{"id":3426,"date":"2010-11-04T00:49:23","date_gmt":"2010-11-04T00:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.89.31.130\/~thehors5\/thm\/?p=3426"},"modified":"2015-01-22T07:38:58","modified_gmt":"2015-01-21T20:38:58","slug":"eventing-with-emma-mason-are-you-ready-for-a-young-horse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/2010\/11\/eventing-with-emma-mason-are-you-ready-for-a-young-horse\/","title":{"rendered":"Eventing with Emma Mason – Are you ready for a young horse?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 <\/p>\n

Emma Mason helps you answer the question\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of us are lucky enough to begin our eventing career in the hands (hooves?) of an older, seasoned campaigner, affectionately referred to as the \u2018schoolmaster\u2019.\u00a0 This horse may not trot like Totilas, and he may knock a rail or four in the showjumping, but he knows that the red flag is on his right and the white on his left, and could canter around the Werribee cross-country track without his rider.<\/p>\n

Yet there may come a time when you <\/em>feel ready to be the teacher, the expounder of knowledge.\u00a0 And so the \u2018young horse\u2019 journey begins\u2026<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an experience that can be incredibly rewarding \u2013 but has the potential for disaster.\u00a0 So, with the help (and I use that term loosely) of my cheeky five year old gelding, Poker Face aka Harley (Wirragulla Hamlet\/xx) this series of articles will attempt to minimise the potential for disaster and subsequent feelings of despair that can accompany the training of a young horse.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll look at a schooling session in dressage, showjumping and cross country, followed by a \u2018guide\u2019 to the young horse at his first competition \u2013 if there can be such a thing!\u00a0 But this month we\u2019ll address the very beginning:\u00a0 The selection of the horse, the vet check, the need to correctly fit the saddle and, importantly, whether taking on a young horse is the right path for you to venture down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Decision<\/strong><\/p>\n

As familiar to the horse community as the story of Cinderella, is the fairytale of Wendy Schaeffer taking young Sunburst from $600 Thoroughbred to gold at the Olympic Games.\u00a0 But it is important to recognise that this \u2018happy ending\u2019 was largely the result of Wendy\u2019s experience, dedication and hard work.\u00a0 So be honest with yourself \u2013 do you, as a rider, have an adequate level of knowledge to pass on to a young horse?\u00a0 Is your balance and seat established enough to sit through a green horse\u2019s games and \/ or mistakes?\u00a0 (A youngster will likely be far less tolerant than his older counterpart of having his teeth re-arranged if you get left behind over a fence).\u00a0 And do you have the time and patience required to take on a baby horse?\u00a0 An older horse may be able to be ridden once or twice a week and then taken to a show, whereas the young horse needs consistent work in order to learn.<\/p>\n

In many cases, the young horse is not unlike a toddler:\u00a0 They don\u2019t know how to share, they love to play in the dirt and everything goes in their mouth regardless of culinary value (only to be unceremoniously dropped to the floor).\u00a0 Harley, for instance, takes great pleasure in ripping the fly masks off every horse in reach.\u00a0 Said fly mask usually ends up in one of the minefield of holes that Harley has dug, having diligently copied the antics of the resident German shepherd.\u00a0 His childlike behaviour is a reliable constant; even the distraction of a show fails to curtail his usual transgressions.\u00a0 You can almost hear<\/em> the groan of the unfortunate horse that scores the yard next to Harley at a show.\u00a0 He or she can expect to have their rugs twisted and pulled, their feed bins flung high into the air and their water sent splashing over the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Right Horse<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the first questions you should ask yourself (presumably just after \u201cAm I prepared to neglect my children\/partner\/other animals in taking on this young horse?\u201d and \u201cIs my ambulance cover up to date?\u201d)\u00a0 is \u201cWhat is my aim with this young horse?\u201d\u00a0 If the answer is Olympic selection, the quality of the horse\u2019s paces should be a key consideration:\u00a0 A walk that displays a good \u201cover track\u201d (ie the horse\u2019s hind hoof print lands at least in, if not ahead of, the place of his front hoof print), and a good canter (ie has a clear \u2018three-beat\u2019 rhythm and an uphill tendency) are important, as there is not much room to vastly \u2018improve\u2019 the horse\u2019s natural way of going in these gaits.\u00a0 The trot, on the other hand, can often be developed as the horse becomes stronger and more engaged.\u00a0 Having said that, if your horse possesses a \u2018sewing machine\u2019 trot, you\u2019ll be fighting an uphill battle right from the start.<\/p>\n

