advice wanted!!!

[hannahjsheldon]

I took Rocky to his second ever show today and it RAINED!! Anyway, he was a very good boy and loaded and travelled BRILLIANTLY into my new box!! He thrashed about a bit on the way there, but the way back he was perfect! Anyway, we were in a mixed m&m class (not welsh though!) for 1, 2 and 3 year olds. All the Highlands looked fully grown and really chunky, they made Rocky look tiny!! Anyway, we came last. None of the horses were dodgey at all, the standard was very high, and we came last. We were still placed (!!). Anyway, I am realistic and I know he is not very mature for his age, but is there anything I can do to help him along the way??? I asked the judge if he could give me some comments and he just said that he was immature in comparison, but just give him time. Our grass is extremely lush and he is out for 13 hours a day. He gets lots of hay at night but doesn't seem to want it!! I think I will start to get haylage for him. He also has big breakfast and big tea, Hi fi and pasture mix. I don't want to push his growth because that is not healthy. Any advice would be helpful!!!!

Apart from anything else, I am just showing this year to give him the experience!!! He is a total star and behaves so well in public!!! I was so pleased with him today! I need to practice running though! That boy is FAST!

Oh, and also I managed to get on and off the showground without needing to be towed!!! YIPPEEE!! Lots of lorries were getting stuck!! I hate to think what it is like now!!! We left hours ago!!

Oh, and by the way! My digital camera must have a problem!!! It took one pic then conked out! AGAIN!!!!

[grace]

Well done. Sound like you had a good day anyway.
The dales are well known as being slow maturers compared to some breeds. They just need time to grow He will soon grow up. ;D

[hannahjsheldon]

Thanks! That's encouraging to know!! i have avoided lots of big shows with mixed breed classes because I suspected that!!! Some of the highlands are going to be far too big when fully mature!!!! The next big one is Cheshire and that is dales only, so should be better!! However, it has up to 3 year olds in it. But, we have the advantage of having next year too!!!! ;D

[dalesponyrider]

I wouldn't worry. Just give him time and he will grow into a lovely big boy I'm sure. No point in pushing things. Shame you haven't got any photos. You will have to try harder next time! LOL!

[hannahjsheldon]

I know!!! I am hopeless with cameras!!! I think one turned out so I will see what I can do!!! If the camera is dead I wont be able to get it though!!!
Thanks for your advice!! I am hoping he will become lots more chunky!! His daddy is Lowhouses Black Magic and mummy is Rowhurst Rosanna, so by looking at those two, I am sure he has got the chance to grow outwards!!!! He is just so active at the moment!! I saw him about 6 feet in the air yesterday with his back legs up behind him!! Amazing to watch! He was giving our leggy 17.2 a run for his money!!!!

[SuzieP]

Give him time - he'll mature when he's good and ready. In the meantime you're doing exactly the right thing taking him out and about and letting him get used to shows. He won't be bothered where he comes in the line-up! If you can just tell yourself that the purpose of the outing is to give him experience then you're onto a winner - rosette or not.

[dalesponyrider]

I got D when she was 6. I couldn't believe just how much she filled out. She didn't stop maturing until 8 years old!

[hannahjsheldon]

Thanks Sue!! I did say that I dont mind where I come in the line-ups this year! It's all about life experience for him! I was just a bit worried that I am doing something wrong. I can't help feeling a little dischuffed at those highlands looking like they did!!! I actually think that his trot was by far the best!! But, I suppose I am biased!!! All too often these ponies look like they are being dragged round!!!!

[anna85]

Definatly just give him time....these Dales are slow maturers. As you can see by piccies his Dad has only just finished maturing age 6 and Rocky is only a 2 year old isn't he? Often the younger ones will struggle in classes aginst 3 year olds hence why we try takin out yearlings and three year olds when showing youngstters if we can. Yearlings often have their own classes and three year olds are the top of their classes if that makes sense...however never means a two year old won't beat them.

[hannahjsheldon]

Thanks Anna! That makes total sense! I am a patient person, so I am happy just to take him out to get the experience! You are right about his dad! He is doing really well this season! He looks stunning. I would be interested to see some pics of him as a 2 year old if you have any?? Rocky is only just 2! The last judge raved about how he is going to be a fantastic riding pony, which is, what I bought him for! I can see that I will be breaking him in quite late which I don't think is a bad thing at all personally.

[mabel]

Jazz is 7 now and I've really noticed her come on since last Autumn and I've also got a 3 year old and she's very immature. I think if you just let him take his time as everyone else has said he'll come along fine.

[jakesmum]

As everyone has said they are slow to mature. In a mixed age/breed class it would take an exceptional 1/2yr old to take on a mature animal in my opinion but it does happen

[Manx Cat]

LOL, this sounds just like the sort of post I would be typing!

My Mac Lir is just 3. He too is a very slooooow to mature fellow he is still very narrow. I have highlands, and all my girls looked like they were ridable when they were 2 years old. When Mhenna was 3, she beat any other youngster in her class.... (youngstock that is)

So, I kinda thought Mac would mature along the same way. Not a bit of it.

As a yearling he was skinny. boney, his hips stuck out. His front legs crossed, his hocks rubbed against one another - almost. I have always worried about his lack of weight, but he is rather tall, so I assumed he has a high metabolic rate.

At 2 years, he went through a really gauky time. Too long in the leg, too short in the back to suit his legs, and a long large head. His neck was so weak, that his heavy mane hung sideways with a loop across his non existant crest... I didnt feed hard stuff as a yearling, but did when he reached 2 years.

He had a good winter, and stayed with his weight. He didnt lose, but didnt gain either. He grew taller and is now taller than Mhenna. He is still short in the back, but I notice on here, that a lot of dales seem to have that characteristic, and Im not worried about it. His head has matured, and his neck fits it now. He is still slim. Better than he was in recent pics. But I am feeding him on adlib good grass now, plus I give him 'Build Up' by Dobson and Horricks.

I think as you have already heard on this site, that they do indeed take YONKS to grow up!

I think it must be that their metabolic rates are super fast, and working hard on making good bone and feathers, and less in muscle bulk at this time....?

The judge at our last show, placed Mac down the line all the time. He was brilliantly behaved, but was against mature M&M ponies, as there was no youngstock classes that day. She did say to me though, that given time and maturity Mac will be placed much higher up.

So, dont give up. Give good grazing, dont over stuff, and talk to a feed company to get the best nutritional advice. I had the double problem that Mac is also a fussy eater. But he is improving all the time, so I think his teeth have been an issue. and his front teeth took such a long time to come that maybe his back teeth were behind as well.

Dont worry, but like me, you sound like your gonna have to be patient!

I keep wishing the poor mans life away,,, I was soooo looking forward to long reining and backing him in August, but he just isnt mature enough either physically or mentally to cope. And after all, he should live a long long life, so Im having to be patient and wait another year.... Maybe spring before we start him next year.


Good luck


Mary

[lizzylove]

Well done at the show.....just a thought - our digital camera would switch on take a photo or two then die and not usually switch on again. All it was in the end was it needed new batteries as they were a few years old so weren't really charging up properly! It may be that is why your camera is poorly!

[bethanyerdman]

My dales is exactly the same i got him at three and he was all legs then. he is seven next week and it was only last summer that he really changed in to a nice rounded adult shape