Spottie Rowan update *pictures*

[rowy]

Some people have read about the troubles we've been having with rowan regarding his backing.
Well the last week i've only been exercising him every other day and just long lining him and walking him down the road and then leaning over his back to get him used to it again.
Since then he has shot up another inch and is now standing at a proper 15hh and he is still really leggy so i think he has a lot more growing to do. I think welsh sec Ds are slow maturers?
Anyway we have had the vet out today and asked while he was here if it was too much backing him due to him being too young and i told him what happened with us riding him in walk and trot and him bucking. He told us that he had a strong back and was mature enough to be ridden and he even checked his back to see if it didn't seem strong/ injured and he said all was ok. Then he told us that if i was him i would get him professionally done as we dont want to ruin him and that he has been riding 30 years and he wouldn't back a youngster either, especially not his own as he doesn;t want something to go wrong.

I have come to the conclusiuon that he will be sent away, possibly at the end of this week. We have seen a lady who lives just down the road from us and she seems really really nice and we told him about his problems and she said she could do it and i can go and watch everyday and have lessons when he is safe. also the hacking is much better there so his work can be more varied. Once he has been rebacked and i am riding (end of june) i will turn him away until next spring when i will send him away again. He's just so special to me and has so much promise as his paces are amazing that i dont want to ruin or upset him. I feel kinda relieved at sending him away in a way because his whole future isn;t on my shoulders.

anyway chocy chip cookies for whoever got to the end, now pictures





I plaited his mane cos its so thick and he gets hot.
And a funny one of my other mare dancer to finish

[beks the artist]

Oh your horse is absolutely stunning! I personally wouldn't back my horse myself unless the said horse is completely a 'dope on a rope' but I would send him/her away for proffessional schooling (something I regret with Jakes as that was the original plan until my personal life went **** up!)

Sounds like thats a good plan to take him down to the other yard to get re-backed and you can see him every day. Good luck xx

[gem]

He's beauuutiful Absolutely love his colouring. I don't blame you for feeling relieved now. It's a massive pressure knowing your horse's future is entirely in your hands!

[My Crazy Clan]

Good luck with the training, let us know how it goes, how many times a week will she? be working with him?


Although many think the pro way it the best way to go I wouldn't send my horse away, no matter how flighty they are etc I would rather back them myself.

Lovely photos, hes a lovely looking boy.

[Sasca]

i love his colour...thats what i ordered from Hazel but she didn't pay attention to me! she just wanted a camp pink pony instead!

i think backing is quite a personal thing. Iback for other people but doing my own Rowan is going to be hard. I think the backing process needs to be quite a formal thing for a horse. Its the first time they are asked to work and obey properley, and after 3 years of being a baby and getting away with murder, to then have the owner try and tell them what to do when they are bored etc, oftend lead to more problems. However getting a stranger to say 'your gonna have to work now' They will often listen better and understand the game. You can then play with them and get them schooling later as it doesn't have to be quite so formal. The backing process in many ways is the most important stage of a horses career, and if they mess about to much or the owner cant tell them off properley at the right times, its all backwards...no matter how good you are at it!

I think i will send Rowan away even though i do it proffessionally for other people! Rowan doesn't listen to me now, let alone in three years!

[rowy]

yes i wouldn't have sent him away if he hadn't messed about 2bh but if he thinks he can just keep bucking and getting me off to avoid work, well i dont want that. and mum was my helper holding him etc and she is nervous now and i dont want her to show that to rowan and get him worried.
Also, I really want to get him up to at least advanced medium in dressage and i think so we can do that we need a firm foundation.
I'm not sure how many times a week he will be done, possibly 6 times until he accepts a person then less. I will take lots of pictures and post them on here so you can see how he's getting on.
I think it will be nice as well to see someone else on him and to see his paces

All i wanted was to be the first person ever to get on his back, and i was and i have taught him alot since i have had him, how to lunge, go over poles, long line, accept tack etc. and im pleased with how he has progressed but i just want this bit done properly. I just hope he's ok cos since the YO came off he has been a bit wary of strange people by his back, particularly men but if im there he should be ok

[My Crazy Clan]

Hey hun, I wasn't having a dig about sending him away but just having an opinion like beks, she would like to send hers away but I wouldn't, there is any right or wrong.

[lilholley]

He is lovely. It sounds sensible to send him away to be backed. I want to get a youngster one day and would definately get professional help in to help me do it at the least, if not send away