just got my first horse advice needed

[kirstyanwillie]

right were do i start just got my first horse a welsh section d cob who is 14 his name is oxhouse willow the wisp (willie for shor). he gets spooked a bit when out on the roads any advice.secondly i have trouble getting him into a box would twitching help. also im wanting to start going to shows to do working ridden hunter. does any body know were i can get any information on local shows in the nottinghamshire area. i have never been to a show so i dont know what to expect and do so any info on that would be greatly appreciated. thanks. have been having some lessons off my cousin who is a RI and everything is going smoothley. nut jumped yet and im dreading that. but i just want to take him to a show to see what he is like and how he goes. dont want to do any show jumping though as that isnt my strongest point. sorry if this is gobble de gook. thanks

[eventerbabe]

Re local shows, check out www.welshpony.co.uk to see if there are any local exhibitors groups that you could join :) or most RC's will run an M&M WHP class. you will have to jump for working hunter, local stuff generally isn't too bad height wise but affiliated classes, depends on your pony's height but can be 3ft+. You can't do ridden hunter on a welsh, ridden M&M would be more appropriate ;)

I find distraction techniques help, leg yield, shoulder in, neck flexion away from the scary object.

I wouldn't twitch to try loading a horse. I think patience is the key with a bad loader, and the odd bribe ;) never had a problem loader myself but i'm sure others on here can advise :)

[c2b]

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[jazzybear]

When he's spooky just try to distract him from it so he forgets what is scaring him.

If he is genuinely scared, then let him stop to look at whats scaring him, then encourage him to walk towards it, and every time he does then praise him.

Maybe try doing some groundwork with him to build up the bond between you, and hopefully he will learn to trust you, which should make everything much easier.

As for loading, just practice with him. If its a trailer that opens both ends, open it and get himt o walk through it. Once he is doing this happily, start feeding him a bit in it, he will hopefully start to enjoy it!

[SO1]

also im wanting to start going to shows to do working ridden hunter. nut jumped yet and im dreading that.

You do know that you have to jump in the working hunter classes? Although you don't have to worry about jumps offs in the large M&M working hunter class the jumps can be quite high I think up to 3.6ft so if you are not keen on jumping you might be better of sticking to the ridden classes.

[kirstyanwillie]

thanks for this. I dont want to do any working hunter as i know that involves jumping thats why i was intrested in working ridden hunter. i had a bad fall when i was younger jumping so when i think about it it puts me off. and i wont to show him were i can ride. not just run along at the side of him. with regards to the problem of him being spooked when i take him out on the road would it be best to lead him out with me walking then ride him while being lead then on my own.??? as you can tell im new to owning a horse. have only ever helped and ridden them.

[kirstyanwillie]

You do know that you have to jump in the working hunter classes? Although you don't have to worry about jumps offs in the large M&M working hunter class the jumps can be quite high I think up to 3.6ft so if you are not keen on jumping you might be better of sticking to the ridden classes.
i was wanting to do working ridden hunter which involves no jumping.

[kirstyanwillie]

Whereabouts in Notts are you? It's a large county. I am in South Notts but don't show.

There are several people from Notts. Have a look here http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64023 Might be someone close to you.
Welcome to the world of horse ownership. Be prepared to be constantly tired, muddy and broke:D
im from mansfield
i know im already feeling the strain on the early mornings and money money money money.

[SO1]

As far as I know any class that has "working" in the title will involve jumping so you might want to stay away from them.

It sounds like you have a registered welsh so I would aim at the ridden mountain and moorland classes. My local show even has a novice showing class for people just starting out or on novice horses. :D

[eventerbabe]

to my knowledge there is no such class as working ridden hunter. There is working hunter, which involves jumps, and ridden hunter which is on the flat. With a welsh D he'd really be more suited to M&M/large welsh classes. The way they split/name classes varies show to show. you will be expected to gallop in a ridden M&M class.

Just a note on registration too. If he's registered, showing shouldn't be a problem. If he's unregistered read schedules carefully as some classes won't allow unregistered horses to enter.

