From: Amy
Hi. First of all, my name is Amy. I'll have to apologize first for this being so long. I'm a first time horse owner and I have a few questions that I hope you can help me with. As for my background, I've been riding Western for about three 1/2 years and have done fairly well. While I'm not really interested in showing I have participated in my lesson barn's "fun" shows and have done well--usually finishing in the top three in Horsemanship. After getting my pasture fenced last summer I was ready for my first horse. BTW, I split my pasture into two areas. One is about 2-3 acres (that is attached to the barn) and one that is 3-4 acres. Last December I bought my wonderful 2yr old QH, Winnie. I certainly wasn't anticipating buying a horse so young, but my instructor suggested I look at her because of her wonderful disposition. After riding her for a couple of my lessons I knew what she meant. Winnie was much better behaved than most of the 10 year olds! What can I say, I feel hard! Because I have children, I can't ride as much as I would like. I usually ride her around a 1-mile trail that goes around our property on the weekends. Other than that she has full access to her stall and pasture.
Winnie had been trail ridden quite a lot before I bought her. She does well with walk-trot transitions. She backs well and generally does what I ask her to do. Her ground manners are good. She takes her worm medicine like it's candy. I can also tell that she's been trained not to take goodies from the hand which I like because I have small children. The only thing she did that I didn't like was to move to the left when cross-tied. Since then I have taught her to stand still. Even the farrier said she could tell I have been working with her :)
I guess I'm a little nervous, being a first-time owner, as to what or rather how to train her in certain areas. Besides wanting her to be a good "trail" horse, (BTW I've really enjoyed the posts on E-L about being "just" a trail rider :) ) I also would like for my five year-old daughter to be able to use her in 4-H when the time comes. I know she needs work on her transitions, especially the canter. But because she's so young I'm not really in a big hurry. I'm trying to concentrate on what she can do well right now to give her confidence. My main worry is lunging. I've never lunged a horse before and don't want to do anything to mess her up. When I mentioned to the co-owner (not my instructor, who is the other co-owner) of my barn that I was going to start Winnie on the lunge line he said that round pens were better and that lunging usually doesn't do anything for most horsess because they either come into you or go away from you. This really depresses me because I don't have a round pen and I know that they are the preferred method. Is he correct? Would I just be wasting my time lunging Winnie? Also what would be the best way to go about it. After his comment, I'm not too thrilled about asking for his advice again. I've been reading about lunging in Horse & Rider and it seems simple enough. Can a "green" owner or should a "green" owner try learning how to lunge with such a young horse? I know that Winnie has been lunged before, but obviously it's been a while. Also my farrier said that because she's not wearing shoes right now she wouldn't need to have her legs wrapped. What do you think of this?
The co-owner also suggested that I bring Winnie in so that he or Melissa (my instructor) could "train" her. Why can't I do that? How will I ever learn to do anything if I'm having a trainer do it? Am I wrong to want to "do it myself"? Personally, I think he just wants the extra money and it's not like I'm wanting to show her. I think if I were going to show her I might feel differently about using a trainer.
Well, I think I've gone on long enough. I'll be anxious to hear what you have to say as I feel that your advise is always sound.
Thanks! Amy & Winnie
Don't worry about the round pen -- and I don't think you should worry about longeing, either. I just don't see any reason in the world that you would need to longe this mare! She's obviously a pleasant and willing riding horse, and you obviously like her very much, enjoy riding her, and aren't overworking her. Her legs will hold up better and she will have a much better time if you keep riding her on those one- mile trail rides instead of longeing her.
She doesn't need preparation to work under saddle -- she's already doing it very well. She doesn't need preparation to wear a bit or carry a rider -- she's doing that too. And although you can only ride on weekends, you don't overdo it -- one mile, or even two, should be fine as long as you are walking and doing a little bit of trotting. She shouldn't need boots or wraps for anything you're doing, or anything you're likely to be doing in the next year or two or three. Don't worry about the canter for awhile, she's young enough that she'll do much better if you let her grow and build her strength and coordination -- and her trust in you -- at a walk and trot.
Lessons are another matter. Your instructor Melissa is the one who found Winnie for you, right? So she obviously knows you well enough to know exactly the horse that you would like most. That's a very good sign. Why don't you talk to Melissa about your plans and concerns? Meet her somewhere away from the barn, perhaps go somewhere for coffee, so that there won't be people or phones interrupting either of you. Then tell her how much time you have to ride, and what you hope to do with Winnie. I'm sure that she will have good suggestions. Taking lessons is a good idea -- and I'm sure that Melissa will be happy to help out if you tell her that you want her to use your lesson time teaching you to teach Winnie.
Think about your daughter -- if a new teacher took over her class and had never taught anywhere before or had any teacher training, you would probably be a little worried even if you liked the person. And at least your daughter could TELL you if something wasn't right -- Winnie can't. You'll need some help training her -- we ALL need some help at SOME point, even if we've trained hundreds of horses! And since Winnie is your first horse, and she is SO super, and you are being SO careful to do things right and take really good care of her, don't try to do everything on your own. You want Winnie to be happy and sound and last forever as a family horse -- and if you do things right, you can get what you want! Finding the right help is an important part of any kind of teaching or training, whether we're talking about young Winnie or your young daughter. If you have a good instructor, money spent on lessons is NEVER wasted -- it's an investment in your horse's comfort and soundness and longevity, and in your own pleasure and your own safety.
- Jessica
One more thing -- Amy -- whether you're riding English or Western, I hope you're wearing an ASTM/SEI certified helmet every time you get on Winnie or any other horse! I worry about any rider who isn't protecting her head, but it makes me REALLY nervous when I see the mother of a young child riding without a helmet. Your daughter needs you to be around until she's grown up -- and even longer than that. So please don't take any unnecessary risks.... there's obviously a good brain in that head of yours. Take care of it, please!
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