Is he ready?

cascy · 11-04-2006, 06:03 PM

Ok, this might get kinda long, but I will try to keep it to the point.

My question is do you think the horse I was supposed to put 30 days on is ready to go back?

Thier expecting him to be respectful and riding when he comes back but they don't know really how well they want him. They are begginners with horses and don't ride that much or know that much about horses. They are ready for him back and want to ride some before winter gets here.

I have been kinda rushed with him since I only have him for a short period of time and when he showed up he had NO manners. Now, he is doing good although I do admit we skipped a few steps in order to statisfy the owners time limitations. He stands untied patiently to be saddles mounted, and dismounted (stands tied also). Walks out when asked. Stops when you say whoa and turns off legs cues. He does not neck rein, is starting to get the backing up part and is quiet and calm now. Today just goofin off, I got on him and rode him bare back with a halter and lead rope on. He stoped when I said whoa. Waited calmly when I was wallering my way on top of him from the side of the fence. Turned off my legs and we even managed to get a little trot out of him. He is very lazy. They don't plan to show, they want something thier daughter can ride around the field and maybe go on a trail or two. He isn't spooky now, he walked between two running fourwheelers with 3 dogs following his tail and never flinched. Doesn't mind traffic either and has stopped with his pushy attitude.

I am nervous about sending him back already. I know that some steps where skipped in effort of trying to meet thier time requirments. But I think what bothers me most is the fact, they don't know how to ride that well and if they start showing him the wrong things he will go bad and give me a bad name.

They don't want to leave him with me any longer, said they can't afford it. Well do you think he is ready to go back and does he meet the "30 DAYS" of ridding? I absolutely hate it when it when people expect a finished horse in 30 days!

snickers · 11-04-2006, 06:08 PM

This is what I would do.

I would write up a contract as to what I have done and explain that the horse is no way a finished horse and explain in detail what he still needs to know and the possiblities as to what can happen.

Have them sign it and that way it covers you.

It is hard to get everything in on a horse when there is a time restriction.
Some people just can not understand that.

ron · 11-04-2006, 06:11 PM

he would for me, but you know how beginners are.

I would hate to be responsible for putting a young girl beginner on a 30 day green horse, no matter how calm.

ya just never know. and those skipped steps may come back to haunt someone, sometime.

you could strike up a deal to do another 2-3 weeks at a signifigant reduction in price since you seem to be concerned about it

cascy · 11-04-2006, 06:33 PM

I offered to keep him a couple more weeks and keep riding him for NO CHARGE! They own an asphalt company and since it is getting colder their buisness is slowing down and they are afraid if we wait much longer they won't have the money to have him shipped back home.

If I was sending him home to someone who was some what expirenced it wouldn't bother me at all... I have told them when he gets home he still needs consitent ridding but, who knows if they will or not. They can sit on a horse and ride but they are the type that needs a horse who isn't very sensitive to seat cues, ect. The people don't know what a little left leg pressure would mean to a sensative horse. They have only ever rode an old nag that you drug thier heads around and kick to go forward... Make any sense? He is good right now, but if they don't correct him when he makes a mistake cuz they don't realize he made a mistake (or they cause him to make one and then correct him) I see it going badly for him.

I really shouldn't of ever took this on, but to late now. I talked to my dad.. He said he will be there when the horse comes back and he will ride him first so no one can come back and say it was a bad job.

Why do people want a horse to have 30 days and then leave them in pasture for another 2 months? Sometimes I just hate people!

edited to add: the girl is 19 but has only ridden a hand full of times

A J · 11-04-2006, 06:36 PM

For starters, I will never take a horse on just 30 days unless the owners are just looking for a tune-up OR it is clearly stated that there are no specific results promised. In that amount of time, there are just too many things that simply depend on the horse's personality, and the level of the owners once they get them home.

