Do any of you know anyone that buys problem horses?

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charlie55

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Not so much of a problem horse, he just needs a telling off but hes knocked my confidence! He will rear coming in from the field if hes last out and he will rear going out if hes last in the stable! And he will also bronc in canter if you let him!! Hes knocked my confidence and i dont even want to handle him anymore let alone ride him. He works in a lovely outline when working nicely and hes also very quiet the rest of the time. Just going to and from the field if hes in a mood. I cant be bothered with advertising him and having time wasters and people wanting to make a quick buck because he is so cheap, hence wanting someone i know will sort him out. Ive tryed Matt selby and he is full so not buying. Does anyone else know of other buyers for tempermentle cheap horses?
 
There is always a market for sensibly priced problem horses, however why not put him out on loan - at least you have some say in his future then. If you sell him, unless you are sure to the point of fault, he could be one step away from the meatman. If you are happy with that, sell him.

Is it not an option to get some help in so you can keep him?

Kitty
 
I don't want to be negative here but what you are describing is what my TB used to do. I've got round this by giving him Nuprafeed calmer. With regard to rearing when going to/from the field funnily enough I found that he's much better when actually lead with another horse which you may think is double trouble but he then doesn't think that he's last or left behind. If you still think that he's a problem then I wouldn't think in the current climate that you will find anyone prepared to pay big money for him as there are a lot of good horses out there - unless he is particularly talented. Have you thought of having someone help you on the ground? There are plenty of Intelligent Horsemanship people (and no - I'm not one of those) who might be able to help you deal with and rectify your problems. Good luck - don't give up too easily as if he can work for you at times he must have some redeeming things about him!
 
Kitsune said:
There is always a market for sensibly priced problem horses, however why not put him out on loan - at least you have some say in his future then. If you sell him, unless you are sure to the point of fault, he could be one step away from the meatman. If you are happy with that, sell him.

Is it not an option to get some help in so you can keep him?

Kitty
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I totally agree Loan him out.
 
I am an idoit and would take on a problem horse on loan but only as long as the owner paid for EVERYTHING OR paid me to take it on- problem horses are normally not cheap to sort out!
 
Yes Project Horses is a good website - at least every buyer knows they are taking on a problem horse so you shouldnt get too many hoof kickers!
 
Do you really think this horse is just too much for you, or realistically is he going to be a pain in the a**e for whoever ends up buying him? If its probably the first, either ring round local dealer's, someone will take him off your hands if the price is right, or send him for sales livery where you might end up getting a decent price. If its the second, it would be kinder to him, and all the mugs who might end up with him down the line, if you just pts.
 
He acts the way he does because he can.
I would use either a control halter on him or a stud chain across his nose. If he reared with that then he would get a darn good jerk, hard enough to make him think about doing it again.
This sort of horse has learned to be a bully and if they are treated very firmly but fairly then it takes a matter of a couple of days to sort them out.
If they are bullies then I will make sure that they know I own the air they breathe and will correct them for blinking without permission. I am not talking about beating them up but using my voice, body language, experience and determination that I will be the bully and not them.

When they are anticipating what I want, like moving over in the stable without being pushed, then I will be fast to praise. Butlins or borstal, their choice.
 
My YO takes on prob/difficult horses - I think generally she pref to pay v small price, then takes lots of time to get them right before she sells on to good home. What part of the country are you in I could ask her if she's interested if you like?
 
You could have been describing my horse here,he was a nightmare when I first got him nearly 4 years ago. He'd rear coming in from the field almost every day and generally be quite dominant.

With consistent handling,wearing his bridle to and from the field and some firm ground rules set he improved. He still has his occasional moments but there's no such thing as the perfect horse. He's definitely learnt to have respect for me now and I would suggest that if you don't feel confident to handle him yourself then get someone to help you.

Otherwise you are just passing on a problem which is a shame for the horse-there's no telling where he may end up,especially in these economic times.
 
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I used to occasionally take on the odd rehab project, but never again after the last one damn near killed me, mainly due to the lies told by the owner and a little bit due to me not being careful/suspicious enough! And a little bit due to circumstances. But I'm just not cut out for it. The one that nearly killed me ended up costing thousands to rehab as I just wasnt hard faced enough to flog it on for a few hundred quid. Instead we kept him for months on end, sorted him and then loaned him for a fair wack of time just to be sure as well before we placed him in a fab home.

I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority though! Most people taking on projects want them for free, they square them up pretty quick and sell them on for a profit, if they cant then they are shipped out to who knows where. Mugs like me are in short supply!

Saying all of that, I am toying with the idea of another project. I would expect it to be for free, and I wouldn't take on anything with serious soundness or ridden issues, but handling issues wouldn't be an issue.