The jumping ability of the young horse can be tricky to assess:\u00a0 At times, the horse you go to inspect may not have seen a jump before, so you clearly can\u2019t pop him over a 1.30 m fence to test his scope.\u00a0 When I\u2019m trying out a green horse, I\u2019m interested in whether the horse wants to be careful – does he have a \u2018conscience\u2019 and try harder to clear a fence after he\u2019s knocked it?\u00a0 I\u2019m also keen to see whether the horse has a good \u2018back end\u2019 \u2013 that he lets go behind over a fence.\u00a0 I\u2019m more concerned with this than his front legs \u2013 if he\u2019s a little \u2018dangly\u2019 in front to begin with, this can generally be improved, whereas teaching a horse to be loose and free behind is much more difficult.<\/p>\n

However, wearing the green and gold is not everyone\u2019s ambition.\u00a0 You may wish to take on a young horse as a \u201cproject\u201d, with the goal being either financial (if you plan to eventually sell him for a tidy profit) or perhaps emotional (the satisfaction of successfully piloting a green horse through the grades).\u00a0 In this case, the horse\u2019s temperament is a pivotal factor:\u00a0 Ideally, he should be quiet, and not easily spooked or rattled.\u00a0 His willingness to learn, to try new obstacles and exercises, is more important than jaw-dropping movement and a pretty face.\u00a0 Be wary, also, of thinking that you\u2019ll \u201cchange\u201d a horse:\u00a0 Certainly, with consistent work, he\u2019ll become stronger and learn new skills, but if he\u2019s \u201cfizzy\u201d or \u201cstressy\u201d, he\u2019ll probably always be a bit that way inclined.<\/p>\n

Seeking the help of your instructor or a knowledgeable friend when selecting the horse is strongly advised \u2013 this person will know whether your level of riding matches the needs of a particular horse, and will be able to assess the horse without <\/em>the rose-coloured glasses that often distort the judgment of the avid buyer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finding the horse<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is certainly no shortage of horses for sale in the 3 \u2013 7 year old age group, and your local paper, trading post, Horse Deals magazine and a growing number of horse sales websites will attest to this.\u00a0 Each horse will, as a general rule, sound like the most perfect animal ever to grace the Earth in its advertisement.\u00a0 It is important to prepare additional questions to ask the vendor over the telephone in an attempt to uncover any transgressions that this advert happens to skim over.\u00a0 Your questions will be influenced by your ambitions for the horse, but I tend to ask, among other things:\u00a0 Why is the horse for sale?\u00a0 Does he have any vices? <\/em>and Does he have any blemishes\/scars\/soundness issues?<\/em><\/p>\n

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If the horse sounds promising, and you decide to go and ride him, always insist that the vendor (or someone on the vendor\u2019s behalf) ride the horse first, no matter how quiet the horse is alleged to be.\u00a0 Take your instructor along on either this or a subsequent inspection, and get their honest opinion \u2013 what do they think of the horse?\u00a0 Do they, as your trainer, believe you have the experience necessary to bring on this particular youngster?\u00a0 If the horse is from the racetrack, make an effort to contact his strapper or track work rider to find out what his attitude is like, and if he is \u2018cold-backed\u2019 or has any other undesirable qualities.<\/p>\n

Above all, trust your own instincts.\u00a0 Almost immediately after you begin riding the horse, you\u2019ll get a \u2018feeling\u2019, an indication as to whether he\u2019s the one for you.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be afraid to let this guide your decision.\u00a0 If the horse makes you at all fearful or uneasy, he\u2019s probably not suitable, even if your instructor enjoyed riding him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

