Help?! Opinions

Help!

I can't stop thinking about Fred but my instructor doesn't like him. Firstly because he is an Irish Sport Horse, secondly she has says he has head issues.



Fred is a 6-7yo Irish Sport Horse chestnut gelding 17hh. He was broken in around the end of 2009. Once he was bought back in after a spell in 2010 he had about 6-8 months of work. He has competed up to Prelim Level eventing. Been to clinics, shows, stood by the truck at competitions just for outings. He is for sale because he is not going to make a 1 star eventer. Fred has been used for unbalanced riders and nervous riders in lessons.

At the moment he is in very light work and in poor condition as you will see in the video footage. I did not ride him well as I was so nervous, Shaun is well known here in Australia as an eventer. I never felt scared while on him, and I enjoyed riding him.

This is Shaun the owner riding Fred, click here to view the video

This is me riding Fred, click here to view the video

The trot work in the beginning of this video footage I quite like. It also shows our first canter.

More canter work in this video, I think Fred was starting to get tired as he was having real trouble holding a frame and I was having trouble keeping him going.

In this video footage we were trying to wind him, warning it isn't pretty and I really didn't enjoy doing it.

In this video we trotted over some trot poles.



For me the things I didn't like about Fred was that I found him hard to stop. Not that it took ages but I found him to brace, stiffen and kind of block when going to halt.
He has a nasty wound on his hind cannon bone. It doesn't not effect his way of going but it isn't pretty.
His condition, will his temperment change when he is fit, has a tummy full of good feed and feeling better? Will he become too much for me to handle?

I would appreciate, honest raw opinions.

The footage isn't too clear which doesn't help and yes my riding is terrible but I can only improve!!!! The photos are when he was in full work, last year.

Wild weather

We have had some wild cold weather here today, strong wind and hail! Sam and Poppy hunkered down, put their backs to it, heads down and just stood. I hate seeing them like that.

I have lights now so I can ride at night but the weather isn't being kind to us, so I still don't get to ride too much. I really have to organise getting an arena in........job for tomorrow!!!!!!

I bought Poppy a winter waterproof combo, she looks so cute, I will have to get a photo for you. Not sure when she is going to need it as she is so fluffy at the moment but if this rain and wind hang around she will probably need it then!

Happy riding!

And we're back........

And we're back.........

Sorry about the long absence but I just haven't been in the right frame of mind to blog. I have been keeping track of all of you and you are all progressing so well!

Sam's training is really coming along but his lameness is now slowly progressing. Won't be long now when he will be a trail pony only. He is good for our lessons due to the sand arena. At home on the hard ground it is a different story. We need to work out in the back paddock where we can work on a bigger circle.

Today in our lesson we started leg yielding. We both got it in the end!

I have been looking at horses for sale. Not something I overly enjoy doing but it must be done. I found a lovely Irish Draught gelding named Fred but my instructor didn't like him, so I keep looking!

I am making the trip to meet Deliha. A warmblood/arab cross mare, 12yo, 16.2hh. You can view a video of her on here. She seems sweet but we are questioning soundness as she looks slightly uneven on the footage we think. The footage is very old and she has progressed with her training since it was taken.


This is an email I received from her owner:
Basically she's a truly lovely big girl with a heart of gold which is why
she must must must go to a loving home, I've including one photo of a guy
riding her, just to show she goes in stock saddle, western saddle etc this
was at a ground school demonstration which she excels at. She's fantastic to
shoe, float, rug etc loves grooming and being made pretty. She's triple
registered so can compete in ag shows, dressage, arab shows, hunter show
classes etc. She has no vices (accept may squeal like a pig when in season
but only occasionally) she's great to take out, can compete on her then
she's happy to tie up at the float. Been out on roads, trails etc.

She's been to heaps of clinics, training days, comps and has perfect manners
to take out. Great to ride in warm up areas, indoors etc.

I paid more for her four years ago and she's had a lot of training on since
then however its more important that she goes to a wonderful home as it's
been a hard decision to part with her. I have also got photos of her as a
foal (truly gorgeous and all her vaccinations certificate for EI as well) let
me know if there's anything else you'd like to know.

She's only for sale due to my work commitments however if she doesn't sell
it isn't a problem as she's a lovely horse to have around.

So lets see what she is like.