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Training Youngsters
We catch up with Lynn Russell to find out what happens to her new arrivals when they step off the lorry from Ireland…
As soon as the new horses arrive, they go into a quarantine area of the yard, just in case they are harbouring any infectious disease or illness. Most arrive as unbroken 3 or 4 year olds, some with very little handling, so we have to keep out wits about us!
The yard staff and I will have a meeting to discuss the new arrivals and I will work out a correct diet plan for them individually, based on their condition and discuss each horse’s planned training schedule –which may range from simple handling, grooming and leading exercises through to getting them started on the lunge.
All the horses are wormed, but we leave bathing and too much fussing until they have settled in, as this can cause them to be distressed. However we may have to wash their legs off and tend to any nicks or bangs, so we will use my own Lynn Russell Everyday Conditioning Shampoo, which cleans, conditions, yet is kind to skin. If their feet need attention, then we will have the farrier out and any horses that we feel need to have a check over with the vet, we will book them into the diary.
Most horses settle into a routine really quickly, although many of them can remain jumpy and nervous for longer, especially if all they have known is a field all their life! We like to give the horses as much turnout as possible, however we do turn the new horses out with a head collar on, which can prove helpful with those who are a little less keen to come in from the field!
Daily handling is important in the early days and we make a point of bringing all the horses in each day, even if they are not being exercised or in training, so that they get used to being caught and also being groomed, having their feet picked out etc. We use my Lynn Russell Mane & Tail Detangler to help get the brush through those thick tails and manes, which helps keep them tangle free and easier to maintain.
Depending on the horse’s age and temperament, we look to start breaking them, which like anyone involved with horses, can be a simple straightforward procedure with some pleasant surprises or as a flip side can showcase some interesting personality traits and naughtiness! Fortunately most of the horses work through the cheekiness and naughtiness and knuckle down to the nursery school and very often its now that you start to get a real sense of achievement, especially with that ‘special find’ that you know has the looks and movement to do well and now it turns out also has the trainable temperament to match!
With the weather being what it is, it may not be possible to keep to a schedule, but we try to keep going forward despite what the weather decides to throw in our direction (last year being the worst snow fall for years in the south!) and muddle through.
I am lucky enough to have an indoor school, which has been great for getting through the winter months and also provides yet another environment for the horses to get used to (again a new experience for the majority).
Anyway I hope that if you are embarking on a new partnership that it’s a long and successful one!
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Use a rug to keep your horse warm when bathing this winter |
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