The Vet Check<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the young horse has ticked all the right boxes, and you\u2019ve decided, much to the chagrin of your bank account, that you\u2019d like to go ahead and purchase him, the final step is to arrange for the vet inspection.\u00a0 This is highly recommended, even if the vendor has assured you, as they invariably will, that the horse \u201chas never had a lame day\u201d.\u00a0 While this vet exam won\u2019t provide you with a warranty, it should minimise the risk of discovering a problem later down the track.<\/p>\n

Along with many other horse owners on the NSW Central Coast, my vet is the personable Dr. Brett Jones, who is almost as famous for his bagpipe skills and pursuits on the Oztag field as for his proficiency as a horse veterinarian.\u00a0 Brett kindly let me interrupt him on a Sunday afternoon (as he nailed ladders to his shed wall in true handyman fashion) to ask some questions about the pre-purchase vet inspection:<\/p>\n

1. What sort of general information does the inspection reveal? <\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s probably best to answer this by outlining what is involved in a pre purchase examination:\u00a0 While the precise nature of the examination will vary between vets and the circumstances of the day, Equine Veterinarians Australia have a general \u201corder of proceedings\u201d that would be followed by a vet doing a pre purchase exam.<\/p>\n

A full five stage examination involves:<\/p>\n

1. The Preliminary Examination. (Clinical exam at rest).<\/p>\n

2. Examination during walking, trotting, turning & backing. (Probably including flexion tests)<\/p>\n

3. Examination during & immediately after exercise. (Watching the horse being lunged or ridden)<\/p>\n

4. Examination in period after exercise. (As the horse cools down\/recovers from exercise)<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

5. The final examination during walking, trotting, turning & backing. (Generally a repeat or abbreviated repeat of stage 2)<\/p>\n

Logistics may dictate that it might not be possible to perform all five stages on every pre purchase exam.\u00a0 There is also the option of further investigation with X-rays, airway endoscopy (scoping), ultrasound, blood testing for medications etc etc.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

2. Does your approach to vetting a young horse differ from, say, an older, seasoned campaigner?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The actual examination might not vary much \u2013 but the interpretation of the results may be shaped by the horse\u2019s age and previous workload, the intended future workload and ambitions of the buyer.<\/p>\n

People buying young horses are naturally looking for them to have a long performance career. How long it performs for, and how far the horse makes it up the performance ladder is determined by many things, such as its (and the rider\u2019s) natural athletic ability and temperament, how well the horse and rider are coached, how well the horse is ridden, how well it is looked after in relation to feeding, husbandry etc, and, amongst other things – whether or not it stays sound.<\/p>\n

You would prefer a young horse to start with a clean slate, and not have to make predictions about whether a blemish in conformation, way of going, or on x-rays etc is going to affect the goals of the purchaser. Of course not every imperfection that is discovered is going to add significant risk, and opinions on the same blemish will vary between vets.<\/p>\n

With, say, an older horse with a consistent competition record, you do tend to be more forgiving of some conditions that are obviously stable and long standing, especially if the work level is likely to be less than what the horse has been doing.<\/p>\n

It can be tricky.\u00a0 Obviously the idea of a vet check is to hopefully highlight issues that could be of added risk to the horse\u2019s future suitability, but it can sometimes be too easy to can a horse on the first abnormality found and then walk away.<\/p>\n

For me it is a balance. You want to try to highlight potential risks, thereby helping someone avoid future grief, while at the same time I would feel I had done a buyer a disservice if they walked away from an otherwise perfectly suitable horse because of an insignificant finding.\u00a0 A crystal ball would be handy…<\/p>\n

3. What\u2019s your take on the necessity of X-rays?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I knew you were going to ask that.\u00a0 You could add to this scoping, ultrasounding, blood testing and the like.<\/p>\n

