Anyone want a very talented project horse??? What does everyone think?

I

icklemadame

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 November 2006
Messages
531
Location
Kent/Sussex/Surrey Borders
Visit site
I'll be very straight up about him - our chestnut irish baby who we brought over at the beginning of September is proving to be quite a handful, and although if we had endless time and money I'm sure we could sort him out, unfortunately we don't... so we're thinking about cutting our losses and just getting back what he owes us
frown.gif
what does everyone think?

He's 5 years old, irish sports horse, chunky enough legs for hunting but with a finer body, really floaty uphill paces and lovely natural extension, bold & brave with a powerful scopey jump - those are the plus points
smile.gif


We brought him over from Goresbridge in September and had been told he'd only been broken for a couple of weeks, maybe a month or so... we went back to basics and re-broke him - it was clear he had some issues from the start, he was quite nervy and could have a real attitude if he didn't want to do something, and had a random tendency to either rear or sit down (literally) - we had his back and his teeth checked and there was nothing wrong, so we've perservered and started riding him and bringing him on, 99% of the time he's ok, but every now and again he has a hissy fit, which can be quite unpredictable, mostly just throwing his head upwards and spinning round - the photos I will add further down show him being ridden in draw reins for this reason - he tended to go better and be more controllable when he did have a fit - but PLEASE I really don't want to start a debate about draw reins etc, we've tried most things with him and now are getting to the point we just need to move on and let someone with enough time really get to know him and work with him, as I think thats what he needs. I hate gadgets myself and dont ride my ponies in them, so I don't need a lecture.

As I say, he's a very talented horse but he needs someone to love him and give him a lot of time, I've really tried with him but we just never really clicked and the boys (my OH and Guy, who rides our showjumper for us) are well, just boys really... they have their own horses, and this guy needs someone special of his own
smile.gif


He owes us about £3,500 so price would be in that region... where should I advertise him do you think? I want to be truthful about his issues as he does need someone who knows what they're doing, as I wouldnt want someone getting hurt, but I do think he has a lot of potential... anyway, sorry, waffling, just thought I would get everyones thoughts...
smile.gif


Ponies190.jpg

CIMG1948.jpg

CIMG1945.jpg

Ponies071.jpg

Ponies068.jpg

Ponies066.jpg

Ponies062.jpg

Ponies059.jpg

Ponies058.jpg

Ponies085.jpg


I know he doesn't look great and this isn't helped by the draw reins - I kept saying he didnt need them and to try without but when I tried without I just came off... so what do I know

We've taken him out round the fields and he's popped lots of natural fences and rails etc - he's not worried by water either -he jumps everything in the school well and seems to really enjoy it - I think he's got the potential to be great we just need to find someone to take him on!!
smile.gif
 
how big is he, and how old, please? and how's he bred? also, do you think he would hack out on his own... down very quiet country roads, perhaps?
(someone owes me quite a bit of money, and if it comes in soon enough, i might be interested.)
 
He's 5 yrs old, 16.2hh approx, can't remember his breeding but it may come to me so I'll keep thinking, father was a dutch horse with a Z at the end of his name... he would probably hack out if he had been in the school first and got rid of his beans - as I say he's been out in open fields and was fine
smile.gif
 
p.s he's also put on quite a bit of weight since these photos were taken, finally... he was very poor when he arrived and its taken us a while, plus he'd had ringworm which we treated when he arrived, which had made his coat really dull.
 
He is a super sort but if I'm honest, I'd be suspicious about his stance and wonder about sacro illiac problems. Could just be a moment in time, in which case you need to rephotograph him, but he is so tucked in behind and has slightly odd musculature to my eyes.
 
Im with you Siennamum, his shape and stance really struck me as not being quite the ticket. Do you have a pic of him with no rider or reins?
 
I think he's lovely, a bit straight through the hocks perhaps (in the last photo anyway in the field), and I suspect would look a whole lot better without being winched in with the draw reins.

One of those slow burns I suspect that will turn in to someone's perfect horse, allowed time to mature and understand what's expected of him.

Super.
 
Is the white mark lower down on his face a scar? If it was caused whilst being ridden, then maybe he has been through a traumatic experience and that is what haslead to his behaviour?

Lovely sort though.

