zoeshiloh
Well-Known Member
I was chatting to a friend a couple of days ago, who is in somewhat of a dilema. Here is the story so far (please bear with me)
She was bought a horse by her grandmother about four years ago. This horse had done a lot of PC stuff, was a fantastic jumper and did well in the showring. When they brought it home, things were fantastic, horse was a little spooky, but nothing major. Anyway, one day she goes to get on it, and he just starts broncking - my friend ends up on the floor, and poor horse (who has scared himself) stands there shaking. They decide something has just upset him, so she gets back on, rides around and he is ok. A few days later, the same thing happens again. Then it starts happening everytime they go to get on. His back, teeth etc are all checked, and nothing is wrong. They start to ride him again, but same thing keeps happening. By this time, my friend is losing her nerve. As a last resort, they get a saddler to check saddle, he says saddle doesn't fit right (although back person still says nothing physically wrong). They try several different saddles, and eventually find one that fits, but horse is still bucking.
They then sent him away for summer to be schooled. He came back ok, but still bucking occasionally. Sometimes this would be when they first get on, other times he sppoks at something, then throws in a sequence of bucks. His back, saddle, teeth etc are all checked again, and nothing is fuond to be wrong. Back is xrayed etc, still nothing wrong - vet suggests this is remembered pain from having an ill-fitting saddle.
So, beginning of 2008, he is brought back into full work, and seems to be ok. Starts hacking out, riding in school etc, and everything seems to be going really well. Horse is being lunged for five minutes before ridden, just to loosen up, and it seems to be doing the trick. Then, about May/June time, he goes back to his bucking. Everything checked again, everything still fine. By this time, my friend has had enough - no longer enjoying her riding. Her grandmother pays for someone to come and ride the horse a few times a week, and although he does misbhave a bit, they have the confidence to tell him off, which means he does not buck. My friend has lost all confidence with the horse, and he knew it and was starting to push the boundaries a bit.
So, they find someone who wants to loan the horse in question - he goes to this girl, and everything seems to be going well. I found my friend a new horse, which she is loaning rather than buying - and she loves him dearly. She has regained her confidence, and is back to doing everything she used to enjoy.
Then I spoke to her at the weekend, and her other horse has bucked off the loaner, and they are sending him back. She doesn't know what to do - she is extremely responsibly and does not want to sell him (despite everyone telling her she should) because she said the problem will not go away, and he will get passed from home to home, misunderstood and possible beaten and forgotten. He is such a nice horse on the ground, that she does not want anything to happen to him. However, loaning him out is difficult - most people that loan do not want to take on a problem like that. Don't get me wrong, he is fantastically talented, and would easily do PC teams - dressage is flawless, he never stops jumping, and he wouldn't look out of place as a working hunter at county level. It's just that initial phase of getting on and being able to sit to his bucks - normally once you have been on for a few minutes he wont then buck. He doesn't buck everytime you get on, in fact recently he has hardly been doing it at all, but they are mean bucks (rodeo) when he does go.
She wouldn't mind him going as a companion, but who would want a 15hh TB x Welsh as a companion on loan? Most people prefer small, hardy ponies. She would loan him, with view to sell if the right person came along.
She is such a lovely person - they have their own farm, but a real lack of grazing, so keeping him at home is not an option. They have spent thousands on trying to get to the bottom of this, consulted horse whisperers, vets, behaviourists - you name it! If I were smaller, I would have him in a heartbeat, as he is a mega talented horse, he just needs a confident rider, that will give him confidence.
She really has three options; 1) sell him, either privately or through the local sales, wash her hands of him and just hope he gets a good home. 2) loan him, although finding a loaner willing to take on a problem is going to be hard. 3) loan him with view to sell if they are the right people.
There is no way she would ever do 1, which leaves her with two options. If you were in this situation, how would you approach things?
I do apologise for the long post! I have been racking my brain trying to think how I can help her, but I just can't see a way out of her predicament. Anyone got any suggestions??
