Horse Owners/Experienced riders - HELP

Howdy,

Ok - So i have two beautiful boys 1 Clyde x QH and 1 pure QH. Have had the Clyde for 3 years and the QH for 2.

Before I go further just a quick note to say I will NOT sell or give up on my boys.

Now I am not very experienced in riding but have come a long way with my ClydeX. When I got him I had no idea what I was doing and just expected to be able to ride him. After a few weeks of riding he threw me offand I lost my nerve. Had him reworked and DH decided to take him on until he bolted on DH.
The positive is we have gone from not being able to get near him in the paddocks (he'd see me coming and run away) to me being able to sit underneath him so over the course of time he and I have developed a fair amount of trust on the ground and he works well for me in the lunging yard - I am just too nervous to get on him.

My QH - sooooo quite. When DH was riding ClydeX and ClydeX bolted my Quite QH got all upset coz I wouldn't let him "run away with the other horse" and he reared on me - this usually doesn't bother me but I barely new this horse when this happened. So again I got nervous. QH is difficult to work on the ground as I have to keep a whip at him to keep him moving.
The positive is he is really lovely type, very easy going and I just have to walk outside and say hi to him and he will come up to the fence. He is more difficult to lead but he is also reasonably inexperienced and was only broken a month before I got him (got him from the guy who was re treaining ClydeX)

NOW.

I have had two years without riding either, they have been is irregular work in the round yard. I have not done much coz I have been pregnant during the warmer months and I am not comfortable riding int he wet on the hills here at home.

I have decided this weekend I will give them both a good long workout in the round yard and will saddle them up. Depending on how I feel they are going I will either keep just doing ground work with them OR if they seem to be ok I will attempt to get on them just in the round yard towards the end of their session and just do a few circles int he round yard.

DH thinks I am nuts, but If I don't do this now I am worried I never will. I have the rest of their lives with them but I want to be on their backs before I fall pregnant again and maybe take QH out with SIL.

Am I heading for trouble?

any advice (without selling them on) would be appreciated.

Nae x x

Have you looked into Parelli Natural Horsemanship? It teaches you many techniques to improve the trust and respect between you and your horse. It is very impressive to see the results that can be achieved in a short amount of time.

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Have you looked into Parelli Natural Horsemanship? It teaches you many techniques to improve the trust and respect between you and your horse. It is very impressive to see the results that can be achieved in a short amount of time.

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Yeah I have looked into a lot of Natural Horsemanship and spoken to many different people on the issue. While I agree with the theory of it I have heard that sometimes horses develop other issues (like head shyness for example)

The relationship with both horses is getting better on the ground but I spose I am wondering if all this good ground work and bonding in the paddocks will be helpful if I try to ride them.

I should add that when I walk in the paddocks with them I become the Alpha horse and they both fall in line behind me. This is something that just happened over the course of the years as well. I can even pick all four feet on both in the paddock without needing to tie them up so there is a fair amount of trust on their behalf.

DH just said he doesn't want me riding them in the round yard but I really really feel I need to at least try.

What to do ....

I think that giving them some work sounds like a good idea.
If you do fall off you need to get straight back on them - it's easy to lose your nerve if you delay and your horse can tell if you're nervous from your body languauge which will make them nervey.
Unfortunately you can't become a good rider without falling off heaps.

ETA - I wouldn't ride them in the round yard. I would ride them in the paddock. On a toey horse I always like to have more room around me. I'm not scared of much but the thought of being tossed onto rails does worry me.

ETA 2 - Then again if you feel more comfy in the yard that might be better for you. I'm really no help because I'd just chuck a saddle on them and enjoy the explosion lol.

Personally I would give them a few days of work on the lunge. After so long without riding them they will have a lot of energy. Then I agree that give them a good lunge session before riding in the round yard. But you can judge how they are going on the lunge before deciding to hop on.

Do you have anyone with a lot of experience that can come and help you?

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Unfortunately you can't become a good rider without falling off heaps.

ETA - I wouldn't ride them in the round yard. I would ride them in the paddock. On a toey horse I always like to have more room around me. I'm not scared of much but the thought of being tossed onto rails does worry me.

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hehehehe thats what my FIL says "you gotta come off 9 times before you can ride a horse"

and thats exactly what DH said as not all the posts are timber. I have a smaller "jenny craig" paddock still an acre in size would you suggest I ride there instead of one of the huge grazing paddocks??

