Young horses of 2011

[Sue B]

Thought I'd restart this thread for those of us with 2011 vintage horses.
Mine is Tio, a Belgian warmblood/TB cross I purchased as a long yearling. I did not back him until this year June maybe?) because he's one of those critters who grows one end at a time. His 3yr old year he was a mess trying to adapt to his growth spurts-- couldn't see adding my butt in the saddle to his woes--and so he mainly just hung out in the pasture with some occasional lunging to remind him of his upcoming duties. He still has little issues now but the growth spurts aren't as extreme and we are slowly progressing toward "brokenness." Really, the main thing holding his progress back is my lack of time to ride. I have even considered sending him off to a trainer who will ride him out in the hills as well as install w-t-c, but I hate to lose control of his training and I dislike the paraphernalia she sticks on the youngsters so I probably won't do it. No hurry, I plan to have him a lifetime anyways.

These pictures were taken a couple months ago but nothing much has changed except he may have lost a little more weight and gained a bit more muscle.

IMG_0364 (2) (640x360).jpg (156.78 KiB) Viewed 29741 times

small Tio.jpg (125.62 KiB) Viewed 29741 times

[Flight]

I've got a 4yo Andalusion cross Trakhener. I've had him for nearly a year now, and it's been slow progress. He's VERY sensitive but a bit of a nugget at the same time.
He's big and will take a while to grow into himself I expect, so I'm just doing little bits of riding at a time including riding down the roads and past scary things such as little donkeys.
I've been doing a lot of stuff with him following a reining trainer's stuff too, and have a clinic with him in December which should be helpful.

k16resized.jpg (178.22 KiB) Viewed 29760 times

[kcmel]

I have a 4 YO dutch harness cross. He is my LL eventing prospect, but his dressage is really coming along nicely.

Here is a picture with my event trainer.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/40820162@N04/21545260904/in/datetaken/

And a link to training 2 test at a schooling show with his dressage trainer (he doesn't have a stretchy trot yet!).

https://youtu.be/Xv7IxuLhnSg

He's a fun little guy, but definitely has his 4 YO moments (and he puts his mouth on EVERYTHING. I hope he grows out of this before he eats my trailer!)

[Sue B]

Beautiful horses y'all, I love all the pictures. It has been raining the last few days and we've been spending every weekend in the hills, so no riding lately.

[Flight]

kcmel, your horse is a cutie!
Thanks for sharing the vid, it's good to see what other horses are like at the same age. I know they are all different, but it's helpful to watch.

[kcmel]

Thanks Flight, your guy is gorgeous. I'm really happy with Wally's progress, he is obviously still green, but we have been trying to get him out and about. His first 2 schooling shows he had some temper tantrums during his tests (scary letters!) but his last 2 have been much better. He is growing up!

[Flight]

I've got a comp planned for my guy in Feb. I'm hoping there wont be too much of a temper tantrum! But young horses, you kinda have to go through the first few and just deal with what you get.

I had a lesson with my dressage instructor with him recently. Especially reading these forums, I can get a bit worried about asking too much of a young horse and at what point do you ask more etc. My instructor was great, she made it easy. "just ride him normally" LOL.

[hooves17]

I'll play- I have a 4yo 1/2 Shire, 1/4 DWB, 1/4 TB- "Sabre". I got him in March. He was "broke" to saddle, but hadn't had much done besides a TON of ground work. He keeps growing and is definitely going to be a slow maturing creature. We pretty much do walk and trot with a little canter thrown in occasionally. He goes trail riding frequently and has now been to 2 hunter paces (small amount of jumping at these- very small stuff). I did take him to the North American Police Equestrian Championships last week and he far surpassed what I thought he would do. We managed a 6th in Eq (hard to do really well when you barely canter, aren't strong enough for much sitting trot, and are not ready for SI as the test dictated) with the judge telling me after that he "might be too nice to be a police horse". She is a dressage judge in real life, lol. He earned me my first ever obstacles ribbon with an amazing 4th place finish. Added to the Eq score, we ended up 3rd overall- out of about 40. Not too shabby for a green bean! I will ride him lightly over the winter- just focusing on balance and strength and see what the spring brings. *Might* hit a schooling show over the winter just to get out and about.

A couple pics-

nascar 3.jpg (160.06 KiB) Viewed 29674 times

rocking horse 2.jpg (178.39 KiB) Viewed 29674 times

bb 2.jpg (195.19 KiB) Viewed 29674 times

[Flight]

Hooves17 - Wow!!! How cool is that! Love your photos. Sabre sounds fantastic, my 4yo (actually even my 6yo) wouldn't be able to do all that.

[bascar]

My boy competes at Galway Downs this weekend, I'm on my way to see him now, at Novice. He qualified for the YEH 4 yr old championship but the fences are Training height and we don't think he's ready for that. He thinks he's is of course, he just loves showing and running and jumping.

I can't wait. It'll be over a year since I've seen him and best of all I'll get to hack him on Saturday

[Sue B]

I guess I'll just slink away...my little guy is soooo far behind you guys' horses it's ridiculous.

