Does anyone have an uncomplicated horse?!!

[BBP]

To qualify you must have had it know the horse for at least 10 years (this may be flexible!) with no significant injuries, illnesses, psychotic episodes, erratic behaviours, vices, etc. Your horse must not be the cause of any of your grey hairs!

Do horses like this exist?!

 

[spike123]

rocking horses maybe ? Otherwise nope

 

[FfionWinnie]

Anyone who does have one isn't going to tempt fate telling you about it

 

[PorkChop]

"whispers" ..... I have one out of three that is uncomplicated - but generally .... no!

 

[skint1]

I have some Breyer horses like that, but they're a pain to dust so I threw them in a box and forgot about them

 

[Kezzabell2]

nope, my mare is 30, had her almost 15 years and she has cushings! she's retired but otherwise pretty damn good, NOW - she was the devil when I used to ride her!

 

[rara007]

Yes Had one (admittedly a shetland) 20 years, this year is his first 'issue' with cushings, though he did get under the weather for about a week 5 years ago.
We've had another two 10 years (the 2 heavier weight chestnuts in my sig), one had an abscess once, and one pulled himself in the mud once (was sound within a week)...They had 6 monthly vaccines for a while as doing FEI, does that count as an issue?!
All three do every discipline both ride and drive, to a reasonable level, hack alone and in company, turn out alone, in company, with mares, geldings and colts, act as stallion buffers on transporters, load onto anything, cross anything, happy to be left alone in the field or come in with others...

 

[be positive]

I had one, sadly he was pts after the only illness/ problem he had in almost 20 years of owning him, he was a full on character with a huge personality, the easiest boy in just about every way, over the years we did BE/BS/BD he was unbeaten as a novice WH and won many championships in what was his third "career", he had a few minor quirks but was generally uncomplicated and a lovely ride.
After retiring he was a super nanny but succumbed to a major colic at 6pm and despite every effort was pts at 3am , a total shock but like everything he did he did it in his own way, at least he went while he still looked well, one of my liveries bought me a Horse Chestnut tree to mark where he is buried in the corner of the field, so I think of him each time I see it.

 

[HashRouge]

I've had mine for 14 years and although recent years have been marred by arthritis and cushings (she is now retired) she was a pretty solid horse for my teen years and even into my twenties (got her when I was 11). I just used to get on and go! She had a fall when I was 14 and was at Leahurst equine hospital for a bit but it wasn't serious, just awkward because she hurt her knee and it was slow to heal. But other than that and her recent age related issues, she really has been pretty uncomplicated. Even her issues don't cause much trouble - she lives out, has her prascend tablet, and seems to get on very well indeed.

 

[Greylegs]

My highland is pretty uncomplicated .... depends on how you define "significant" when referring to illness and injuries.

At the risk of tempting fate ... definitely no psychotic episodes or erratic behaviours, no vices ( a complete sweety to handle, in the stable etc etc and extremely laid back). Of course, he's had the odd veterinary interlude ...been a bit colicy but fully recovered in a few hours, had a bit of thrush (barefoot) but well controlled with the right stuff, had his very first hoof abscess a month or so ago, but again it was quickly sorted by a good farrier and a few days of poulticing, got a bit footy in the spring but would be pushed to call it lami .... The only thing I'd call significant was he had an allergic cough last summer which went on a bit until we discovered the cause and got it sorted, but he stayed in walk work throughout.

I've not know him for 10 years yet (owned for 4 and a bit) but he was bred by my friends sister, and so she's known him all his life and I think I'm on fairly safe ground to say he's been pretty robust, sound and level headed throughout. He's definitely the source of more smiles than grey hairs all in all.

So, yes ... they do exist.

I'm now going to lie awake all night worrying about him ...... ARGH!!!

 

[Cortez]

Yeah, all of mine are pretty uncomplicated except one, and he's not a problem really. If they're not amenable we don't keep 'em.

 

[weesophz]

haha i wish, my boy is perfect apart from his need to be injured all the time!

 

[OWLIE185]

All three of mine were uncomplicated and could be hacked out by themselves by anyone in the heaviest of traffic and would not spook at anything. First one I had for 17 years, second one for 20 years and third one for 13 years.

 

[Follysmum]

Had 3 out of 8 of mine for 11yrs, 15yrs and 16yrs. Touch wood all uncomplicated

 

[oldie48]

Over the past 20 years we've had about 11 different horses and ponies, I wouldn't describe any of them as complicated, they all have had good manners, loaded, could be caught etc (sometimes they needed a bit of work to sort out the odd problem but nothing major) they have all done a reasonable job, some more talented than others and some more enthusiastic. I've had one than developed severe separation anxiety once he was kept at home with one other (sold to a professional yard) one lost his enthusiasm for dressage (sold to a hacking home)So far (fingers and toes crossed) I've not experienced a bad injury or illness except for the old TB, now 27, who has cushings. I guess I've been really lucky, now i am feeling a bit anxious!!!

