[FlashGordon]

I was going to update a thread I started a week or so ago with some photos, then thought I'd open a new thread.... Seems there are a lot of us bringing along green or young horses, maybe we can keep each other motivated and/or share stories and progress?

I'm typically working with her alone, at night, and it has been hard to keep myself focused and/or motivated. Maybe having a little support group would help!

Bella is a 4 year old Morgan mare I got in August. She'd had a little bit of driving experience but it had been awhile since she'd done much. She's very sweet, incredibly smart. Despite being beefy she's surprisingly sensitive and athletic. She is currently 14.1 at the wither and 15h behind. Both sire and dam were over 15h. Daddy does combined driving and dressage. Mama is a broodmare and pleasure/trail horse extraordinaire.

Anyway here are some pics from a ride tonight. My friend, also a COTHer (MiasPal) is on her. She'd had about 3 weeks off of riding, though I have been long-lining her, longing her and working on various other ground work stuff.

She's only had about 10-12 rides, at most.... I've lost count but it hasn't been many. She was a super star tonight, despite the rain, wind, cold and half-lit arena.

I did have some video but it is too dark.

Every time she heard the camera beep, she'd look over:
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/29722...04109739fqIEfI

She has a decent walk (and an even nicer tail!)
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/20279...04109739cDDxav

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/24011...04109739TbFAOl

Trotting... we're working on the "go button"... it's getting better!
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/24881...04109739GHBYWd

I'm hoping to get on her later this week. Looking forward to it as I've not been riding much lately.

Anyway if anyone else would like to share their green horse pics/vids/stories I'd love to see!

[NOMIOMI1]

SOOOOOO cute! Awe Cant wait to see this one framed up and all dressagey

[KrazyTBMare]

Shes so lovely! And what a tail. Sounds like she has a wonderful mind on her.

I hear you on not being motivated. Rex (currently 4.5 y/o Old. gelding) has been down for 6 months while his fractured splint heals. I got the go ahead to go back to work last week so Mr Trainer hopped on. My friend had been leasing my mare so I maybe rode once a week if that for the last 3 months but then for the last 3+ weeks, I havent been able to ride due to having surgery. So lack of riding to say the least.

Maybe later this week I can long line Rex... I think I want Mr Trainer on him a few more times before I get on.. maybe.

Anyways.. I posted a thread but Ill put a few pics from last week. I love Mr Trainer (Dean Graham) though - just hops on. No lungeing or anything. Off farm with multiple horses being worked. A fresh 4 y/o with 6 months off. Yup - just hops on. lol He was a little fresh with some sideways "spooking" and a lively canter depart (no bucking, just very lively) but thats all.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...56294316_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...46438505_n.jpg

He was a tad concerned with the pump house..
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...96194751_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...75457596_n.jpg

And this was taken Turkey Day.. Im 5'8 so hes a little big..
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...16804763_n.jpg

My last ride on him... May 23, 2011
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4892955_n.jpg

And our last lesson.. April 23, 2011
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7808870_n.jpg

[kashmere]

Oooh, me! me!

I'll have some decent pictures to share hopefully tomorrow. My greenie project is a 6 year old OTTB -- didn't do much racing, hasn't done much else, either! She is well bred though, and recently gave her owner a wonderful filly by an Oldenburg stallion.

So all in one, she's learning forward (but no! don't run!), steering, softness, and coming back from having a baby. She's a sweet soul to take it all in stride as she has thus far She also has to put up with my occasionally idiotic moves, and newfound tendency to be veeerry crooked. Word to the wise: when your horse is crooked, the answer is not to turn yourself into a pretzel.

Both your horses are lovely! Will look forward to updates!

[ohrebecca]

FlashGordon, she is beautiful!! I love that big ole tail :-)

KrazyTBMare, I was just drooling over your boy in another thread somewhere here, I think.

[KrazyTBMare]

TB mares are wonderful partners! Cant wait to see your pics

[ASBJumper]

Awww, your mare is cute as a button, OP! Enjoy her!!

I am having a blast bringing along my 3.5 yr old Oldenburg/Saddlebred gelding. It seems every ride he somehow manages to amaze me again with his awesomeness. Last ride it was me pointing him at a very bright, colourful crossrail (we just got new poles!) for the first time ever under saddle, and he ROCKED it. I was told his knees were up, square and even and he didn't hesitate or weave, just trotted up to it confidently and popped over it, cantered away beautiful and balanced. I was over the moon! I am also giving 2x monthly lessons to my advanced-beginner young cousin, who needed a confidence builder after she fell off a naughty pony at camp last summer and broke her arm. Behold, the confidence builder - my green 3.5 yr old gelding, LOL!! He is so awesome with her, and she's progressing so fast! The odd time another boarder sees us in the arena, they can't help but stop and comment "OMG, i can't believe he's only THREE, he's a freaking SAINT!".