Love how your baby is coming along Hooves, and bascar, I hope you have a great visit with your youngster!

[kcmel]

Lol, Sue, don't slink away! I can't even imagine my guy doing novice right now. He is so immature I worry about jumping him over the 18" jumps! They are mature at their own rate.

[Baroque]

You aren't alone Sue. My 4yo PRE stallion is not broken in yet and I am taking him very slowly.

He has had several show outings in-hand in the breed ring and is being a nice well behaved young man which is just how we want him to be!

I'll put up a photo once the photographer sends through the latest batch.

[Sue B]

With the weather cooling off, Tio is more fun to ride because he isn't whining about the heat, and so I was really looking forward to working him finally. Went out to catch him Tuesday last only to find a large gash/bite (?) on his side right where the saddle goes! So, now no riding or even schooling on the lunge until he has healed up. Grrrrrrr. Oh well, it's snowing sideways now so I guess it doesn't really matter. lol

[Flight]

Bummer Sue B! I'd finally managed to get a saddle fitter down and get a new saddle for my guy and he went and cut his leg, needing sutures! Always the way.
Baroque, look forward to seeing your pics of your guy!

My horse has filled out with the spring grass and looking much better with his almost summer coat. I'm relieved he's looking better, because I've had a bit of negativity about him that's really made me doubt my choice in buying him.
He's had a few weeks off and back in work lightly, he's funny I've only been riding him for 10 or 15 minute sessions, which only ends up being a few laps around in W/T/C on each rein, and he knows when times up! I've started doing a bit more leg yield and he's like "hey, we stop now"
I popped him over a jump the other day, first time over he kicked poles everywhere, but it didn't frighten him. Second time, he just lumbered up, no spookiness and popped over.

11027964_10153224993804632_1815990930815002183_o.jpg (95.24 KiB) Viewed 29573 times

12189258_10153224994644632_2922789141658393433_o.jpg (83.83 KiB) Viewed 29573 times

12194657_10153224993944632_2056255017829572396_o.jpg (98.7 KiB) Viewed 29573 times

[kcmel]

Flight your guy is looking gorgeous! He's so big! I am expecting (and hoping) Wally is going to fill out quite a bit with his breeding, but he sure is taking his time.

[Sue B]

Oh my gosh, Flight, he really has filled out! He looks super, love those pictures.

[hooves17]

My lovely 4yo has contracted some unknown illness. He's been ill for 10 days- the last 3 of which he has spent in the equine hospital at Ohio State. Please keep him in your thoughts.

[kcmel]

Oh no! I am so sorry. Best of luck for his recovery. Keep us posted.

[Flight]

That's not good Hoping he'll be ok.

[Canyon]

hooves17 - I'm sending jingles for your young gelding. I hope the vets get this figured out pronto!

[Sue B]

Oh dear Hooves! Jingling like mad for your wonderful horse and jingling that the veterinarians can figure out what's going on.

[Flight]

Hooves17, any news??

I think I'm spamming this thread with my horse pics, so anyone else please share your pics!!
Took my guy out to equestrian park for the first time, where I go to most of my dressage comps. He was really good, a bit looky but I didn't get scared and have to get off
He is very responsive and I have to be careful not to get him overbent, especially when I correct him. Wish I was a better rider for him!

Ksmallpic.jpg (222.68 KiB) Viewed 29479 times

ksmallpic1.jpg (233.81 KiB) Viewed 29479 times

[hooves17]

Thanks for asking. He's still at OSU. Everything that could go wrong, has. Every time something gets better, something else happens. Last week was a rectal prolapse. We got through that and yesterday's morning message from the vet was "he looks terrific! Come get him!". The afternoon message was " He spiked a 103.8 fever and his WBC count is twice the upper limit of normal. Don't come get him". I'm completely disheartened and out of $$. They have no idea what's wrong with him. I'm going to have to just bring him home this weekend and see if he can make it on his own as I'm just plain out of money. I have to save room on a credit card in case something else happens- in case my car or furnace break or my other horse gets sick.

[Rosie B]

Aww hooves17 I'm sorry. Fingers crossed and jingling madly for you and your beautiful boy!!!

[Baroque]

Here are a couple of my young PRE stallion Zeus taken at a recent show.

He's a bit of a clown and it was only his 3rd show so he was there just for a learning experience and he was rather scruffy as I didn't get the chance to tidy him up much before he went in the ring as we were rushed for time. He also didn't get the normal show preparation I do the day before a show as we had visitors all day.

He behaved like a real gentleman at the show despite having all sorts of temptations with an escaped in-season mare running past him twice! He ran out really nicely for me which was great.

He remained focused, quiet and very pleasant to handle during all this madness, and for which I am very grateful as the little hussy ran past him only a couple of metres away then she rushed around the gypsy cob ring [which was just behind us] causing havoc in there.....

P4810086.jpg (227.27 KiB) Viewed 29454 times

P4810100.jpg (191.14 KiB) Viewed 29454 times

[Flight]

Oh Hooves that's not good Rectal prolapse?? How did he manage that?? Really hoping he gets better for you asap.

Baroque, your guy is gorgeous! Congrats for the ribbons!