Tips on restarting a 3yo

[~DressageJunkie~]

How long have you been having these suicidal thoughts?

Do your parents like you? Do you like yourself? Do you like your horse? If you answered "yes" to all three, please explain why this is happening. Really. I'm very curious.

I'd rather you hate me for being snarky than like me and be laid up with various fractures. It's a strength to know your own weakneses. Trust me.

That is the biggest load of shit I have ever heard...

Really, I don't hate anyone on this board, everyone gives good advice, but I don't need to be flamed for my posts.

[~DressageJunkie~]

Well, the OP hasn't come back, yet.

I'm just hoping that she isn't hurt.

If anyone knows who she is, it would be the best idea to tell her parents what is going on.

I started my 3 year old at 25, after riding consistently for over 15 years....and I still needed help and made mistakes that a pro had to fix.

It's called having a life... I go to school, get home do homework....

My parents know what I am doing... both of my parents have ridden this horse and they are no where close to horse people. He is BROKE. I just need help on restarting from over the winter....

[mp]

Well, I'll be going against the current here, but que sera. If you have your mind set on making a simple riding horse out of your guy, you might just be able to do it. I got my first pony at 5, and moved onto other horses as I grew. I started my first colt (a 2 year old - sue me) at age 12. WITHOUT parental supervision or trainers. I got my information from books (and this was 34 years ago, not many to choose from). I didn't wear a helmet and half the time I was riding, I didn't even wear shoes (still have all my toes). Did I do everything right? HECK NO!! That horse didn't know a leg cue from a half halt. Could I ride that horse bareback down the the sidewalk of Main Street and tie him up to the bike rack on the last day of school.

If you had a 12 y.o. kid, would it be OK with you for him/her to do it the way you did and you just hope for the best? I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, really. I've shown with kids who were better horsemen at 13 and 14 than a lot of experienced adults (me included). But there are a whole lot more kids I see doing things that make my hair stand on end and I wouldn't let them within 10 ft of my horses, much less train one. I think the OP falls somewhere in between. But she were my daughterm, she wouldn't be training horses (or jumping) until she learned more. But that's just me.

[~DressageJunkie~]

You think calling my suicidal because I want to work with a horse that has been ridden/broke by a trainer, rideen by me, ridden by my parents, but has been out to pasture all winter is not a load of shit?

[mp]

nothing wrong with rolling the spurs!

Oh, yes there is. And I told you why -- it's a cheap trick used for WP and when the horse responds the result is NOT collection. If that's what you want to do, there are other boards where you could get advice on how to do that. And you'd get no flak about it either.

PS -- no more four-letter words, please. It's not becoming of someone your age.

[~DressageJunkie~]

tongue-in-cheek, kid....tongue-in-cheek

I do think you lack a self-preservation instinct...that's evidenced by the fact that you believe you are reasonably capable of training a young horse.

Really, If thats what you want to call it go ahead. I just call it knowing my limits and I know I can 'train' him.

[Jeepers]

First of all, you need to check that attitude. You are young, you don't know everything and you are not invincible. You need more experience with horses before you do this properly. Work with your trainer, have them work the horse some and give you lessons on the horse to teach you the right thing to do. Proper ground work is probably necessary, and if you don't know how to do things right it can be detrimental. Use your trainer.

[Dazednconfused]

Really, If thats what you want to call it go ahead. I just call it knowing my limits and I know I can 'train' him.

I'm glad you have the word "train" in quotes, because it is hardly what you'll be doing and I'd be using the term very, very loosely.

No, the reason you don't post here often is because people with far more experience than you refuse to tell you what YOU want to hear. Sorry hon, people on BBs don't do that. At all. You post on any board and people are going to say what they mean. Whether you like it or not, or whether it was the advice you wanted.

Personally, I wouldn't want to give you advice on training a horse anyways (even if I had the knowledge). Because either (a) you wouldn't listen anyways as evidenced by the OP, or (b) you would and get yourself hurt, because sorry, 1 year and a month of lessons is not going to teach you how to ride, nevermind train a horse.

And once again, just because you've "So what if I haven't taken alot of lessons, I read horse books like crazy to get the information!" does not qualify you as a trainer! You cannot train a horse from a BOOK. It doesn't work. Not every scenario is described in a book. Some things you just have to be shown and taught, in person. Can books help you 'think outside the box'? Sure. Can they help you with a specific issue you have? Possibly. But they are not going to help you restart your horse.

Also, is anyone else a bit disturbed by the fact this horse is a 3 y/o and already needs to be restarted, or has been started in the first place? We'd be starting on groundwork on 3 year olds in maybe October or November and wouldn't be riding until late spring or early summer...

[~DressageJunkie~]

He was started as a long 2 year old... We did not start him, we bought him started and he has sat all winter in the pasture.

