A WWYD...

[eventinghenry]

Just looking for some opinions here, as am having a bit of a dilemma. Sorry if turns out long. Short version: deciding whether to sell/loan out current horse and get something else, or whether to persevere with current horse until able to afford to keep both.

Have owned current horse 5 years, he’s a real sweetheart and I love him to bits, I’ve always said he’d never go anywhere. BUT, I really want to event/showjump more, but he still doesn’t love it like I hoped. He tries, and he does have ability, but he’s really not the most bold/confident so we are always having stops. It’s frustrating for both of us, because he can do it, and often will, but still the stops and eliminations happen. He’s improved HUGELY since I got him, and he definitely enjoys jumping at home/places he’s used to, and having a play over smaller stuff (75cm and below) out and about. But I don’t want to be forcing him into something he’s not.

Im not in a financial position to have two at the moment, but I’m expecting this to change in the next 2 years, and had always planned to buy another eventually anyway, but keep current horse alongside it. But recently I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s best for everyone...

As far as I can see I’ve got 3 options:

sell/loan him out - I don’t want to see him go, and it would break my heart but I’d be able to get something and start making progress sooner, and he’d get to do the things he enjoys/is good at.

persevere for now and see what happens - I’d only ever be asking him to compete at 80cm (or possibly 90cm if he was up for it), and he is getting better and better. Maybe I need to have some patience and faith in both of us that we will get there, especially now we can get out and about more (haven’t been able to do as much as I’d like up to now for various reasons).

keep current horse but “retire” from competitive jumping/eventing - this would be temporary until I could afford something to event alongside keeping him for fun. He’d be doing dressage/hunting/hacking/fun rides, and just jumping at home or the odd clinic/xc schooling for fun.

IF (and that’s a big if) I decided to sell/loan him, I have no idea how to price him in current market, and if there’s be a loan market for something like him. I’ll be very honest below and see what you think.

He’s a 16.2hh, 11yo, ISH. Lovely looking, with nice paces. Sweetest and easiest horse you could ask for to do things with on the ground (load/clip/farrier etc.) Everyone who meets him loves his personality! Almost exclusively take him out on my own with nobody on the ground and he’s no problem at all. Doesn’t travel that well in a standard trailer with partition in, but travels perfectly in a lorry/equitrek trailer/trailer with no partition. Hacks/beach rides alone/in company, good in traffic. I won’t say he’s bombproof, because he does look at things but I’d trust him totally and worse he will do is jump sideways or try to reverse/trot a few strides. Will canter/gallop in open spaces/on the beach in a snaffle. Does a very smart dressage test, would go out at prelim/novice level tomorrow, very consistently 65-70% at prelim or higher if I’ve been working on it. Has taken a small teen from never having ridden to her first dressage comp and small jumps. Would happily jump on fun rides/pairs XC, and loves a bit of jumping at home. Hunting him is not for the faint hearted, he does get very strong (the only time!!) but I’m only 5ft5, not that heavy, and have had 3 very happy seasons on him. He will jump out hunting and has done several big hedge days with no issues. Not the best at standing still, but not horrible, just a bit fidgety. I’m sure he’d make a lovely horse for someone who isn’t that keen on the competitive jumping scene but wants something easygoing for fun rides/hacking and some dressage.

cup of tea and a biscuit if you got this far!

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I would just keep him and keep saving. He sounds delightful. I think you would be mad to let such an honest horse go.

 

[wills_91]

He sounds lovely and I'm sure if you did part with him then he would be snapped up in no time be that loan or sale.

However, 2 years will be over before you know it and if you intend on having 2 then it would be mad to let him go. Could you share something else just now to get yourself out doing what you want to do? Could always part loan your lad to finance a share for yourself?

 

[Squeak]

If you were able to have two horses would you want them both to be out jumping or would it suit to have one that you could pick up and put down a bit more and just have fun on?

If you want two you can take out jumping then you should sell him as he's never going to do the job you want. Alternatively if he's your perfect second horse then I'd keep him for now but I would try and find a way of making it financially possible to have the second now whether that's putting current boy on loan or getting a sharer or something.

 

[Dasher66]

What lessons do you have? Your horse sounds lovely - a bit of schooling for him and some minor adjustments to your riding might make all the difference.

 

[SEL]

If you're feeling frustrated then I'd start to look for #2. Providing your current horse stays sound and healthy he's the type who would be snapped up quickly for either loan or sale.

