A bit of a Challenge

[ecklandshorses]

Our latest aquisition arrived in the Yard last night. Came off the truck on his back legs and caused general mayhem. He is a fantastic 15-2hh Piebald Stallion by Crossdrum Spurs out of a Friesan Cross Mare.

???He has never been out of the field he was born in and spent most of his life with only his 3YO full brother for company. I always figured we would eventually find a horse that would be a real challenge and one that might be beyond my ability.... So I am putting my head on the line by putting up a post about this guy 8-)but he is so good looking I just had to share him with the forum.

Started working with him this morning by sheparding him into the arena and then playing with him for a while until he realised I wasnt going to kill him, :)Eventaully got him to stand still enough to be handled and even managed to get a headcollar and lead rope on him and do a small bit of leading up.

:PWe havent named him yet and would appreciate any suggestions and will keep this post updated with any progress as it happens.

Have sent some photos to Elaine which she will hopefully attach to this post.

Cheers
DaveK

[El]

Oh fab, you've found your unhandled horse!! wooohoo!! will check my email now ;D ;D ;D

[Elaine]

He's gorgeous!! ;D Best of luck with him Dave, looking forward to hearing how you get on

[ecklandshorses]

Still have not named this little horse so any suggestions appreciated.

Got him into the round pen for two half hour sessions yesterday, worked him on a long line for half of the first session and managed to get him yielding to pressure from my hands and working from walk to trot and back to walk.

He was still very spooky and didnt like been handled much and it took him a long time to decide to take a step towards me, but eventually he decided that I MIGHT JUST be ok and agreed to approach me in a limited sort of way. The biggest breakthrough in this first session was him allowing me to control his head and to agree to being led. I finished the session by introducing him to the tap and hosepipe which he baulked at first but very quickly accepted and enjoyed.

Second 30min session in the afternoon was much better, he led willingly into the pen, moved away on the lunge when asked. He was totally non fussed about being approached and handled and allowed me handle all around his head and down his back, he was a bit iffy about his legs but stood still for me while I ran both hands down all four. Taking great care about handling his front feet as being still entire he can strike out.

Because he was doing so well I decided to move on to loose work, he continued with walk to trot transitions and remained largely locked on to my voice (Gave me his ear) I then asked him to carry the trailing end of the lead rein across his back, he bucked a few times and then accepted this and was really enjoying the work. The final thing I did was to tie off part of the loose end of the lead rein to his halter (Simulates Reins) and asked him to work away from me on the lunge.

I was more than happy with his progress and he gained loads of confidence and though still spooky he is now happy to allow me into his space.

I intend to spend a lot longer starting this colt than we would spend with many of our other horses because at 15-2hh he is too small for me to back personally and as he is entire I want to be sure he is 100% before putting someone else on his back.

We are all really enjoying this little horse and I look forward to working with him in the coming days and keeping you posted on his progress.

Cheers
DaveK

El said:

Oh fab, you've found your unhandled horse!! wooohoo!! will check my email now ;D ;D ;D

[Elaine]

ok, some cheesy names.. some got from poor gorgeous george, some got from things to do with perth.. thats where you were at a few years ago I think? here goes..........!!

Beautiful Bobby
Dazzling Derek
Bobby Dazzler
Stunning Steve
Striking Sean
Arresting Alan
Impressive Ian
Inspiring Ivan
Moving Marvin
Handsome Hector
Dramatic Dan
Remarkable Ronan
Crossdrum Fresian
Noongar – the local tribe from Perth
Captain James / James Stirling / Captain James Stirling (Perth was founded on 11 June 1829 by Captain James Stirling as the political centre of the free settler Swan River Colony. It has continued to serve as the seat of Government for Western Australia to the present day.)
Indian Darling (The Perth metropolitan area is located in the south west of the continent between the Indian Ocean and a low coastal escarpment known as the Darling Range.)
Perth. Captain James Stirling, aboard the Parmelia, said that Perth was "as beautiful as anything of this kind I had ever witnessed."

[ecklandshorses]

Thanks for the suggested names, like Noongar and Sterling just not sure if they are right for him. Had a few suggestions by mail, Faer (French for Proud I am told) which I liked but still undicided so if anyone else has any suggestions would love to hear them.

