Post by dizzydonkeys on Aug 27, 2008 12:02:39 GMT 1
Not really sure if this belongs here or not (sorry if not)
I haven't posted here much but just wanted to share really as I am pretty chuffed ;D
In April of this year I brought home a lovely 10 yr old bay mare Forest Moor Florentine (Florrie), she was advertised on this site for sale or loan - I currently have her on loan.
She has never been neglected or badly treated, however has spent the past few years left to her own devices.
So the plan was to start back at the beginning, the first week she was just left to settle, she was caught and groomed (took ages to catch mind you)
We then progressed to short lunging sessions, she was fine with this and knew what to do, however this is when I found that this pony had serious attitude, she would lunge nicely for 5 mins or so and then decide actually it was hard work and she didn't want to, she would rear and try to run away from me, she also would rear when being led to the paddock to be lunged.
So vet came for jabs, full check up etc, got clean bill of health.
Progressed to the next stage of actually getting on board, bareback initially and she was good as gold, went out on a few occasions with someone on foot just in case and again fine.
After 6 weeks we were hacking out nicely in company, however I could only get on with a leg up, she just would not stand to be mounted, we also started getting tantrums out on a ride, she would plant and refuse to move, moving her head from side to side and making her feet'rock' she would then move and decided planting was not going to work.
So her next trick was go backwards - fast, not a nice feeling when you know nothing was going to stop her doing it, she also refused to go out alone and would buck and create holy hell if I even suggested it.
So end of June we booked a week with Sarah Dent - Sarah knew this pony as had been to her a few times in the past for boxing issues (which at the time we still had).
By the end of the week, the difference was amazing, I could mount her happily, she long lined and hacked out by herself, came charging over to be caught - I was pleased as punch.
That's not to say our time with Sarah wasn't without it's problems, Florrie didn't become a star over night, she still had full on childish tantrams, stamped her feet, spat her dummy out and at points I was expecting her to fling herself on the floor. But With Sarah's help I was confident enough to know that it wasn't me being useless, just that the pony was used to getting her own way and was a spoilt brat.
So we have had her home for 2 months now, I can still happily mount her from anything, mounting block, gates, even little grooming box. She will hack out by herself with very little resistence, and she seems to actually enjoy human company and attention now.
So we have come a long way in a short space of time, perhaps not that great an acheivement compared to most, but I'm pleased. We also went to our first show on Sunday, just a small local thing, me and my friend went (she too has had a project horses that her and Sarah have really turned around) our aim was to arrive walk around the show ring and box up home with no major stress or incident.
Well they both excelled themselves, straight into the trailer, no hesitation, happily tied up and shared a bacon butty, were calm and collected around the showground, both did beautiful calm in hand shows in BIG classes.
They then both went into a ridden class, a first for Florrie, unfortunately she was unsettled by someone running up her bum, and totally lost the plot in her individual show, with a few bucks and leaps but nothing too frightening, she soon settled tho.
As for Merlin my mates horse, he was amazing, so calm and in fact the only one that didn't put a buck in, and my mate rode him really well, he didn't help by napping back to Florrie.
At the end of the day, they both practically loaded themselves to go home.
So all in all very impressed, and again just wanted to thank Sarah and Claire (and Helen) for their help and support.
Sorry for the massive essay, will pop a few pics up as a reward.
I haven't posted here much but just wanted to share really as I am pretty chuffed ;D
In April of this year I brought home a lovely 10 yr old bay mare Forest Moor Florentine (Florrie), she was advertised on this site for sale or loan - I currently have her on loan.
She has never been neglected or badly treated, however has spent the past few years left to her own devices.
So the plan was to start back at the beginning, the first week she was just left to settle, she was caught and groomed (took ages to catch mind you)
We then progressed to short lunging sessions, she was fine with this and knew what to do, however this is when I found that this pony had serious attitude, she would lunge nicely for 5 mins or so and then decide actually it was hard work and she didn't want to, she would rear and try to run away from me, she also would rear when being led to the paddock to be lunged.
So vet came for jabs, full check up etc, got clean bill of health.
Progressed to the next stage of actually getting on board, bareback initially and she was good as gold, went out on a few occasions with someone on foot just in case and again fine.
After 6 weeks we were hacking out nicely in company, however I could only get on with a leg up, she just would not stand to be mounted, we also started getting tantrums out on a ride, she would plant and refuse to move, moving her head from side to side and making her feet'rock' she would then move and decided planting was not going to work.
So her next trick was go backwards - fast, not a nice feeling when you know nothing was going to stop her doing it, she also refused to go out alone and would buck and create holy hell if I even suggested it.
So end of June we booked a week with Sarah Dent - Sarah knew this pony as had been to her a few times in the past for boxing issues (which at the time we still had).
By the end of the week, the difference was amazing, I could mount her happily, she long lined and hacked out by herself, came charging over to be caught - I was pleased as punch.
That's not to say our time with Sarah wasn't without it's problems, Florrie didn't become a star over night, she still had full on childish tantrams, stamped her feet, spat her dummy out and at points I was expecting her to fling herself on the floor. But With Sarah's help I was confident enough to know that it wasn't me being useless, just that the pony was used to getting her own way and was a spoilt brat.
So we have had her home for 2 months now, I can still happily mount her from anything, mounting block, gates, even little grooming box. She will hack out by herself with very little resistence, and she seems to actually enjoy human company and attention now.
So we have come a long way in a short space of time, perhaps not that great an acheivement compared to most, but I'm pleased. We also went to our first show on Sunday, just a small local thing, me and my friend went (she too has had a project horses that her and Sarah have really turned around) our aim was to arrive walk around the show ring and box up home with no major stress or incident.
Well they both excelled themselves, straight into the trailer, no hesitation, happily tied up and shared a bacon butty, were calm and collected around the showground, both did beautiful calm in hand shows in BIG classes.
They then both went into a ridden class, a first for Florrie, unfortunately she was unsettled by someone running up her bum, and totally lost the plot in her individual show, with a few bucks and leaps but nothing too frightening, she soon settled tho.
As for Merlin my mates horse, he was amazing, so calm and in fact the only one that didn't put a buck in, and my mate rode him really well, he didn't help by napping back to Florrie.
At the end of the day, they both practically loaded themselves to go home.
So all in all very impressed, and again just wanted to thank Sarah and Claire (and Helen) for their help and support.
Sorry for the massive essay, will pop a few pics up as a reward.
