Dilemma

goodtimes

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10 January 2012
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It's looking like my horse may not recover from a stifle injury. He is in pain but has had surgery which appears to have failed.
He has just had a steroid injection as a last ditch attempt to solve things but the vet wasn't hopeful.

Anyway.

The dilemma is I have been offered a 4 year old just backed ISH x cob from a friend of mine to have and bring on for him with a view to buy.

My problem is this.. We have limited turn out over winter, I'm talking just a couple of hours a day at our yard.

Will I feel like putting the effort in after losing my boy?
( which will happen when vet visits again in 2 weeks if still no improvement)

Is this time of year bad to be bringing a young one home, should I have the winter off and look again in the spring?
oh I don't know.

Any ideas?
 
What a shame for your horse :( It seems that you are resigned to possibly losing him after having tried your best to get him mended, poor lad. If you take on this new one it might at least take your mind off losing your own horse, do you have to take him on so soon or can the owner wait a short while until you see how you feel about it all?, you may lack enthusiasm for the new one or indeed, relish the challenge of bringing it on, only you can decide, neither is right or wrong.
 
Is it possible to just handle him sparodically over the winter and then start ridden work come spring when the turnout is better?

Really sorry to hear about your boy :( best of luck xxxx
 
My friend is a bit of a small time dealer and has bought this horse over from ireland a week or so ago to sell.

So no, he won't keep him till the spring for me. It's now or never.
 
Yes I've seen him. Hes just my stamp of a horse. Just never had a youngster before and common sense tells me winter is not the best time to get one.

But that might just be me being negative with everything else going on.
 
Sorry to hear about your horse.

Personally I like to get youngsters comming in to winter. They only need riding a few times a week for not very long, the rest of the time its general handling skills. Once they are ready for 'proper' work it starts getting light. I like to get them in unbroken around Aug/Sep with the view of doing some baby classes around March time the following year.
 
Personally I like taking youngsters on over the winter as takes off the pressure to ride as much. Gentle hacking 2-3 times a week over winter with the view to cracking on properly in the spring.

Only you can decide whether or not you want a new horse so soon after losing your old boy.
 
Fingers crossed for your boy. If you do lose him then maybe have the winter off or just help your dealer friend by riding a couple of times a week.That way you won't be fully committed and you can see how you feel in spring.
 
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