I love these debates - we've had them endlessly.
I bought a horse. And to me it really doesn't matter about his heritage, I'm not troubled at all. He's a handsome boy, has unbelievable presence, and moves like something out of Lord of the Rings being ridden by a faery queen. Unfortunately, he doesn't move like that when being ridden - then he's rather more like the Apollo 5 with the steering cable snapped.
So I have nothing invested in it, and haven't grabbed onto what somebody said because he's black.
My farrier tells me that Friesians have very very distinctive feet (I have no idea how, just that I trust him, he's experienced and good) - he says these feet are giveaways. Now two 'experts' have been brought in to work with him - and both have said that some of our issues are around the 'late development' because of his friesian influences and genetics.
Now I don't give them a crib sheet, it says cob on my vets description and my insurance because that's all he is to me.
However, if there is a breed issue which may be feeding into our problems with him - the jet propelled disappearances when it all gets too scarey - then that would help with his training.
Rather like if I was training a spaniel I'd use a different approach to a terrier or a GSD.
So I wondered, not what my horse is - although as always it's lovely to see different opinions - but how he would specifically behave IF they were right, and that is why I have a six year old who is still really not a very big boy and who didn't cope at all well with a 'conventional' dealers way of breaking and selling on.
I thought I may suddenly have a lightbulb moment.
I bought a horse. And to me it really doesn't matter about his heritage, I'm not troubled at all. He's a handsome boy, has unbelievable presence, and moves like something out of Lord of the Rings being ridden by a faery queen. Unfortunately, he doesn't move like that when being ridden - then he's rather more like the Apollo 5 with the steering cable snapped.
So I have nothing invested in it, and haven't grabbed onto what somebody said because he's black.
My farrier tells me that Friesians have very very distinctive feet (I have no idea how, just that I trust him, he's experienced and good) - he says these feet are giveaways. Now two 'experts' have been brought in to work with him - and both have said that some of our issues are around the 'late development' because of his friesian influences and genetics.
Now I don't give them a crib sheet, it says cob on my vets description and my insurance because that's all he is to me.
However, if there is a breed issue which may be feeding into our problems with him - the jet propelled disappearances when it all gets too scarey - then that would help with his training.
Rather like if I was training a spaniel I'd use a different approach to a terrier or a GSD.
So I wondered, not what my horse is - although as always it's lovely to see different opinions - but how he would specifically behave IF they were right, and that is why I have a six year old who is still really not a very big boy and who didn't cope at all well with a 'conventional' dealers way of breaking and selling on.
I thought I may suddenly have a lightbulb moment.
, if he has had issues in the past then I would go back to basics and start from scratch and do loads of in hand work like walking out etc so he builds trust and a bond with you before you get on his back again, he is only 6 so still maturing regardless of breed, keep sessions short and do 2 x 10 min sessions a day instead of one longer 1 - gives them time to think about what they learned and gradually increase the amount of time but always finish on a good note, when he's done what you set out to do then call it a day - don't push it - I know it's tempting! I've only just started bitting and walking out my 4 yr old which is what I would do wether friesian or TB, and don't like to back until 5 really although sitting on a 4yr old isn't too bad but not essential, am in no hurry and want my horses to be still working and sound in their late teens, so by 6 or 7 I'd be still very much in the basics so don't worry your boy is doing fine for his age given his bad start. The trouble with the quieter naturally willing breeds like the friesian is they get broken in very young like your boy, ie at 2 and 3, as they don't argue back but more often than not go spastic at a later date when they are older and have more confidence, yes they may happily do it when still babies and not complain as they don't know how but they soon learn and it all falls apart later when they just can't cope mentally or they are uncomfortable and have back problems from being ridden too young!!! Plus some horses just don't catch up mentally until they are 6 or 7 anyway!!