It may just be me but 3,500 for a horse with ridden problems as he has seems quite a lot?
 
we're not sure about his white mark, although we had wondered whether it was caused by his ringworm as it was quite bad on his face - I don't know whether there's a way you can tell if its a scar??? he's definately had something go very wrong in the past so it may well be someting to do with that...
 
tbh... I would say a little on the expensive side. I sold a horse recently who had a couple of problems, nothing major, advertised him at £3.5, ended up selling for a lot less, as I wanted shut. I would price him around £2k.
 
I agree with siennamum and spaniel, I don't think he looks comfortable behind. Has he more or less just been worked in the school since September?

He is the sort of horse I take on, but to be honest I wouldn't pay anything in the region of £3,500 for him. If you are going to be up front about him and his problems, I don't think you will get that, sorry
frown.gif
 
I don't even know much about confirmation etc, but he doesn't look right behind even to me! Sorry, not at sure he is worth £3,500 with his problems and in the current market, but good luck in finding him a home.
 
I don't think you will have any problems finding him a home if you are totally honest and willing to drop his price.

You can pick up a youngster that has done nothing competitive but is a nice sort to do the job for about 2,500 from dealers, so if you are going to be honest (which is totally commendable and gives him the best chance to shine) then the price will have to reflect that.

He's the sort i would take on, if i had the room and he was cheap enough
smile.gif
 
He does seem rather expensive. If he doesn't have draw reins on does he get you off? Did I read that right? That is quite a big issue.
 
The grey boy was sold just before xmas to a really lovely lady who hopes to event him, he's doing really well (we get weekly updates) and are going up to see him in the next week or so now he's settled in
smile.gif
We were so lucky with him as he was such a star, he went really well for her when she came to try him and then jumped a clear round at approx 1m first time out with Guy at Royal Leisure and she came to watch
smile.gif
Just a shame the chestnut is proving to be more difficult, if I could gel with him I would keep him and work on him, but I just haven't and there's not much I can do to change that, and it costs us to have Guy riding him all the time so...
 
im glad you found him a lovely home, he was a really lovely boy-unfortunatly he wsnt really my parents kind of horse..therefore i didnt enquire any furthur....mind you i now have a lovely boy.
i wish you the best of luck with the chestnut:)
 
As a plus point (I think) when he was being ridden every day he was fine, he really started settling and we didn't have any problems with him for ages, but as Guy is the only one who was riding him we've now had a stage when he hasn't been being ridden regularly and he's difficult again, which has 1. proved we don't have the resources to deal with him (esp as I struggle to ride him and OH is too big, leaving us with having to pay someone) and 2. that with regular work and effort he can be good
smile.gif
 
how long ago where the pictures taken?? he deff has serious lack of mucsel on the quarters, very impressive jump, the down side to showing the pictures with the draw reins is that you can see they are deffinatley being used/relied on, as there is no slack there what so ever.

price.. if you advertise him, and actually have people to come and view him how many would get on his back? any body that is going to be intrested isnt going to be paying what you ask, a grand maybe. i hear what you say about good days and hes jump, but its the life endangering bits in between.

maybe at least get him back into regualar work before trying to sell him.
 
I think his 'Jumpers bump' is a bit pronounced. Hasn't there been an article recently in H&H or another where they said that the jumpers bump is often a sign of sacroiliac problems?

Apart from that he looks lovely. If back problems are ruled out I'm sure you'll get a good home for his as he's got a great jump.
 
I think he is lovely, BUT and a huge but, th only person to have ridden him for any length of time is a pro male rider in draw reins...
crazy.gif
Not going to appeal to many one horse owners....I think he needs to live in a field for 6mnths and be a horse...any chance of turnign him away for a while or do you need to get rid?
 
He definately has a super jump but echo what a lot of other people have said re: his hindquarters. The angle of his croup looks very sharp and the length behind his saddle to his hip cf. the length of his croup looks off. He looks like he's 'curling' his back end under himself. Though you say you've had his back checked?

My mare was diagnosed about 6 months ago with having sacroilic problems, though it took about 10 (maybe more) back specialists to locate the problem.

If it were a viable alternative i'd definately consider a.) a second opinion on his back and b.) turning him away for a while, especially as WB's can be very late maturers and can be susceptible to a few hind quarter related problems.

It's a shame he's such trouble as his paces and jump look incredibly promising !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top