Gerry-Boy
Well-Known Member
Bit of a long story but I'm at a loss and totally don't trust myself anymore.
We bought the Boy in October as a nice and easy going leisure ride. Newbies we were/are we got him from a dodgy dealer, the horse was a mess, unhealed injury and months of neglect.
He was a nightmare to handle back then, huge abandonment issues, we had to bring at least one other horse out at all times.
We got his health issues fixed and he's had a lot of time to heal.
I was scared to ride him (confidence issues, he's chucked me off once, way too much horse for me) so we found him a lovely rider. She's only 16 but very very good with him, so understanding and she's worked incredibly hard to get him back to being a horse.
We do trust her and, more importantly, the Boy trusts her. She's done lots of ground work in the beginning, establishing a bond, then went on to riding him, now jumping. He's showing so much promise, loves jumping and is most of the time, a lovely lovely horse.
And then it went all bad about a month ago. We took him to his first Clear Round, he loaded with no problems and behaved impeccably at the venue. He clearly was enjoying himself very much. It was a very low key event, just at the local riding club, we thought it'd be great to see how he does. It became clear he'd been evented in his previous home.
A week later we took him again, he loaded ok at home, was a bit reluctant first but then went on the trailer.
Same venue, he was again very very good and enjoyed himself very much.
When we wanted to go back home he refused to go on the trailer. It took us 3 hours and a trip home to fetch another horse until he would finally go on the trailer.
We're not sure why he wouldn't load, we've got a camera in the trailer and he was enjoying the ride. Happy ears, looked out of the window, nibbled his hay, wasn't sweaty/excited when unloaded.
He had a few days off in the field and then his loaner came out to try and work on the loading issues.
He very strongly refused, there was no way he was going to get on that trailer, not even with another horse on there.
This was the first time he's reared up. Ever.
Ok, so back in the field, think of a plan B.
Over the next few days we gave him lots of time to process, worked with him to come out to the yard to see there's nothing bad there, got him to come out reluctantly and then quite happily.
The girl rode him last Wednesday and he was his usual lovely self. He was alone in the arena with no issues.
On the Thursday our yard help, without my permission, decided to take him out of the field to exercise him. He refused to come, her story is that he reared up and hit her on the head.
I do believe she provoked him as I know she used to slap him with the leadrope when he wouldn't come.
But that's not important, it's very very bad and a horrible thing and we're utterly shocked. Luckily the yard help "only" needed stitches on her head and was otherwise fine. I don't want to imagine what could have happened!!!
Anyway, we are now being pressured to put him down as he's uncontrollable and a liability. Our riding instructor emailed me yesterday to say either I put him down/re-home him immediately or she won't come out to teach us anymore
I know we have a huge problem - but am I really so wrong in wanting to give this horse another chance? We've spoken with the girl who loans him and her mum and both are happy for her to continue working with him (which at the moment is only picking poo in the field he's in). We've made it a rule that there always has to be an adult present and that she is to wear a hat at all times.
I just don't know what to think anymore, yes, I know we have a massive problem that needs fixing immediately. I'd rather have him gone today than tomorrow but he's an ex racer TB with issues - who's going to take a horse like that? Unless another dodgy dealer :|
But putting him down?
I'd be really grateful for your opinions - sorry for the long post :| We're not too experienced with horses (I've had horses for around 6 years and my husband for about 3 years, they were at a livery yard though) we've never intended to get a "nutter" like that, we trusted the wrong people and ended up with one and then decided to do the responsible thing and fix him up and give him a chance.
Thank you
We bought the Boy in October as a nice and easy going leisure ride. Newbies we were/are we got him from a dodgy dealer, the horse was a mess, unhealed injury and months of neglect.
He was a nightmare to handle back then, huge abandonment issues, we had to bring at least one other horse out at all times.
We got his health issues fixed and he's had a lot of time to heal.
I was scared to ride him (confidence issues, he's chucked me off once, way too much horse for me) so we found him a lovely rider. She's only 16 but very very good with him, so understanding and she's worked incredibly hard to get him back to being a horse.
We do trust her and, more importantly, the Boy trusts her. She's done lots of ground work in the beginning, establishing a bond, then went on to riding him, now jumping. He's showing so much promise, loves jumping and is most of the time, a lovely lovely horse.
And then it went all bad about a month ago. We took him to his first Clear Round, he loaded with no problems and behaved impeccably at the venue. He clearly was enjoying himself very much. It was a very low key event, just at the local riding club, we thought it'd be great to see how he does. It became clear he'd been evented in his previous home.
A week later we took him again, he loaded ok at home, was a bit reluctant first but then went on the trailer.
Same venue, he was again very very good and enjoyed himself very much.
When we wanted to go back home he refused to go on the trailer. It took us 3 hours and a trip home to fetch another horse until he would finally go on the trailer.
We're not sure why he wouldn't load, we've got a camera in the trailer and he was enjoying the ride. Happy ears, looked out of the window, nibbled his hay, wasn't sweaty/excited when unloaded.
He had a few days off in the field and then his loaner came out to try and work on the loading issues.
He very strongly refused, there was no way he was going to get on that trailer, not even with another horse on there.
This was the first time he's reared up. Ever.
Ok, so back in the field, think of a plan B.
Over the next few days we gave him lots of time to process, worked with him to come out to the yard to see there's nothing bad there, got him to come out reluctantly and then quite happily.
The girl rode him last Wednesday and he was his usual lovely self. He was alone in the arena with no issues.
On the Thursday our yard help, without my permission, decided to take him out of the field to exercise him. He refused to come, her story is that he reared up and hit her on the head.
I do believe she provoked him as I know she used to slap him with the leadrope when he wouldn't come.
But that's not important, it's very very bad and a horrible thing and we're utterly shocked. Luckily the yard help "only" needed stitches on her head and was otherwise fine. I don't want to imagine what could have happened!!!
Anyway, we are now being pressured to put him down as he's uncontrollable and a liability. Our riding instructor emailed me yesterday to say either I put him down/re-home him immediately or she won't come out to teach us anymore
I know we have a huge problem - but am I really so wrong in wanting to give this horse another chance? We've spoken with the girl who loans him and her mum and both are happy for her to continue working with him (which at the moment is only picking poo in the field he's in). We've made it a rule that there always has to be an adult present and that she is to wear a hat at all times.
I just don't know what to think anymore, yes, I know we have a massive problem that needs fixing immediately. I'd rather have him gone today than tomorrow but he's an ex racer TB with issues - who's going to take a horse like that? Unless another dodgy dealer :|
But putting him down?
I'd be really grateful for your opinions - sorry for the long post :| We're not too experienced with horses (I've had horses for around 6 years and my husband for about 3 years, they were at a livery yard though) we've never intended to get a "nutter" like that, we trusted the wrong people and ended up with one and then decided to do the responsible thing and fix him up and give him a chance.
Thank you