The problem with bad habits in horses is that they can take a long long long time to change, and that there are small things that you can do to confuse a horse when training them. With horses, it can take 30 - 50 times of repitition to make them learn and understand, which is why when doing things like breaking them in, you'll put your foot into the stirrup and take it out over and over and over until the horse understands whats happening, before you even attempt to put weight in it and get onto the saddle.

The best thing to do would be seperate them if you are working them both. Have one someone else and spend time one on one. Start with the QH. I'd work with one of them full on for a while, not go between the two. Dedicate a fair ammount of time to that horse for now. Is there someone more experienced at riding who could do some work with him??

from experience if you fall off get back on again. I didn't, I had a bad fall from a bolting horse on a bitumen road, ok I got knocked out but I never got back on a horse again and it kills me that I just am too scared to get back on a horses back, this was 20 years ago and the hardest thing is I was a 3 day eventer and rode nearly every weekend.

Can DH put the horses on a lunge rope with you on the back?

I'd almost start the breaking process from scratch again, work them up to having you on their backs.

Good luck

What about being lead? would that help at all do you think?

Ultimately the plan is to (get a truck and float) have them both trained in an ARC or do some dressage.

QH comes from good camp drafting lines and this would be beneficial on the farm.

ClydeX would make a great cart horse and we have several old (smaller) wagons and an old horse pulled sleigh so ultimately want him broken to harness.

Maybe I should just go on a trail ride somewher to regain a bit more confidence before I try. I just see these beautiful days and sooo long to be out with them somewhere.

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Is there someone more experienced at riding who could do some work with him??

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My sil is a born and bred country chick who has been riding since she walked :lol: she'd be happy to help but both my boys are 15.3hh and she doesn't like big horses:lol:

I could ask the trainer to come out, he has a thing for my sil so I reckon he's jump at the opportunity. But I'd feel bad if we did all this work and had him out and then BAM I fall preggers again.

I know I am being a tad unrealistic wanting horses and babies but it may take a while to fall in and I don't want fear to stop me from doing what I love and waste this time now.

am I making sense at all? prolly not but I didn't get them to just sit in the paddocks and i am by no means a quitter. I have ridden both successfully I know I CAN its just getting there.

Dee - You're right I need to do much more work with them. Can I ask why you'd go the QH first, he is the queiter of the two and thats why I am assuming you'd go him first.

Nae

I have 6 horses and I ride them all - I have not riden for the past 10 months as I have been preg with Bella but this weekend I am getting back on! I have a pure bred clydie, an american QH, 2 ex race horses, a mini pony and another welsh pony.
I have brocken the clydie as I got his when he was 6 months old and he is now 18 hands high!

If it was me I would spend a few days / weeks lunging them both and getting them back into some condition - they will be frisky and so they should be! I will be lunging all of mine before I get on - not coz im scared as I have been ridding for 20 years now and cant count the amoutn of times I have come off but because thats what the horse deserves - they have been on a huge holiday and it would be silly to not think they will be feeling good!

After the have quietened down on the lunge then I would ride in the round yard - beacue if they decide to play up then they cant get a run up and if they decide to buck you can pull there head around and then they cant put you off. We are in the process of building a round yard so I can take the next steps with my Clydie and also teach my mum and dad to ride the Qh and one of the ex racers.

You dont have to be back to where you were before all the things in your life ! My best advice would be TAKE YOUR TIME - its a great bonding experiance for you and your horse if you take it slow and just build up to it. You can even lunge first then get on and WALK - the the next day or next time you ride lunge and the walk then trot - just build up to it!

Dont be inpatient like me and get on and expect to back to the elite leve I was before I fell preg!!

Please feel free to PM me or anything else if you would like some more info.

I wish we were closer so we could have a ride totgether!!

I cant wait to hear how you go!

Good luck and trust your instincts!

BTW - Monty Roberts has some fantatic DVDS that I have and I could copy them and mail them to you if you are interested!!

Kate

Thanks for your advice Kate.

yesterday I got offline and went out with my boys. Clyde always expects to go first whenever I go into their paddock with the lead rope but I decided to go with the QH first.
Maybe being off the good grass has help as i have two jenny craig paddocks and they have been rotating in these for 8 weeks now 2-3 weeks in each with extra bails if more food is needed.