He has yet to put a foot wrong, his work ethic is just incredible, he LOVES attention, any kind of attention, he loves to work, he has unlimited amounts of heart and try and is just the most pleasant horse to be around - topped with a hilarious character that is interested in everything that goes on around him. He is the same at shows, same on the trails, he's just a phenomenal horse.

I have no recent pics unfortunately but i have some video from a schooling show we went to in June.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTOXOVkG9os
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz901...eature=related

And here's my fave pic of him, as a yearling: http://sports.webshots.com/photo/267...46770113uRcfhZ

Hoping to get some more recent footage sometime soon, he's filled out since then and is coming along really well.

[Pocket Pony]

Love her, Flashy, and her tail is just amazing!!! She looks great and I'm glad to hear she was such a superstar!

You know about Mac, but I'll share.

Mac is a 6 yo Mustang who I've had for 1.5 years now. After he was adopted from the BLM and started (not by me), he was a pack horse:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/22327...29199246ffOsMA

For the first six months we mostly trail rode and did some easy w/t hacking in the arena in our western saddle:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/20111...29199246Mgcwol

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/22642...29199246nTFiwQ

I've taken him XC schooling:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/27725...29199246mHchym

And we take weekly dressage lessons:

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/21979...29199246vlVtum

He's coming along and we've made a lot of progress in the past few weeks when I finally got a proper dressage saddle! I hope to do some schooling dressage shows with him next year.

[KrazyTBMare]

ASB, I love your guy! Sounds like hes got a wonderful attitude as well.

PP, LOVE LOVE your boy! Theres a pro rider in our GMO who has a BLM mustang that shes showing... 1st or 2nd level.. cant remember now. He looks a lot like your guy but is darker.

[kashmere]

TB mares are wonderful partners! Cant wait to see your pics

Too true. My own mare is a lovely little TB who came to me at 10 years old, after having had 8 babies (8 babies! at 10!). Having another one to love on and snuggle is simply too good to be true.

Here's a picture from when current project first arrived: at least 200lbs underweight as a 3 year old

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...z/lovey3-1.jpg

And a picture from her first ride post-track as a 4 year old...errr, do we see the root of my crookedness issue? Look up! up!:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...g?t=1248915702

Our work together has been in fits and starts, but now that we're permanently living in the same province, I'm really hoping things will get off the ground! New pictures, hopefully tomorrow!

[Pocket Pony]

ASB, that yearling photo is gorgeous!!!

KrazyTBMare, I always love seeing pictures of your lovely horse.

[oharabear]

Oh shoot, you guys are going to motivate me to actually get ON my gigantic DWB/Arab green bean, aren't you? *sigh*

LOL.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...tretchShow.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2..._3081911_n.jpg

He is now 5 and has had nothing but a long string of bad luck- including being neglected as a baby, being left on a "professional" hauler's trailer for 10 days while the hauler "detoured" to her house in CA when he was originally en route to TX, then when getting to TX his new owner's "trainer" tried to ride him while he was still underweight (and likely sore) from the trailer ordeal, so he bucked Mr. Trainer off, was labeled as "dangerous" and they threatened to sell him to a Mexican slaughterhouse.

So I ended up with him. He has spent all summer in a pasture getting to be a horse, and last month was moved into the barn. He was lightly started as a 4-year-old, had maybe 20 rides on him, but due to his history, I decided to start him all over again. Groundwork, longeing, long-lining, etc. I've ridden him a grand total of 3 times, he is green as grass but sweet as they come.

He just needs miles and I just need motivation!

Here's his most recent photo, from a couple weeks ago:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...20/stretch.jpg

(He's looking more grown-up to me! Maybe I'm crazy...)

[RillRill]

Here's his most recent photo, from a couple weeks ago:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...20/stretch.jpg
(He's looking more grown-up to me! Maybe I'm crazy...)

Gosh he is gorgeous! I'm a sucker for Arabs. Scuse my ignorance but what does DWB stand for? Draught/Warmblood?
FlashGordon I love your horse. How do u keep the tail so good?? My baby's tail is awesome, I want to keep it that way, not sure how...
Talking of motivation - I can't stay off my boy! He is coming along is leaps and bounds, is so comfortable, I love him to bits. I had to turn him out down the road to stop riding him and give him a break. He is only 3 in Feb so I want to back off a bit and let him grow. He hates it tho & stands at the fence staring at us. Here he is:
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/...P1020910_3.jpg
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/...a/DSC01955.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-cKqEchiDE
Great topic btw

[meupatdoes]

Bella looks great!!

Bella better watch out though, Alph might come steal some of her tail...

