a horse by just chucking a saddle on its back and making it run around in circles having know idea what or who is on its back. Please help me. Please.
Thankyou and sorry if you don't like me ranting.

Being a trainer myself, you dont even start the process with the saddle. Theres far more to it than just saddle work from the ground. I tell my students bluntly what is and what isnt. I believe it makes them better riders if they are able to know and focus on making their weak parts stronger. What I would suggest is to contact the owner of the injured horse and make them aware of whats going on. Say its none of your business, but you're doing it for the horses well being and see if theyll step in and terminate the lease or something. As for her wanting to train... Id say let it happen and she can see for herself just how hard it is and how stupid shell realize she is for taking it on. Some horses are angels to break, some are just... Well, lets not get into the bad ones. But sooner or later she'll probably get hurt, whether it be seriously or a close call, and hopefully shell realize she certainly does not have the skill it takes at that point.

I second that!!

[atychiphobia]

@xchry & @golloping hooves,
Thanks, I'll tell the owners of the leased horse what she's been doing to it. I guess I'll leave her to try to break in the project pony but I just really really don't want her to ruin the pony. I've seen horses that have been ruined completely and it all started with a dumb breaking in and the rest followed. This one horse couldn't even be re-trained/taught by really good trainers, even they told the owner to shoot the horse. I just hope the 'project pony' won't be ruined and turn out like that horse.

[lilac sky]

@xchry & @golloping hooves,
Thanks, I'll tell the owners of the leased horse what she's been doing to it. I guess I'll leave her to try to break in the project pony but I just really really don't want her to ruin the pony. I've seen horses that have been ruined completely and it all started with a dumb breaking in and the rest followed. This one horse couldn't even be re-trained/taught by really good trainers, even they told the owner to shoot the horse. I just hope the 'project pony' won't be ruined and turn out like that horse.

I think once she realizes her mistake, she will hopefully seek help. When she does realize, since you have the experience, you could offer your help? Just a suggestion

[xChry.]

Any horse can be retrained. It takes patience ambps time and sometimes it takes getting rough with the horse if its a dangerous situation. But I've had some really, REALLY nasty horses with wonderful outcomes. A highbrow cat mare came in to me as a last resort last summer. Actually targeted people to kick and bite, flipped on her riders, vicious buck and a stupid scary spook. But she's now a 11 year olds horse after intense training and theyve never had a problem with her! It takes someone to not get frustrated and give up easily. My mare was a psycho bastard when I first got her. She was broke but they didn't dare ride her. When I tried her I didn't even pull myself into the saddle and she sprung up and bucked out so hard I went flying and landed on a barrel. Why did I buy her? I have no damn clue. But I did know I saw something in her. couldnt even ride her bareback, she was a literal vibrating machine and worked herself up into a full body sweat in minutes. Ten months later , shes calm, collected, even looks like a pleasure horse at times. Im blessed to be able to help others and their horses. And my own crazy ones.

[atychiphobia]

@gallopinghooves she thinks she knows it all and she is really stubborn and super super rude. Even if she did realise she needed help she would never let me do it. She was trying to retrain a quiet 16hh ex racehorse that was fine anyway and somehow she still managed to fail. I offered to help her but she was just plain ride and wouldn't let me, she is really up herself.

@xchry. I know right. The horse that everyone said to shoot (including major major trainers) wasn't given up on by the owner. She worked and worked with the horse, she got blisters all on her hands from the horse constantly pulling the lead rope (groundwork). The thing was that only she realised the horse had a trust issue and wasn't a bad horse. I saw her recently with the horse, she was working with tarp and the horse. At the start the horse was terrified of the tarp. But I watched her work with the horse to help it get used to the tarp. By the end of the 'lesson' she had the horse following her over the tarp without a lead rope on. The one thing that really caught my eye was the fact the horse was watching and standing exactly where she stood, the exact spot. She had earned its trust and created such a great bond that the horse trusted her and only her. I'd hate for someone to mistake that horse or even a 'project pony' for such a bad horse that it shouldn't deserve to live.

[allo vera]

So...
I got some pretty interesting news about my summer plans today. Apparently this is to be the summer of the horse.
During June, I'm going to lease a horse from my barn and help during camp.
As for now, I don't know what horse I'll lease, but there's a good chance it'll either be a really sweet mare, or a cute little green pony.

The first half of July will be spent at the beach and just hanging out.

And then.

Then I will be sent to my grandparent's house. (They live several states away, very rural area) They're going to get me a horse, and I'll basically have my own horse for a month. I'll be responsible for taking care of it, and I'll be able to ride it a ton. It's gonna be really awesome.
I hope.

For those of you with their own horses they keep at home, got any tips for me about taking care of the horse?
I've never done anything like this before. I know my grandparents have had horses before, but it's been quite a while.

[sillies]

So...
I got some pretty interesting news about my summer plans today. Apparently this is to be the summer of the horse.
During June, I'm going to lease a horse from my barn and help during camp.
As for now, I don't know what horse I'll lease, but there's a good chance it'll either be a really sweet mare, or a cute little green pony.

