welshstar
Well-Known Member
Sorry in advance but this may be long!
Last april (2010) I started looking for an alrounder to replace my retired horse (who has now very sadly been pts) I didn't really have a criteria but just something to go and have a bit of fun on. I didn't have a very big budget due to vets bills so it had to be something young or old. After looking at a few horseys, we bought a rising 5 yr old welsh cob who had done nothing- he could walk, trot, canter at a push and pop a little cross in trot. He was a bit smaller than what I wanted but I thought he would be worth a punt. He had had a lot of homes.
We spent last year doing very tiny courses, with a few eliminations and a few good days. His flatwork was rubbish and he was often throw his shoulder out but we kept up with regular lessons. He had got a few double clears around pre-novices, a few mediocre placings showing and a few runs of xc before he had the winter off due to the snow. We brought him back into work and things seemed to be going ok. He had changed shape a lot so a new m2m saddle was bought, teeth and back were done. We got around a few xc's- some bad and some not so. He seemed to really get it together with the showjumping so we concentrated on that- by july he had moved up to 80-85cm courses. However, the past 6 weeks, everything seems to have gone to pot.
He has always had an attitude in the showring (stubborn and strong willed as he was used as a stallion) but he started to plant and refuse to move in the show. We went across to the sj and he was eliminated at the second fence. Move forwards to a couple of weeks later and we pop around a small 60cm novice where he goes clear with some interesting lines due to spooking. He then went to a show today and he just completely dropped me again in the working hunter
He started spooking as soon as he entered the ring, he planted when he saw a show jump and threatened to go up. We managed to get to the first jump before he refused every one before jumping it greenly- he was acting like he had never seen a jump in his life. Then when we went back in, he refused to trot and started spooking, then when I asked for canter, he was even more spooky and darted off quickly away from anything 'scary'. He left me in floods of tears because it just feels like I've put all this effort into him but he's still this spooky pig headed pony who seems to have taken about a million steps back.
After the show where we were elim. at fence 2, I seriously considered selling him and after this recent show I wrote up the add but couldn't go through with it. My head feels like its a mess and I really don't know what to do. On a good day, he will be really good and sometimes win. He has a phenomenal jump and makes nothing of 90cm schooling at home. He has massive presence and should in theory do well in his showing. But I just feel like we clash too much personality wise. He throws his shoulder on the flat and I struggle to control it and he's just so spooky. You feel him tense up and just switch off from you. When he's on the same wavelength, he's amazing but I feel that this is becoming less and less. I really don't know what to do, has anyone had a similar experiences with theirs or can offer any advice on what I can do?
Last april (2010) I started looking for an alrounder to replace my retired horse (who has now very sadly been pts) I didn't really have a criteria but just something to go and have a bit of fun on. I didn't have a very big budget due to vets bills so it had to be something young or old. After looking at a few horseys, we bought a rising 5 yr old welsh cob who had done nothing- he could walk, trot, canter at a push and pop a little cross in trot. He was a bit smaller than what I wanted but I thought he would be worth a punt. He had had a lot of homes.
We spent last year doing very tiny courses, with a few eliminations and a few good days. His flatwork was rubbish and he was often throw his shoulder out but we kept up with regular lessons. He had got a few double clears around pre-novices, a few mediocre placings showing and a few runs of xc before he had the winter off due to the snow. We brought him back into work and things seemed to be going ok. He had changed shape a lot so a new m2m saddle was bought, teeth and back were done. We got around a few xc's- some bad and some not so. He seemed to really get it together with the showjumping so we concentrated on that- by july he had moved up to 80-85cm courses. However, the past 6 weeks, everything seems to have gone to pot.
He has always had an attitude in the showring (stubborn and strong willed as he was used as a stallion) but he started to plant and refuse to move in the show. We went across to the sj and he was eliminated at the second fence. Move forwards to a couple of weeks later and we pop around a small 60cm novice where he goes clear with some interesting lines due to spooking. He then went to a show today and he just completely dropped me again in the working hunter
He started spooking as soon as he entered the ring, he planted when he saw a show jump and threatened to go up. We managed to get to the first jump before he refused every one before jumping it greenly- he was acting like he had never seen a jump in his life. Then when we went back in, he refused to trot and started spooking, then when I asked for canter, he was even more spooky and darted off quickly away from anything 'scary'. He left me in floods of tears because it just feels like I've put all this effort into him but he's still this spooky pig headed pony who seems to have taken about a million steps back.After the show where we were elim. at fence 2, I seriously considered selling him and after this recent show I wrote up the add but couldn't go through with it. My head feels like its a mess and I really don't know what to do. On a good day, he will be really good and sometimes win. He has a phenomenal jump and makes nothing of 90cm schooling at home. He has massive presence and should in theory do well in his showing. But I just feel like we clash too much personality wise. He throws his shoulder on the flat and I struggle to control it and he's just so spooky. You feel him tense up and just switch off from you. When he's on the same wavelength, he's amazing but I feel that this is becoming less and less. I really don't know what to do, has anyone had a similar experiences with theirs or can offer any advice on what I can do?