Advice on youngster please?

[JamesT25]

Hi- new here and this is a bit of a long one but will try and keep it short and sweet…

Sooo, I am at a cross road. I bought a stunning rising 3yo colt just over 2 years ago and I have put my absolute everything into him and he is my best friend. He is a 17.2 KWPN, amazingly bred, very talented but isn’t the easiest ride, nothing nasty but isn’t easy (for me any how). My aims were to compete him up the levels BS to 1.30/40 level but we just aren’t clicking. I’ve spent over £4000 on schooling and lessons but we just seem to constantly be going 2 steps forward 3 steps back. Now I know it’s not him, it is me… I feel he would thrive with a professional onboard and I would thrive with something more established but it absolutely breaks my heart the thought of selling him. We have come on leaps and bounds but I just feel he needs more than I can give to him. I keep hanging on to faith but I’ve got to the point where I’m starting to loose interest but hanging on… but what am I hanging on to? Am I wasting time and money? Has anyone else been in the same situation and broke through this wall? Feeling rather lost with it all.

Any advice is appreciated! Thank you in advance!

 

[ihatework]

Is he still entire?

 

[JamesT25]

Is he still entire?

No he isn’t

 

[AmyMay]

Keep him, and have a pro ride and compete him.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Keep him, and have a pro ride and compete him.

This

 

[ihatework]

I suppose it then depends a bit on what it is about the situation that you aren’t enjoying.

Is it the fact you just aren’t gelling with horse?

Is it you aren’t enjoying the rollercoaster of bringing on a young one and would rather easy lower hassle competing?

Is it the cost of having to bring in pro help?

 

[JamesT25]

Keep him, and have a pro ride and compete him.

This is something I haven’t thought about, I’ve competed up to NC myself but he is just another calibre! Thank you

 

[JamesT25]

I suppose it then depends a bit on what it is about the situation that you aren’t enjoying.

Is it the fact you just aren’t gelling with horse?

Is it you aren’t enjoying the rollercoaster of bringing on a young one and would rather easy lower hassle competing?

Is it the cost of having to bring in pro help?

I think it’s more the fact that I feel we are just getting nowhere. I can take the ups and downs and I fully expect the expensive of lessons/schooling but when there never seems to be a reward, it’s tough! I’m possibly thinking change on instructor and approach…

 

[TPO]

Do you have a regular trainer? They'd be best place to advise knowing you and the horse

 

[ihatework]

I think it’s more the fact that I feel we are just getting nowhere. I can take the ups and downs and I fully expect the expensive of lessons/schooling but when there never seems to be a reward, it’s tough! I’m possibly thinking change on instructor and approach…

It might be worth getting a second opinion for sure.

Maybe even based the horse with someone good so they can really give the horse some consistent education and then do a gradual change over to you becoming primary rider again.

Keep in mind it might just never be a good match for whatever reason, but at 5yo, if you have the funds to keep investing, this could just be normal young hose kind of stuff

 

[dixie]

He’s only 5 and a very big horse

maybe he just needs a bit more time.
It depends what sort of issues you are having.
What does your trainer think?

 

[AmyMay]

He’s only 5 and a very big horse

maybe he just needs a bit more time.
It depends what sort of issues you are having.
What does your trainer think?

Really good points. Given his size, realistically you don’t want to be doing much with him.

 

[JumpTheMoon1]

You are holding this horse back and it must reach its full potential with the correct rider / owner.If there is no bond between you and your horse then throwing lots of money at the problem wont solve it.As you said you dont click together.
When you own a horse where you do click together its a wonderful thing and you will get through any problems that arise.If there is no bond then its 3 steps back all the time.
I know its tough but.......selling him would be kinder.

 

[southerncomfort]

Often youngsters become a bit over confident and opinionated at that age. I swear mine used to roll his eyes when he saw me coming!

Once they turn 6 things often click in to place, and that's also when you can start doing a bit more with them and build a proper partnership.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Far too early for negative thoughts and talking about selling fgs!
He will come good, hes still a baby!

 

[paddi22]

He's only a growing baby that isn't mentally and physically mature yet, so you don't really know what he will be like in a year or two. When you say you aren't gelling, is it the normal 'one step forward, two steps back' baby stuff, or he exhibiting dangerous behaviour and unrideable to you?

 

[maya2008]

I will say that after one extremely well bred competition mare who seemed to arrive (unbacked) with all buttons pre-installed and the fiery temperament and sensitivity to match, I’ve vowed not to buy anything competition bred again - much prefer installing my own buttons and being able to go for a nice hack or for a round of SJ without accidentally pressing buttons I didn’t know existed. I sold that one on, and she did well in her new home - just wasn’t for me. Now if that’s you, there’s no harm in selling on. However, if you WANT to be able to ride the horse you have, to compete at that level and have the drive to improve, then the solution is lessons for you, on older schoolmaster horses. Spend the money on improving yourself and the rest should fall into place.

 

[paddi22]

it's good to step back and analyse with a trainer what your issues might be. The descriptions you give are a bit vague 'needs more than I can give him', 'aren't clicking'. you need to pin down what it is and you will get more feedback.

