Feeling Trapped - not sure which way to turn!

[bubsqueaks]

Its a long story spanning some 3 years.
Pony is a 14.2hh 9 year old Connemara bought 3 years ago for 16 year old daughter.
From day one he wasn't right despite 5 stage vetting (private sale) he was very reactive & sharp.
3 months on he bronced daughter off - vet did full work up & found Grade 2 glandular ulcers which we suspect caused by trip from Ireland as nothing else apparent.
Following a years worth of treatment & 4 scopes - he scoped clear. By this time we had moved from livery yard to home & it was February.
Following our experienced Instructor hacking him out & him being extremely tense & sharp we decided we werent right for him so he went off to her Sales Livery.
3 months on sales livery & he bronced her off. We didnt rescope, Insurance had run out, vet gave us option of PTS.
By this time we had bought a more suitable laid back pony.
So we decided to turn him away for 15 months, halfway through this we bought him home to adjust to his surroundings, he is kept out 24/7 with a companion & fed ad lib hay.
This August we started bringing him back with the help of another Instructor - almost rebacking him, lots of groundwork, long rein, & finally she is riding him albeit for 15 minutes mainly in walk.
However, he is such a sensitive, reactive horse, & all the work is in open schooling fields. We have a footpath running alongside & he always reacts to the people, we have 3 gardens surrounding our fields & he always reacts to the people, we have various wildlife which again he always reacts to.
I know we bought the wrong horse so have been trying my hardest to get him right to the point I can find the right person for him but following a very reactive ride yesterday I just feel trapped as I cant ride him & my daughter doesnt want to (which I cant blame her). He requires an extremely competent & confident rider.
So my options are -
1. Carry on doing the groundwork & Instructor comes once a week to ride which I know isnt nearly enough as well.
2. Get him rescoped to see whats going on, then try & find a person who would like to have him as a project if he is clear.
3. Turn him away again.
I really feel trapped as we only have 3 acres & 4 ponies, no arena, his loading isnt good, I know we are never going to ride him but dont want him going to the wrong person.
Does anybody have any other advice or opinions please as its really getting me down now & Im not sure which way to turn & how to do right by him.
Thank you.

 

[Cragrat]

It sounds like you have really tried so hard with this pony-you have been very patient and caring.

What do you mean when you say he 'reacts' to people /wildlife etc ?

 

[bonny]

Maybe he would be better with a job to do, sounds like he is being ridden by a nervous rider in his own fields which generally doesn’t go well. Maybe if he was in an active home, hunting perhaps he would settle down ?

 

[bubsqueaks]

It sounds like you have really tried so hard with this pony-you have been very patient and caring.

What do you mean when you say he 'reacts' to people /wildlife etc ?

He shoots forward & takes off but then comes back to the rider.
He's always on high alert looking for the wolves!
The other 3 ponies are chilled out but he just doesnt get their vibes which really doesnt help when we're dealing with a sharp ulcer prone pony.

 

[bubsqueaks]

Maybe he would be better with a job to do, sounds like he is being ridden by a nervous rider in his own fields which generally doesn’t go well. Maybe if he was in an active home, hunting perhaps he would settle down ?

I agree - our Instructor isnt nervous but I am on the ground watching her! - he definitely needs a job & loves people but Im just not sure which way to turn now.
Ive long ago given up the idea of returning any money on him & dont care a jot but I do feel partly responsible for buying the wrong horse & would just like him to have the chance of a happy home but not sure how best to go about that, hence why I feel trapped!

 

[Britestar]

Bit different, but have you tried an osteopath? My big horse was very like this, and super reactive (I bred him, so no unknown history).

He had problems with his poll, TMJ area. We reckon he'd had the equivalent to a migraine his whole life. The difference is unbelievable. Yes he still has moments, but, I've gone from considering PTS to loving riding him. ( I have 17 empty air canisters, so not a straight forward guy!).

 

[Mule]

Could you send him away to your instructor for schooling. Then sell him when he's ready.

 

[Littlebear]

When I was teaching I had a lady with a super sharp pony, reacted so quickly to things sometimes seemingly out of nowhere, I rode him a few times and kept a lid on by literally keeping him so occupied he didn’t get a chance, plus I was a much bigger and stronger rider than her so I think he felt more secure that I was in charge, she was getting thrown quite a lot and we ended up putting 2 sets of ears on and fluffy blinkers on the bridle and it completely took the edge off while she was riding .... after only a few weeks she could ride him without any.
Without an arena I imagine it’s quite hard to have a very regular work pattern so possibly taking him somewhere with better facilities for the instructor to get going again may help too?

 

[bubsqueaks]

Bit different, but have you tried an osteopath? My big horse was very like this, and super reactive (I bred him, so no unknown history).

He had problems with his poll, TMJ area. We reckon he'd had the equivalent to a migraine his whole life. The difference is unbelievable. Yes he still has moments, but, I've gone from considering PTS to loving riding him. ( I have 17 empty air canisters, so not a straight forward guy!).