Anyway I took my saddle to the round yard. QH you really need to keep on im to keep him moving but he did a great job, there was a little bit of mucking around and kicking out at the whip when I'd crack it behind him (never ever whip him) but after 20 min he was doing great and when we'd break he'd come right up to me and rest his brow on my belly (cute) nice and low. SO I decided to see how he would go ith a saddle I did everything slowly and let him sniff the blanket and the saddle (have to let the girth down 4 holes) and he didn't even flinch when I did it up. I gave him another 20 min with the saddle on he was such a good boy. Then the spong bath afterwards and I walked him the long way around to the smaller of the two JC paddocks.

ClydeX cracked it at me and wouldn't come near me so I just went and hung out the washing then I saw him watching me so I grabbed the halter and caught him and gave him a go as well 20min without sadle and he was a tad more frisy and just wanted to canter so I pushed him and pushed him until he listened to what I was wanting. Popped the saddle on his back had to let the girth out further for him :rolleyes: and gave him another 20 min followed by a sponge bath which he LOVED and also took him the long way round. He was more forward moving but he gets like this when he hasn't been worked.

So (weather permitting) on my days off I will give them both a work out but will focus on riding the QH first I almost felt like I could have got on him yesterday. Mind you they always have me draped as far over their backs as I can reach when I am standng and I put as much downward pressure as I can, and I do swing my legs up and rest them on their back.

QH became really smoochy and followed me around rather than following Clyde and stood their and had a big cuddle with me after they both had finished Clyde kinda avoided me but then came up close. He is a bit of a stand offish horse.

I love them both sooo much, I waseben insopired to clean up ALL the saddles and bridles even my SIL's stuff. I tell ya I am sore today though :lol:

Nae,

Excellent! Well done whet you did is perfect! I am inspired to get back on all my boys now too!
The new horse we got 2 days ago is straight off the race track so he will be a challenge! I got him for my mum but I have to make sure that he is sound before I let her get on!

Good luck with your boys and enjoy!

Kate

I had a girlfriend ride while pregnant right up until 4 days before she gave birth :)

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I had a girlfriend ride while pregnant right up until 4 days before she gave birth :)

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Yeah I have heard of people riding up until they drop :lol: I would love to be like that but given my history I doubt I will even be working through my next pregnancy - will be taking it very easy ;)

Kate thats awesome :clap: you so should there is no smell better than horse and leather and the great outdoors. and the sound of their hooves hitting the ground :loveshower:

I so hope to be riding in a couple of weeks at least, I don't mind if I only get 1 or 2 rides in before I fall pregnant because that would be something and something is better than nothing :)

I wish I could ride again, I had a BAD fall about 22 years ago and I've not been on a horse since - I do miss it, the freedom, the smells. I can still be around horses, I can saddle a horse etc no problem - just the minute my leg gets over the saddle I freak

Schaz, nerve is a funny thing. It might be that if you can just ride around on a lead for a few minutes you'll be fine but then again maybe not.
My sister was in a coma after a fall and took ages to recover, you would think that she would never ride again but she didn't remember the fall so she had no problems getting back on again even though she rode like a sack of potatoes for a while there (I hope she never reads that :shhh: ). Other people have really gentle falls but that's it - they can never ride again.

Nae
put some trotting poles down just in a small area and do a long lunge in a small portion on the circle it will give them a need to concentrate and make them work up a a sweat so much more. Then jump on him in the round yard as a relaxing walk you can gradually lunge less and get more out of them in a ride.

I have only ever had one bolter but he quickly lost interest when he realised it isnt fun to bolt in a small circle.

LOL I have another problem how to work a seriously out of work pony 12 hands when I am 5'10 lol . Before I get DD riding him:lol:?

I have has a billion falls and a few very bad ones but I have always made myself get back on STRAIGHT away - its easy to loose ur nerve if you dont!!

My dad fell off early last year and broke his back! Lucky it has healed now! Was touch and go for a while tho! So I am starting his horse again on the weekend!!

Minky - id do the same -couple of weeks on the lunge gets em back into shape!!

Nae, Just a quickie.
May pay to check that the clydie doesnt have any underlying issues.
Teeth, back and saddle/bit fittting issues can all be causes for nervy behavior, esp if he espects riding to hurt. May also explain the bolting (was he running from pain)
Be careful with excessive lunging. Horses are actually not designed to go in circles for extended periods of time, esp larger ones, it puts alot of stress on thier hocks. Lunging will also make them fit, which means you will have to do it for longer periods of time in order to achieve the desired result of a nice tuckered out pony..... I would prob get your trainer to ride them for 30 odd mins or so and then maybe jump on for the last ten.
Good luck, be careful,Shell

I'm with Dee 100% on this. I think trying to work two horses is not going to do you any favours. If you were absolutely fine, no confidence issues etc then it would be a different story.