Progress to date: Spent the last two days working him loose and on the longe. Got him bitted and fitted a roller with absolutely no difficulty, (Dont normally do this but as I said in an earlier post I am really taking my time with this guy) he is so easy to work with and retains everything. He responds to the lightest of touches and enjoys his work. Still sticking with 2*20min sessions per day and rewarding him by leading out to the back lane and allowing him graze for a while which he loves. He has attempted to nip on two occasions and was reprimanded accordingly so hopfully that will stop soon, he is now not at all nervous or spooky and is taking everything in his stride. He has lost his defensive attitude and is now welcoming attention.

Farrier is coming tomorrow to trim him up so need to get his feet lifted again today, he is still a bit iffy about his feet being handled but is getting over it slowly but surely.

Will let you know how we did with the farrier in my next post.

Regards
DaveK

elaine said:

ok, some cheesy names.. some got from poor gorgeous george, some got from things to do with perth.. thats where you were at a few years ago I think? here goes..........!!

Beautiful Bobby
Dazzling Derek
Bobby Dazzler
Stunning Steve
Striking Sean
Arresting Alan
Impressive Ian
Inspiring Ivan
Moving Marvin
Handsome Hector
Dramatic Dan
Remarkable Ronan
Crossdrum Fresian
Noongar – the local tribe from Perth
Captain James / James Stirling / Captain James Stirling (Perth was founded on 11 June 1829 by Captain James Stirling as the political centre of the free settler Swan River Colony. It has continued to serve as the seat of Government for Western Australia to the present day.)
Indian Darling (The Perth metropolitan area is located in the south west of the continent between the Indian Ocean and a low coastal escarpment known as the Darling Range.)
Perth. Captain James Stirling, aboard the Parmelia, said that Perth was "as beautiful as anything of this kind I had ever witnessed."

[ecklandshorses]

Well have made some excellent progress with the little horse.

No problems with lifting feet on Tuesday and farrier came to trim him up yesterday and he was good as gold. Tacked him up fully yesterday afternoon and he was cool and confident about the whole thing, didnt even hunch his back when he felt the saddle and was totally non plussed by the whole girth tightening process.

Did however have a little bit of resistance from him when I was leading him into the arena, think he may have an aversion to work (Typical Youngster) but after a bit of bluster and some huffing and snorting from both of us he agreed to cooperate.

I worked him loose with the saddle and bridle, stirrups down and banging away with no negative reaction. I was sorely tempted to lean across him and he indeed seems ready but as I was on my own all day I decided to leave this until the week end.

So it appears that the job with this guy is about done.

I will send in a few more pictures soon.

Cheers
DaveK

[ecklandshorses]

Quick update. We decided that this stallion is too small to use as an entire horse so on Friday last he was castrated. He is now recovering in the field and showing no ill effects. He will come back in early next week to complete his education. He has been super in the field and now enjoys handling, his temerament around other horses is fine and he is looking a million dollars. Will update again as is education progresses.

Cheers
DaveK

[Elaine]

Looking forward to more pics & the next update

[ecklandshorses]

elaine said:

Looking forward to more pics & the next update

Hi All

Belated Happy Christams and New year. Just as a postscript to all of the above I never got around to forwarding upto date Photos of this horse so I am forwarding to Elaine in the hope she can attach them.

I ended up Gelding this horse after backing him and then let him off for two weeks to recover. He enjoyed his time in the field and after some light riding which he enjoyed and was happy doing I sent him off for a brief period of X-Country training (Disaster). Unfortunately he came back to me as less of a horse than he was when I sent him away. He returned spooky and nervous of everything. I have now decided that an on farm X-C course is an urgent requirement as I will no longer send young horses out for training after this experience. We have had him back a week now and he is slowly regaining his composure and confidence.

I will not offer him for sale until he is fully confident again but feel he will make a really nice ladies or teenagers horse.

So that pretty much concludes the tale. The Good, Bad & Ugly of starting a youngster.

Regards
DaveK

[Elaine]

Here's the pic. Sorry to hear about the xc, it'd break my heart to send a nice horse way only for him to come back worse As friend of ours in Tipp does hunting schooling and he is brilliant not only at schooling, but at minding them as well, but I guess trainers like that are few and far between. I think if you set up a cross country course with your expertise & way of bringing on horses in their own time, you'd be booked solid - super new horse BTW!!!