Kai Is Backed!! :)

[chloe]

I'm very excited to announce that today Kai walked with a rider on for the first time!



I'm so insanely proud of this little pony - he's been a complete delight since the moment I set eyes on him as an un-handled 8 month old two years and four months ago ago (edited to be completely specific ) and he looks set to be an incredible little kids riding pony.

The plan is to get him out hacking this summer and then he'll be loaned out when he's ready (I'm really hoping the girl in the photo will want him cause then he'll stay on our yard and I'll still see him every day - fingers crossed!) to go on and become someone's best friend.

[joflo]

Aw! Clever boy and good job Chloe
Tansy will be delighted - I'll have to get her to have a look at this.

[chloe]

Fabby, please do!

[Tuppence]

Sooo, he isn't even 3 yet. Is there a rush?

[chloe]

He is 3, Tuppence. And no rush at all - he's being backed now while I'm on my Christmas holidays and will then be turned away until April time when he'll start hacking, ready to start his career as a kid's riding pony in earnest when he's 4.

Thank you though for your concern, I can assure you I have his best interests at heart.

[lucia]

He and his chum (my Timba) are both definitely 3, Tuppence (we have had them vet checked as well as taking their physical maturity into account). Chloe is almost as paranoid as me about her ponies welfare and she wouldn't start him if she had any doubts. He has been sat on and had a wee walk with a very light rider and now will have a lovely holiday till he starts again in the summer when he will be nearly 4.
Hope that puts your mind to rest.

[starbuck]

Congratulations and what a clever boy, he looks like he'll make a lovely riding pony.

[Tuppence]

Must be my maths. Sorry.

>>> wanders off counting fingers.. 2 years ownership + 8 months = 4 years old this summer. Knew I should have paid more attention at school.

[lucia]

Wow was there really any need for sarcasm?
I said NEARLY 4. The VET has checked their age as we were never clear as to their exact birth date and advised as to if they were physically ready.

And people ask why I don't post on here very much any more.

(PS we bought them in the late summer so will have had them 2yrs Aug 2010.....just to help with the adding up )

[Tuppence]

You got them on Oct 5th 2008 at an estimated 10 months old. Which makes them JUST 3 and certainly this summer will not see them as 'nearly 4'

Please, for their sakes give them time to be babies. Look up Dr Deb Bennets table of bone growth rates and THEN decide if they are really mature enough to be doing anything more than groundwork.

www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

[chloe]

Wowie Tuppence way to rain on my parade, nice that you've cyber stalked me though, I now feel all special. I'm thoroughly aware of Dr Bennett's work but he's my pony and I'm judging his education according to him as an individual.

Thanks for your contribution to this thread but I'd be quite happy if you'd butt out now. And this will be the last thread I post on this forum as it is not an encouraging and friendly place as it used to be.

Thanks Starbuck, I'm delighted with him, he's a super little boy

[lucia]

For information I have not yet backed Tim as I feel HE is not ready. HE will be beginning longline work shortly however. I am not a novice, neither am I (nor Chloe) daft. I am fully aware of the growth plates issues and this is not my first youngster.
But thank you for you concern.

Again - we weren't sure of their birthdays so had the vet check them. They will be four next autumn. Autumn follows summer. So in summer they will be nearly 4.
Also logging off now as you clearly have formed an opinion about us which won't be changed and I don't feel I need to explain myself to you anymore.
Happy New Year.

[happysnail]

He looks like a little super star. Rider looks light and she looks sensitive and calm. You'll know yourself how mature he is in body and mind and sitting on him and getting used to a rider isn't the same as trying to intensively school or jump just after backing. Good luck x

[hdonna]

good job. Looks like you will have fun. I heard it from the horses mouth at a monty demo in November he said starting young is fine as long as the work load is appropriate eg slow and steady. Someone even asked about the turning away and he said that there was no need for them to be turned away as long as again things are done at an appropriate rate. I have a horse rising 3 - was not gonna back till 4 (by back I mean just getting a rider sat on back and at most walking around field) I will prob do it this year now if the moment is right I will go with it.