If you don't already of have a training contract (good idea to have them if you don't yet!):
I like the idea of writing something up stating that with only 30 days training there are no garuntees regarding the training level or reliability of the horse (I wouldn't garuntee it anyways, but since they seem to have unrealistic hopes, I would make sure it's in writing if you don't have a training contract that states that to begin with).

**beth55051** · 11-04-2006, 09:20 PM

I agree with what AJ wrote. That's exactly why I don't train horses for others. Only for myself. After 30 days one of my horses could be riding extremely well or may not have even made it out of the round pen yet. It's all up to the individual horse and how they respond to training. I don't like to rush things.

I fell into this exact same kind of situation a few years ago, only it was my three year old and I sold him through a horse sale. He was 3 years old and had about 45 days on him. Fairly bombproof like yours, w,t,c, backed started to neck rein, did leg cues. Tied, clipped, etc. all the good stuff. He HAD the temperament to be a good 4-H kind of horse. The kind of horse you cand do anything with they're just a good all around, quiet riding kind of horse. He was bought by some people who live less than a mile from me. They bought him as a trail horse for the mom and a pleasure horse for the daughter. I offered to help them should they need any help or to put more riding on him at anytime for a very reasonable rate as I was selling him green but I wanted them to be happy. They rode him a couple of times that summer and he did okay. A bit rusty from not being ridden very often but he appeared to retain most of the important stuff, then he sat over the winter and to make a long story short he now bucks, rears, bites, kicks, pushes, shoves and is generally a dangerous horse because he is now in charge. And they're too dang stubborn to admit that he is now worthless and dangerous. Won't let us help or take us up on our offer of free training and won't let us buy him back.

SO I guess what I'm saying is be clear and upfront with what you have done with the horse, make the offers you stated and remind them again that he is young, green and not a suitable mount for an unexperienced girl to ride yet. There really isn't anything more you can do because the horse belongs to them you were only being paid to do a service which you have done.

11-04-2006, 06:03 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,404	Is he ready? Ok, this might get kinda long, but I will try to keep it to the point. My question is do you think the horse I was supposed to put 30 days on is ready to go back? Thier expecting him to be respectful and riding when he comes back but they don't know really how well they want him. They are begginners with horses and don't ride that much or know that much about horses. They are ready for him back and want to ride some before winter gets here. I have been kinda rushed with him since I only have him for a short period of time and when he showed up he had NO manners. Now, he is doing good although I do admit we skipped a few steps in order to statisfy the owners time limitations. He stands untied patiently to be saddles mounted, and dismounted (stands tied also). Walks out when asked. Stops when you say whoa and turns off legs cues. He does not neck rein, is starting to get the backing up part and is quiet and calm now. Today just goofin off, I got on him and rode him bare back with a halter and lead rope on. He stoped when I said whoa. Waited calmly when I was wallering my way on top of him from the side of the fence. Turned off my legs and we even managed to get a little trot out of him. He is very lazy. They don't plan to show, they want something thier daughter can ride around the field and maybe go on a trail or two. He isn't spooky now, he walked between two running fourwheelers with 3 dogs following his tail and never flinched. Doesn't mind traffic either and has stopped with his pushy attitude. I am nervous about sending him back already. I know that some steps where skipped in effort of trying to meet thier time requirments. But I think what bothers me most is the fact, they don't know how to ride that well and if they start showing him the wrong things he will go bad and give me a bad name. They don't want to leave him with me any longer, said they can't afford it. Well do you think he is ready to go back and does he meet the "30 DAYS" of ridding? I absolutely hate it when it when people expect a finished horse in 30 days! __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

11-04-2006, 06:08 PM
snickers Bombproof Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Twilight Zone Posts: 8,989	This is what I would do. I would write up a contract as to what I have done and explain that the horse is no way a finished horse and explain in detail what he still needs to know and the possiblities as to what can happen. Have them sign it and that way it covers you. It is hard to get everything in on a horse when there is a time restriction. Some people just can not understand that. __________________ " You cant fix stupid " Ron White Life is to short to argue with ignorant people.

