Do you think im doing right thing advice please

[ginageorge]

Im really hoping you guys can give me some advice because i honestly dont know what to do.I posted a thread (Help my confidence is zero) explaining how nervous iam to ride and about my fell gelding.Well iam beginning to think about selling my fell because he is very green due to not long being backed hes 13 in June but i really feel he needs to go to an experienced home where he can be brought on hes a lovely boy but im never going to have the confidence.I have got a lady who is experienced with fells coming to see him weekend after next she is quite interested in buying him but if she isnt i think im going to advertise him the fell pony society website.Iam really upset at the thought of letting him go its going to break my heart and hes very much a mummys boy,but i know its the right thing to do.I need a pony that is a confidence giver a plod something that i know i can get on and it will look after me and something that i can have lessons on.I have also got my un reg fell filly as well and shes only rising 2 in may and definately needs to go to a home where she can be broken and brought on when shes old enough so iam going to be putting her up for sale soon.Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp

[sancho]

Thats a decision only you can decide.

The only thing I would day is that if you are not 100 % sure then dont sell and think about loaning instead (either part or full).

If keeping him is what you really want to so then its time to pay for an experience RI to bring him on and to help you with lessons etc.

You can get past the confidence/fear issues with the right help but it does take time.

I hope that helps!

[Skippys Mum]

Thats a decision only you can decide.

The only thing I would day is that if you are not 100 % sure then dont sell and think about loaning instead (either part or full).

If keeping him is what you really want to so then its time to pay for an experience RI to bring him on and to help you with lessons etc.

You can get past the confidence/fear issues with the right help but it does take time.

I hope that helps!

I agree totally. Be very careful you dont make a bad mistake. I would consider loaning.

Lots of outside assistance is finally starting to pay off for me with my confidence issues around my youngster.

If in doubt, dont!! On the other hand, if you are 100% sure then good luck with whatever happens.

[NoviceNic]

Good advise from Sancho. Are there any RI's round you that will school your Fell and teach you? Maybe you could consider "Share" with an more experienced rider. Watching someone else ride your horse may bring out the confident monster in you. :D

[Gasbag]

My eldest daughter had a fell mare for over 5 years. When she lost interest I was going to take her on. Unfortunately for me she was a wiley girl - on the ground (apart from behind where she would love to kick) she was ok but as soon as we went out hacking she would sense my fear build up and play on it. I had been out with my daughter on numerous occasions where she had bolted for no reason at all (sometimes they would part company with me running like h*ll all the way home to catch her and other times she would manage to cling on). This was not the reason why we sold her as my daughter would often say you cant give her an inch, you just have to keep her in check.
With my limited confidence, try as I might, she knew she was going to boss me when I was in that saddle. Even after 5 years of loving her she was not going to be the horse for me. She went to a fantastic home and I see her nearly every day, not once have I ever thought I wish I had tried harder.
Two years on, I now have Tilly (still in honeymoon period). We are bonding day by day and my confidence is growing to the extent that when she is unsure about something on our hacks I am now calming her and she listens.
You have a difficult decision to make and it's not an easy task finding just what you want. Good Luck!

[coverblown]

I ride a Fell X at our RS - have been riding him for 5 years and I love him to bits.

He's 15 and plenty experienced but behaves like a young mad fool at times.

He sets his neck and hoolies round the school like you wouldn't believe; but I feel that he is safe and its quite fun, although I do try to collect him and get him to slow down, mainly by not giving him anything to pull against (easier said than done). He's a great, straight mover and lovely jumper but he does evade whenever possible; and I don't think he's the most affectionate of horses, but he isn't nasty at all.

Fells are just lovely, do take long and hard to think about selling, do try to get some help with him - but being backed at 13 is likely to make him more difficult than a youngster.

Good luck with whatever you decide, tough one. X

[ginageorge]

Thanks very much for the advice everyone i have being given the name of a r i that is supposed to be very good so i think i might give her a ring and explain the situation to her and see what she says.I dont really want to sell Beauty and i know it would break my heart if i did because i love him to bits and the thought of him not being part of my life anymore is something i dont think i could go through its just so frustrating having a horse and not being able to do anything with it because of having no confidence.I know its not Beautys fault he was never broken as a youngster and it must be very confusing for a horse of his age that lived practically wild on the fells for most of his life as a stallion to suddenly be expected to accept a rider on his back.I really hope i can get him sorted out because he really is a lovely horse with a great temperment i think he needs to be treated as a youngster as far as his education goes but then you know the saying (You Carnt Teach An Old Dog New Tricks) and is he to old now and set in his ways to be taught anyway i will let you know more once i have being in touch with the r i.x

[Willywilddog]

Hope it works out ok. Trying to train -on an older, green broken horse (regardless of breed) is incredibly time consuming, and you admitting your loss/lack of confidence wont help either of you. Maybe re-homing your inexperienced ponies (even temporarily), and concentrating on regaining your confidence on a quieter, more experienced pony, will be of use to both yourself and your current ponies.
Good luck;)

[shandy84]

but being backed at 13 is likely to make him more difficult than a youngster.



I have to disagree here, I have backed three of my own as youngsters and have backed two older horses and TBH the older horses have been easier to bring on and quicker to learn, Claret is just starting the backing process and is also proving this to be the case at 10yrs old.

It sounds like you would benefit from having an instructor teach him a few things and then train the pair of you together, you don't sound like you want to sell him, if that's the case then don't I would advise selling your filly if you're not 100% confident as she will require that to get a good start in life :)

[LindaAd]

Thanks very much for the advice everyone i have being given the name of a r i that is supposed to be very good so i think i might give her a ring and explain the situation to her and see what she says.I dont really want to sell Beauty and i know it would break my heart if i did because i love him to bits and the thought of him not being part of my life anymore is something i dont think i could go through its just so frustrating having a horse and not being able to do anything with it because of having no confidence.I know its not Beautys fault he was never broken as a youngster and it must be very confusing for a horse of his age that lived practically wild on the fells for most of his life as a stallion to suddenly be expected to accept a rider on his back.I really hope i can get him sorted out because he really is a lovely horse with a great temperment i think he needs to be treated as a youngster as far as his education goes but then you know the saying (You Carnt Teach An Old Dog New Tricks) and is he to old now and set in his ways to be taught anyway i will let you know more once i have being in touch with the r i.x

I don't much like "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" - I prefer " it's never too late to learn". That said, I think a nervous, inexperienced rider and a green horse can be a very dangerous combination, so I think your options are to sell him, loan him, or have lessons. Talking to that RI sounds an excellent idea; she could ride him and give you an informed opinion.