I use the word train in "" because it's not training as in first time with a saddle on his back.

[Jeepers]

He was started as a long 2 year old... We did not start him, we bought him started and he has sat all winter in the pasture.

I use the word train in "" because it's not training as in first time with a saddle on his back.

Every time a horse is ridden/handled you could consider it training, you are constantly molding and shaping a horse's way of going or at least maintaining it. If this horse was started not too long ago, he still needs a lot of training.

Please stop being defensive and really read what people are saying, this is good advice. There are many knowledgeable people on this BB.

[~DressageJunkie~]

I try not to be defensive, then PacificSolo comes along...

I know there is good advise, it's the only reason I haven't left this board...

[Jeepers]

I try not to be defensive, then PacificSolo comes along...

Doesn't matter, get rid of the attitude.

[~DressageJunkie~]

It's not always that easy...

Back to the subject, thanks to everyone who gave me advice.

[relocatedTXjumpr]

We could get into the "proper" age to start horses...its been done before. But, even being started at 2 and now being 3...the horse is not "broke". He could have the greatest mind in the world...but hes still a horse and still young. What you subject him to now will make him or break him later.

Its good to subject him to as much as you can...such as, I would take my filly on walks, she crossed streams, went through wooded areas, around goats, llamas, tractors, tarps, tires....its all about earning their trust and respect. Even so, the terriable 3's hit and she was a freaking wench sometimes.

Why dont you just take a step back, work on ground work, leading him over poles, over tarps, picking his feet up, ground work....the more you do now, the better he will be under saddle. Even though you say hes "broke", hes still a baby and still learning...dont push it.

Of course, I dont expect you to listen, but, get a trainer, or at least someone who HAS started babies and knows something about them. Even if they just come out every now and then. Dont mistake your lack of fear for being a "trainer"....YOU and THE HORSE can get hurt very quickly simply because you dont react properly.

Yes, I started my 3 year old mostly by myself, but I have been riding and training horses for over 20 years...and even then...having someone else there who had done it before made it so much easier on me and the horse.

You asked for advice, and you got it...darn good advice...get someone else on the ground with more experience to help you...even if its just towatch over you.

[TB or not TB?]

*First off, I don't want this thread telling me I shouldn't train my 3yo myself. I am...and I will...*

I was just wondering if anyone had any tip or good websites that can help me along the way.

That's the most terrible thing I've ever heard.

This is the horse that your mom wanted to sell because it bucked her off several times? Because you thought it was okay to let your completely beginner parent ride a 2 y/o that hadn't been worked in months? And now you want help on "restarting" this horse.

Now, I'm actually a fairly forgiving and easy going person, but there are things that I do not tolerate in this world. One of those is cruelty to animals. Not all cruelty is neglect or physical beating. Actually, Pony Club considers abuse to be giving a horse mixed signals, or asking of them things they are not capable of. You don't have a CLUE as to what you're doing, and because you're too ignorant or proud to accept this, you're going to punish and ruin this poor horse. You probably won't mean to, ether, and that's even sadder. Ever heard the phrase "the road to hell is paved with good intentions?"

So here's my tip: stop while you're ahead, before you hurt someone or yourself or your horse. Ultimately, it's always the horses that suffer the most because they don't get a choice.

[Smigget]

That is the biggest load of shit I have ever heard...

Really, I don't hate anyone on this board, everyone gives good advice, but I don't need to be flamed for my posts.

I cannot believe I just read that!

Maybe, DJ, you need to step back and realize that you are speaking to adults here. They are concerned for your safety. You don't need to lash out that way!

I am 17, almost 18. I was a lot like you when I was your age, I was POSITIVE that I could buy a colt and train it myself. 100% positive, because I read books like crazy, and studied, and things like that. The only real difference was that I was (and still am) RESPECTFUL to those who gave me help, even if it hurt me. Maybe I laughed at them behind their backs, but I sure as heck didn't ! @ # $ % at them!

Not to mention I didn't really start to learn, REALLY TRUELY LEARN about training, etc, until I humbled myself and said "I know nothing. Teach me." I worked with a youngster for a year an a half under a the supervision my trainer. It taught me SOOOO very much. I knew some things, but not NEAR what I thought I did.

I may have just wasted my time writing this. Tomorrow I shall go to the barn, ride in my lesson, and try to soak up as much info as I can in the four and a half months I have left before I leave for college.

[Quin]

I have to say that I agree with a lot of the other posters on this one, DJ. We have tried to be supportive, but you keep coming back with things that we honestly believe have the potential to harm you and your horses.

