came to a decision

[mustangluver]

Awhile back I was posting about how my horse was being used in so called lessons. Well.. little background, these girls have been riding ALL summer and have no clue how to tack up, groom properly and to take care of equipement... mind blowing!!
Anyways, after the issues with no grooming my mare and there habit of wanting to RUN RUN RUN and not even warm them up just erks the crap out of me.

Well I rode Mazzy today, and she was a butt, she has fear, I know this her old owner took a sever fall off her and she has not been the same since. Well She would back back back and swish, so I got off and calmed her walked her a little bit, brought her back to the herd and away again. After about 2 hours she would do ANYTHING for me. This has not always been this bad, the thing I did notice she wanted to just RUN, and I think thats part of the kids wanting to just run.

So after talking to myself and Mazzy I have decided to make her my girl nope no lessons, she needs me, someone confident, compassionate and knows what the heck I am doing.

I will still let me niece on her with me on the lead, I did have a blind lady ride her Tuesday while on a lead, but never will I let anyone on her without me there!!

The really good thing that came out of this, is I think we finally broke through to the bond, lately she has been high tailing it every time she sees me runs and whinnies up to me. Today she pushed her face into the rope halter. (all the time my maggie moo looking a little perturbed)

So I made a promise to Mazzy I am her rider and not to worry, I serious knew she understood, she needs me to help her over come the boogies!!!

[FoxFireEMT]

Owww that stinks when you have youngins who think that all they have to do is run run run!

[vicklynn]

Good decision!! Glad she is only going to have you to work with her. Sounds like that is what she needs.

[mustangluver]

Yes, these riders thats all they can do, but you ask them to transition and the horses fly.. its sad and I can't watch cause I can not keep my trap shut then I piss people off so yeah I avoid it all.

I guess I don't share well with others. I am picky on how my horses are groomed, tacked and ridden. There are 3 people I know that I would trust to ride my horse anytime they wanted.

Yes, I think Mazzy needs someone who can carry her through this, she does not spook with me but you can tell she is on pins and needles, so I gotta work her through that.

I am gonna tick the BO off but yanno was never an agreement when i went there, so she really should be thanking me for nipping all this in the bud before someone gets hurt and it wont be me. Be the horse or a kid and I rather not see either!!

[Cat]

That sounds like a wonderful decision for her. Glad your bond was strengthened.

[starkitten]

Sounds like you made the right decision :) You have to do what is best for your horse for sure.

I have had very few lessons in my horse short time, but they all included grooming before and after and being able to tack up myself. My old instructer said if you can't pick out that hoof you can't ride it ;)

[Gypsy Rose]

I think you'vve made the right decision- you're doing what's best for your horse. As for the sharing thing, I wouldn't worry about it- sometimes, there does need to be a limit to sharing, especially when it's for the best not to.

[mustangluver]

MIne too! If yeah can't do the tacking, grooming and mount then you are not ready to ride. I am just surprised some of these girls have not got seriously hurt.


Sounds like you made the right decision :) You have to do what is best for your horse for sure.

I have had very few lessons in my horse short time, but they all included grooming before and after and being able to tack up myself. My old instructer said if you can't pick out that hoof you can't ride it ;)

[Aina]

My riding instructor had us tacking up by the second week. And I know of a few people who spent the entire lesson learning how to tack up because they hadn't been doing it well. Also, my teacher would never let me run the entire lesson. Even when I got CT, who was basically my horse. I love running, but I do know that we can't do it the entire time. I don't think this is entirely the girl's fault. It is good that you aren't letting her use your horse because it sounds more like these 'lessons' are just letting the kids come out and ride the horse. There doesn't seem to be enough supervision for newbie riders who don't even know how to tack up. Someone could get seriously hurt even if it was on the calmest lesson horse on the planet.

[rums_mom]

You really need to let the BO know that you are doing this not only to protect your horse but to protect yourself, and the girls in the lessons. You do not want to be responsible for anyone getting hurt or your horse getting hurt, especially with out a written agreement as to who is liable if something were to happen.

My daughter would not let anyone ride Rum other than her trainer, Beth, who is very experienced and is also training Rum. I can't even imagine her reaction if she found out someone was riding him without her approval. I know some barns make agreements with boarders to use their horses in lessons and give the boarders a discount on board. I do not have a horse I could do this with but if I did, it would only be with someone I absolutely had complete trust in.

All the lesson barns my daughter took lessons at made it a priority that all riders were responsible for their lesson horse, tacking up/off, grooming the horse, cleaning tack, feeding, blanketing and turn out. You can not raise responsible horse riders without these basic skills. To get on a horse and just ride fast without any warm up or cool down is a tragedy waiting to happen.

Best for you to get a grip on this situation now. Good luck.

[mustangluver]

I finally talked to the owner of the barn, and after expressing my feelings and concerns she understood..whew

I agree, she should not call these lessons, cause they are not. I taught novice lessons for 3 years and basic dressage for 2 and never were any of my kids like this. I did not have many of them cantering for 6 months or so.

Now that my horses have nothing to do with them, I can relax a little and not even pay mind to her *lessons*

Thanks for letting me vent!

[Remali]

I sure do know what you mean. I let a trainer at a barn I used to board at use my horse for lessons for a short time, I was very explicit as to who could ride my horse and how she was to be used. (only the student taking the lesson could ride my horse, under supervision of the trainer)....I found out that they were letting the student's father ride my horse too, and he had no idea how to ride (these weren't lessons, he was goofing around, I caught them at it one day). Needless to say that was the end of the lessons, I put a stop to that immediately. Sometimes it isn't worth it, and it can really mess up your horse.