I think you should choose whichever horse you are most comfortable with on the ground AND on his back - and it sounds like that's your QH.

Definitely lunge him first and for a while. Yes, he will gain some level of fitness but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. You know yourself when you are unfit everything is more difficult and if you can shirk exercise in some way you will. No different for horses. Do you have a chambon (sp?) or side reins? That will make him work a bit harder too. If your round yard is on the small side, how big are your jenny craig paddocks? Could you free lunge in there? Takes a bit to get horses used to it but it can be great once its all come together - especially if you have an interest in jumping.

When you're ready to get on have someone there with you that you trust - whether that's your SIL, your DH, the trainer or whoever. Even if all you do is get on and walk for 10 minutes, that's great. Its not about getting on and riding a grand prix test the first time. You just need to get on, survive it and hopefully enjoy it. If it takes you 6 months to build up to doing anything more than just walking then so be it.

I wouldn't worry about wasting the trainer's time. I'm sure you're paying him for the privilege so don't worry about being pregnant again and it all going to waste. It won't anyway - it will just take a bit of time to bring back, but that's fine too.

And FWIW, I stopped riding when I was pregnant with DD#1. After losing babies there was no way I was going to take any risks, however slight they might be. I haven't been back on a horse since and I really, really miss it. Am hoping that my girls inherit my horse crazy bug so I can move us out into the country a bit and get back into it.

Hi Nae, did you find out if he is still a stallion or not, could explain some issues. The other thing I would do is have their teeth checked, definately lunge them, I would say ride in the Jenny Craig paddock, but everyone is different. I always feel more nervous in a small space and I reckon the horse gets bored really quickly with it and is more likely to play up!!! Just my thoughts.
I also think if there is a chance you are pregnant 2WW etc I would be avoiding taking the chance, speaking from MC experience I don't think it is worth it.:D

Hey All,

Thanks so much for all your replies.

Shellsbells - I initially thought they may have been issues when he bolted on DH, we have out the vet, dentist horse chiro and all said he was fine, we used different saddles and blankets as well, he is just big and strong and knows he has us bluffed - for the moment ;) we'll be working on that !! I didn't know that about the hock and lunging gosh I hope I haven't hurt him :doh:

LuluHB - I just have a rope halter and long lead rope the round yard is a bit bigger then when you do those circles in dressage? think thats 20m? Its actually bigger than the horse trainers but not by much. I will have to see if he is intersted in coming out as I don't want to take them to his place coz I have to pay for agistment and feed etc and I just don't have that kind of money atm. One JC paddock is longer than it is waide but around 1/2 acre and the bigger JC paddock is square and about the same size maybe a bit bigger maybe 1 acre? I dunno its big enough for them to run around like chooks when they get excited.

Pam - The vet came out and had a look at Clyde but couldn't give me a quote on the BT so I didn't bother getting it, I doubt there would be anything I could do if he was not gelded properly to begin with and I know what he is like so essentially not worth the money IYKWIM. Neither are going anywhere anyway so it makes no difference.

So as it turns out - it looks like I will not be doing any riding for some time and with my history I will not be doing any strenuous activity so unless DH will work my boys I will not be doing any more lunging in the heat - guess who just found out she's UTD :lol:

Thats just my luck as soon as I get motivated to ride and get all confident and ready to put the hard yards in - I find out I am preggers :lol:

I am pretty excited but will need to take it exceptionally easy. Oh well I guess I can still brush them and make them look pretty and sniff them and hug and love them :lol:

Congratulations NaeNae. That's wonderful news. And don't worry about your boys. They'll be ready and waiting when you are, and all that work on the ground will improve your relationship with them.

Congrats again. Wishing you a H&H pregnancy.