Handiest thing to do is assess you and the horse realistically - when I hit road blocks with youngsters I kind of step back, be honest with myself and get advice from trainers,

Could he just need a break ? is he coping mentally with the level of work he is being asked? Is he growing and struggling physically with what he is being asked? is he arena sour?
I find people who get fantastically bred horses tend to have an expectation of where the horse should be work wise, and kind of forget they are just babies.

does the work level suit him? my warmblood has to be ridden 5 days a week or else becomes a nightmare. he will never be the kind of horse you can ride 3 days a week without being planted into the ground! some horses need a solid work routine, and as a youngster you might need to up the work level but in an appropriate format (like long slow hill hacks)

Does your set up suit him? my big warmblood has to live out 24/7, he is a totally different horse if he's stabled for most of day. is there something in his feed (like alfalfa) that could be setting him off?

When you look at yourself - where are you hitting glitches in your partnership? is it not being able to cope with his reactions? are you a good fit (or are you a high stress rider on a high stress horse for example). when are you hitting issues riding wise? with training, can you be the rider the horse needs?

 

[Widgeon]

You are holding this horse back and it must reach its full potential with the correct rider / owner.If there is no bond between you and your horse then throwing lots of money at the problem wont solve it.As you said you dont click together.
When you own a horse where you do click together its a wonderful thing and you will get through any problems that arise.If there is no bond then its 3 steps back all the time.
I know its tough but.......selling him would be kinder.

Ahhhh such gems ?

 

[lme]

In your position, I would find a local professional SJ with a style of riding you like a good track record as a producer of young SJs and base myself with them for a few months, first to get him going and then you riding him in the same way. As he is big and only 5, I wouldn't want him to be doing too much anyway. My similarly sized 5yo has barely been in the school since I bought her in the autumn.

 

[littleshetland]

He's a WB, he's 5yrs old....maybe give him a chance to grow up a bit more? I know it's difficult when it's not quite going to plan with our youngsters, but he's still so young, and in my experience WB's can take a long time to mature - mentally and physically. If you can bear to do it, give him some time off and if possible, see if you can find some schoolmasters for you to ride or at least keep riding, then see how you go with him, but at his age, there really is no rush! Good luck.

 

[tda]

He's a WB, he's 5yrs old....maybe give him a chance to grow up a bit more? I know it's difficult when it's not quite going to plan with our youngsters, but he's still so young, and in my experience WB's can take a long time to mature - mentally and physically. If you can bear to do it, give him some time off and if possible, see if you can find some schoolmasters for you to ride or at least keep riding, then see how you go with him, but at his age, there really is no rush! Good luck.

This.

 

[AmyMay]

He's a WB, he's 5yrs old....maybe give him a chance to grow up a bit more? I know it's difficult when it's not quite going to plan with our youngsters, but he's still so young, and in my experience WB's can take a long time to mature - mentally and physically. If you can bear to do it, give him some time off and if possible, see if you can find some schoolmasters for you to ride or at least keep riding, then see how you go with him, but at his age, there really is no rush! Good luck.

Really good post.

 

[splashgirl45]

You are holding this horse back and it must reach its full potential with the correct rider / owner.If there is no bond between you and your horse then throwing lots of money at the problem wont solve it.As you said you dont click together.
When you own a horse where you do click together its a wonderful thing and you will get through any problems that arise.If there is no bond then its 3 steps back all the time.
I know its tough but.......selling him would be kinder.

what rubbish< why MUST the horse reach its potential? as long as the horse is happy and is being kept in the proper way, i.e. having enough to eat, plenty of turnout and being treated kindly , what is the problem with him not reaching his potential.. im sure there are many horses based with pro riders who would love to be never ridden and spend their days grazing and snoozing....

in this case the rider is worrying that he doesnt seem to be able to ride the horse as they would wish to. i would let a pro ride him for a short while to sort out any problems and improve his way of going and then have the same pro give you lessons on how to get the best out of him. it may be that the horse isnt yet mature enough to physically go the way the rider would like but a pro should be able to advise and may be 6 months out in the field might be beneficial and start again early next year

 

[AmyMay]

Don’t feed the troll @splashgirl45

 

[splashgirl45]

sorry amymay, the post made me extra cross, im in a bad mood tonight -as ive eaten too much cake and am cross with myself as i had cut it into small slices and have had 3 slices already

 

[AmyMay]

sorry amymay, the post made me extra cross, im in a bad mood tonight -as ive eaten too much cake and am cross with myself as i had cut it into small slices and have had 3 slices already

Only three slices? I’d say that was a win xx

 

[Palindrome]

KWPNs are a bit special, I have gone for Selle Français for my last youngster as my KWPN cross hannoverian is taking a long time to tame and I'd rather have an easy life. In your situation I would sell, I don't think he will change dramatically.

 

[splashgirl45]

Only three slices? I’d say that was a win xx

yes, but i havent gone to bed yet and i have to walk through the kitchen to let the dogs out and the cake is on the worktop and may just fall into my mouth

 

[Squeak]

I think I'd set a time limit on letting him have some additional time to mature, if that hasn't helped then maybe send him to a pro or change trainer, set a time limit on that too and at the end of that I'd have a hard think about whether it was worth selling.

It's a very personal decision as to how much more time you want to invest. Sometimes riders and horses just don't suit each other, sometimes they need more time. IME we're rarely told it's ok to sell rather than keep persevering and sometimes it's the right thing to do for both you and the horse. It completely depends on whether you're enjoying the journey and how long you want to keep going.