[janiemerle]

My green bean is a 6 year old Morgan mare named Bella that I bought in September. We haven't done much more than lunge at this point. The real work begins after the holidays.

[shawneeAcres]

Here are two green horses we are working right now. This one is a 4 yr old fresian/saddlebred mare we are starting for a client. WE do things maybe a bit differently than some trainers. LOTS of groundwork and desensitization, take the horse over taprs, poles, other obstacles right from the beginning in hand and on lungeline. Ground drive, teach horse to move away from pressure. WE start all of the youngsters in western saddle and then change over, its good for them to feel things flopping and gives the rider a bit more security if needed I use a combination of traditional training techniques, dressage and NH with my youngsters. I want them to go quietly and balanced on a loose rein before really taking any contact. I want them to repsond to whoa, backing and be happy to walk and trot forwardly (cantering on lunge, will do undersaddle once the walk/trot is confirmed) but not VERY forward at this point. I think too many trainers ask for too much forward to early and the young horse cannot balance and can get scared.

groundwork: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WfHl3CJAuQ
under saddle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_35PdtEmFM

Here is a 2 1/2 year old TB gelding. We will just ride him a handful of times and then he gets winter off and more training later next year. Being ridden on the lungeline, sorry I was lunging and filming at same time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjZe--y235U

[exvet]

I have two 5 year olds that I'm bringing along. The stallion, the older of the two (born in the spring '06), I have had since he was coming three and backed him late in his three year old year. The mare just turned 5 in September and I picked her up in October after someone had been on her a few times quite a while back. Both are coming along well. I guess starting the green beans and bringing them along has more or less become my "real" hobby. Both of these guys are by Tamara in TN's stallion, Menai Dambuster. He puts the best minds on his babies which makes the process a whole lot easier. Here are some pics of me long lining (a few weeks ago) and then riding the mare (a week later).

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/2011/014.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/2011/074.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/2011/012.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/DSC_6266.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/DSC_6259.jpg

And one of the stallion who is a little bit further along.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o.../Rideatest.jpg

[lecoeurtriste]

My 3.5yo FSHR filly (1/2 Friesian, 1/4 Perch, 1/4 Saddlebred) is currently 'on vacation' for a few weeks. I bought her at 2, and didn't really start her until this past summer. We've been working for a month or two and then taking one off--her brain doesn't need the break, but why not?!?

When she was 60 days into work (about 20 rides), I took her up to Dressage at Lexington for giggles and her first show experience. It was her first time trailering alone and working in a ring with more than one other horse present. She was a perfect lady--acting as if she'd been showing for years!

Picture winning the 3yo Materiale

Green beans are so much fun to bring along!!

[FlashGordon]

He is now 5 and has had nothing but a long string of bad luck- including being neglected as a baby, being left on a "professional" hauler's trailer for 10 days while the hauler "detoured" to her house in CA when he was originally en route to TX, then when getting to TX his new owner's "trainer" tried to ride him while he was still underweight (and likely sore) from the trailer ordeal, so he bucked Mr. Trainer off, was labeled as "dangerous" and they threatened to sell him to a Mexican slaughterhouse.

Poor Baby!!!! He is gorgeous though!

KrazyTBMare, Rex is absolutely stunning! I'm glad he is back in action again. I always love your updates.

Exvet, your two are lovely!

Janiemerle, can't believe you have a Morgan named Bella too. Everyone keeps asking if I named her after the Twilight character.... lol I didn't even know the Twilight character was named Bella?? Her registered name is GVM Isabella so that's where it came from.

She does have a crazy tail. I have been keeping it braided, since she is out most of the time and it is quite muddy now. But other than that I don't really do much to it. I've been thinking about putting it up for the winter, but it is so freaking thick and heavy, I'm not sure it'd even stay.

I will admit I'm not such a fan of the long mane at all, and am contemplating shortening it.

So glad so many people chimed in.... maybe we can all keep each other going! Sooo many nice babies!!

[FlashGordon]

Here are two green horses we are working right now. This one is a 4 yr old fresian/saddlebred mare we are starting for a client. WE do things maybe a bit differently than some trainers. LOTS of groundwork and desensitization, take the horse over taprs, poles, other obstacles right from the beginning in hand and on lungeline. Ground drive, teach horse to move away from pressure. WE start all of the youngsters in western saddle and then change over, its good for them to feel things flopping and gives the rider a bit more security if needed I use a combination of traditional training techniques, dressage and NH with my youngsters. I want them to go quietly and balanced on a loose rein before really taking any contact. I want them to repsond to whoa, backing and be happy to walk and trot forwardly (cantering on lunge, will do undersaddle once the walk/trot is confirmed) but not VERY forward at this point. I think too many trainers ask for too much forward to early and the young horse cannot balance and can get scared.

Wish I was closer, I'd send my baby to you!