11-04-2006, 06:11 PM
ron Started Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 2,649	he would for me, but you know how beginners are. I would hate to be responsible for putting a young girl beginner on a 30 day green horse, no matter how calm. ya just never know. and those skipped steps may come back to haunt someone, sometime. you could strike up a deal to do another 2-3 weeks at a signifigant reduction in price since you seem to be concerned about it __________________ Well now boogie little baby, boogie woogie all night long. A haw, haw, haw, haw, a haw.

11-04-2006, 06:33 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,404	I offered to keep him a couple more weeks and keep riding him for NO CHARGE! They own an asphalt company and since it is getting colder their buisness is slowing down and they are afraid if we wait much longer they won't have the money to have him shipped back home. If I was sending him home to someone who was some what expirenced it wouldn't bother me at all... I have told them when he gets home he still needs consitent ridding but, who knows if they will or not. They can sit on a horse and ride but they are the type that needs a horse who isn't very sensitive to seat cues, ect. The people don't know what a little left leg pressure would mean to a sensative horse. They have only ever rode an old nag that you drug thier heads around and kick to go forward... Make any sense? He is good right now, but if they don't correct him when he makes a mistake cuz they don't realize he made a mistake (or they cause him to make one and then correct him) I see it going badly for him. I really shouldn't of ever took this on, but to late now. I talked to my dad.. He said he will be there when the horse comes back and he will ride him first so no one can come back and say it was a bad job. Why do people want a horse to have 30 days and then leave them in pasture for another 2 months? Sometimes I just hate people! edited to add: the girl is 19 but has only ridden a hand full of times __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

11-04-2006, 06:36 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,477	For starters, I will never take a horse on just 30 days unless the owners are just looking for a tune-up OR it is clearly stated that there are no specific results promised. In that amount of time, there are just too many things that simply depend on the horse's personality, and the level of the owners once they get them home. If you don't already of have a training contract (good idea to have them if you don't yet!): I like the idea of writing something up stating that with only 30 days training there are no garuntees regarding the training level or reliability of the horse (I wouldn't garuntee it anyways, but since they seem to have unrealistic hopes, I would make sure it's in writing if you don't have a training contract that states that to begin with). __________________ Try not, do. Do or do not. There is no try.

11-04-2006, 09:20 PM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	I agree with what AJ wrote. That's exactly why I don't train horses for others. Only for myself. After 30 days one of my horses could be riding extremely well or may not have even made it out of the round pen yet. It's all up to the individual horse and how they respond to training. I don't like to rush things. I fell into this exact same kind of situation a few years ago, only it was my three year old and I sold him through a horse sale. He was 3 years old and had about 45 days on him. Fairly bombproof like yours, w,t,c, backed started to neck rein, did leg cues. Tied, clipped, etc. all the good stuff. He HAD the temperament to be a good 4-H kind of horse. The kind of horse you cand do anything with they're just a good all around, quiet riding kind of horse. He was bought by some people who live less than a mile from me. They bought him as a trail horse for the mom and a pleasure horse for the daughter. I offered to help them should they need any help or to put more riding on him at anytime for a very reasonable rate as I was selling him green but I wanted them to be happy. They rode him a couple of times that summer and he did okay. A bit rusty from not being ridden very often but he appeared to retain most of the important stuff, then he sat over the winter and to make a long story short he now bucks, rears, bites, kicks, pushes, shoves and is generally a dangerous horse because he is now in charge. And they're too dang stubborn to admit that he is now worthless and dangerous. Won't let us help or take us up on our offer of free training and won't let us buy him back. SO I guess what I'm saying is be clear and upfront with what you have done with the horse, make the offers you stated and remind them again that he is young, green and not a suitable mount for an unexperienced girl to ride yet. There really isn't anything more you can do because the horse belongs to them you were only being paid to do a service which you have done. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.