 

[SantaVera]

if you buy another horse after selling or loaning this current horse it too might not turn out quite as expected, it could injure itself or just not quite do what you want to do. your current horse sounds like real sweetheart TBH and tries for you . i would keep this horse ,retire from the jumping/competition for at least 12 months 2 yrs would be better then have a go again if you are in that mind frame then and see what happens. meanwhile i would be looking into riding someone elses horse who is capable of doing the levels/heights that you are aiming for. be a rider/jockey for someone else,someone with a horse with the scope you require but that they dont want to compete at that leve for whatever reason, probably their lack of their own ability. that way you get to keep a good horse you know well , dont need to own 2 but get to do what you want re the jumping. placing an advert in relevant magazines or riding clubs should find you a suitable mount.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Your current horse would have a choice of lovely homes wanting to take him on - if I wasn't gradually getting out of horses myself I'd be sending you a PM making enquiries!

But, do you really want to event again? Is your heart still in it? Good suggestion above, can you try and bag a ride on another decent horse and see if you still have the love for larger fixed XC fences?

 

[ycbm]

I posted a similar thread three years ago and I chose to sell. I get regular updates from his owner telling me that he has changed her life completely. He's much happier doing what she does than with me trying to push him into higher levels of dressage that he wasn't suited for. It's been a win win for all of us.

In the current market your boy is worth a lot of money, but that might not help a lot, because his replacement will be the same. Buying isn't fun at the moment, people are making very quick decisions, often unseen, to get horses at reasonable prices.
.

 

[Big Bay Mare]

I have posted earlier in the week about a similar problem. Like you, I am a young professional whose financial situation will improve substantially within the next couple of years. I have a mare who is my heart horse, sadly at 17’3 she is far too big for me (I am a 5’3 petite lady). I want to SJ and we have been concentrating on this for the past three years and although we made progress, her size is preventing us from progressing as we should.

My plan was to keep her until I get a promotion, then buy something suitable to compete on and put her in foal and keep as a very expensive pet. However, after a particularly difficult lesson, my coach convinced me that she is not the horse for me. It is a very veeeery expensive hobby and if it is not fun and the horse is preventing you from doing what you really want to do, it just is not worth it.

I will be terribly sad when she goes but such are the realities of horse owning. On the other hand, I am looking forward to getting a new horse and finally being able to go out and have fun. You should weigh it up in your mind and make a decision about what is best for you.

As to pricing, I will leave it to the forum gods but have a look at Horsequest or similar and see what horses is his type go for.

Best of luck!

 

[eventinghenry]

If you were able to have two horses would you want them both to be out jumping or would it suit to have one that you could pick up and put down a bit more and just have fun on?

If you want two you can take out jumping then you should sell him as he's never going to do the job you want. Alternatively if he's your perfect second horse then I'd keep him for now but I would try and find a way of making it financially possible to have the second now whether that's putting current boy on loan or getting a sharer or something.

No, I wouldn’t have the time/finances to have two fit and out competing. He’d be my know him inside out, have a bit of fun on, hack with friends/take to the beach with the dog occasionally horse. I’d probably end up getting a sharer/part loan for him. I hope it will be in the next 2 years or so, but no guarantees I suppose.

What lessons do you have? Your horse sounds lovely - a bit of schooling for him and some minor adjustments to your riding might make all the difference.

lots of lessons is the answer! I’ve had fortnightly jumping lessons over lockdown, monthly dressage lessons. First few years I had him was having regular lessons dressage/jumping/XC. He’s not had as many “out and about” lessons and clinics as I’d like but if I persevere with him, he will.

Your current horse would have a choice of lovely homes wanting to take him on - if I wasn't gradually getting out of horses myself I'd be sending you a PM making enquiries!

But, do you really want to event again? Is your heart still in it? Good suggestion above, can you try and bag a ride on another decent horse and see if you still have the love for larger fixed XC fences?

Up until about a month ago I’d have said I wasn’t 100% sure. Now I’m sure, hence the soul searching. But maybe now I’m sure, he’ll get a more sure and we can work it out for now.

Definitely will see if there’s a way to have a ride on something more suited to what I think I want. My only concern is that my work schedule is so unpredictable, and I won’t have any notice as to whether I’ll be finishing on time or not. But I’ll see what I can do.

Reading through these and having some more time to think, I’m leaning towards persevering with him for the next few months (and possibly looking at a share for him, and for me). I think I do underestimate his good qualities, and the value of them. Also seems a shame to waste the hard work I’ve put in over the last 5 years!