There is a horse in the field behind him. Overall there are 5 horses on the land - so it is rare that only one is in the field by themselves - Conrad copes the least as he is a 5 year old, unbroken.
He was a suprise foal when my friend Toni was running a yard, she bought a mare - and got "one free" ... His mum is about 15 hands and a chestnut cob - he is 17.2 ... and still has a bit of catcing up to do!!
She likes to back them at 4, then give them 6 months off, and break them - that's what DJ had. With Conrad, she broke her leg and her husband had a heart attck a couple of years ago, which has really knocked them both back.
She had hoped to sell him this Spring, but no buyers ... he handles well to move etc - I move him from field to field as necesary, and he has a farrier trim his feet - so some of the work is done - she is wary of the final stage as she is only 5 foot - and he is so big ... when he moves his head everything travels a long way!
The older that he gets with no training the less likely he is to find a buyer. That is too bad. He is huge.
One of my friends in Durango got a free mare several years ago, who was pregnant though my friend didn't know that. The free mare who she named Lady is now around 4, so Lady was very young when she foaled. Unfortunately, the young colt had serious health issues and had to be put down before he was 2 weeks old.
My vet in New Jersey, where I once had 2 horses, had a beautiful black quarter horse mare. He kept hoping to have enough time to train her himself. By the time she was 5, he gave up realizing that he was not going to have the time or energy to train her and had her trained by the man with whom I boarded my horses.
It is common in the U.S. to start training from birth at least getting the foals used to halters, horse vans, being handled, etc. By two, they get extensive training, being saddled, not much riding. At three yo, more riding and training. It might vary a bit with the breed, but certainly that is common with quarter horses, etc.
Both DJ and Conrad, who were both suprise foals have been handled since birth - but it is not unknown for British riders to leave a foal until it is 3 without any handling/care etc. DJ was easy as he was an escape artist - so usually turned up wherever anyone was around - so was used to things being placed on him etc.
As you say the breeds make a difference.
Conrad is now just so big, but when he was at a decent size was when it was impossible to do the work - he is very much in Toni's mind, and she knows that if she can't sell him, she must do the work herself.
That is quite a challenge. I prefer small horses. Levi is probably 15 hands or a little less. I once had a very small Arabian gelding who was 14.2 hands. He was so easy to get off and on.
Wouldn't it be lovely to live the life DJ leads. A bit of grooming, a short walk and back to a bit more grooming, lots of carrots and feed with a lovely place to roll. *sigh* Sounds wonderful.
Don't tell DJ that - he thinks he had to work hard this week - and he only went out twice! I do try to point out how lucky he is, but he reminds me that I made him walk up a hill - poor boy!!!
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mmmag
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Date: 2009-08-05 04:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-05 05:04 pm (UTC)He was a suprise foal when my friend Toni was running a yard, she bought a mare - and got "one free" ... His mum is about 15 hands and a chestnut cob - he is 17.2 ... and still has a bit of catcing up to do!!
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Date: 2009-08-05 05:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-05 06:56 pm (UTC)She had hoped to sell him this Spring, but no buyers ... he handles well to move etc - I move him from field to field as necesary, and he has a farrier trim his feet - so some of the work is done - she is wary of the final stage as she is only 5 foot - and he is so big ... when he moves his head everything travels a long way!
no subject
Date: 2009-08-05 07:33 pm (UTC)One of my friends in Durango got a free mare several years ago, who was pregnant though my friend didn't know that. The free mare who she named Lady is now around 4, so Lady was very young when she foaled. Unfortunately, the young colt had serious health issues and had to be put down before he was 2 weeks old.
My vet in New Jersey, where I once had 2 horses, had a beautiful black quarter horse mare. He kept hoping to have enough time to train her himself. By the time she was 5, he gave up realizing that he was not going to have the time or energy to train her and had her trained by the man with whom I boarded my horses.
It is common in the U.S. to start training from birth at least getting the foals used to halters, horse vans, being handled, etc. By two, they get extensive training, being saddled, not much riding. At three yo, more riding and training. It might vary a bit with the breed, but certainly that is common with quarter horses, etc.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-05 07:56 pm (UTC)As you say the breeds make a difference.
Conrad is now just so big, but when he was at a decent size was when it was impossible to do the work - he is very much in Toni's mind, and she knows that if she can't sell him, she must do the work herself.
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Date: 2009-08-05 08:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-06 07:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-05 06:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-05 06:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-06 01:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-06 07:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-06 07:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-06 07:15 pm (UTC)