Advice on potentially loaning an RDA horse

[JaimeA]

Hi! I am a twice weekly rider at a lovely riding school in South Ox. I’m 46 and started learning just before Covid… with a break during lockdowns. I really enjoy my lessons and the odd hack with the riding school horses… I’m balanced in my seat and generally always practicing how to be clear but relaxed in my aids. I’m happy in walk and trot… although transitioning to canter always feels a little stressful, so I’ve definitely not cracked that yet! I maybe get a few paces of canter, but by the time I sort myself out, my RS horse usually reverts back to trot. I just saw an ad from exclusivia equine agents for x2 horses from a very local RDA centre they are looking to loan or rehome. They suggest light hacking a few times a week would be the right amount of exercise. I’ve never owned a horse before and it’s possible they can stay on the yard where they are now… but do you think it might be a worthwhile thing to do to add on/build on the experience I have? I’d be looking at either Pluto - 14.1hh - 19 years old - Piebald Cob - Gelding or Bob - 15.2hh - 21 years old - Skewbald Cob - Gelding. I am 58kg and 5’3. Does any one have any advice or thoughts about loaning an ex RDA horse as their first foray into loaning? And what exactly would loaning involve? Thanks!

 

[dougpeg]

It's quite possible they are looking to rehome them as they are no longer up to the work. My horse is on loan to an RDA and the workload is light anyway. So something to bear in mind. They will likely need more tlc given their ages. No reason why it wouldn't be a good option though if you are prepared for potentially higher maintenance costs, and only want to do very light work. If you kept them at the same yard you would have support around you too. Loaning generally involves all costs and care.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Riding school horses and ponies tend to be institutionalised and can become very stressed when removed from their environment. That would be worth considering if you are thinking of taking Pluto or Bob home or into another yard. An ideal for you would be to leave them in the yard they are used to and arrange a loan agreement with the owners and still have the owners on board to help you.

Making the decision that deems Pluto and Bob to be no longer suitable for working in the school and placing them with agents to move on in old age does concern me given their size and usefulness for heavier rda riders. Much of their previous work would have been in walk and trot only so moving them on would suggest the possibility of unmanageable soundness issues. I've a fair bit of knowledge around riding school horses and it is very unusual to see them moved on in old age. The younger ones do move when they have failed to meet the safety assessments. Riding schools that are closing down normally disperse their horses into other neighbouring schools or clients take them on loan.

If Bob or Pluto originate in the West Midlands I would suggest you involve a vet before committing to them.

 

[JaimeA]

Riding school horses and ponies tend to be institutionalised and can become very stressed when removed from their environment. That would be worth considering if you are thinking of taking Pluto or Bob home or into another yard. An ideal for you would be to leave them in the yard they are used to and arrange a loan agreement with the owners and still have the owners on board to help you.

Making the decision that deems Pluto and Bob to be no longer suitable for working in the school and placing them with agents to move on in old age does concern me given their size and usefulness for heavier rda riders. Much of their previous work would have been in walk and trot only so moving them on would suggest the possibility of unmanageable soundness issues. I've a fair bit of knowledge around riding school horses and it is very unusual to see them moved on in old age. The younger ones do move when they have failed to meet the safety assessments. Riding schools that are closing down normally disperse their horses into other neighbouring schools or clients take them on loan.

If Bob or Pluto originate in the West Midlands I would suggest you involve a vet before committing to them.

Thanks for this! Yes… I have found posts on the RDA centre’s IG and FB about them, and they mention ‘both of these RDA retiring horses are older gentlemen so come with a few weight/health issues that need some management’. In the post about them it mentions for Pluto: Arthritis in hocks – has been injected – no more opportunities to do this. Suspected ringbone left fore not x-rayed or medicated. Asthma so haylage only no hay. Raised liver enzymes. Needs Milk Thistle and Vitamin E for ever WHEN ON HAYLAGE. Needs a mix of pasture and meadow haylage for grazing
And for Bob: Arthritis. EMS. Asthma.
They also say both have been ‘cleared by their vet to do some light hacking and lots of love!’
I’m starting to think this may not be quite right for me, as a first time loaner… maybe biting off a bit more than I can chew!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Having found them on the website, I see both are to be loaned from the yard or can be rehomed, but only locally.
However, looking at the blurb, both are walking vet bills, both need managing, Pluto won't hack alone and is riggy so has to be out with geldings only.

