Confidence in riding after a horse has been rehabbed

If any one still has the will to live after reading this thread I would greatly appreciate advice on the following. The horse is now finally getting to the point where the resumption of ridden work seems feasible, assuming she doesn't decide she is missing the vet and another visit is required.

Assuming she is remains sound, isn't sill bucking and DD and I feel confident riding her ( a lot of off iffs!!) I am unsure what to do next.

DD would like her to remain where she is on rehab on a longer term basis. Its about 15 minutes further from home and £30 more than our previous yard, but has off road hacking. The horse seems happy there. Schooling, exercising and lessons are available on site. Horse now out with one other and seems to work well.

Returning to our previous yard; belongs to friends and I was very happy there. However a busier yard, no off road hacking and the horse had got a reputation as a bucker while there. Due to staffing changes I would need to bring someone in to school her / exercise for her for me, which realistically with my job would be required. Whatever happens I will still have a weekly lesson there either on my or horse or on different horse.

I visited a much smaller yard today eight horses max, school and off road hacking available. The yard owner can assist with schooling and exercising and offers lessons. Individual turnout and in every night all year round. As the horse is a very good doer I am not averse the the not living out 24/7 and she is happy enough in overnight. The yard owner was very flexible, yard about twenty five minutes from home. I liked this yard but was concerned that it might be too quiet, but I think the horse would like it. Cost wise I think it will be similar to our usual yard. (That is not the deciding factor.)

Opinions please; I need to given an answer on the yard I visited today as she said she had had a lot of interest.
 
Stay put? Horse is happy and has an equine friend, you guys have support, your daughter likes it.

Plus individual turnout sucks unless you have a weirdo horse (like my old mare) who gives you no choice. I certainly would not choose it for any horse with vague social skills.

Moving is unsettling to horses. It's like asking your kid to change schools. Many take it in stride, but you never know how they'll find a yard so any unknown yard is a crapshoot.

Off-road hacking is non-negotiable for me, but that depends on how much you like hacking.
 
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Staying put would be a no brainer for me, for the time being at least.

Horse likes it, daughter likes it, you feel there is good support and are not yet confident on your own. I would stay with the people you feel confident can help. Plus, off road hacking is a top attraction.
 
Stay put. You, your daughter and the horse all need the security of the rehab yard where she has settled so well, and have back up.

It’s been a long road to get her to here. Don’t upset anything for the horse for a good long while yet. If the horse gets upset, you and your daughter will risk coming croppers and never wanting to ride her again.

Is it a good idea that your daughter rides her short term? It seemed to be something about her riding that particularly unsettled the horse?
 
I agree keep her where she is if you can afford it! I’m so glad she’s at a point where you can take back the reins so to speak!

You can always reevaluate in the spring but this time of year is so awful if your horse is settled and it works for you I’d personally stay as you are. You know they can help you if you run into trouble, the other options may not be able to. Good luck!
 
Absolutely stay put . You all seem happy there.
The main thing is getting your confidence back on her , and the best place to do that is where the horse is most relaxed. Moving her again could unsettle her . Not worth the risk , especially as she seems to have turned a massive corner.
 
Another saying stay where you are for now at least. The horse is settled there and appears to like the set-up, daughter sounds much more confident about riding/handling on this yard and you have the right support there. Off-road hacking is a huge plus, these days when traffic gets busier every day. I certainly wouldn't risk changing what seems to be working successfully at this stage.
 
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Thank you these comments confirm what I was thinking, we will stay put until I am sure that keeping her is going to the right option. I can then revaluate whether staying there, returning our usual yard or considering another yard would be right for us. We live in a area with a number of yards so alternatives would come up. Thank you again for your replies :). I hope ridden work will start again in the next week or so, I don't want my daughter riding her until I am very sure she is settled,
 
Waxwing said:
Thank you these comments confirm what I was thinking, we will stay put until I am sure that keeping her is going to the right option. I can then revaluate whether staying there, returning our usual yard or considering another yard would be right for us. We live in an area with a number of yards so alternatives would come up. Thank you again for your replies :). I hope ridden work will start again in the next week or so, I don't want my daughter riding her until I am very sure she is settled,
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You’re so lucky you have other possible options for yards, I feel we are so unfortunate where we are as so many have shut down 🥺
Wishing you and your daughter all the best with the horse x
 
The rehab yard got back on the horse last week, took her out for a gentle hack and she behaved perfectly. They are now back in the school with and I got sent videos today of her doing trot and canter poles looking very relaxed and happy. Its great that she's come back into work after a month off with no issue. I am hoping to finally get back on her within the next week.
 
Waxwing said:
The rehab yard got back on the horse last week, took her out for a gentle hack and she behaved perfectly. They are now back in the school with and I got sent videos today of her doing trot and canter poles looking very relaxed and happy. Its great that she's come back into work after a month off with no issue. I am hoping to finally get back on her within the next week.
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Yay that’s great news!!

I’m having a major confidence wobble on my TB, he’s become so forward and looky when hacking since we fixed his ulcers and SIJ, I really don’t like it 😢 He’s far too sharp for me to safely hack with my daughter at the moment which really defeats the purpose of having him. I honestly am starting to think he’s too much horse for me…I think i preferred the ulcery slow version! Not sure what I’ll do, I may end up selling him onto someone more experienced.
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Yay that’s great news!!

