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 Total Germophobe
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Location: Montana | I got my 3 year old colt back from the trainer yesterday, and he is broke and soft and good at what he does...the trainer did an awesome job with him getting him to work off your seat and legs. And I had a lesson with her so I can see how he works best. But, when I get on him, he almost scares me...I feel like I don't know what I'm doing on him. He doesn't try to buck or be bad; he is just a big, quick horse; it is almost like he is too much horse for me.
How long should I give it before I'm comfortable with him or I should move on? He'll make a nice horse, and I know that, but I'm not sure I'm the best person to do it. And I know not being confident around him isn't a good combination either. Thanks! | |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| mtcanchazer - 2015-04-22 12:04 PM
I got my 3 year old colt back from the trainer yesterday, and he is broke and soft and good at what he does...the trainer did an awesome job with him getting him to work off your seat and legs. And I had a lesson with her so I can see how he works best. But, when I get on him, he almost scares me...I feel like I don't know what I'm doing on him. He doesn't try to buck or be bad; he is just a big, quick horse; it is almost like he is too much horse for me.
How long should I give it before I'm comfortable with him or I should move on? He'll make a nice horse, and I know that, but I'm not sure I'm the best person to do it. And I know not being confident around him isn't a good combination either. Thanks!
Well from my personal experience, first baby, first quarter horse. 6 months with a trainer of great quality. It took a month of riding 3-5 toned a week to really click with him. And he scared me too because he war so faaast and still spooks. But we're really great together now. Trust each other completely | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | americanpride08 - 2015-04-22 11:08 AM mtcanchazer - 2015-04-22 12:04 PM I got my 3 year old colt back from the trainer yesterday, and he is broke and soft and good at what he does...the trainer did an awesome job with him getting him to work off your seat and legs. And I had a lesson with her so I can see how he works best. But, when I get on him, he almost scares me...I feel like I don't know what I'm doing on him. He doesn't try to buck or be bad; he is just a big, quick horse; it is almost like he is too much horse for me.
How long should I give it before I'm comfortable with him or I should move on? He'll make a nice horse, and I know that, but I'm not sure I'm the best person to do it. And I know not being confident around him isn't a good combination either. Thanks! Well from my personal experience, first baby, first quarter horse. 6 months with a trainer of great quality. It took a month of riding 3-5 toned a week to really click with him. And he scared me too because he war so faaast and still spooks. But we're really great together now. Trust each other completely
Thanks, I think part of the trouble was yesterday was just a stressful day in general (everything took twice as long as it should have, ugh!). I got on him again today and just walked around and everything was fine. My theory, at this point in time, is just like a colt needs some time to learn, so will I, so I'll start small and work my way up. If it doesn't work, then I can take a plan B. :) | |
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Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I felt a little bit this way when my filly came back. She was good minded but also quick and still very young. The last time I had ridden was my gelding who had a suspensory injury I didn't know about. I ended up with 6 staples in my head from him when he surprised me and reared and bucked some. It had been about 5 months since I'd ridden when we went to pick her up from the trainer. Obviously I was a bit nervous. I still don't feel up to her level especially because my trainer did a great job and she can be fairly soft.
Well, she and I get along okay now but I also don't push it too much. She got some rest both from weather (we've been wet all winter and early spring) and vet recommendation. When she is fresh I make sure she gets some exercise before I get on. Some days we do more walking and trotting and then the next day I do more loping and pushing her through things. On days when she is fresher or perkier I work on softness especially at a trot, going over ground poles, weaving through poles, working on lateral motion or trying new things even on the ground like swinging a rope. I work on keeping her mind focused. I've learned a good day or two with her increases my confidence and then when she has to sit for a few days because of weather I need a good day of just riding quiet before I feel a bit more confidence again. I know my trainer rides her better than I do. But that's okay because that's exactly what I'm paying for. I'm going to keep listening to my trainer and working at this. I will get better as I get more in tune with her. But this filly is my darling and I am not going to give up on her or pass her on. We will grow together. | |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | I would keep going back to the trainer as much as possible! Weekly, even. It will help your confidence and make sure you're on the right track.