Golly 17 empty canisters !
Funnily enough it was in my long term plan to get our Vet who also does Osteopath & Acupuncture to start treating him - he did have physio in the year he was under treatment for ulcers.
Its just the match of a sharp horse & ulcers Im just not sure how to deal with but I maybe I should get Vet to look at him again from physio point of view then go from there - Im not happy & hes not happy so got to do something!

 

[bubsqueaks]

Could you send him away to your instructor for schooling. Then sell him when he's ready.

Thats what we tried before turning him away once he had scoped clear - the trouble is finding somebody where he can live out as thats what I think he needs to do to limit his stress - any move is obviously counter productive to the ulcers which is how you feel trapped.

 

[be positive]

I suspect there is something other than ulcers at the root of this, it could be either pain that was missed in the initial workup or something historic in his life, possibly when he was first backed, that he has never got over mentally, I am never sure whether these types are going to come totally right however much you put into them.

I think you have 3 options, 1 spend more money vet, physio, maybe one of the specialists, Tom Beech has a great rep, then send him to a really good yard for ridden assessment with a view to finding a ridden home. 2 find a companion home for him, he sounds a little like AmbersEcho's gelding who retired due to injury that took ages to find. 3 keep yourself and pts when you feel the time is right for all involved, it could be next week or in several years but it would not be the wrong thing to do.

 

[bubsqueaks]

When I was teaching I had a lady with a super sharp pony, reacted so quickly to things sometimes seemingly out of nowhere, I rode him a few times and kept a lid on by literally keeping him so occupied he didn’t get a chance, plus I was a much bigger and stronger rider than her so I think he felt more secure that I was in charge, she was getting thrown quite a lot and we ended up putting 2 sets of ears on and fluffy blinkers on the bridle and it completely took the edge off while she was riding .... after only a few weeks she could ride him without any.
Without an arena I imagine it’s quite hard to have a very regular work pattern so possibly taking him somewhere with better facilities for the instructor to get going again may help too?

Littlebear that might be worth a try with the ears & blinkers thank you - my Instructor is bigger & stronger which does help Im sure.
Thats my other dilemma - loading - hes a frigging nightmare which also stems back to the Ireland trip - thats again why I feel trapped at home as loading is my real fear too - we really are mismatched.

 

[Britestar]

Mine also had ulcers, which seemed strange as he leads a,life of luxury, and was always fed ulcer friendly diet from birth, but I guess it was the pain in his head.

 

[Peter7917]

I would just sell him as what he is, sharp and absolutely not for a novice. Market him as needing a competition/hunting type home who will put him in proper work. Price him accordingly as a project.

 

[bubsqueaks]

I suspect there is something other than ulcers at the root of this, it could be either pain that was missed in the initial workup or something historic in his life, possibly when he was first backed, that he has never got over mentally, I am never sure whether these types are going to come totally right however much you put into them.

I think you have 3 options, 1 spend more money vet, physio, maybe one of the specialists, Tom Beech has a great rep, then send him to a really good yard for ridden assessment with a view to finding a ridden home. 2 find a companion home for him, he sounds a little like AmbersEcho's gelding who retired due to injury that took ages to find. 3 keep yourself and pts when you feel the time is right for all involved, it could be next week or in several years but it would not be the wrong thing to do.

Oh Id book Tom Beech tomorrow its the getting him there but perhaps I will speak to him
Thank you

 

[bubsqueaks]

I would just sell him as what he is, sharp and absolutely not for a novice. Market him as needing a competition/hunting type home who will put him in proper work. Price him accordingly as a project.

Peter would you scope him first though as Im not sure I could sell him if in pain?!

 

[Cortez]

I would just sell him as what he is, sharp and absolutely not for a novice. Market him as needing a competition/hunting type home who will put him in proper work. Price him accordingly as a project.

Absolutely this. Sell him to someone who gets on with this type of pony; this is a common mismatch and there are plenty of people who would enjoy him. Things like loading can be sorted, he just sounds like he needs the right match.

 

[TPO]

I dont know about Tom Beech but Rob Jackson travels UK wide and would come to you if in the area.

Personally I'd take him to richard Maxwell. He holds clinics around the uk and travels regularly. If you email him they'd let you know if he comes to your area. He does bodywork prior to any groundwork. I have found him to be very honest and he will give you (instructor) exercises to work and build on

 

[Peter7917]

Peter would you scope him first though as Im not sure I could sell him if in pain?!

If you want to put your mind at rest then scope him first. No point selling him as he is if it's going to cause you ongoing stress worrying about it.

 

[be positive]

I would just sell him as what he is, sharp and absolutely not for a novice. Market him as needing a competition/hunting type home who will put him in proper work. Price him accordingly as a project.

That may seem to be an option but the OP loses any control, even declaring him to be a sharp not novice ride does not mean he will end up in a suitable home, he could be the type to be taken by a dealer, they do pose as private buyers, doped and sold on to a child as a PC pony, he sounds beyond sharp if a pro yard could not cope with him after 3 months of proper, well I hope it was done properly, work being paid to get him going, it is a get out and if done carefully the pony may end up landing on his feet but for the few hundred you would get for him I would rather cut my loses completely and do option 3.
I have sold a lot over the years and like tricky ponies but he sounds like a big gamble for someone to take on, however experienced, they are he could be a money pit to get to the bottom of.

