Starting a Baby....How,Heather?

[Monty]

I'm shortly going to be the proud owner of a 14hh four year old mare. (The one I told you about,Heather, who was supposed to be 5 but, vet says she's 4).I'm very nervous. Not because I'm afraid of getting hurt or anything, but because I don't want to put a blot on a nice clean copy book.She's totally unspoilt as far as I can see, and this is an exciting project for someone like me.I will have support.But I want to do a lot of this myself, if I can so she learns my way right from the start. It was never an option with Rebel, because he wouldn't hack out alone,needed someone standing with him at the mounting block.....and laterly-bucked.He was very much a product of my instructor.Don't get me wrong, she made a wonderful job of it, with quiet insistence. But I want a much bigger part in Amber's education, as long as she'll let me,safely.

Amber has hacked out. But it's very flat where she lives.Se have better muscling -up facilities here. She knows how to be lunged, and responds to all the voice commands. She stands at the mounting block, without anyone holding her for me, without making even a semblance of a movement. She stands still for me to DISmount, without moving. I think I told Heather she was supple. That was the wrong word. She's not supple. But flexible,floppy.fluid bendy, she certainly is. But she's not strong bendy. Does that make any sense??

Where DO I start?? Slowly I know....but how??? What do I do?? How do I get her to develop the CORRECT muscles and not just ANY old muscle?? The beauty of Amber is that I can ride around the farm on her.She's the only horse I've ever had that you can do that on, and not get carted off. I can also have a horse in front of me canter off, and Amber will stay there, in trot or walk with me. A most unusual little lady, I'd say!! She's been handled beautifully, and taught beautifully hitherto.I don't want to spoil that. So, can anyone give me some ideas please, on how to proceed???

[judyl]

She sounds really gorgeous. Dare I say it, sounds a lot like my own mare Shady Lady. I got her at 4 to 4 and a half and I knew absolutely NOTHING!! The best thing I could recommend is to have really good help with her. At the end of the day, it's your relationship with her that matters, but just to have someone you can turn to to give you assurance and confidence that you are doing the right thing is invaluable.

I've now had Shade for 15 years and I have wasted her to a certain extent because I was just too novicy in the first place. Oh how I wish I'd just got her, where would we be now. But, saying this, she and I get on so well and she looks to me for everything. She thinks she's more human than horse and really can't be bothered with other horses. We've had our ups and downs but she's basically a brilliant horse but not very far advanced and now she's 19, I wouldn't push her to do anything more.

Time I think is the greatest thing you can give Amber. And take it a step at a time but she already sounds as though she's on the right track.

You're in for a fabulous journey Monty and all the best for the future. I will be watching this space.... :D

[Heather]

Well Monty, given the title of this thread, I wondered just what you were going to ask me, and you a married woman!!!!!

Seriously, I hope that you are going to have a lot of fun with Amber. Is she then rising four?If so, keep thet lessons short and sweet, and concentrate more on gentle hacking out around the farm. It depends on her type and musculature as to what she can cope with. Some horses are fatr more mature at four than others- pics please?

Heather

[Monty]

I only have one picture so far, and it's not wonderful, but it does give you an idea of her build.We thought she was rising six, she's rising five.Completely hand-reared.Mum died giving birth to her.Her owner thought Amber was born on her 18th birthday, but she looked back in her diaries, and found it was on her 19th birthday.
If you go to General forum and look for thread: "Picture (or photo??) of Amber.....unfortunate one!" you'll see it,as I can't post it again, once it has been posted on another forum.Her face looks awful on the photo, but it doesn't really look like that!! Honest it doesn't!!
As for the title of the thread: my daughter picked up on it quicker than I did!! Oh Dear!! Sorry! Been there, don that, got the hat, got the T-shirt.....never again! My only baby from now on will be of the equine variety!

[Sue Carnell]

Well Heather so did I! Especially having just signed the forms for my daughter to be allowed to do sex education at school. Lol.

Sue
sue@eclipse.co.uk

[Wally]

LOL :D Have to say I did blink a bit!

[Monty]

'S ONE way of gettin' ya all to read me thread innit????
IIt has caused so much hilarity, it would be a shame to change it now, wouldn't it??? It wasn't meant to be funny, at the time!!Until I clocked on again later, and 12 year old daughter looks over my shoulder and suddenly "MOTHER!!" in my ear. "Why are you asing HEATHER THAT??" with a huge emphasis on the HEATHER and THAT!!! Oh well, TeeHee! Gotta have a laugh sometimes! No wonder I don't know why I've got stiff hips....

[Heather]

HI Monty,

It certainly did raise a laugh and what with poor old Wally telling us on the other thread about ending up in a wheelchair after childbirth and Mossy saying she had to spend 3 hours in 'stirrups' giving birth, and your story here, it is enough to put the average broodmare off having a foal!! Good job they don't read NR!!!

Mind you at least those who have assumed that 'Wally ' is male will have something to think about now!!!!


Heather

[Mossy]

Re stiffness and totally nought to do with this thread, If I was not stiff this morning I sure am now!!! 6 hours in the saddle later! One tired Moss and one tired me.
Heather are your Saddle co seat saver saddles suitable for endurance work as I am far too used to Conn's upholstered luxury and my aged bum is sore!!!