24 replies to this topic

[VanAlma]

Reviving and old thread because I'm proud to say Nicole has been successfully saddle broke. I had gotten on her this summer bareback plenty of times and had lunged her with a saddle, but hadn't put the 2 together. Sadly, Bubba tore his chest muscle so is down for the count. I am taking this time away from him to do some much-needed work on my broodmares (or wanna-be broodmares). I brought Nicole in and she will be my primary riding horse until we try to breed her again next spring. Since Bubba can't do anything, she'll be going in trips with me to Ellen May's and other rides I go on here and there.
Being she's 18, she doesn't have the "stupids" anymore. She's got quite an opinion, but no "stupids". It's VERY different from my young Bubba but am looking forward to her progress and the differing challanges it will bring. At least if she can't sustain a pregnancy she'll have a job. I've already got 1 who can't be ridden who I won't breed, so don't need any more of those!

[shall]

Love that term, the 'stupids'.  My mare used to have her "oops, what's that?" moments, but they've gone away.  She's a bold horse, and insisted that these were important things to be wary of.  She always settled fast, but it was always a feature. It is SO nice not to have to deal with that anymore.

The thing I found hardest about the shying was that for our partnership, I had to keep exercising tact despite how annoying it was to have a spooky corner of the arena. Nothing like doing a massive detour toward the center of the ring when riding in company every freaking time. She has a long neck and knows how to use it when she wants to do something.

Her 2 year old son is maturing very nicely and offering lots of good stuff. If cleaning feet, he will now have the next one ready to lift up. Previously, hoof picking was an opportunity to chew on one's rear or grab his leg back. Last summer, he went through a phase where he'd rear if he disagreed about something. Lovely! I put him out with mom in the field, and ignored him.  She loves to work and is always right there, wanting to do something. Wheels must have turned in his head, because he was the one always left behind. Now, he is very soft and wanting to be part of things, too. He's going to be easy to start.

[Aimbri]

VanAlma, on 18 November 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

Reviving and old thread because I'm proud to say Nicole has been successfully saddle broke. I had gotten on her this summer bareback plenty of times and had lunged her with a saddle, but hadn't put the 2 together. Sadly, Bubba tore his chest muscle so is down for the count. I am taking this time away from him to do some much-needed work on my broodmares (or wanna-be broodmares). I brought Nicole in and she will be my primary riding horse until we try to breed her again next spring. Since Bubba can't do anything, she'll be going in trips with me to Ellen May's and other rides I go on here and there.
Being she's 18, she doesn't have the "stupids" anymore. She's got quite an opinion, but no "stupids". It's VERY different from my young Bubba but am looking forward to her progress and the differing challanges it will bring. At least if she can't sustain a pregnancy she'll have a job. I've already got 1 who can't be ridden who I won't breed, so don't need any more of those!

Congratulations Kate . . . . always a sense of accomplishment doing something that others think can't be done!

[VanAlma]

Aimbri, on 06 December 2011 - 02:11 PM, said:

Congratulations Kate . . . . always a sense of accomplishment doing something that others think can't be done!

Thanks I was very happy to get this done and she was SO EASY. My mom even watched a training session and remarked how calm she was. I just can't see another old horse with nothing to do. I know a few people who would love a calm, older horse like her. It's a good second job for old broodies *or mares that NEED to be broodies but just don't want to cooperate*. There are older folks and kids all over the place wanting a calm mount. I've got 2 more to finish breaking: Salma and Yumi. Both have accepted cinced saddles and have lunged. Salma will be broke soon. Yumi is pregnant so she's benefitting from the get out of jail free card right now.
I guess it's the reality that not all mares will breed, can breed, or even breed well (so shouldn't be bred) that really brings to light how important it is to break our broodmares so they have a future somewhere else. A good foundation can never be taken away from them.

[VanAlma]

Salma, a 2001 model, has been successfully backed   Now onto a bit of walking and turning if the weather holds. Only 1 more to break but that will have to wait until this summer as she's due in April. After that, I'll have broke horses all around!