Here comes Trouble - Fiona

[gotkiger]

if and when i breed her it will probably be to a kiger. The bigest i will do is just bigger than her so between 14-15hh in hopes to get a foal with a little more height, lol. I wont do an andi or anything like that with her.

[Michelle Clarke]

Perfect! She is very pretty!

[gotkiger]

thank you.

[DianneC]

Lovely girl, I can see why you wanted her back. Keep us posted on her progress!

[gotkiger]

i will. she is broke to ride already and super gentile. I know she goes in all three gates but im not sure how much further they got with her. last i knew she was starting to go off of leg pressure. i will know more on tuesday when i get on for the first time... She is compact and so my adult western saddle wont work. I have a childrens saddle that works for her but not really for me. Does anyone have any suggestions as far as tack for her? I have no problem riding with a bareback pad.

[gotkiger]

Thank you Dianne. she is cery cute but her personality is better (she isnt even grouchy when in heat). The big shocker is... I dont like bay... but now i have two, oops. It might be growing on me a little... well at least this red version

[Michelle Clarke]

How old is she? I would not be riding her if she is only two - there can be long term damage done to her legs and spine which leads to early break down later in life. Horses started at two shortens their longevity for riding. I would leave her alone until next spring, then start back up slowly and don't do any hard riding, stops, collection until at least four. If she is two and still growing, her back will be making a lot of changes. Most surely don't be riding her with a bareback pad as there is no support for her or you and your seat bones will just dig into her back, causing her to drop it and being so young, her back could fuse like this and you'll wind up with a sway back eight year old horse.

You can see from the above picts that she is downhill and growing - worst time to be riding a young horse and jamming the shoulder all up.

Just food for thought!

[gotkiger]

thank you michelle. She is three and a half. i agree she has a lot of growing to do... well maturing i dont think she will get much taller, lol. Sadly i am only going to be able to work her once a week and even that will be playing in a large arena to get both of us exercise, and i will probably be on the ground. With having my daughter i wont be able to do much with Fiona until next year. She will probably go out into pasture here after dollie weans Frodo and Dollie will trade places with Fiona at the stables.

[Michelle Clarke]

Cool! Then she is ready to have some fun with! I look forward to hearing all your adventures with Fiona...

[gotkiger]

Can you suggest any tack to use with one so small?

[pepper]

I wouldn't be so sure she won't get taller..Amigo was 15'2 at 3 years old..if only he'd stopped there!!!He's a full hand & 300lbs larger today...and a beautiful bay also ! :>)

[Michelle Clarke]

The easiest thing to find without spending a fortune is a rounded skirt, barrel saddle - wide! If you can find one made by American Saddlery, you'll have a better chance of it fitting. The other off the shelf saddles that usually work are Reinsmans with the flex tree. Whatever you pick, make sure the skirt is rounded or it will be too long and rub her hip bones.

[gotkiger]

Thanks. The kids pony saddle I have looks barely too small for her which is sad, but I have been searching for a good rounded skirt saddle for a while so oh darn I will just have to really start looking and buy myself another saddle (#6 here I come, lol)

Amigo is a beautiful boy and I was actually considering making an offer on him if and when my colt sold but with Fiona coming back I wont be able to do that

Fiona was 13.3 last year when I sold her and she had been that way for a while, lol. I am perfectly fine with having a short little pony. Shorter distance to fall, easier to get up on, and I can give her a push start if need be. I will be uber shocked if she gets another inch. Though I sometimes think about standing her in manure and watering her to see if that will help her grow (JK). Both of her parents were fairly short. I would say 14.2 and 14.3. I have no doubt however about her growing out. She has always seemed a little wider than Dollie. But that will only come with time. She is already very broad in the back, looks comfortable to ride bareback.

Oh and part of me is a little jelous at amigos height at 3. While I love my short ponies I also love the huge drafts. Go big or go home has a different meaning with them. HEHEHEHE I want to get a huge clyd with no white and put it next to Fiona, lol. Yes I would be that weird.