 

[be positive]

Just to add to my previous post, Woody was a chestnut 16.2 ISH with a French bred sire, my current horse is also a chestnut 16.2 ISH by a French stallion, they would be similar in looks, type and talent yet chalk and cheese springs to mind, current horse is quirky, accident prone, has probably had more time off work than in work he has a lovely nature fortunately as he has not much else in his favour, just as well I have a soft spot for him.

 

[rowan666]

Yes my old Arab x Connie was perfect and we had her from 16ish till her last day at 30ish (after initial phsycopathic tendencies were resolved with well fitting tack and trust) and my cob mare is so far too, although only had her 2yrs

 

[AdorableAlice]

Had one in 35 years of keeping them.

Bought him as a foal and lost him 28 years later to old age, although he was fine until the last few days when he had a series of mini strokes and it was time. Only time he saw the vet was the annual vacs and he did have one winter with mud rash.

Tough as old boots, hunted twice a week, mad as a box of frogs, jump anything and thrived on oats and hay. Have a guess at what he was.

 

[Horsewithsocks]

Had one in 35 years of keeping them.

Bought him as a foal and lost him 28 years later to old age, although he was fine until the last few days when he had a series of mini strokes and it was time. Only time he saw the vet was the annual vacs and he did have one winter with mud rash.

Tough as old boots, hunted twice a week, mad as a box of frogs, jump anything and thrived on oats and hay. Have a guess at what he was.

I have one who is 23 apart from the Cushings which I currently have under control he is pretty low maintenance - Then I have the young one - he is bitten by everything all through the year, he got a virus in the summer which resulted in a breathing problem, then there is his neck .................... He is lovely and talented so let's hope all the specialist vet's bills eventually pay off!

 

[Bernster]

Haha hens teeth! But yes I did have one the def fits the bill, I can also mention it as he's no longer mine so I feel less as if I'm tempting fate. Solid as a rock, only saw the vet for teeth and jabs, if he did get the very occasional knock, he'd be right as rain the next day. Safest horse I've ever known but great fun too. Oddly I ended up selling him (to my sharer at the time), but it took me a long time to reach that decision, as I had kind of outgrown him and wanted something a bit feistier (mad, I know). She still has him and he's continued to be a complete trooper and she loves him to bits.

 

[Cragrat]

Had one in 35 years of keeping them.

Bought him as a foal and lost him 28 years later to old age, although he was fine until the last few days when he had a series of mini strokes and it was time. Only time he saw the vet was the annual vacs and he did have one winter with mud rash.

Tough as old boots, hunted twice a week, mad as a box of frogs, jump anything and thrived on oats and hay. Have a guess at what he was.

Thoroughbred����

 

[AdorableAlice]

Thoroughbred����

I think the forum would implode if he was a TB !, he was a Welsh D (E) a big one at 16h.

 

[BBP]

I was going to say TB too!

Well my thanks and apologies to those who admit to having such a creature...and who are now going to lie awake worrying that they have jinxed them!

My sisters lovely horse is as close to uncomplicated as you could want temperament wise but despite being owned by the most careful person I know he has still been plagued by soundness issues. And mine....well many of you will know we've had and continue to have issues, but I love him more than anything so I will just have to accept my grey hair (or keep dying it) and carry on!

 

[wills_91]

*raising hand* meeeeeeeeee. Although I've only had him 4 years - almost his whole life - if only he was 14.2 he would be my perfect pony. He's a shetland.

 

[keri66]

Yep my Arab.
Easiest horse in the world. ☺
Absolutely adore her

 

[stencilface]

I have some Breyer horses like that, but they're a pain to dust so I threw them in a box and forgot about them

The My Little Ponies I've had have been pretty good over the last 30 years, they're even holding up to mini SF playing with them now.

I'd rather not talk about the real ones as its too depressing!

 

[Dolsey1]

I had one that was totally uncomplicated until the last year or so of her life. Prior to that we had ten years of nothing! She then had a coffin joint injury, followed by bone spavins, followed by colic and then was pts through colic surgery complications.

 

[Fiona]

I had one.. A welsh D as well. He had a knee injury once which came completely right again, but apart from that I owned him for 19 years with no issues...

All the present inmates have their moments though ID mare is pretty good apart from a v minor unexplained allergy.

Fiona

 

[Polar Bear9]

Yep, I've had mine 11 years, have had no problems in that time. The only time she's seen the vet (apart from injections etc) was for an infected bite last year which cleared up within a week. She's an angel and tough as a brick.

ETA, she's also a Welsh D

 

[Suzie86]

Yes, without wanting to tempt fate!! I've had mine 14 years and never a days lameness or sickness in all that time apart from one very minor hoof access!

He's also easy to handle and ride, complete legend and I just wish he was 20 years younger as I know there's no way I will be this lucky again!!