I have one that is 5 (I had him started at 2) and we're still not getting along. I knew right away that he wasn't going to work for me, but keep trying. I would sell him if the right person came along, but in the mean time he has caused me to stretch and grow and learn way more than I ever would have on a horse that I actually got along with! lol! | |
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Posts: 1119
| I am going through the exact same thing. My mare has been with a trainer since November and I just got her back in the last week. She is big, fast, and super responsive. She is the exact opposite of all my other horses. I am boarding her where my trainer is for at least a month so I can hopefully start to get with her before I bring her home, but she really intimidates me at the moment! | |
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Total Germophobe
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Location: Montana | oija - 2015-04-22 8:31 PM I felt a little bit this way when my filly came back. She was good minded but also quick and still very young. The last time I had ridden was my gelding who had a suspensory injury I didn't know about. I ended up with 6 staples in my head from him when he surprised me and reared and bucked some. It had been about 5 months since I'd ridden when we went to pick her up from the trainer. Obviously I was a bit nervous. I still don't feel up to her level especially because my trainer did a great job and she can be fairly soft. Well, she and I get along okay now but I also don't push it too much. She got some rest both from weather (we've been wet all winter and early spring) and vet recommendation. When she is fresh I make sure she gets some exercise before I get on. Some days we do more walking and trotting and then the next day I do more loping and pushing her through things. On days when she is fresher or perkier I work on softness especially at a trot, going over ground poles, weaving through poles, working on lateral motion or trying new things even on the ground like swinging a rope. I work on keeping her mind focused. I've learned a good day or two with her increases my confidence and then when she has to sit for a few days because of weather I need a good day of just riding quiet before I feel a bit more confidence again. I know my trainer rides her better than I do. But that's okay because that's exactly what I'm paying for. I'm going to keep listening to my trainer and working at this. I will get better as I get more in tune with her. But this filly is my darling and I am not going to give up on her or pass her on. We will grow together. This sounds so much like me and my gelding! He is the softest horse I think I have ridden, and I want to keep him that way. I can tell, though, he is much happier after being back with my mare, and my mare is happier because she was lonesome after she lost her old pasturemate. My mare is a very good influence on horses...she has almost a perfect mothering instinct. :)
Yesterday, I didn't get done with my day until almost 10 PM, and it started early yesterday too. I think the more I get on him and work little by little on what the trainer showed me, and build my confidence and his up at the same time, we'll get there. My trainer is about 90 miles away, so hauling to her isn't always easy, but she is up here a bit so I may get to see her once a month or so if timing works out. 
Edited by mtcanchazer 2015-04-22 10:06 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Alberta, Canada | I got my 3 year old back end of january from the trainer. I rode him once and then turned him out for 60 days (mostly due to weather). I love this colt and have been waiting for him to be broke since the day he was born, so was surprised when I climbed on beginning of April and was scared. He has never bucked and is real broke n fancy, but I felt overwhelmed. Didnt help that he was coltish from his time off. I just only did as much as I felt comfortable and tried to avoid putting either of us in situations that would get us stressed or nervous. Took about a week before I started to feel comfortable and trust him.
Once you get used to him and he you, I bet you ARE the right person for him! For now, I like the recommendations to ride with the trainer as much as possible if it is an option. If not, only do what you are comfortable doing. Everyday your comfort level will increase and before you know it you will be looking back on this post and wondering what you were thinking ;) | |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| mtcanchazer - 2015-04-22 10:03 PM oija - 2015-04-22 8:31 PM I felt a little bit this way when my filly came back. She was good minded but also quick and still very young. The last time I had ridden was my gelding who had a suspensory injury I didn't know about. I ended up with 6 staples in my head from him when he surprised me and reared and bucked some. It had been about 5 months since I'd ridden when we went to pick her up from the trainer. Obviously I was a bit nervous. I still don't feel up to her level especially because my trainer did a great job and she can be fairly soft. Well, she and I get along okay now but I also don't push it too much. She got some rest both from weather (we've been wet all winter and early spring) and vet recommendation. When she is fresh I make sure she gets some exercise before I get on. Some days we do more walking and trotting and then the next day I do more loping and pushing her through things. On days when she is fresher or perkier I work on softness especially at a trot, going over ground poles, weaving through poles, working on lateral motion or trying new things even on the ground like swinging a rope. I work on keeping her mind focused. I've learned a good day or two with her increases my confidence and then when she has to sit for a few days because of weather I need a good day of just riding quiet before I feel a bit more confidence again. I know my trainer rides her better than I do. But that's okay because that's exactly what I'm paying for. I'm going to keep listening to my trainer and working at this. I will get better as I get more in tune with her. But this filly is my darling and I am not going to give up on her or pass her on. We will grow together. This sounds so much like me and my gelding! He is the softest horse I think I have ridden, and I want to keep him that way. I can tell, though, he is much happier after being back with my mare, and my mare is happier because she was lonesome after she lost her old pasturemate. My mare is a very good influence on horses...she has almost a perfect mothering instinct. :)
Yesterday, I didn't get done with my day until almost 10 PM, and it started early yesterday too. I think the more I get on him and work little by little on what the trainer showed me, and build my confidence and his up at the same time, we'll get there. My trainer is about 90 miles away, so hauling to her isn't always easy, but she is up here a bit so I may get to see her once a month or so if timing works out.
I would defintiely give it a lot more time before making the decision to sell. I am the novice in my situaiton and I really did not enjoy running one of my finished horses, he turns on his front end on his first barrel and I always felt like I was going to go over his head. I thought about selling him quite often but knowing my girls loved him and might want to start going again, I kept him- something changed and he is now my favorite to run and I can't believe I ever entertained the thought of selling him. Good Luck with him, he sounds nice. | |
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