OP, I'd strongly suggest you look elsewhere x

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

RDA horses cannot be paid for by the group o retirement, so if they are not to be pts at the end of their working lives, they will be looking for retirement homes. I guess that the 'light hacking' is to make them slightly more attractive to what is essentially a retirement home. Tbh, I'm surprised that no-one with links to the group has offered a home

 

[AdorableAlice]

Thanks for this! Yes… I have found posts on the RDA centre’s IG and FB about them, and they mention ‘both of these RDA retiring horses are older gentlemen so come with a few weight/health issues that need some management’. In the post about them it mentions for Pluto: Arthritis in hocks – has been injected – no more opportunities to do this. Suspected ringbone left fore not x-rayed or medicated. Asthma so haylage only no hay. Raised liver enzymes. Needs Milk Thistle and Vitamin E for ever WHEN ON HAYLAGE. Needs a mix of pasture and meadow haylage for grazing
And for Bob: Arthritis. EMS. Asthma.
They also say both have been ‘cleared by their vet to do some light hacking and lots of love!’
I’m starting to think this may not be quite right for me, as a first time loaner… maybe biting off a bit more than I can chew!

Both will be money pits for you, and with the greatest respect to you, they both need an experienced horseman to keep them going. I think you need to leave them and look elsewhere.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I took on a mare who an RDA centre in my area was selling.

She was 8yo when I had her. I had been told that she had been on summer loan to someone, and had apparently "bolted". Well, you had only got to look at her, sweet soul that she was, to realise that someone's description of "bolting" was probably three paces of canter during a spook. But I had to sign a disclaimer before I took her home that I had bought her having been told the full facts about her: apparently a novice rider had taken her for a few weeks loan during the RDA summer break. This "novice" had ridden her on the road, solo apparently, and they had encountered a tractor towing a trailer up the back. Mare had apparently "bolted", and the "saddle had slipped" (and if it was the saddle which was on her when I went to try her I'm not blimmin surprised it "slipped" as it just didn't fit!).They said that she couldn't be used for RDA anymore because it was on record that she had "bolted", and the insurance would be null and void if they did used her.

Somehow I liked the mare, and even though I don't call myself anything resembling an experienced rider and wouldn't normally bring home a "bolter", I ended up bringing her home. I just somehow knew that the "bolting" just somehow wasn't "her".

When I'd got her back at home, the first time I went to ride her, I brought up her up beside the mounting block. She immediately moved away. I tried again, she did the same. I then put her back in the field and asked our McTimoney lady to have a look, as it was obvious she had an aversion to the mounting block. Our McTimony lady found that she was actually very sore, especially around her sacroiliac area, but also generally on her back, and she said that it was very possible that this had been caused during her time with RDA where she was carrying assymetric riders, and also perhaps being pulled around by disabled riders pulling themselves up at the mounting block, which had made her sore, and therefore reluctant to stand-up to be mounted.

She was the sweetest of mares, absolutely bombproof in all traffic, and a real darling. She never ever "bolted" with me. Sadly she developed trigeminal nerve headshaking and by 10yo I had to made a sad decision about her. I miss her very much, my lovely sweet gentle giant girl.

OP: IF you are having anything which has been used by RDA, I would strongly advise you to have it vetted first by an independent vet of your choice (I didn't). I would also strongly advise you - if you can - to take a well-recommended Veterinary Physiotherapist or someone with this level of experience - with you when you go to view. It would be well worth paying for that IME as I'd say it is a 101% certainty that these horses you describe will have back or musculo-skeletal issues of some kind which will need either vet attention, physio, or both. Which might not be cheap. And you will certainly need to have a decent saddle-fitter on standby who has experience of dealing with horses with assymetry issues requiring remedial saddle-fitting, which you will need to have on a more regular basis than you normally would do, I can assure you of that. None of this will come cheap!

The horses you describe sound lovely, and RDA horses are chosen especially for their placid natures and willingness to put up with actually a great deal. I think they are amazing for coping with it all so well, and a good well-run & responsible RDA centre will sell-on a proportion of their horses on a regular basis as those who have been there the longest will get stale of that kind of existence.

Personally with the two horses described, my decision would be to either retire them to a proper retirement livery, OR to put them down quietly at the yard where they're happy at. I certainly wouldn't be looking for homes for them now at this stage of their lives. They've provided a fantastic service, time to let them relax now.