The first half of July will be spent at the beach and just hanging out.

And then.

Then I will be sent to my grandparent's house. (They live several states away, very rural area) They're going to get me a horse, and I'll basically have my own horse for a month. I'll be responsible for taking care of it, and I'll be able to ride it a ton. It's gonna be really awesome.
I hope.

For those of you with their own horses they keep at home, got any tips for me about taking care of the horse?
I've never done anything like this before. I know my grandparents have had horses before, but it's been quite a while.

I'm so jealous you even get to have your own horse foe even a month... we ahve a big enough yard here to make a stable and such, but we can't have one.... -.- I don't know anymore

[atychiphobia]

So...
I got some pretty interesting news about my summer plans today. Apparently this is to be the summer of the horse.
During June, I'm going to lease a horse from my barn and help during camp.
As for now, I don't know what horse I'll lease, but there's a good chance it'll either be a really sweet mare, or a cute little green pony.

The first half of July will be spent at the beach and just hanging out.

And then.

Then I will be sent to my grandparent's house. (They live several states away, very rural area) They're going to get me a horse, and I'll basically have my own horse for a month. I'll be responsible for taking care of it, and I'll be able to ride it a ton. It's gonna be really awesome.
I hope.

For those of you with their own horses they keep at home, got any tips for me about taking care of the horse?
I've never done anything like this before. I know my grandparents have had horses before, but it's been quite a while.

I don't actually know all the detail so I can't give a really good answer but I'll give it a try.
I'm hoping (and assuming) that this horse is a nice docile horse as that is best for beginners. Here's some basic stuff that I think you should know:
Groom it before riding (get help if you can't do the hooves)
Wear a helmet (like I said, basic)
When you go to get the horse bring a treat with you (so they know your good, trust me)
Horses generally don't like their ears being touched (just so you know)
When riding try to use your body and not just the reins to steer the horse. If you turn the top half of your body and look where you want to go the horse should follow along, but still use the reins and don't through them away all together.

Here a last tip that you shouldn't have to use:
If the horse bucks or you fall off, get straight back on. If your badly hurt or the horse is way too dangerous then don't. But if the horse ever bucks you off and your not confident to get back on then either lunge it a lot or get someone else to hop on the horse and work it. The horse should never get away with throwing you off and learning that that's how it can get out of work. But I'm hoping this is a good horse and you shouldn't have any problems c:

[allo vera]

So...
I got some pretty interesting news about my summer plans today. Apparently this is to be the summer of the horse.
During June, I'm going to lease a horse from my barn and help during camp.
As for now, I don't know what horse I'll lease, but there's a good chance it'll either be a really sweet mare, or a cute little green pony.

The first half of July will be spent at the beach and just hanging out.

And then.

Then I will be sent to my grandparent's house. (They live several states away, very rural area) They're going to get me a horse, and I'll basically have my own horse for a month. I'll be responsible for taking care of it, and I'll be able to ride it a ton. It's gonna be really awesome.
I hope.

For those of you with their own horses they keep at home, got any tips for me about taking care of the horse?
I've never done anything like this before. I know my grandparents have had horses before, but it's been quite a while.

I don't actually know all the detail so I can't give a really good answer but I'll give it a try.
I'm hoping (and assuming) that this horse is a nice docile horse as that is best for beginners. Here's some basic stuff that I think you should know:
Groom it before riding (get help if you can't do the hooves)
Wear a helmet (like I said, basic)
When you go to get the horse bring a treat with you (so they know your good, trust me)
Horses generally don't like their ears being touched (just so you know)
When riding try to use your body and not just the reins to steer the horse. If you turn the top half of your body and look where you want to go the horse should follow along, but still use the reins and don't through them away all together.

Here a last tip that you shouldn't have to use:
If the horse bucks or you fall off, get straight back on. If your badly hurt or the horse is way too dangerous then don't. But if the horse ever bucks you off and your not confident to get back on then either lunge it a lot or get someone else to hop on the horse and work it. The horse should never get away with throwing you off and learning that that's how it can get out of work. But I'm hoping this is a good horse and you shouldn't have any problems c:

Thank you!
I've been taking lessons for about 4/5 years now, so the first stuff you said I would hope would be common knowledge for me.
(I'm definitely going to bring my helmet, my granddad will make fun of me but he can stuff it lol)

I'll probably be lucky if the horse is under 20, I should have no trouble with it being quiet. I hope.
What you said at the end is especially helpful, though. I don't think either of my grandparents would school the horse (and I don't want my granddad to, there's a chance he would just beat the living crap out of it and give it back). If necessary, I can lunge it.

Very excited to get to try some natural horsemanship with the horse, I don't have a lot of opportunity to try it at the barn, but I could probably get a roundpen like creation up and see what I can do.

Do any of you ride in your pastures? Does it work well for you? They live on basically a giant farm, the only places to ride will be in the fields and on the road. (there's also a trail that he takes the tractor down through the pastures, but I'll have to check it and make sure it'll work to ride on)

[trees |-/]

me and my friends sometimes canter and trot through the hay fields, although make sure the grass is safe and there isn't holes if you do ride on fields.