I'm coming in a bit late here, sorry!
A couple of things - are you already in an HRCAV club? If not, you want me to list the ones near you (you'd have to tell me or PM me your location)? You could contact them and ask them if they know an instructor who could help you with groundwork (something you can do while preggers).
I reckon it would be worth giving Ross Jacobs a call to see if he'd come down to you and help you with one or both of your horses - I've seen him work and he's great, though expect to be a big part of the session!
I don't subscribe to the idea of number of falls equating skill at riding! I think the aim is to reduce your falls and keep them to an absolute minimum - I had a massive fall when I was first learning to ride properly on my first horse and I've only had a couple of silly small falls since because I absolutely REFUSE to come off! Concussion for a week is not fun, so I make sure I'm sticky...
I rode till 28 weeks last time, and only stopped cos of my SPD, but as I'm back into my yoga, I'm hoping I can make longer next time. If you feel it's too risky to ride while UTD, best to keep off - something I'd only recommend if you were confident in your horse and your abilities.
My horse is 3/4 QH and is similarly lacking his 'go' button! I'm confident riding him whilst UTD because the issue with him is getting him forward, not pulling him back. That and I'll be sticking to arena and small paddock work next time again. And DS is starting to ride, so I can lunge him to keep pony in work :)
Let me know if you need any of those contacts.

congrats NaeNae on the :bfp: and heaps of :stickyvibesgirl: :stickyvibesboy:

I will get back on a horse again, that is something I'm planning on doing this year, I didn't get back on after my fall coz I got carted off to hospital in an ambulance & had stuffed both knees in the process so was on crutches for 4 months

Punkin -that'd do it! I remember feeling asthmatic for about 3 months following my accident, because I damaged the cartilage around my ribcage (they also suspected hairline fracture on ribcage), and I never rode that horse again because he was put down a couple of months later (heart problems, he was older than we thought :( ), and hopped on another old school horse as soon as I was given the OK by the GP, so it was about April before I hopped back on, and the fall was in late Feb. I was 23, and obviously I'd lost my 'bounce' by then!
I've had another fall since that I would consider serious. Dislocated a finger and had all my lower pelvis bruised up in all the soft tissue after dear horse refused to jump a ditch during XC training at Yarra Glen...I landed in said ditch and had to drive home towing a float alone. Good news was that I got back on to finish the lesson to get confidence back and didn't ride again for a good few weeks, cos my back was so out of whack. It was my own fault - I was riding too forward and didn't consider he might stop, so had no legs on to encourage him, what a dummy! Lesson learnt...was too ouchy not to take it on board, haven't come off since, and that was 5 years ago and my horse was young then, he's matured a heap, and been spelled quite frequently, too (children...who'd have 'em?).
Anyway, I've got a new friend, who is actually a new member at my club and agists close to me who has a pretty appy who needs a lot of groundwork attention. One of our rally instructors teaches our summer twilight lessons and last night, at her first lesson, the instructor really worked on her confidence and in interpreting what was going on for the horse.
Another thing I nearly forgot was horse massage or physio. I learned a lot about my horse after getting a physio in (Katrina Fox was her name) and had to get my saddle refitted after that session, too. Solved a few problems. In fact, I know I need a refit again because I get more out of my horse riding bareback than when he's under saddle.
Two people in the Sth Gippy are who are just brilliant with horses are HRCAV people, Maz Smith and Jean Barbour. Well, Maz is more Cranbourne, and Jean is Wonthaggi. Not sure where you are, and they're such great horse people - really compassionate :)
Just a few more things to consider.

Yay Nae, you're knocked up :dance:
Dont worry about his hocks, the work has to be fairly excessive/repetetive to do much harm. Just know that the smaller the circle eg <15mtrs, the harder he works, the harder his hocks work.
I work in the horse industry, (I am a saddler) and I work mostly with performance horses (dressage/eventers) so I see alot of injuries, both to horse and rider.
When you do bring them back in, pay the extra if you can and get your trainer to take them for a week or 2, just to iron out any kinks. Much better his head than yours :lol:
Thats what I will be doing (as i sit here watching my mare get progressivly more feral with each passing unworked day - her tail is now dragging on the ground, time to get the clippers out ;))
But most of all, take it easy and bucketloads of sticky vibes and good wishes on your baby. xx

Mayaness - I live about 40 min from Wonthaggi and about an hour from Cranbourne. Thanks for those names, my SIL is looking at getting a different horse trainer to do some work with her recently gelded Appy. He is a stunner of a horse, blue grey with a brilliant white bum he is a head turner to say the least. I said to her last night that if I didn't have my two boys I'd buy him off her. Nice little size to. She actually said she is glad I talked her into having him gelded and not send him off to the market :dance: yay one for the city girl with no experience. He is a nice fellow!!.


