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Ah crap... need some help

I

IL Rancher

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Joined
Apr 8, 2006
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Location
Northwest Illinois
Yesterday, after picking up spme milk at the local dairy we stopped by the other house on the place because we saw our soon to be tenents,who happen to be friends as well, and decided to have a chat... Well.. In the course of the conversation I was informed that they had been given a filly.. They told me aobut a year and a half old, but for all I know it is more like 14 months or something like that because, as you all know, I am a horse idiot but she is awful small looking to me.

Here is the problem. They are expecting their 12 year old daughter to train/break this horse... Now, I am not saying that there aren't kids out there that could but I don't think this young gal has a lot of experience and I am thinking of the old green on green equals black and blue or whatever that some folks say. Now, I tried not to get to worked up about it because hey, not my kid, not my horse although I did mention something about needing professional help for this situation or at least a mentor who knows what they are doing but I wonder how much they will listen..

After sleeping on it, teling myself 100 times, not my kid, not my horse I came to a conclusion, that it is my barn, it is my pasture, it is my... consciense so I will have to go back at her again and maybe be a little more insistant on the girl at least getting some help with this. The kid and horse deserve that at least because otherwise I am afraid that it will lead to a broken kid and a worthless horse... The only "good" thing is at least the horse is younger than the other unbroken filly they looked at...

I know these won't help too much but if I can't convince her to go to a trainer for heavensake any tips, resources, anything that you guys can point me towards to I can help out the lass..Don't want to be negative about this whole thing but I will be honest, it led to a sleepless night for me... I mean, I have been riding for 9 months about and while I want a horse when I can afford one I also realize that I have only scratched the surface of how to ride.. I mean, yeah, they will toss me on any horse now that is approved for others besides the owners to ride, including crazy ex jumpers who keep you on your toes, but the thought of getting on a 3 year old right now is.. Well, no thanks.
 
green on green can equal dead too! I would have no problem with her working this filly IF she had a pro come out once a week to give her proper instruction for the next week. Yearlings have nearly been the death of me more times that I can count. They do silly random things. I heard a story about a fellow leading yearlings out to pasture. The filly in question whirled (playfully) and double barreled him right in the chest, stopped his heart right then and there. This was a 6'3 huge marine......
 
IL, The problem may take care of itself.
This senerio sounds like its headed for total frustration on behalf of both the filly & the kid. The lack of knowledge by the would-be trainer & the lack of understanding on a long yearling will probably result in both giving up & quitting. The biggest thing about startin a young, or any age, horse is patience and an understanding of what is trying to be accomplished. I dont think that either party in this situation will exhibit that trait and they (owners) will be forced to seek outside help. Hopefully it will happen before anyone gets hurt.
 
It may just turn out opretty good, if there are sme instructional tapes or books around for her to study.

Shoot, how many of us were working with young horses at that age?

When I told Jr the 21 rule, he laughed pretty hard and said, I sure broke that one quite a bit. And he never did get hurt. Of course, he had some good mentors around here and I kind'a kept an eye on him.

Sure she might get hurt, or the colt might not learn too much and it would be much better if she had the appropriate help, but I don't think the odds are so bad against her just getting some fun and a little knowledge and yes even frustration.

It's pretty hard to get anyone to use any advice, until they ask for some. :wink:

The horse is the best teacher, but it's pretty handy to have someone around to help interpret what he's trying to tell you. :wink:
 
On Wed. I am going to the place I am riding and asking the trainer there if she knows anyone who might be interested in helping the gal out. I talked to the folks again last night about it and stressed the importance of her at least watching some training videos and putting in a lot of work on the filly. Tried not to be rude about it but....

As far as the advice.. You are right JB, hard to make folks follow advice that is unasked for... They kind of did ask however, but I don't think they were excited about the answer lol..We shall see but I think it will probably work itself out.. The rule of 21 sounds good if you ask me..
 
When I was 13 I got my 1st horse at 15 I broke a 2 year old to ride but I spent alot of time with him and had him from weaning.I would'nt worry if it's small the young gal should be able to handle it just fine.Everyone has to start somewhere and if we all worried about getting hurt we would'nt get much done.Broken bones heal I'm walking proof :wink:
 
May I tell you a story? 1st horse,16 month stud colt..never handeled..Draged off,tied to a tree,no food,no water,3days..then they rode him for 2 weeks,said he was broke.. sent him home to me..I was 16-- SOMEHOW,Grace of God,I guess, I didn't get killed..I trained him to be a trick horse,trail horse,anything I wanted horse..No,I wouldn't tell anybody to do it,BUT it worked for me,it might work for her.. Give the kid a chance,but give advice ,also..I had noone to tell me I couldn't do it,so I did...
 

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