Buying an Unfit Horse.....

P

Parkranger

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 May 2006
Messages
10,546
Visit site
after trying to ride out Oscar in company today his napping again was quite bad. He threatens to rear (I don't do rearing!) and I know that I'm freezing and he knows he can get away with it.

He was napping in the school in my lesson and I couldn't get him off the yard on Friday - had to lead him around the block.....

I really think it's down to the fact that he hadn't done anything for nearly a year and now that he's fit he's an arse.

So frustrating after taking him out on Sunday and getting placed second in ridden hack. It should obviously make me feel more confident but I'm just getting more and more nervy and making him worse.

My instructor is going to school him twice and week and told me just to lunge him and get him listening to me on the ground. I thought he'd be ok hacking in company (and he always has been) but today he was a sh@t.

I'm seriously thinking about selling both and giving up - I really haven't had any luck with horses. I know I'm overhorsing myself but I also know that I don't want a heavyweight cob (no offence) so I don't know what to do.

sorry for the long and wingeing post - It's all I seem to do at the moemnt!
grin.gif
 
you dont need to buy a cob though, why not an older horse thats been there and done it all and is now looking for a quieter life, something you can gain confidence with and have fun on rather than being over-horsed and feeling its all a struggle.
 
I think what's frustrates me is that I'm not a bad rider but he's just testing me.

I know deep down that I'll regret selling him as when we gel, we gel very well.

I think maybe it's all about getting my instructor to school/hack etc and I just do more ground work with him?

I also can't have him napping on his own but before he'd nap occasionally and carry on - I'm now finding it hard to get him off the yard and he's napping on the road.

I just can't afford to lose the money I paid for him when I completely ruin him!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Buy Porridge, she would be perfect for you
laugh.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Wanna swap!?
grin.gif
I don't think i get on with mares hun....why are you selling her anyways?
 
I know its really hard, I'm going through a stage like this but my situation doesn't sounds as tough to be honest, I'm just trying to think that once I get through it, I will know my horse better and I'll be stronger as a result. There is always a way of getting through these problems without passing them on to someone else, you're a fab rider just going through a rough patch, don't give up yet!
 
I'm wondering if he's getting too attached to Ty - over the last few weeks he's seemed to glue himself to Ty - he was shaking in the stable on tuesday when I brought him in for a lesson....and he's not a 'hot blooded' horse who stresses himself out like that.
 
I know you don't like cobs because you prefer riding pretty horses but I bet that there are some confidence giving horses out there who would live up to your aesthetic ideals. Weezy's horse is certainly good looking.

I sold a head turning Zangersheide gelding last year. Almost everyone who saw him felt compelled to tell me how gorgeous he was but he was also incredibly nappy and could turn himself inside out if he was in a mood. But I am so happy that he has now gone to a SJing home and I have my plain little pony. I have had so much fun with her and done things that my WB would never do. I am not suggesting for a second that you get a hairy pony but I think you should cast your net a little wider and still look for a beautiful horse but one that will put the fun back into riding for you.
 
I think I'll see how the next few months goes - my YO slipped in that they're selling their shire x tb - he's a big boy but gorgeous!

I just need to make sure that if I sell Oscar, I've done everything I can to sort him out.

Just think that once Ty has gone he may get better - they're so attached it's getting embarassing. Unfortunately Ty has lost a shoe but once back on I'll hack out with him and Oscar and see if he naps, if he doesn't, then that's the problem!
 
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I know from experience how hard it is to give up on a horse but if you are not getting what you want from the partnership, despite trying your utmost, I truly think it's better to sell to someone more suited to that particular horse and find yourself a better match. A bit like boyfriends really only you can't make money selling them on!
 
I know what you're saying but he only naps - he doesn't rear (yet) and I can't keep palming horses off on people becuase I haven't examined the cause of their behaviour!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top