Hope this helps.

 

[Skib]

although transitioning to canter always feels a little stressful, so I’ve definitely not cracked that yet!

I am another older starter - I was 61. I would strongly advise you to learn how to canter before taking on a horse of your own, or even sharing. True, I eventually learned to canter mostly out hacking but there is a good reason RSs expect one to be able to sit canter before going out hacking.

There is no gurantee that you wont get unsolicited conter. If a horse spooks, it is very likely to canter off and the rider needs to be able to slow and turn it and stop without falling off.

Canter is a bit like learning to swim - it is easy once you get the hang of it. Breathe deep, relax and you will get the hang of it. I owe my success to a hacking yard where I rode an easy horse, on a private hack and following my escort. She would canter ahead of me but just a very short way.

Before cantering she would check I was read to canter by asking if I was Okay? We did it so often that my horse later mistakenly thought that when I said Okay, that meant she should canter.

 

[JaimeA]

I took on a mare who an RDA centre in my area was selling.

She was 8yo when I had her. I had been told that she had been on summer loan to someone, and had apparently "bolted". Well, you had only got to look at her, sweet soul that she was, to realise that someone's description of "bolting" was probably three paces of canter during a spook. But I had to sign a disclaimer before I took her home that I had bought her having been told the full facts about her: apparently a novice rider had taken her for a few weeks loan during the RDA summer break. This "novice" had ridden her on the road, solo apparently, and they had encountered a tractor towing a trailer up the back. Mare had apparently "bolted", and the "saddle had slipped" (and if it was the saddle which was on her when I went to try her I'm not blimmin surprised it "slipped" as it just didn't fit!).They said that she couldn't be used for RDA anymore because it was on record that she had "bolted", and the insurance would be null and void if they did used her.

Somehow I liked the mare, and even though I don't call myself anything resembling an experienced rider and wouldn't normally bring home a "bolter", I ended up bringing her home. I just somehow knew that the "bolting" just somehow wasn't "her".

When I'd got her back at home, the first time I went to ride her, I brought up her up beside the mounting block. She immediately moved away. I tried again, she did the same. I then put her back in the field and asked our McTimoney lady to have a look, as it was obvious she had an aversion to the mounting block. Our McTimony lady found that she was actually very sore, especially around her sacroiliac area, but also generally on her back, and she said that it was very possible that this had been caused during her time with RDA where she was carrying assymetric riders, and also perhaps being pulled around by disabled riders pulling themselves up at the mounting block, which had made her sore, and therefore reluctant to stand-up to be mounted.

She was the sweetest of mares, absolutely bombproof in all traffic, and a real darling. She never ever "bolted" with me. Sadly she developed trigeminal nerve headshaking and by 10yo I had to made a sad decision about her. I miss her very much, my lovely sweet gentle giant girl.

OP: IF you are having anything which has been used by RDA, I would strongly advise you to have it vetted first by an independent vet of your choice (I didn't). I would also strongly advise you - if you can - to take a well-recommended Veterinary Physiotherapist or someone with this level of experience - with you when you go to view. It would be well worth paying for that IME as I'd say it is a 101% certainty that these horses you describe will have back or musculo-skeletal issues of some kind which will need either vet attention, physio, or both. Which might not be cheap. And you will certainly need to have a decent saddle-fitter on standby who has experience of dealing with horses with assymetry issues requiring remedial saddle-fitting, which you will need to have on a more regular basis than you normally would do, I can assure you of that. None of this will come cheap!

The horses you describe sound lovely, and RDA horses are chosen especially for their placid natures and willingness to put up with actually a great deal. I think they are amazing for coping with it all so well, and a good well-run & responsible RDA centre will sell-on a proportion of their horses on a regular basis as those who have been there the longest will get stale of that kind of existence.

Personally with the two horses described, my decision would be to either retire them to a proper retirement livery, OR to put them down quietly at the yard where they're happy at. I certainly wouldn't be looking for homes for them now at this stage of their lives. They've provided a fantastic service, time to let them relax now.

Hope this helps.

This is incredibly helpful - thank you. It sounds like you had a lovely time with your RDA mare and it’s just a sad fact that they have so much to deal with physically and repeatedly that it causes so many problems in later years. I agree with you that these horses really have done their time now, and it would the kindest thing to just let them retire and enjoy the fields. It was lovely to read about your experience here. Much appreciate you sharing it.