Shellsbells - I am going to look into those proper lunging things that go on their heads and some extra long leads so when time comes I can do a combo of round yards (approx 20m circle) and some free lunging in the square JC paddock. The QH can do this now anyway but Clyde is another story ..... I tell you I have learnt so much from that boy good and bad. Considering it will now be significantly longer before I can ride I will definately be getting someone to do a bit of work with them when it comes time I am a bit spewin about falling in so quickly but obviously it was time.

Punkin - I hope you find your strength to get back on. Maybe find somewhere to do some trail riding or a local Eques school and take a couple of lessons just to get the feel of being in the saddle again. My eques school has an inside yard that has sawdust so its not so bad if I fall off - not that I have but it makes you feel a bit safer because your in a relatively controlled environment.

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Punkin - I hope you find your strength to get back on.

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Me, too! I can recommend Balmoral in Harkaway and I've heard great things about Ebony Park, in Narre Warren Nth (I think you live near enough to them?) :) Pertaining to the latter - I don't think ANYONE has ever fallen off a Friesian, have they?? $60 for a lesson on a Friesian...drool...if that didn't cure you, I don't know what would!
Nae - good work with the Appy! Yep, if SiL could get Ross Jacobs to work with her, she'll be laughing :)

hi,
have you thought of leasing one or both out for 12mths or so? to a horsey family, that way they would get worked regulary which sounds like they both need a lot of work. and they would still be yours. learning with a horse is hard work, i got my standard bred around 2yrs ago when he was 18. he'd been left in the paddock for a really long time by himself,( he's my first horse and i had very little experience with them) i had a experienced friend come and have a look at him and ride him for me, all she said was he's never been told no,keep him on a tight rein and make him do what you want not what he wants and i've never looked back my 6yr old daughter now rides him round a 3 acre paddock on her own. it takes time and patience, a kind word and a gentle pat and they can be your friend for life.

congrats on your pregnancy i hope all goes well for you.
but if they were my horses and i couldnt do much for for that long i would lease them out for awhile so they are getting frequent work and you can always visit them on a regular basis.

krystal

The thing with leasing horses that you haven't quite got a handle on yet is that you will get back a different horse - someone else's handling and training and when you got them back you'd need that person to do a lot of one on one with you to show you what they did and how to get the horse to do it...and that's just wishful thinking, I'd expect.
Bit different, but when I got my current horse I met him as a rising 4yo and he hadn't even been cantered under saddle before - pretty green, but beautifully natured and my instructor and I knew we could work with him. The owner then decided she wasn't selling quite yet because she wanted to send him off for training and then ask more for him. I was advised (by very wise and instinctual instructor!) to decline and say I wasn't interested because he'd be a different horse when he got back and right now I knew what I was getting. Just an example of the very real possibility your horse will change under someone else's riding/training. Though, it doesn't sound like you really are inclined to let them go to someone else, even temporarily :)
As for keeping the horses in work, I spelled my horse after 28 weeks and he stayed more or less spelled for over a year because of my SPD, as well. He's a QHx and doesn't actually need to be kept in work - he goes great after long breaks (it's the regular work he objects to!).

there is supposed to be a school up my way that takes you back to the basics, no matter how experienced you are - so I'm going to find out about them & add it to the list of activities I'm involved in this year (hopefully the boat & motorbike purchases can get put back for a few months so I can get riding first or else there goes my weekends!)

Honeywood - Leasing the boys is a great idea in theory but personally I am not comfortable with the idea. I would never allow someone to remove them from my property for a start because my SIL let a horse out (free lease) and the people didn't do anything with her then when SIL decided she'd bring her home the horse had been taken to the Paky market and sold on :o Besides knowing that both boys have vices (Clyde bolts/bucks + QH rears/bites) I could never knowingly put someone at risk of injury. A horse trainer is a different story because they get paid to handle/break/re train the animals.

I have plenty of time with them because they are both youngish another 9 months without work will not kill them. Horses in the wild do not get worked everyday and essentially horses are a grazing animal, so it will just mean that I will have to work harder with them and spend more time with them when time comes but thats all good coz I will be at home more to do that and spend time with them;) thats an advantage of having family on the property I will have a Gran who no doubt will be all over bub when it arrives :D

I havn't read all the posts, but are you handfeeding your horses? I found that certain feeds would make my horse go completly nuts. I also discovered (after many throws!) that my pony didn't like being ridden in his paddock. We were of the opinion that he had been abused by previous owners, nightmare being ridden in his paddocks, dream come true out of it. It is hard work and frustrating, I was lucky that he ended out to be a cool dude! Good luck