EquiTeam member and professional Equine Service Provider, Alex Cocking, shares how taking his time with his young horse has paid off.
Our new mare Talia came to live with us in March 2024 having been rescued by the SSPCA at the end of 2023. When she arrived Kevin and I welcomed a shy, timid three year old to be part of our family.
But even from the first day we could see in her soft eye that there was a smart loving horse hidden in there. Horse welfare really matters to us, so we didn’t rush anything, and initially just spent quiet time with her, letting us get to know and trust us.
This approach was absolutely the right one for her, as we managed to get her head collar on and off, and she was actually out in the field and willing to be caught again within a couple of days.
This was a huge thing as we genuinely did not expect her to settle and trust us so quickly. In my head, I had had pictured this wild unhandled beast arriving at us, and that she would need weeks of being stabled before ever being able to go outside, as she had never experienced this before. It was such a pleasant surprise to be wrong and she soon adapted to having access to grass and friends.
As an EquiTeam member, I know how important ground work and spending time on the basics is for our relationships with our horses. With this in mind much of 2024 was spent doing the things we take for granted with our other horses – the routine of daily turn out, and getting attention; adapting and developing her feed regime; and introducing her to the wonders of being groomed.
It was by no means an easy journey, and it took a while to get her to trust us enough that we could pick up her feet. To begin with, she needed full sedation for a basic trim. However with kindness and patience, she now stands perfectly for her visits from the farrier.
Our little achievements soon added up, and she now enjoys being tied up in our wash bay, having her tail and legs cleaned. Anyone that knows me, knows this is a must with my love of bathing and clean and shiny ponies!
We ended the year with some lovely pampering time – and it is heart warming to see how settled she is with us. For her Christmas, she was measured up for her first bridle and bit from Springfield Saddlery, so that is our next step to look forward to. Who knows – she may even get a bit of bling as I love that too!
We started 2025 with a week of snow, but that won’t be holding us back! She turns four in April, and having taken to time to build a relationship with her, my plan is to work on her ground work using some of the downloads from EquiTeam, with the goal of sitting on her for the first time on her birthday.
Currently, we have started to build her confidence in having a roller and girth on. Gradually, I spent time getting her used to this being tightened round her tummy and over her back – and in true Talia fashion she took it in her stride and was not remotely upset!
Over the next few weeks, we will play about with this while we groom and then start to walk her in and around our indoor arena with this on. Then starts the fun of having her bridle on, and beginning long reining which is so important for young horses. Once we have mastered this and the weather improves, I’m looking forward to moving out of the arena and round the fields.
I like to be organised and do things in steps. So because I would like to be on her back at the end of April, my plan is to start my “leaning” process a good few weeks before. This involves building up from very lightly leaning and putting weight on her back, to then lying over her back and her being led.
I’d be lying if I said this isn’t the part of backing I hate – it’s uncomfortable and a heart in mouth moment as I have to totally trust her – but it’s also really important to trust your person on the ground. For me this is Kevin who is always my hands and eyes from the ground.
She has been such a super star so far though I’m really hoping the backing will be the same.
Once we have achieved this, the next steps will be to slowly start to build up her ridden work – under EquiTeam’s Liz’s watchful coaching eye. It’s important that although I have a plan in my head, we will do everything at Talia’s pace and within her comfort zone.
If something worries her, or doesn’t go to plan, I will take a step back, slow down the process or repeat until she is comfortable for her. I see so many people out competing on their young horses but I’m playing the long game and hope to have her for the rest of her life. We are in no hurry as we have as much time as we need to learn and grow together.
I’m looking forward to sharing my next update and our progress,
Alex