 

[Bs_mum]

I have one, exactly as you describe, but he was sold to me as a safe lead rein pony- he certainly is not, in fact, he’s the most dangerous pony I’ve ever had to deal with in my 30+ years of horses. I had every test under the sun done on him, there is nothing physically wrong with him, it’s just the way he is, & while he’s not safe to ride, he is the most perfect “uncle” for the weanlings. He’s bottom of the herd, however, out with the youngsters he’s top dog. He lives out, low maintenance, & this job suits him down to the ground. If I don’t have foals or young stock at home for him to go out with, I usually lend him to a local stud for the winter.
You could try and find him a companion home only- but these are few and far between. You could sell him as what he is- someone may have a thing so sharp horses, or you PTS.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I would also look at the TRT Method, he sounds like my friends Welsh just without the ulcers.

She was ready to give up riding him then gave into her friend who had bugged her to have a lesson with Claire Gallimore.

Two years down the line and he is a different pony.

The TRT Method would be a good go for him from what you discribe.

 

[Leo Walker]

This is the sort of thing I enjoy doing, but its finding someone who can be trusted to do things properly and then PTS if it doesnt work out. Hes a good height and a desirable breed and that makes him a huge risk for someone to buy him and flog him on at a hugely inflated price a week later. Kate Thurston did similar to my friend. She sent someone who had a really convincing cover story, bought the pony for peanuts and flogged him on for 10x the price a week later.

I think you need to decide if you want to keep going and try to "fix" him. If you do there are options you can investigate. If you dont then you are looking at keeping him as a companion, having him PT, or trying to rehome him word of mouth. I think you need to get it straight in your head first what you want to do, and then you can start looking at options.

 

[teddypops]

I’ve got one the same, she’s had everything done, xrays, scans, scopes etc and there is nothing wrong, she mainly lives in the field but she does like to go on outings led from another horse. She is rideable but unpredictable and I have ended up on the floor several times.

 

[HobleytheTB]

Have you considered reactivity to something in hard feed? Some are very sensitive to sugars, cereals, alfalfa etc.. although I assume if he's ulcer prone you're probably already careful. I doubt that's the entire issue, but possibly an exacerbating factor?

 

[bubsqueaks]

Its been so helpful to post about this & thank you for all your replies as its very interesting & helpful getting new ideas or reinforcing things I am mulling over.
I am going to look at the TRT method as not seen before
Funnily enough Im going to a Richard Maxwell demo next week so will hopefully chat to him as I already follow him on facebook.
I do have a niggling feeling there is something else going on or its the ulcers again so I am going to get our Vet to do a chiro session on him & see what she offers & possibly following that get him rescoped as tbh if he has ulcers then I couldnt sell him so would have to go for option of companion or PTS.
Yes it would worry me him ending up in the wrong hands as he is super talented jumping wise & with the 148 market an ideal money maker so would have to almost interview & contract whoever I gave him to.
Im also going to try the ear bonnets once Vet has been as that may help settle his nerves.
Thank you H&H forum for all your fabulous replies - I know now we're not alone & it always helps to mull it all over.

 

[bubsqueaks]

Have you considered reactivity to something in hard feed? Some are very sensitive to sugars, cereals, alfalfa etc.. although I assume if he's ulcer prone you're probably already careful. I doubt that's the entire issue, but possibly an exacerbating factor?

He's not currently on any hard feed only ad lib hay but yes when we got him originally we did have extreme reactions to alfalfa.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Bit different, but have you tried an osteopath? My big horse was very like this, and super reactive (I bred him, so no unknown history).

He had problems with his poll, TMJ area. We reckon he'd had the equivalent to a migraine his whole life. The difference is unbelievable. Yes he still has moments, but, I've gone from considering PTS to loving riding him. ( I have 17 empty air canisters, so not a straight forward guy!).

I had one similar, bought in at 4. We think she had had a migraine for the first 8 yrs we had her. That turned out to be caused by food intolerances/allergies. When, eventually, she was on the right diet, she was like a different horse. I would look very carefully at this horse's diet.

 

[Goldenstar]

market him as project at a sensible price .
He needs more work and a different attitude he’s not a fit for you .
Just do it no need to be feel trapped by owning the wrong horse.

 

[maya2008]

I have two ‘sharp’ mares, both have always been dangerous when coming back into work, but fine when in regular work (by fine, I mean still reacting and prone to ‘go’ or to bucking etc, but with some self preservation so it is just fun rather than dangerous!). They are absolutely my type of horse, and I generally giggle at the entertainment provided! I am definitely not the only person in the world who likes a horse like that, so finding a home for such a horse is not impossible at all.

However... you involved a pro who said your horse was dangerous. If that horse was in decent work when it ditched them, you might need to listen to them. If it was still getting fit, perhaps there is hope still.