Advice needed on selling a talented but naughty young horse

i think he needs a break too! i think you should be paying basic keep only if they're too frightened to ride him, how ridiculous. It sounds as if you have been seriously 'had' by a few so-called Pros. i'd chuck him out in a field for a few months to just be a horse with no pressure at all, if he was mine.
If that's not possible, i would send him to a very experienced recommended horse-straighten-outer rather than to a Pro yard, i've heard great things about Jason Webb, for example, been told that a lot of Pro Eventers send their tricky ones to him to get going nicely. Otherwise, what about Richard Maxwell. Or, a friend sent a rather tricky mare to Graham Law, who did an absolutely great job with her (didn't even consider her particularly tricky, he gets sent lots like that!), so he's recommended too - he's an excellent jockey who actually gets on and does it himself.
once the attitude is sorted (if it can be, but if anyone can, this kind of person can) then the training can come later... it sounds as if he needs a bit of Attitude Adjustment first.
hope that helps, v best of luck finding a great home for him, hope you recoup a lot of what you've spent.
 
I really feel for you and there have been a lot of good suggestions. But I wonder when this problem started and what started it? My gut instinct was to say send give him to someone to hunt for a season, but I guess with that sort of price tag you would be reluctant to do that.

I think the chill-out time in a field for a bit with no riding at all would be a good thing - it is summer after all. It sounds as though the "training livery" could have been a bit intense. Do they get schooled all the time or do they have variety? Do they go out and about, hacking, to shows, etc. Also just how naughty is he? Is it just a few bucks and rears or is it "I am going to do this until you fall off"?

There is always a REASON why horses become naughty, from their point of view anyway. It is the rider's problem to work out what that reason was. Sometimes it was a physical problem, sometimes is a mental one. Never easy. As far as the selling part, unless you want to practically give him away I think it is going to be mightly difficult to get anywhere near what you paid for him at the moment if he can't be ridden safely or has a competition record.
 
I feel so sorry for this young horse. Overstressed, over trained, over moved about and all before he is old enough that he hasn't even finished growing. You've had him pushed too far too hard too young, give the poor horse a good summer break and bring him in after the summer to gently hack about. You can't ask a boy to do a man's job; the same goes for horses, especially late maturers else they will spit the dummy out because they are not physically or mentally ready for it.
 
Rosiefan said:
He's only 5 and been on full schooling livery for 2 years! Crikey - sounds like he needs a break. Good luck.
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Agree totally, and I imagine if he's a big WB type he may be slow to mature and as only 5 is just being a stroppy teenager - how much work has he been doing in the past two years?

What is he like to hack?

Only say this as I have big WB mare who's now 8 but was difficult for years, only just matured this year really. I also understand no one wanting to ride him, I have yet to find an instructor who will sit on my mare and she really isn't that bad - just bit sharp
 
On the few occasions I saw the horse being ridden when you first had him he looked quiet enough for a 3yo, especially considering he was probably not being turned out or ridden as regularly as he should gave been... Sounds like a case of too much too young perhaps, all young horses should be given time to mentally as well as physically mature, have a varied routine of jumping and hacking besides just schooling. I obviously don't know the whole story, but perhaps you'd be better off sending him to a non dressage person if you're considering remedial work.

My trainer has also used Jason Webb for "difficult horses". We have to remember that 99% of the time difficult horses (having excluded pain) are made and not born, so yes it will take a lot of time and patience to remedy the situation. If you are hoping to sell him as he is now I think you will have to be more realistic about price and be VERY careful who he goes to.

All the best with it all though. All we can do is learn from the experience and hopefully you'll find a more suitable, quieter older horse soon.
 
LHS said:
A I said in the PM I would try and move him somewhere he can have some chill out time and then when he's ridden again do some fun stuff. Dressage training can be very intensive and he maybe school fatigued. It'll also give your bank balance a rest and give you sometime to think about your options.

You are paying £200 a week for someone to turn him out at the moment and if he stays there they need to help you come to some conclusions about his future imo.
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Just what i was thinking. Intensive training can be overpowering. He sounds a wonderful horse but problems have been created by the wrong people.
If it were my horse i would get him home give him a holiday and find a trainer by recomendation and see for yourself how they work and end results.
I do think thishorse does need to do other things first that he finds enjoyable.
Good luck.
 
I really do feel for you, I have been there and it really is a horrible position to be in.

I really don't want to come across as negative, or to offend you, but, in my opinion, for what it is worth, if you really do want to get rid of this horse and move on I think you need to be realistic with your price. As a 5 year old you are selling him on purely on potential, and to be honest if he is unpredictable and nobody can ride the horse to train him, he doesn’t really have any. You would be lucky to sell him for a 1/4 of the price you are talking about.

He does sound cracking, and if you feel he is worth continuing with then you have had lots of fantastic advice on this post, I hope you work out what is best for you and for him.
 
Hi

Prompted to register to respond to this post. I have a talented WB gelding, who I bought relatively cheaply (for his type and potential) due to him being 'quirky'. He is difficult to start with until he gets going. Before I owned him he was at two big name yards both of which struggled with him. He is now with a young talented professional, not a big name, who does all the riding himself. Rider is brave and is earning a bit of a reputation for being very good with talented but 'quirky' horses. The ones that need someone who is a good enough rider for them but not afraid to sit out a rear and a buck etc. If you could find someone like this in your area I think you would be on a better path for your boy. Wouldn't necessarily be a big name, but the up and comings are more likely to give your boy a shot if he has the potential once the issue is worked through, and thus could give them a break.

Agree-perhaps ask on here for recomendations?

Good luck. Its a difficult one when they are talented but with him being at somewhere where they are 'afraid' of him he will only get worse- trust me on that one! :D
 
Thanks everyone. I've been following up on all your suggestions, have made some calls, and actually made a spreadsheet of all the options ;)) Jason Webb looks like a good prospect but he's not been answering his phone.

For now, my big beastie will have some time off to chill out and relax, and to try to forget about the intensive and unpleasant month he had in May. To be fair, his behavior only became really naughty during the past month...before that he was a happy smiley camper... it's all been a bit much for him and he deserves a break. I'm now looking at my options, you've all opened my eyes to various alternatives, and I'd like to say a genuine thank you for all your responses.
 
Cavallo, that sounds like a great idea for him, v v best of luck with him, hope you let us know how it goes.
Fwiw i have known quite a few young horses have a break and come back hugely improved, far far better than they were before the rest, better in attitude as well as balance etc.
He sounds like a very talented horse, don't give up!
 
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