Gutted - sold my youngster yesterday

R2R

R2R

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Despite 2 years of surgery, rehabilitation, professional breaking, schooling, time and patience I sold my youngster yesterday after he reared with my instructor and threw himself on the floor, put the girl who rides him in hospital last week and then tried to double barrel both me and one of my liveries in the head. I am totally utterly gutted, I tried my hardest with him but he was so unpredictable. I don’t really know what else to say other than I really feel like I tried my hardest and failed, and I was fed up of battling anymore. He was riggy, rude, bargy and opinionated, and I tried for 2 years to crack him, faught many battles and won but now I feel I have well and truly lost :(
 
Cliqmo said:
Sounds like it wasn't working out. Where have you sold him? I guess the new owner knows his history?? :)
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He went to my friend who is a dealer. He knows him as I sent him for schooling to his yard a month ago. He knows his history...I am so gutted but I couldnt risk him anymore. He was 100% in teeth back etc but so unpredictable - I have tried everything he went off to be professionaly schooled and broken, then home, then lots of hard work etc :(
 
sorry to here you had to sell your horse. but im corncerned being sold to a dealer he will get passed off as a different horse , and may end up in a young kids hands or a novice , which im really hoping not if this is how the horse reacts . do you know the dealer well ?
 
ischa said:
sorry to here you had to sell your horse. but im corncerned being sold to a dealer he will get passed off as a different horse , and may end up in a young kids hands or a novice , which im really hoping not if this is how the horse reacts . do you know the dealer well ?
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Yes I know the dealer very well. Thank you for your concern however my decision was not an ill thought out one and was 2 years coming.
 
ok ,well in that case , you do here dreadful storys of dealers selling horses with problems ,
sorry to say that ,dont think i was being narsty just asking . good luck anyway
 
Having just been through the same with a horse I persevered with for 2 years I know how you feel and its awful :( But sounds like it was def the right decision, and time to move on. If your horse was anything like mine I bet you have learnt more in the last 2 years than the last 20! x
 
R2R said:
He went to my friend who is a dealer. He knows him as I sent him for schooling to his yard a month ago. He knows his history...I am so gutted but I couldnt risk him anymore. He was 100% in teeth back etc but so unpredictable - I have tried everything he went off to be professionaly schooled and broken, then home, then lots of hard work etc :(
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So who is going to be able to 'risk' him?
 
Maybe in a different enviroment, with a different handler, he'll settle with time. At least you have given him that chance that maybe others would not of done.
 
Look - dont be so judgemental. You dont know me, you dont know the horse. The dealer and myself know him, the dealer has taken him - and I know he wouldnt have done unless he could find him a home who could cope with him. It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made and wasnt one I took lightly but the other option was having him shot and fed to the hounds, which I discussed with my instructor (who also knows the dealer) who thought, like Elsbels said, that with preservation and the right rider he would come right, hence the fact he has gone to the dealer who I have no doubt will find him the right home. He is a very talented horse who is keen to learn, I have no doubt he will go intro by next year - he is bold and brave, unfortunately he has got a streak which I have no time nor inclination to fix or work around.

Said dealer has a fantastic reputation in my area, I dont think he is going to risk it on a whim, his yard is immaculate, and he has very good quality horses coming through. I have not palmed off a horse I have invested over £10k in schooing in vets fees off to an unscrupulous dealer who is going to sell him to a novice. He has gone to a professional to be schooled and sold on at much heartache and angst to me and my family.

This forum can be so judgemental at times, it breaks my heart that people dont see the bigger picture. I gave the horse a million chances and defended him to the very end and it was not a decision I took lighttly at all.
 
It really pees me off that you feel you have to justify your reasons. It isn't an easy decision to make (I know, Ive done it in the past). It must be so disappointing and upsetting to finally admit that you can't persevere with him any longer especially having invested time and money into him.
 
R2R, it sounds to me like you've had a hard time with this horse and that you've been very brave to make a decision to sell him. it also sounds to me like you've done all you can to make sure he goes to a home that will do him justice. As you say, you trust the dealer to find a suitable home. (((hugs)))
 
I absolutely know where you're coming from. I bought a youngster and battled for 6 yrs thinking each year he would turn a corner. He had some fantastic trainers and still no change in his behaviour.

I finally gave him up to someone who thought they could turn him around and had lots of time to try. Good luck to them I thought and have never looked back.