There is another issue that I haven't seen mentioned here: exactly how many different directions are you going in? You appear to be 'restarting' this youngster in Western, while your posts about your mare indicate you are trying to teach her to jump while just learning how yourself, yet your screen name implies that dressage is your field. Taking on any one of those is a full-time occupation, along with being in school. No one can adequately do all these simultaneously, especially working with one trainer on one lesson a week. Does the trainer come to you and work both your horses? Do you trailer one or the other to the trainer? Or are you riding your trainer's school horses? And all this has been going on for less than 2 months with the trainer?

You have previously said that your parents are totally non-horsey, although on this post you said they have ridden the gelding. Is someone else physically present while you ride? Is there no way you can have a professional work with you and your horses more frequently? If you go to the large regional public high school in your area, I know there are several very good trainers-assistant type H/J riders there; I am sure there are others with the same level of expertise in other disciplines. If you will not listen to the pros and experienced amateurs on this BB (and yes, I have about 30 years on you), at least talk to them. See if they can help you. And I do not mean another green rider with a backyard horse like yourself; I mean someone who schools horses under the direction of a pro trainer, competes at higher level shows, maybe even teaches beginner lessons themselves sometimes.

[YankeeLawyer]

Please do not attempt to do this unless you are at least under the supervision of a trainer.

I would not think of starting my youngsters myself even though I am a very capable rider. Starting youngsters requires specialized skills. Look at how many posts there are by top breeders lamenting how hard it is to find a competent young horse starter -- and many of those breeders are accomplished riders themselves. I have a rising 4 y.o. that needs to be restarted after a winter break. He was started by a top trainer, I rode him last fall, and yes he is going back to the trainer for restarting before I get on him again, despite the fact that he was going very nicely under saddle prior to his vacation.

If you are a green rider, you most likely not only lack an adequately secure seat and steady hands, but also the ability to anticipate a spook, buck, or other potentially dangerous situation because quite simply you lack the experience to do so. There is nothing wrong with being inexperienced. Everyone has to start somewhere. But it takes an experienced rider to start a youngster safely and properly. Reading how-tos are just that -- putting them into practice requires feel which some people have a bit of naturally but almost everyone develops for the most part through experience.

[Adagio2016]

First of all I would like to say that training/retraining horse has been my profession for many, many years. Not only do I do it but so does my mother who has been doing it for more years than I can even count! We're always the quiet trainers who'll never say a negative thing to anyone... UNTIL NOW! DJ you're the type of person who gives western riders and 4H members a BAD NAME. You are an ignorant, notice that I didn't say naive, YAHOO! You don't deserve horses or the privilege to ride with the attitude you have. I feel horrible for the horses. JUST HORRIBLE. The poor creatures... I have never wished any harm of anyone but honestly I hope you do get hurt in some fashion, maybe THEN you'll realize just how stupid you are. You are the type of "horse person" who makes me SICK. YOU are the type of person I always have to pick up the pieces after. I have 24 horses that were ALL rescues because of people like you who ruined them and when they wouldn't do what you couldn't convey to them properly, you'll loose your temper and punish them for not understanding. What I want to know is where are your parents!? What kind of people are they to allow a brat like you to run amok in a barn!!!!! They should be slapped just as much as you should. So mote is be, what you do comes back three fold, and the doesn't just apply to what you do to humans!

[Coup De Des]

Above post by Adagio

If you are a green rider, you most likely not only lack an adequately secure seat and steady hands, but also the ability to anticipate a spook, buck, or other potentially dangerous situation because quite simply you lack the experience to do so.

I totally agree. And there is a difference between anticipating a spook and tensing up.. You need to be able to give the baby confidence and ride through everything he throws at you. If he has a bucking fit - you damn well wanna be able to sit that like glue - cos as soon as you come off.. he's gonna learn "Heyyyyy here's an outlet for getting my rider off and going for a yeehaw around the paddock! What fun!" Or if he spooks at something and you don't react immediatly - or WORSE, stop him, the first thing he learns is how to AVOID working or doing what you want him to do.
You just aren't EXPERIENCED enough to do this. YES you COULD do this with CLOSE supervision and instruction from a trainer, who can hop on him and school him, but by yourself? I SERIOUSLY doubt it. And fear for your safety - and more so for the safety and sanity of your horse. You could easily turn this "Laid Back" guy into one that has more bad habits than hair on his head. Then will you send him to the doggers because no one will buy him because he is unrideable and you are in a wheelchair?? What will happen to Sheza if you get injured and your parents get rid of the horses to the easier avenue (doggers).

Please grow up and use your brain.

I also wanted to add.. what discipline are you working with in your lessons?? English or Western?

I also want to add that i HATE that you wear spurs. HATE HATE HATE. Only people with the STEADIEST of legs should use spurs. SPURS ARE FOR SENDING A MORE DIRECT SIGNAL FOR LATERAL WORK! NOT MAKING YOUR HORSE GO FASTER OR PULL IT'S HEAD IN - you need to pull your own head in. You'll end up with a horse that is dead to your leg.