I’m having a major confidence wobble on my TB, he’s become so forward and looky when hacking since we fixed his ulcers and SIJ, I really don’t like it 😢 He’s far too sharp for me to safely hack with my daughter at the moment which really defeats the purpose of having him. I honestly am starting to think he’s too much horse for me…I think i preferred the ulcery slow version! Not sure what I’ll do, I may end up selling him onto someone more experienced.
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Its really hard to know what to do; I am incredibly pleased with how our horse is going on the rehab yard and my daughter is keen to get back on her. However her confidence was really knocked by our horse last year to the point where she considered giving up riding, totally understandable after she was bucked off several times.. She had lessons on a much quieter pony for several months and is just now starting to feel confident about riding the bigger, slightly more forward horses at the riding school (the ones she would have ridden last year without a thought before her confidence was knocked.) I hope you find a way forward with yours, do you think a change in yard that you mentioned on your other thread, with more turnout, will help? If this is achievable. It is never straightforward with horses!
 
Waxwing said:
Its really hard to know what to do; I am incredibly pleased with how our horse is going on the rehab yard and my daughter is keen to get back on her. However her confidence was really knocked by our horse last year to the point where she considered giving up riding, totally understandable after she was bucked off several times.. She had lessons on a much quieter pony for several months and is just now starting to feel confident about riding the bigger, slightly more forward horses at the riding school (the ones she would have ridden last year without a thought before her confidence was knocked.) I hope you find a way forward with yours, do you think a change in yard that you mentioned on your other thread, with more turnout, will help? If this is achievable. It is never straightforward with horses!
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I’m so glad she’s doing so well, I do hope she feels confident enough to get back on!

Yes this is definitely a consideration, there just are no other yards around that offer what we need so I’m a bit stuck really. I also think even if we did move to somewhere with more turnout I’d be super nervous taking him out hacking either on my own (if we went to our old yard) or a new place and my daughter doesn’t want to go out with us on her pony because the last few times we did go out together, her pony reacted to mines silly behaviour. Ugh it’s so tricky!

The girls on the yard have offered to hack him for me etc but I’m not in the position to keep a horse that I can’t use myself really…work commitments also make it difficult to ride him every day or at least 5 days a week which is what he needs really. It’s never easy is it?!
 
I got back on board this morning and had a lesson, I was a bit nervous before hand but ended up walking trotting and cantering on both reins and she behaved perfectly. She is feeling more forward in a good way since she had her SI treated and I really enjoyed riding her. It was lovely to groom, tack up, ride and turn out my own horse. Long may this continue! :) I dove to work afterwards feeling very happy. (It was my first ride on her since last August.)
 
So pleased to read your updates, and I echo what others say and am relieved you have decided to stay put. You sound like you have support and the horse is settled. You have stepped through every issue with this horse and hopefully this thread will give others who have had issues with new horses the confidence to actually find out why their horse is struggling. You could have sold your horse with all her issues, and she would have spiralled to a point where I suspect she would end up on a dodgy dealer site or worse. But instead, you have sorted each issue, while acknowledging she might not be the right horse for you but that you needed to get her right before you decided whether to keep or sell. I think what I am trying to say (in a rather convoluted way 🤣) is well done you and I hope you and your daughter continue to enjoy your lovely horse. Your daughter will have learned so much from how you have helped your mare and dealt with her problems. 🥰
 
mustardsmum said:
So pleased to read your updates, and I echo what others say and am relieved you have decided to stay put. You sound like you have support and the horse is settled. You have stepped through every issue with this horse and hopefully this thread will give others who have had issues with new horses the confidence to actually find out why their horse is struggling. You could have sold your horse with all her issues, and she would have spiralled to a point where I suspect she would end up on a dodgy dealer site or worse. But instead, you have sorted each issue, while acknowledging she might not be the right horse for you but that you needed to get her right before you decided whether to keep or sell. I think what I am trying to say (in a rather convoluted way 🤣) is well done you and I hope you and your daughter continue to enjoy your lovely horse. Your daughter will have learned so much from how you have helped your mare and dealt with her problems. 🥰
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Thank you that is greatly appreciated; I have just been trying to do what is right for the horse. I had a walk and trot hack out with another livery this morning, access to off road hacking direct from the yard is a rather nice novelty. :) The horse behaved perfectly, we met several walkers, dogs and people with umbrellas!
 
Waxwing said:
Thank you that is greatly appreciated; I have just been trying to do what is right for the horse. I had a walk and trot hack out with another livery this morning, access to off road hacking direct from the yard is a rather nice novelty. :) The horse behaved perfectly, we met several walkers, dogs and people with umbrellas!
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I’m so thrilled for you, lovely to have a positive story and so nice to see you didn’t give up on her x
 
We are now two lessons and two hacks (one on my own) in. Since the SI was treated she is so much more forward to ride, aids on and she is cantering and maintaining rather than dropping it half way round the school. I appreciate there will continue to be ups and downs in horse ownership but I am happy I am back riding my own horse and enjoying it. :)
 
I watched her being jumped today for the first time in eight months, she did put a few bucks in but these were excited there's a jump and there's other horses around cantering, not the I'm in pain, get off me variety. She settled and do a few jumps from trot, cantering away afterwards, and was walk trotting and cantering around the arena with no issue in between her goes. Overall all is going well :)
 
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