The more information that can be gathered on a horse, the better – if it allows the buyer to make a rational decision that they are comfortable with.<\/p>\n

All these things cost extra money. It becomes a question of budget, how much information the buyer wants, and what risks they are willing to take.<\/p>\n

It should be noted that the absence of changes in an x-ray does not guarantee soundness.\u00a0 Conversely, the presence of x-ray changes need not necessarily mean that you walk away.\u00a0 Nonetheless, they can convey useful information about potential risks if there are changes, and perhaps just as importantly add peace of mind to a buyer if there are no changes.<\/p>\n

X-rays can also be useful as a benchmark for future reference. If a blemish is noted in, say, a 4 year old and is still there unchanged as a 9 year old when the horse is being sold for big bickies, it may be viewed more kindly, assuming the horse has stayed sound.<\/p>\n

4. Does your role as a veterinarian extend to commenting on issues that aren\u2019t strictly \u201cveterinary\u201d, such as the horse\u2019s type & temperament?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am not a riding instructor, and feel that my opinions are best kept to those veterinary, but rightly or wrongly, it sort of does.<\/p>\n

Generally I would try to limit my judgments to veterinary issues as I find \u201ctype\u201d can be a bit subjective and hard to define in terms of certificate talk.<\/p>\n

Temperament can be a tricky thing to judge from a vet check perspective.\u00a0 Often, once a price has been agreed, the seller will stop riding the horse, and the horse stands in a box or yard for a couple of days before the vet check.\u00a0 He\u2019s then taken out of the box for the vet check and trotted on a loose lead in an open area. You can\u2019t really blame the horse for thinking \u201cYippee\u201d.<\/p>\n

Also, a horse\u2019s temperament on the ground could be quite different from the way it behaves and responds to being ridden, or the way it interacts with other horses.<\/p>\n

That being said, if I feel that the horse presents a danger, especially to an inexperienced buyer, I would have a good talk them.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, if the horse is lovely and quiet then why not make the buyer feel proud of their new purchase!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Fitting the saddle and other considerations<\/strong><\/p>\n

The responsibilities of a prudent horse owner do not end with the horse\u2019s arrival home.\u00a0 As soon as possible, it is essential that the saddle \u2013 be it new or old \u2013 is correctly fitted to your horse.\u00a0 I was fortunate to be able to chat to the master of all things saddles, Mr Tony Flynn of Brighton Saddleworld, who shared some wisdom on this important issue:<\/p>\n

Having the correctly fitting saddle is just as important as you and I having correctly fitting shoes. We all know how uncomfortable a pair of shoes just a half size too small can be. In the case of a saddle, the rider\u2019s entire weight is transmitted through the stirrup bar when the rider rises to the trot. If the gullet is too narrow then the projection of the rider\u2019s weight will cause significant pinching in the muscle area below the wither. This will usually cause the horse to hollow out, and will fail to round up in the desired manner. To offset this hollowing the horse will usually have a raised neck and head carriage.<\/p>\n

Different rider shapes, height, weight and widths, means that no one saddle is usually suited to each and every rider. It is important when considering purchase of a saddle that the prospective purchaser should try a number of demonstrator saddles before purchasing. First ensure that the demo saddle fits the horse. When a saddle is too tight for the horse not only will the horse be discomforted but, the balance of the saddle will move to the back of the saddle causing poor rider position. When you sit in the back of the saddle it is the same as sitting in a lounge, your legs will pop forward and you lose the shoulder, hips and heel vertical line which should come naturally. Similarly the reverse will happen when the saddle is too wide for the horse.<\/p>\n

When buying\/trying a saddle don\u2019t expect to experience the same sensation as one might expect with a fine dining experience where you are always aware of the flavour and texture of your favourite foods. If after trying a saddle on more than one occasion, you are not conscious of the saddle, then it is possibly right for you, but if your mind is always on the saddle then it is probably not the right saddle for you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Happy riding,<\/p>\n

Em<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This article originally appeared in the March 2010 edition of The Horse Magazine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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