(no subject)
So, this weekend my 5 year old Paso Fino gelding, Strider, will be leaving for training. The place he'll be staying at is a breeding farm, and the owner of the farm has a trainer who works for her, and they breed and show, and I've watched the videos of what he does, and I like what I see. Also, the lady I bought my boy from knows this lady, has sold to her, etc, and she's pretty well respected, so, I have no fears in that area. They're also close, so I'll be going to visit him and drop in, and I do plan on doing at least one lesson with the trainer on my horse.
What I AM worried about is the separation anxiety this is sure to cause in both my horses. The only time they've ever been apart since Strider was 4 months old was for 30 days when I sent my Arab off for training. However, at that time, I had other horses, so Strider had 4 other horses to buddy up with and not feel so lonely about things. This time, however...neither boy has anyone else.
My Arabian, Socks, will be somewhat secluded in his pen (he can hear other horses, and sort of see them, but not really interact with them). Every time I take him trail riding on the property, he wants to get back to Strider, will call out to him, or stop if he hears Strider calling out for him. I'm hoping the 30 days separation will help soften their buddy issues.
However, Strider I think views Socks as his surrogate, and is incredibly attached. He will spend hours calling for him if I leave the property with Socks. In that, I'm so sorry for this lady for having to listen to that constant whinneying and crying. But, I'm worried about him going off his feed, or one or both of them colicing.
The other issue I haven't broached with anyone who really knows horses is I'm worried that the trainer's going to think I ruined my horse. I got him as a weanling, and, honestly, didn't know diddly about training. I will also admit I've used primarily Clinton Anderson's groundwork methods on him. That's just what worked best for me. I worry that perhaps I don't have a good enough foundation on him, or that I've left glaring gaps and holes that he's going to uncover, and have to spend time on.
So, right now I ran through a quick list of basics that he knows:
Leads, Loads, Ties, Stands for the farrier, Can be wormed, Can be bathed, Lunges both directions at walk/gaits (largo and corto, never seen him fino)/canter, Been ground driven, Easy to saddle, Packs a bit (D Ring Snaffle with copper rollers)
Right now he direct reins, and has had 3 rides put on him (one where I was a passive passenger while I had a friend lunge him at liberty in the round pen), and 2 more at a walk, with a simple "trail ride" on the property while following Socks.
I KNOW I'm blowing this all out of proportion. He's been gently raised. Slowly brought along and not pushed. I'm just concerned. I really am just sending him out to get him well-set into his gaits under saddle, and get him further along under saddle than I feel confident enough doing. He's highly intelligent (don't we all think that about our horses though?), but he's never really been worked by a man; just women. All his life, it's been women handling him and working with him, so this will be a unique change for him as well.
Will someone please tell me to stop worrying and ENJOY the fact when he comes back he's going to be FAR more fun to have around because I'll be able to enjoy RIDING him? Or, offer any advice, suggestions, comments that I haven't thought about up to this point?
What I AM worried about is the separation anxiety this is sure to cause in both my horses. The only time they've ever been apart since Strider was 4 months old was for 30 days when I sent my Arab off for training. However, at that time, I had other horses, so Strider had 4 other horses to buddy up with and not feel so lonely about things. This time, however...neither boy has anyone else.
My Arabian, Socks, will be somewhat secluded in his pen (he can hear other horses, and sort of see them, but not really interact with them). Every time I take him trail riding on the property, he wants to get back to Strider, will call out to him, or stop if he hears Strider calling out for him. I'm hoping the 30 days separation will help soften their buddy issues.
However, Strider I think views Socks as his surrogate, and is incredibly attached. He will spend hours calling for him if I leave the property with Socks. In that, I'm so sorry for this lady for having to listen to that constant whinneying and crying. But, I'm worried about him going off his feed, or one or both of them colicing.
The other issue I haven't broached with anyone who really knows horses is I'm worried that the trainer's going to think I ruined my horse. I got him as a weanling, and, honestly, didn't know diddly about training. I will also admit I've used primarily Clinton Anderson's groundwork methods on him. That's just what worked best for me. I worry that perhaps I don't have a good enough foundation on him, or that I've left glaring gaps and holes that he's going to uncover, and have to spend time on.
So, right now I ran through a quick list of basics that he knows:
Leads, Loads, Ties, Stands for the farrier, Can be wormed, Can be bathed, Lunges both directions at walk/gaits (largo and corto, never seen him fino)/canter, Been ground driven, Easy to saddle, Packs a bit (D Ring Snaffle with copper rollers)
Right now he direct reins, and has had 3 rides put on him (one where I was a passive passenger while I had a friend lunge him at liberty in the round pen), and 2 more at a walk, with a simple "trail ride" on the property while following Socks.
I KNOW I'm blowing this all out of proportion. He's been gently raised. Slowly brought along and not pushed. I'm just concerned. I really am just sending him out to get him well-set into his gaits under saddle, and get him further along under saddle than I feel confident enough doing. He's highly intelligent (don't we all think that about our horses though?), but he's never really been worked by a man; just women. All his life, it's been women handling him and working with him, so this will be a unique change for him as well.
Will someone please tell me to stop worrying and ENJOY the fact when he comes back he's going to be FAR more fun to have around because I'll be able to enjoy RIDING him? Or, offer any advice, suggestions, comments that I haven't thought about up to this point?