Emotional Decision making- Help.

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emeventing

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This post is on behalf of a friend that doesn't have an account on Horse & Hound..

She is stuck in a rut, can't decide whether to sell her horse or not. They have been a partnership for almost 3 years. She bought the horse as a green rising 6yr old and has brought the horse on since then with professional help (including training livery twice and lots of lessons). They bought the horse as a skinny 16.1 hh but the horse has now made about 17hh and she is very chunky- rider is only 5"3 and does struggle with her very short legs! Other than the height issue, the main problem is that the horse has a 'panic streak' in her. She bolts out of fear and can be very tense to ride. This problem has put the rider in hospital twice with serious injuries, the 2nd being december 2015. Conversely, the horse is super talented, could jump the moon & has paces to die for. She also is perfect on the ground. The rider is extremely attached to the horse, they've been through so much together and the horse has been the rider's focus through difficult times so it is very hard.

WWYD? Thanks in advance.
 
she has tried professional help, i am guessing when the horse is being worked away the issues are addressed, but when back with the owner things start to unravel. to be straight to the point, keeping a horse is a large financial commitment, yes the horse may be super talented and in the correct hands who knows Badminton etc might be insight for this horse. i am also guessing ulcers etc are ruled out.........

But the horse has put her in hospital twice, if she bolts out of fear then there is the safety of others to consider, but reading between the lines she is not enjoying what she is doing. there is no shame in standing back and saying this partnership is not working. i have tried to make it work and the horse might benefit from a different opportunity, she has given it time for things to change. it fact it is the braver thing to do than to keep.

maybe a smaller more established model to have fun with will also help the rider to continue to focus through the difficult times she is having?
 
Can you clarify whether it truly bolts in panic (runs without thought for its own safety possible through fences into the path of cars etc) or whether it just runs away from something scary/pressure but wouldn't go through things and is still possible to communicate with? (Sorry not wording it well but truly bolting is a pretty serious issue) Is it through bolting the mare has hospitalized its rider?

On th
 
The times that the rider was hospitalised, it was a blind panic. She spun and dropped the rider causing serious injuries both times. The first injury was in the first year they got her and she was very very nervous (and is very sensitive) . Since then, she would run forward a few strides but be able to be pulled up - so it was manageable. But then in December, she was just trying to get on and the horse bolted for no apparent reason. She is a very sensitive horse and has calmed down and relaxed a huge amount with my friend, who has spent a long long time working on building up her confidence on the ground and under saddle. It's just got to a point where decisions have to be made & it would be a better time to sell now before the event season started.
 
Yes had the vet out many times over the years for various things but at the moment there is absolutely nothing wrong with her and no previous injuries that would make her behave like that. She is just very sensitive.
 
I`d be selling her on to an experienced eventing home, with full disclosure about her bolting issues. No matter how much we love them, and how much we try, sometimes the partnership just isn`t right. If all medical checks have been done (back/ulcers etc), and you are 100% sure she`s not reacting to being in pain somewhere, then I`d say it was time to call it a day. There are so many horses out there better suited to your friends needs, and (I won`t say 'better as I don`t mean it like that) but more suitable homes out there for the mares needs :)
 
It certainly does sound as though for whatever reason this is not the right horse for your friend.

In her shoes I would speak to the professional who has helped in the past as to what their view on selling the horse would be.
 
I know this tends to be my answer to all "sensetive" horses, but the first thing I would do is stop all feed but forage (and hay rather than haylage), no supplements, nothing, for at least three weeks. If the mare is less reactive at that point, then introduce single ingredient feeds, one at a time, for three weeks before adding anything else. If she is on a yard, ensure that everyone else knows the feed regime and gives nothing (had a pretty grim experience with a food sensetive horse and kind souls giving her treats!). It may not work, but it is always worth a try IME
 
What is the professionals opinion of the horse?

It is difficult to advise.
The sensitive ones can have underlying medical issues ulcers/hormones/musculoskeletal and you could dig deep and solve/improve or find nothing and have a big bill.

On this type of horse as a bare minimum it would get adlib meadow hay, maximum turnout and nothing more than handful of non molassed chaff (not Alfa). No haylage.
I'd be trialling regumate
I'd have scoped for ulcers
I'd do a bute trial.

With the absence of other symptoms I probably wouldn't dig deeper.

Then I would (depending on the severity of the behaviour) either move the horse on to a more suitable rider/job or consider retirement from riding.

Going back many years when I was a little more naive I purchased an event horse from a pro. It was an ungenuine toe rag and it also arrived a poor 16.1hh and 3 years later was a strapping 17hh. It didn't bolt but was a nappy Watsit out competing. I struggled on emotionally for 3 years and then just gave up on him. I rehomed him cheaply as a hack - and felt the most enormous sense of relief (which I hadn't been expecting)

These days if the horse isn't doing or enjoying your job I'm a little quicker to recognise that. Life is too short
 
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