Sending a colic/colitis-prone youngster to be started

[Clair2014]

I’m not sure what category to put this topic in but I guess I just wanted to bounce my thoughts off some others who don’t know me and will hopefully be non-biased. I’m a dressage professional and have been in the business a long time. I’m not very competitive anymore but I do have my bronze and silver medals and have trained horses through the FEI levels. I apologize in advance for the novel I’m about to write:

The horse in question is a coming three year-old I bred and raised on the small farm I have at my house. He’s an interesting case in that he was born early and received steroids immediately after birth. In addition, his dam retained her placenta and was in a tremendous amount of pain for the first week after giving birth so was on banamine as well as other medications. The colt developed ulcers within 24 hours of birth and coliced severely. He was on Gastrogard for a couple months. He also developed an umbilical infection.

To make matters worse, my retired FEI gelding came down with potomac 4 days after this colt was born and died. He was the only other full-sized horse on this small farm (only my personal retired horses live here) so my colt’s dam became extremely upset at suddenly being the only large horse left on the farm (there was also a pony but he clearly didn’t count).

The mare eventually settled down and the pony and my colt bonded but I believe some of these initial experiences affected this colt’s personality. Additionally, in spite of the care given to heal the colt’s hindgut he has continued to be prone to attacks of colitis of unknown origin. The colt does have a deformity of his sheath so it is possible that he has other deformities or internal strictures causing these attacks but he also tends to have a nervous temperament and if he is pushed to hard with training that will also cause him to colic.

I would like to send this colt to someone to have him started under saddle as I broke my neck in a fall on the ice several years ago (not horse related) and prefer to not start young horses any more but I’m very concerned about sending him away and the stress causing a severe colic episode. I know his limits and how far he can be pushed but I’m just not sure someone else is going to understand or respect those limits.

I don’t want to be a “helicopter” owner but I also don’t want to kill my youngster just to get him trained. I could wait longer to see if some more maturity would help or I could possibly try to start him myself but I feel that might not be the wisest solution. Wondering what others might do in a similar situation.

[Equkelly]

Can you have someone come to you to start him? This is probably not a horse I would send to a cowboy… whoever starts him should be slow and soft. If you don’t know anyone you 100% trust, go with someone highly recommended.

[joiedevie99]

Do you have a safe facility to have someone come to you and start him at home?

[candyappy]

That was my first thought too. Try and find a local trainer you may know/ trust-- come to your place and work with him?

[Clair2014]

Trainers coming on site is not something that is really done in our area but it wouldn’t hurt to ask around. I might be able to find someone. The issue would probably be my facility. I have a nice outdoor but it is completely open. I do not have anywhere enclosed to ride. If I were going to do this, I would probably have to at least look into getting a round pen.

[Clair2014]

I like the idea though. It would probably be much better for my colt.

[Equkelly]

@Clair2014

The issue would probably be my facility. I have a nice outdoor but it is completely open. I do not have anywhere enclosed to ride. If I were going to do this, I would probably have to at least look into getting a round pen.

You’d be surprised. I mean a roundpen is definitely nice to start a baby in but you definitely don’t need one. It wouldn’t hurt to ask around though!

[Clair2014]

I never had a round pen when I was starting young horses but I’m not sure anyone around here would start him without one. I guess I’d just have to ask around and see if anyone would even come out and what they are willing to do. It’s certainly worth a shot.

[SuzieQNutter]

I have broken horses in with no round yard, no arena and no buck.

To stand back from the situation. Being so experienced as you are with training a horse, you know you put your heart and soul, your time and your money into training a horse.

You start with a completely sound horse and you have to have time off because of sickness and injuries for both of you and lack of time for work and family commitments.

This horse has your heart and sole. You will keep him whether he is trained or not. You yourself say nervous colics and could have internal worries.

I would say enjoy him for what he is and find a non nervous, has good insides, hasn’t colicked to pour your time and money into, rather than spending your money on vet bills all the time… you hope

There are no guarantees of course, but we try to set them up to succeed not to fail.

[Highflyer1]

While I agree that they’re not strictly necessary you could also look into buying or borrowing portable round pen panels. You would likely only need them for 30 days or you could always resell them afterward (although they are extremely nice to have!)