I do have a few refernces that I'm happy to give, that confirm that I keep horses generally, not sort them and flog them on. If your going to rehome something 'tricky' in this market then INSIST in references and take them up! Anyone above board will be able to provide them :)
 
I don't think that there is anything wrong with admitting that you can't handle a particular horse and wanting to sell it. I can also see why it would be a hassle to sell it - to have to ride it and handle it to show it off when you are scared is an impossible task. So it makes sense to sell it to a dealer who sorts out problem horses... This horse would probably be fine with a confident, more capable rider and handler, and a dealer/sales yard would be able to quickly do the ground work to sort it out. Loaning the horse out would just pass the buck to someone else, and may result in the horse coming back time and time again, whereas if the horse is sent somewhere where the problem is managed, it should be able to be sold onto a more suitable home. Loaning won't help the OP find themselves a more suitable horse either. So many people suggest loaning all the time. Its not always the best thing.

OP good luck, I hope that things work out.
 
Foxhunter49 said:
He acts the way he does because he can.
I would use either a control halter on him or a stud chain across his nose. If he reared with that then he would get a darn good jerk, hard enough to make him think about doing it again.
This sort of horse has learned to be a bully and if they are treated very firmly but fairly then it takes a matter of a couple of days to sort them out.
If they are bullies then I will make sure that they know I own the air they breathe and will correct them for blinking without permission. I am not talking about beating them up but using my voice, body language, experience and determination that I will be the bully and not them.

When they are anticipating what I want, like moving over in the stable without being pushed, then I will be fast to praise. Butlins or borstal, their choice.
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Bloody hell, my damn schizophrenia's come back. I don't even remember registering a second user name, never mind typing that post :D:D:D
 
dozzie said:
Probably not viable tbh as too far away. I think the local hunt is a better option if it is the horse i think it might be. :(.
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Joking aside the description of the behavior sounds familiar.
Has advice about this particular horse been sought on here before?
 
Foxhunter49 said:
He acts the way he does because he can.
I would use either a control halter on him or a stud chain across his nose. If he reared with that then he would get a darn good jerk, hard enough to make him think about doing it again.
This sort of horse has learned to be a bully and if they are treated very firmly but fairly then it takes a matter of a couple of days to sort them out.
If they are bullies then I will make sure that they know I own the air they breathe and will correct them for blinking without permission. I am not talking about beating them up but using my voice, body language, experience and determination that I will be the bully and not them.

When they are anticipating what I want, like moving over in the stable without being pushed, then I will be fast to praise. Butlins or borstal, their choice.
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A round of applause for Foxhunter please :D:D
 
The handling problem you're experiencing is pretty common for a lot of horses who don't like to be left on their own.

Can he not come in / or go out before the last horse, so he NEVER is the last horse to be brought in? He is just showing stress at being left on his own I think.

If just being the last horse in or out causes the problems, then I wouldn't say he's a 'problem horse' as such.

Unless he's too bad with that and the bucking, I think quite of a lot of dealers would buy him off you.
 
Dozzie im not sure who you think he is but its the wrong horse :) no one on here has owned him as far as i know.
I dont want to put him out on loan as if hes too much for them he will come back, i want to sell him to someone that deals with these sorts of horses all the time so i know he isnt going to kill someone or end up at the meat mans! Hence not wanting to advertise him. Im in Kent, im going to phone a couple of dealers today that ive been told take bolshy horses etc. If i had him a couple of years ago i would carry on with him and try my hardest to sort out hes problems but i have a baby and i have to think of that, and when a horse is rearing and boxing at your head while your babies in the car, id rather quit!
 
Charlie55 for what its worth I think you are doing the right thing. We don't always end up with the 'right' horse and there comes a point, particularly when safety is involved, when it's better to call it quits.

I hope you can find someone to take him off your hands.
 
charlie55 said:
Dozzie im not sure who you think he is but its the wrong horse :) no one on here has owned him as far as i know.
I dont want to put him out on loan as if hes too much for them he will come back, i want to sell him to someone that deals with these sorts of horses all the time so i know he isnt going to kill someone or end up at the meat mans! Hence not wanting to advertise him. Im in Kent, im going to phone a couple of dealers today that ive been told take bolshy horses etc. If i had him a couple of years ago i would carry on with him and try my hardest to sort out hes problems but i have a baby and i have to think of that, and when a horse is rearing and boxing at your head while your babies in the car, id rather quit!
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Yes i looked back at your posts in a stalkerish fashion:D and thought it must be a different one. :)

I was thinking of a bay horse.:) but he was older.
 
Iv got one the same at the moment i keep saying hes going but scared where he would end up he was at meat market when i bought him. And i wouldnt what someone to suffer like i am at the moment. He dosent scare me but should as likes rearing at my head. But if i knew someone willing to take him on and make a promise he would only go to loving home he would be gone
 
Op this horse's behaviour is scary. But it isn't necessarily enough for him to be classified as a 'problem' horse by every potential owner. Just a horse with a few issues.

Broncing in canter is more likely to be discomfort (saddle/back/similar) or over excitement (feeding/turnout) than nastiness. The rearing in hand is more likely fear/anxiety/lack of trust than nastiness. These things can nearly always be sorted.

Try to sit down and make a list of all the good things about the horse. All the things you've enjoyed together, all horse's talents.

You might find all you need is an instructor/helpful YM to assist you with showing horse to potential buyers.

If you really want to wash hands of horse (I do know other responsibilities can make a huge difference to your perspective) try to make sure that it goes somewhere where whatever talents are in your list can be used.
 
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