Do you think anyone would buy my horse? *LONG*

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ronanmaye

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Hi there
I am a lurker, but never posted, so hello!
I am in a dilema about my mare. I have owner her for four years now and think I am reaching the point where I want to sell her. She is a 9 years old chestnut mare. I truly believed that I would keep her for life, but when I look back on other horses I have had on loan on the past I reaslise she doesnt make me happy (of course my mother has been telling me this for years!!!). My excuse for not selling has always been that I dont think anyone would buy her, plus I worry that she could end up in a bad home... So her bad points:
She can be very nappy out hacking on her own- to the point where I have had to get off due to reversing into ditches/barb wire fences etc. But i have always got home 'safely'
She can be a nightmare to catch (and always has a field safe headcollar on), but food generally works
She can be a fruitloop on the lunge (bucking, squealing and going 100 miles an hour), but does calm down in the end (and I work her really hard if she has had one of these episodes!)
She can be over-excited at shows- again bucking, trying to nap to gate, prancing etc.
All of the above is only about 10% of the time- the rest of the time she is really sweet (dont think its seasonal as she can be worse in winter).
Good points
She is 100% to shoe and box
She lives in or out
She is working nicely in the school
She loves jumping (although I have only jumped 2'9'')
She is easy to handle
People always think she is very pretty

I think for a teenager they would think she is fantastic fun and would probably have more confidence to go out and do more on her? I dont have any transport so she hasnt been to a show for over a year- my plan was to do loads of clinics etc on her to get her going, but we cant afford a box at the moment. I am not getting any younger & I think I want a quieter life. This is all bought on by me going to stroke her in the field this morning and her buggering off with her tail in the air- I just think all these bloody years I have worked by butt off to keep you etc and we still dont 'click'. Thanks for getting this far... I dont think she has enough talent to go to a professional person?
 
i'm sure you'll be able to find her a home, she doesn't sound terrible, just a bit quirky
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if you're worried about where she'll end up, why not look into loaning her out?
 
I did think about that, but... There were tears and tantrums with the last two loanees- the first one had to be 'rescued' by another rider from a hack as apparently she completely lost it- both my horse and the girl came back in a complete state (this was the first time she had ever done anything bad). The second loanee got on really well for about 4 months until again she 'lost' it out hacking- going sideways, prancing, bucking etc. The girl quit there and then. She has tried it a bit with me but I try to remain calm and keep her going forwards, but I know its not pleasant. Selfishly I dont want her given back to me if something goes wrong?? That sounds awfull beacuse I really do care about what happens to her, but if I let go of her, it has to be for good? She will obviously need to go to a confident, experienced home. But yes, would agree she is quirky! That is probably the best way to describe her!
 
I'm sure you'll be able to sell her to a nice home but at the right price. With regard to your last sentence unfortunately not all horses are people friendly and its probably nothing to do with you at all, so try not to be disheartened.
 
it would be good to see a video of her..

wat sort of breed/age/height is she? because people are always lookin for project horses, and like you said, perhaps lots of clinincs may help? also, how often does she get ridden? because my horsy goes a little bit mental if he's not ridden at least 5 times a week, but i make sure he's lunged every day whether i ride or not, and it has made such a difference with that excess energy! he's much fitter too, so ive started teaching him to jump, which he loves. also living out 24/7 helps.
 
sounds like a typical, full of fun and energy horse...she sounds just my type....I dont think you would have problems with her...sounds like she just needs a confident rider and she would be fine...
I would advertise her for a confident rider and that way you should not have any problems...
My chap is the most laid back horse in the world - but he will not lunge - rears all the time, so I dont lunge I just school him, he is difficult to catch at times and again food is always a winner and last time I took him to a show it took 2 hours to load him where he reared and broke my thumb...so dont worry I dont think you will have any probs selling her...
lots of luck
 
She sounds just like my mare (chestnut TB) hence I have never ever let anyone else hack her out. I have no problems with her silliness but she would scare the c**p out of a less confident rider. She is a sweetie on the ground, has a fab jump and paces to die for, but I too often wonder if I could ever sell her but then there must be other riders out there who can handle quirky horses!
I think you would need to vet any buyer really thoroughly and explain your horse's personality to the full. People appreciate honesty and it's a good way of weeding out the unsuitable.
 
You are all making me feel a bit better!
She is living out 24/7 at the moment and I always ride/exercise 6 days a week
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But she is one that definately needs the work...
I suspect some of her quirks may come from where she was trained as a point to point? I thin k she is quite sensitive and that environment didnt suit her when she was younger...
 
She sounds just like my little Amy May - who I wouldn't have parted with for the world.

Likewise, I would never have sold her because she was nappy, and I was always worried where she would end up.
 
When we get it right and things are going well, it is all great and it makes me feel great that we overcome things. Just when she is bad it chips away at my confidence- I know I can deal with it, but it puts me off. Everyone who meets her loves her and says she is a very strong character... I probably wont ever sell her on as I feel very responsible for her but she drives me soooo bloody mad sometimes- I have to walk away from her. Mares eh? Guess how that is how my OH feels about me sometimes!! Perhaps I need to hang in there a bit longer until I get money for a box to be able to take her to clnics and wear her out a bit more
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Believe me, life is far too short to have a horse you don't get along with! I managed to sell my complete nutter of a horse 4 years ago - I was just totally honest in my advert and when people came to try him I made sure they understood just how unpredictable and risky a ride he was.

Sounds to me like you'll have no problem with your girl - someone out there will fall in love with her - after all someone bought my nutter and still has him now! :OP
 
i stopped gelling with my highland pony last years an i learned that we were getting no where i lost my confidence with her and it was making me miserable. i ended up putting her out on loan to a more experienced lady who is doing natural horsemanship with her which has worked wonders!! and she will be coming home this winter, i'm hoping the change of scenery will of helped her. i'm gonna take up NH when she comes home because it has worked so well ( waiting to be pelted with rotten tomatoes lol!!!)

sounds very similar to your story, poppy is my baby had her for almost 6 years now and i bought her as anear enough rescue case. we worked throught it and she was amazing!!! she had bad feet so had to go away as a companion for a while, the people were too soft with her and she came back as devil horse
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i will never sell poppy. i'm too scared that she would resort back to her nasty ways a get passed about from place to place
 
SMOOCHY oh my god!! Sorry, just reading your siggy and you've got a knabby!!! My knab got knocked in a showing class last year for not haviong perfect conf. for an appy!!!! No one knows what the damn things are!!!! Hello, I have 2.
 
I'd buy it!! Sounds better behaved than anything I've ever bought started out!!! Be honest but don't stitch yourself up!! People like a bit of excitement, sounds typical teenagers fun horse.
Good luck
 
Different horses react differently with different people.

Buy yourself a nice new horse which you enjoy owning.

When you advertise/show people the horse explain the issues you have with the horse and put them on paper and get the person that buys it to sign and date it to say they understood the issues you have had with the horse. This will reduce the chance of any come backs.
 
there WILL be someone out there for her and also a horse for you. I have just been thro the same thing, its not you its just not thr right horse for you at the mo - simple as that. Sell/ loan (i have a wonderful loanee who adores her and is about to start competing, my horse is more happy too) and have bought myself a steady eddie plod who wasnt even that much money. PM me if you want to know anything. Good luck x
 
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