Life is to short as they say. I spent circa £40k over the years to get this horse consistently rideable and it wasn't an easy decision but definately the right one
 
So sorry to hear you had to sell your horse R2R. Annother one here who thinks you have done the right thing.

Some horses just need that special person and they completely change (i feel like this with my boy)

I hope he finds a great home, and if the new owners have half as much patience and love for horses as you seem to he will have a lovely happy home. Dont let people on here get you down.
 
Thank you all for your support. It was really rubbish yesterday, lots and lots of tears but softened because I did bring home a new pony as part of the deal with the dealer :D He is a 9 year old tb, who is very skinny as he has only had him a short while, run a few p2p’s, but has very honest eyes and big donkey ears, he is a bit of a project to bring on – I am just glad that I have something positive to focus on and not an empty stable wondering what might have been.
 
How exciting!
YOU FOOL!!!!! a TB gelding! ha ha, only say that as have one myself who is thick as pig *****.

Has yours got the donkey brain to go with his ears?

Ref people judging you, tell them to go poke it.....
 
Oh I do like a TB and an ex racer - different type of sharpness all good fun! He is a donkey, which is exactly what I want :D
 
R2R when I come back on here in a couple of hours I want to find a very excited new thread from you all about your new horse and your plans for him- with lots of gratuitous 'before' pics also, obviously. :D :D :D
 
Sometimes things just don't work out, no matter how hard you try. I know of a horse that was equally challenging, was returned from a pro trainer with instructions to shoot it. Nearly two years down the line he is a donkey to handle, still not the easiest of rides but is eventing now and will be a fine RC allrounder for an experienced rider. A change of scenery and handling can work wonders given time.
 
I think it takes a brave person to draw a line and say no more after all you have been through to try to help your horse. Not all horses and riders/handlers get on. And something which worries one person won't worry another and so on. Hope that he goes on to find a home which works for him and his new owner and that you find another horse to share your life with soon.

The only one thing I wondered is whether he has ever been scoped for ulcers? As you do hear of some pretty extreme behaviour as a result of them. (This is a genuine question and not nit picking in any way. I admire you for taking the decision that you have).
 
I really do feel for you. I had a very "problem horse", but I was lucky, after two years we had turned the corner. At the time he was all I could afford, but even now I miss him terribly. But it could so easily have gone the other way. You have done the right thing - horses are supposed to be fun !!

Which leads me to congratulations on your new TB - and pics please !! :D

sm x
 
Ok here is my new project. Obviously a bit skinny at the moment but is a gem with a really kind eye.... any tips on getting weight on him would be appreciated. I have had tb’s in the past but straight out of racing and therefore muscled and easier to get condition on. This horse has been out, hunted the end of last season then was turned away keeping a youngster happy to be brought back into work at the end of the summer and used as a hireling – I got him though!!

I want him to be a safe, sane, nice horse who does a bit of everything – I have my competition horse so he will (hopefully) be a true second horse who I can happily leg my friends up onto and go for a hack or a days hunting potter about at shows doing a bit of showing and ride in prelim dressage classes when I go with my other boy to keep him company. He is not going to have a stressful life with me (far from it) and be pampered and loved.

Oscar2.jpg


Oscar1.jpg


I really think he looks like my old (dead) horse

bwalk.jpg


And find it very funny that I now have 2 dark bay geldings with 3 white socks...here is my other pony (because he is gorgeous and I don’t want him to be left out)

Jaketherake.jpg


So onwards and upwards I say...
 
ISHmad said:
The only one thing I wondered is whether he has ever been scoped for ulcers? As you do hear of some pretty extreme behaviour as a result of them. (This is a genuine question and not nit picking in any way. I admire you for taking the decision that you have).
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Oh he has had everything, physio (didnt need it) different physio (didnt need that) Dentist (fine) Chairopractor (didnt need it) bloods (fine and clear) the vet was 100% certain it was all in his head...
 
I missed the bit about you having a new project. Looks like a very kind horse with a really hopeful expression on his face. He's going to be a stunner I reckon. All the very best with him, will look forward to reading about his progress.
 
Sympathies for your situation. My eldest daughter spent over 2 years plugging away with a horse that just wasnt right. She almost hung up her boots over it, decided she wa obviusly not good enogh to bring on a youngster. Then she just happened to be looking over my shoulder and saw one of the adds on the edge of this forum and saw a lovely grey cob (also a youngster. A year on and things couldnt be more different.

Please dont feel bad about your descision, its 100% right. I hope you have lots of fun with the new project.
 
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