 

[JaimeA]

I am another older starter - I was 61. I would strongly advise you to learn how to canter before taking on a horse of your own, or even sharing. True, I eventually learned to canter mostly out hacking but there is a good reason RSs expect one to be able to sit canter before going out hacking.

There is no gurantee that you wont get unsolicited conter. If a horse spooks, it is very likely to canter off and the rider needs to be able to slow and turn it and stop without falling off.

Canter is a bit like learning to swim - it is easy once you get the hang of it. Breathe deep, relax and you will get the hang of it. I owe my success to a hacking yard where I rode an easy horse, on a private hack and following my escort. She would canter ahead of me but just a very short way.

Before cantering she would check I was read to canter by asking if I was Okay? We did it so often that my horse later mistakenly thought that when I said Okay, that meant she should canter.

I think you’re right… I am going to keep going with my lessons and start hacking a bit more regularly to see if I can find my way with the canter. I’ll get there! I’d love to be able to do one of those riding holidays one day in Wales - and they’re only really for those that can canter with control! Something to aim for! Thanks for the advice.

 

[JaimeA]

RDA horses cannot be paid for by the group o retirement, so if they are not to be pts at the end of their working lives, they will be looking for retirement homes. I guess that the 'light hacking' is to make them slightly more attractive to what is essentially a retirement home. Tbh, I'm surprised that no-one with links to the group has offered a home

Yes - I think they probably just need to retire and enjoy being free of all work now.

 

[JaimeA]

Both will be money pits for you, and with the greatest respect to you, they both need an experienced horseman to keep them going. I think you need to leave them and look elsewhere.

Indeed! I think I’m best off keeping going with lessons - I absolutely love it! And I guess I’ll know when/if the time is right to explore loaning or owning a horse.

 

[2ndtimearound]

As another idea, it might be worth looking at doing a ride or two at a trekking centre rather than hacking from a riding school. A lot of trekking centres that get regular riders will be used to teaching people to canter for the first time out on treks, often up a hill behind a sensible horse and rider. They'll probably scrutinise you at a trot to make sure they think you look like you ride well enough to try a canter. In your case, as you've cantered before (even if only for a few strides at a time), there's a good chance you'd be cleared to canter on a trek. Definitely look for a mixed-ability type trek, though, as you'd need to be comfortable at canter before doing an experienced ride. No idea where you're based, but if you're anywhere near the Midlands, I'd thoroughly recommend Cannock Chase Trekking Centre.

 

[JaimeA]

As another idea, it might be worth looking at doing a ride or two at a trekking centre rather than hacking from a riding school. A lot of trekking centres that get regular riders will be used to teaching people to canter for the first time out on treks, often up a hill behind a sensible horse and rider. They'll probably scrutinise you at a trot to make sure they think you look like you ride well enough to try a canter. In your case, as you've cantered before (even if only for a few strides at a time), there's a good chance you'd be cleared to canter on a trek. Definitely look for a mixed-ability type trek, though, as you'd need to be comfortable at canter before doing an experienced ride. No idea where you're based, but if you're anywhere near the Midlands, I'd thoroughly recommend Cannock Chase Trekking Centre.

Thanks so much for this idea! I will look into trekking centres. I did wonder how you go from lessons in a riding school, the odd hack to being confident in canter in open spaces! But the trekking centre sounds like the way to go.

 

[Skib]

A lot of trekking centres that get regular riders will be used to teaching people to canter for the first time out on treks, often up a hill behind a sensible horse and rider.

This is how I was taught canter at the local RS which in those days had no school and offered mainly hacking, I did ride from a couple of trecking centres in my early days of riding. The rides were arranged so that the non canterers did not canter. On one occasion this did not work for me as I was sitting quite relaxed on my pony and he decided to set off in hot pursuit of the canterers who had preceded us up the hill.

 

[2ndtimearound]

This is how I was taught canter at the local RS which in those days had no school and offered mainly hacking, I did ride from a couple of trecking centres in my early days of riding. The rides were arranged so that the non canterers did not canter. On one occasion this did not work for me as I was sitting quite relaxed on my pony and he decided to set off in hot pursuit of the canterers who had preceded us up the hill.

Oops!
I learned to ride at a similar riding school when I was nine; I don't think I rode in anything resembling a proper school/arena until I was about fifteen.