[Ag-eq] FW: FW: FW: Ponies!

[nfoster at extremezone.com]

Jody:

There are certainly advantages to working with young horses who have had little
to no training.  You don't have to untrain other people's mistakes.  Usually
when you do a lot of good consistent ground work horses quickly adjust to a
saddle and rider.

We got Cruiser when he was 9 and he had issues from his previous owners.  He
didn't really like people, he was spooky and he would rear when upset or
overwhelmed.  He's much better, but still not perfect.  I think he started out
as a really nice horse, but just got screwed up.

He's much more trusting and likes most people now.  He's still a little spooky,
but nothing I can't handle.  He hasn't reared in a year and I hope he doesn't
do it again.  He's a sensetive horse and he likes to please.  He needs a calm,
gentle rider with quiet hands.  He and I are becoming a good team, but it's
taken a while.

It's great that Tom is into the horses too.  I know so many couples where only
one person has the horse bug.  I suspect that once you start working with them
you will discover that your training styles compliment each other.  I'm more
patient than Mike, but let them get away with to much.  Mike is more easily
frustrated, but can be firm when necessary.  Between the 2 of us we are able to
work through most training problems.

It sounds as if Sandy is a gold mine of information; you're lucky to have met
her.

I'm not sure about what grasses to seed, do you know what other people are
growing there?

I think Timothy has more nutrients, but not sure where all it's grown.  Grass
blends are good for nutrients and growth cycles.  There is a good book on BARD
called All Flesh Is Grass, it's by Gene Logsden.  He discusses different types
of pasture for different areas of the country.

What style of saddle are you looking for?

Also do you know what seat size you need?

My friend sold her Tucker saddle, I think it was an endurance style.  She's
using one of the saddles on another horse.  I don't know if she has any for
sale or not.

It's really best if you can try a saddle out first.  It needs to be a good fit
for you and the horse.

You have plenty of time since you won't be riding these guys for a while.  I
know a few trainers who use old beat up saddles with the young horses, just in
case they do something stupid, like go over backward.

Have you thought of more names for the horses?

Take care.

Nella













Quoting Jody Ianuzzi <jody at thewhitehats.com>:

> Hi Nella,
>
> I love the idea that the horses will be mine from the start.  I look back at
> raising Walker from the time he was 8 weeks and I loved training him to be
> my guide dog.  If someone else had raised and trained him I would have
> missed out.  I think of the horses the same way.
>
> Sandy said she just got a 19 year old Tennessee Walker that was fully
> trained but he hadn't been in saddle for so long she had to start all over
> again.  She said a school trained horse is no guarantee either, just like a
> school trained guide dog is not necessarily a good dog.
>
> Yes, I would love something to ride right now but the training process will
> be fun and in no time we will all be ready.  I've waited 50 years, what's a
> little more time.  <GRIN>
>
> Yes, it is terrible that horses are being abandoned all over the country as
> people lose their homes.  Dogs and cats are being abandoned too.  How
> horrible that horses there end up in Mexican slaughter houses or in the
> desert!
>
> Peanut grass must be a by product of peanut harvesting up in Georgia.  So do
> you think I should over seed Bermuda or Timothy?
>
> Yes, the horse community here is the same.  That is one reason why I decided
> to go to the stable in the first place, to get to know everyone.
>
> Yes, Tom loves horses too and he will probably train them too.  He is a
> natural where I have to work on it.  He has a bad hip so we aren't sure if
> he will be able to ride or not.
>
> Hmmm, I would be interested in your friend's saddles, please keep me in mind
> when she is ready to sell.
>
>
> JODY
>
>
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