Breaking (uses term loosly!) to tack..........

[luv2jump2!!!]

Hi!
My YO bred one of her mares (the only rideable one!) during the 2002 Foot and Mouth - She had a foal (Thomas!) who is now two!

Thomas is slightly nutty! :rolleyes: He is just like one of those horses that has been out on the grass for two years! (He has had winter Rugs on him, and was in at night during Winter!)
He will begin rearing up ect. on you when you are fetching him in ect.:rolleyes:

Well now Thomas is two His owner (YO) has begun to break (use term loosly as don't agree with it!) him into a bit, side reinss and roller!:rolleyes:

Yesterday she had this tack on him for the first time, and just had him enclosed in his stable - for around an hour!

YO asked me to keep an eye on him when she went to feed her 3 non rideables! (one 5months i hate to think!)

I was just stood at his stable door, looking at him and he came up to me and just let me touch and rub his nose, he didn't flinch, he was just like a sane loving horse! But then YO came back - he walked to the back of his stable and started to kick the wall! I wispered over the door and he came to me but wouldn't let me touch him - just your normal insane Thomas!

I don't think this is right to be breaking a 2yr old into tack just yet... So my question is what do you think?

Lucy and Fern!

[shandy84]

I have no problem with a pony of two being introduced to tack but not in this manner.

I have had a bridle on both of my girls when they were two but it was not left on for long periods of time they were not shut in a stable and left and they certainly did not have side reins on!

I am afraid there are a lot of people who don't realise the damaging effect and experience like this could have on a young horse.

Can't really say much more unless you want advice on how I did it, but I'll not make a point unless you want it as it's not your pony

[Wally]

An hour is far too long and left with no positive input?????

15 mins at a time with plenty of positive reward and positive associations. Left in a stable alone for an hour alone? Err, not the way I'd go about it.

[luv2jump2!!!]

Wally there was nearly always some one at the door with him (namly me!) and as soon as YO had left he was so relaxed with JUST me!

she had the side reins tight - and tighted them and sent him backwards! they were leather aswell! so harder to snap!

It wasn't a bridle as such just a errmm don't know if its the exact term just a headpeice?? with a bit attached!

The poor thing didn't even have food!

I was with him an hour or so while my sis was sorting and riding fern so i'm not sure as to how long he was acctually in there! But atleast an hour!!

I'm not sure i want to be around when she is doing this to the poor thing! She even said she didn't need a third riding horse! So he won't be riden alot! and she was saying - i could send him away but i just CAN'T be bothered!

Lucy and Fern!

[shandy84]

That's disgusting I have only rarely used side reins tightened on my three year old, it sounds like she wants to force acceptance, all that will happen is he will be tense and hollow, sorry but even with you at the door her would have been in a lot of discomfort my filly will only cope with five mins of side reins on each rein!

[luv2jump2!!!]

Shandy I would have said something becase i though - There is NO way this can be right! - But she is one of those people who loves to cause a fight and get her own way! If i could i would talk to some one it would get back to YO and we'd be chucked off the yard! and fern would be out on the streets!

Its just like the whole yard is set on using gadjets! The only other person on the yard has her horse in - Chambon, Degogue, Dutch Gag! and lots more! The horse is a gadget shop! oh and he is lunged in a pessoa!

We are the simply ones! just a martingale thats IT!

[shandy84]

Don't get me wrong I'm not having a go at you, I just can't believe someone would do that to a baby bad enough an old horse.

I don't disagree with gadgets just hate it when they're used inapropriatly

[luv2jump2!!!]

I don't like it but there's not much i can do! Basil pushes his weight around anouth (sp!) with emma! but he is a saint if you show him who's boss!

I don't like it!!

Lucy and Fern!

[wildponies]

Just like to point out that him having food in there could have made the situation worse, imagine being able to see your food but not eat it? If the sidereins were tight then the poor thing would have gone loopy trying to get to his food. He shouldn't have had sidereins on anyway if it was the first time he was wearing tack and if he's not been handled much then basics need to be established, this is how horses get ruined. I wouldn't be surprised if your YO has problems with catching now, i certainly wouldn't want to be caught if i knew what was going to be forced upon me once inside my stable. he should of had someone with him, as in.. right next to him.. at all times anyway, and if he stood calmly for a few minutes the thing should have been removed and he should have been praised, not left there. If you see that happening again i'd suggest taking the tack off him and saying that it 'fell off' or something ridiculous, tell an adult or someone who doesn't mind speaking up to her and get her to act like an adult, not an impatient child.

[luv2jump2!!!]

Update -
Thomas was in the roller, side reins and bit yesterday and thursday.
Yesterday, when me and my sister arrived at the yard, Thomas was stood there in his stable all tacked up in the roller and tight side reins ect!
The YO horses were also there inside because they had just returned from a ride!
When we arrived the Yard was COMPLETLY empty!!
But when the YO dad, decided it was time to turn the other two back out! BIG mistake!!
He took the second out and thomas just went CRAZY!:( :mad: :mad:
He was Kicking out at the door, trying to jump out! Hitting his head ALOT on the top of the door! and starting to cork untill he realised it wouldn't work! :(
YO dad came back and saw thomas, with me stood there whispering to him and he said "i'm going to get a crop!"
When he was gone thomas was relaxed and liking my arms and getting a neck rub! But as soon as he returned with the crop he went crazy! He decided i'll try to jump out so he got a wack with the crop on his chest!:eek: :eek:
He then started kicking the door! so he gets a tap on the knees! :eek: :eek:

Later on Thomas was just stood having his bum scratched! and one of his legs! (over the stable door! he'd tried to scratch his legearlier but couldn't reach!!) YO dad returned! and attempted to scratch his head! Thomas refused and walked round the back of the stable and over to me! I scratched his head and he settled! :D :D

Thomas is looking forwarrd to today! (Yeh Right!!) He is gping on some long reins!!Looky horse!

Lucy and Fern!