[lenapesadie]

I vote for acquiring a round pen and finding a good riding crash test dummy. You do the training and CTD does the riding

[Equkelly]

@lenapesadie

I vote for acquiring a round pen and finding a good riding crash test dummy. You do the training and CTD does the riding

If you can find somebody open to that arrangement, that could work but I don’t know of any pros that would be.

I have a friend who is a pro and she constantly gets calls saying “will you just come out for the morning and put the first ride on him” to which she replies absolutely not because she is a trainer and not a crash test dummy.

I sympathize with that. I have no problem getting on a horse I’ve worked with and I know and has the prerequisites. A horse somebody else worked with? No thanks! Not taking any chances paying those insurance copays/ deductibles!

[lenapesadie]

Locally, there isn’t much in the way of colt starting bar old fashioned cowboys.

So choices are send horse far away, let old fashioned cowboy break horse, or DIY.

Lots of young ladies locally looking for rides and experience. When needed, we haven’t had an issue finding someone to climb aboard. These aren’t professionals they are just good riding ladies. Though the accepted norm here is two people to start a colt if you aren’t a “real cowboy”. Horse culture else where is likely to be vastly different!

Me personally I did the riding myself and had mom be the person on the ground on my own gelding. I would have preferred a more experienced ground handler, but at least mom and horse know and love each other.

I did hire a local cowboy to come put an early ride (first trot and a step of canter) on my horse. You’re right that he wasn’t keen on just coming to do a ride, but he agreed readily after meeting (and swinging a rope at) my boy. But I agree in general that getting a pro to come to your place for just a few first rides may be unlikely. General you of course!

[oldernewbie]

Would you mind sharing your location? Perhaps someone can refer you to a colt starter/cowboy who would be willing to work with you.

I board at an Arab show training barn. We had a tough customer come in to be trained - trainer (in his 50s) did all the ground work and ponied horse from my retired show horse. But when it came to getting on - we worked our contacts and found an excellent young man who came to the barn and worked with the troublesome young 'un. About 10-20 rides from him and the horse is now being ridden by the trainer and progressing nicely. I never would have imagined it - I mean it was a baaaad one.

So, it certainly is possible. You just need to network and also be willing to pay. And because I am kinda paranoid, I would be sure to check your property insurance to make sure you have liability coverage in case something goes wrong.

[Equkelly]

I did the same with my baby too. I did the riding and my friend helped from the ground. I definitely would’ve agreed to being a crash test dummy when I was younger though! Back then I wouldn’t have cared about any baby horse fireworks and probably would’ve been excited by the challenge. Now, not so much! I used to take so much pride in being able to stay on with bucking, rearing, spooning, and bolting… now I take pride in my first ride if it was boring because that means I did the job right!

[lenapesadie]

Amen.

In my wildest dreams, I would like to breed, raise and start another colt. The first time was such a learning curve. I think it would be fascinating to do it all again.

[Equkelly]

@lenapesadie

Amen.

In my wildest dreams, I would like to breed, raise and start another colt. The first time was such a learning curve. I think it would be fascinating to do it all again.

Are you me? Same! I love colt starting. As a kid that’s pretty much all I did was ride green/ problem horses and I miss it so much. I actually kind of wish it was a discipline I could get into but I feel like unless you’re a pro you can’t really do that and I have no interest in being a pro.

Some days I think I need another baby (mine is turning 5 this spring) but then she tries to amputate her foot in the field and I’m like “yea nevermind, I’m good!”

[lenapesadie]

Mine is coming 9. He’s sure he’s still the baby though lol.

My reluctance is the sheer horror of foaling. It was nerve wracking.

[Clair2014]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. It got me thinking out of my proverbial “box”. I had not considered trying to keep him home. I do teach a lot of lessons so my insurance would cover a young rider riding him with me in a lesson type situation so it would work if I could find a good young rider wanting to learn about starting a young horse. It would also cover a professional coming to my property to train him if that professional also carried insurance.

What it would not cover is an uninsured person coming to my place to work with him outside of a lesson so that option is completely out. I think I will spend the majority of the spring and summer preparing his ground work and see how far that gets us and research the riders in the area. Maybe I will find a situation that works for us. Thanks again!

[candyappy]

@Clair2014

I do not have anywhere enclosed to ride. If I were going to do this, I would probably have to at least look into getting a round pen.

I have started most all my horses without a round pen or fenced arena. You may be surprised. Your unfenced arena may be enough if the groundwork is good and he is good minded.