[Sarah_Sayers]

Hi Kirstyanwillie,

I'm fairly new to horse owner ship too, and I'm a novice, so my advice hasn't got much weight behind it. Although with regards to hacking out, I think most horses are more relaxed if they go out with another horse. Are you on a yard, is there anyone else you could go out with? Failing that, I found my partner coming along on a bike helped a bit. Just till they settle in.

That's another point, if you've not had your horse very long, it might just be settling in nerves, and he may just get better in a few months.

Good luck and enjoy,
Sarah.

[kirstyanwillie]

Hi Kirstyanwillie,

I'm fairly new to horse owner ship too, and I'm a novice, so my advice hasn't got much weight behind it. Although with regards to hacking out, I think most horses are more relaxed if they go out with another horse. Are you on a yard, is there anyone else you could go out with? Failing that, I found my partner coming along on a bike helped a bit. Just till they settle in.

That's another point, if you've not had your horse very long, it might just be settling in nerves, and he may just get better in a few months.

Good luck and enjoy,
Sarah.

i did think it was due to him being hacked ouyt on his own. but when i took him out with a freind and her horse he was jogging all the way and just prancing around not paying attention to what im telling him. but i have taken him out on his own around the lanes he was fine. he is still at the stables were his owner had him. so he is in familliar surrondings. thanks for your help though

[kirstyanwillie]

to my knowledge there is no such class as working ridden hunter. There is working hunter, which involves jumps, and ridden hunter which is on the flat. With a welsh D he'd really be more suited to M&M/large welsh classes. The way they split/name classes varies show to show. you will be expected to gallop in a ridden M&M class.

Just a note on registration too. If he's registered, showing shouldn't be a problem. If he's unregistered read schedules carefully as some classes won't allow unregistered horses to enter.
i dont want to sound dumb but like i said showing is all new to me what is m&m. and would it be in all the papers that i got or his passport that he is registered. as my dad bought him for my 21st he dealt with everything and has all the paperwork. so im not defo sure.
thanks

[inhs]

THere is a lot in all of your questions to explain online, so I think one session with an RA (www.intelligenthorsemanship.com) would be really useful for you, both for the spooking and loading issue. You want to get rid of that twitch asap.

Best of luck with yrou lovely new horse from Ireland.

[eventerbabe]

sorry :o M&M stands for mountain and moorland. It really does vary show to show. Some shows will have a specific welsh sec C&D class, others will have large 'M&M' which can include welsh C, D, highland, fell etc. it really would be worth asking around, see if you have a local exhibitors group as even going along to help would really help you see what showing is all about.

If he's registered he'll have a green WPCS (welsh pony and cob society) passport that will list his parentage in it :)

[Palomino Mare]

hi, this is mehtibel's website, it should help you with your showing http://rehorses.com/

[kirstyanwillie]

THere is a lot in all of your questions to explain online, so I think one session with an RA (www.intelligenthorsemanship.com) would be really useful for you, both for the spooking and loading issue. You want to get rid of that twitch asap.

Best of luck with yrou lovely new horse from Ireland.
what is an RA im new to all this short term technology. and how do you know he is from ireland i dint know he was?:confused::confused:

[kirstyanwillie]

hi, this is mehtibel's website, it should help you with your showing http://rehorses.com/

brilliant thanks for that

[inhs]

sorry, crossed wires. I am from Ireland :)

An RA is an recommend associate, endorsed by the intelligent horsemanship group. www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk (then click on horse help)

They are horse trainers who specialise in dealing with general behaviour & horse manners, and things like loading, spookying, etc. There are a good few of them up and down the UK, and I think for you it would be a nice idea to get one out for a lesson, because they could probably help with a lot of the things you posted about. and its always nice to see what you are supposed to be doing :)

There are also some things here which might help you a little too:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation

Best of luck.

[kirstyanwillie]

brilliant thanks guys for all your help and advice.. ill keep you all updated and ill post some videos soon of us. for you opinions. :D:D:D:D:D:D

[Bertie]

This is a link to Mehitabel's page which is a great place to start for explanations of what is expected in each type of class, this will help you best determine what you'll be best doing, I hope she doesn't mind me posting a link to web-page http://rehorses.com/index.html have a look through and I'm sure you'll find it helpful I definitely did.

Good luck with everything :)