(I think they are going to try projecthorse as their next port of call).
She was bought a horse by her grandmother about four years ago. This horse had done a lot of PC stuff, was a fantastic jumper and did well in the showring. When they brought it home, things were fantastic, horse was a little spooky, but nothing major. Anyway, one day she goes to get on it, and he just starts broncking - my friend ends up on the floor, and poor horse (who has scared himself) stands there shaking. They decide something has just upset him, so she gets back on, rides around and he is ok. A few days later, the same thing happens again. Then it starts happening everytime they go to get on. His back, teeth etc are all checked, and nothing is wrong. They start to ride him again, but same thing keeps happening. By this time, my friend is losing her nerve. As a last resort, they get a saddler to check saddle, he says saddle doesn't fit right (although back person still says nothing physically wrong). They try several different saddles, and eventually find one that fits, but horse is still bucking.
They then sent him away for summer to be schooled. He came back ok, but still bucking occasionally. Sometimes this would be when they first get on, other times he sppoks at something, then throws in a sequence of bucks. His back, saddle, teeth etc are all checked again, and nothing is fuond to be wrong. Back is xrayed etc, still nothing wrong - vet suggests this is remembered pain from having an ill-fitting saddle.
So, beginning of 2008, he is brought back into full work, and seems to be ok. Starts hacking out, riding in school etc, and everything seems to be going really well. Horse is being lunged for five minutes before ridden, just to loosen up, and it seems to be doing the trick. Then, about May/June time, he goes back to his bucking. Everything checked again, everything still fine. By this time, my friend has had enough - no longer enjoying her riding. Her grandmother pays for someone to come and ride the horse a few times a week, and although he does misbhave a bit, they have the confidence to tell him off, which means he does not buck. My friend has lost all confidence with the horse, and he knew it and was starting to push the boundaries a bit.
So, they find someone who wants to loan the horse in question - he goes to this girl, and everything seems to be going well. I found my friend a new horse, which she is loaning rather than buying - and she loves him dearly. She has regained her confidence, and is back to doing everything she used to enjoy.
Then I spoke to her at the weekend, and her other horse has bucked off the loaner, and they are sending him back. She doesn't know what to do - she is extremely responsibly and does not want to sell him (despite everyone telling her she should) because she said the problem will not go away, and he will get passed from home to home, misunderstood and possible beaten and forgotten. He is such a nice horse on the ground, that she does not want anything to happen to him. However, loaning him out is difficult - most people that loan do not want to take on a problem like that. Don't get me wrong, he is fantastically talented, and would easily do PC teams - dressage is flawless, he never stops jumping, and he wouldn't look out of place as a working hunter at county level. It's just that initial phase of getting on and being able to sit to his bucks - normally once you have been on for a few minutes he wont then buck. He doesn't buck everytime you get on, in fact recently he has hardly been doing it at all, but they are mean bucks (rodeo) when he does go.
She wouldn't mind him going as a companion, but who would want a 15hh TB x Welsh as a companion on loan? Most people prefer small, hardy ponies. She would loan him, with view to sell if the right person came along.
She is such a lovely person - they have their own farm, but a real lack of grazing, so keeping him at home is not an option. They have spent thousands on trying to get to the bottom of this, consulted horse whisperers, vets, behaviourists - you name it! If I were smaller, I would have him in a heartbeat, as he is a mega talented horse, he just needs a confident rider, that will give him confidence.
She really has three options; 1) sell him, either privately or through the local sales, wash her hands of him and just hope he gets a good home. 2) loan him, although finding a loaner willing to take on a problem is going to be hard. 3) loan him with view to sell if they are the right people.
There is no way she would ever do 1, which leaves her with two options. If you were in this situation, how would you approach things?
I do apologise for the long post! I have been racking my brain trying to think how I can help her, but I just can't see a way out of her predicament. Anyone got any suggestions??
(I think they are going to try projecthorse as their next port of call).
