Horse lying down when ridden!!!

the horse is too weak skeletally for a rider. tell her that if she cares for it at all, she will not put a saddle on its back for at least another year, otherwise she will end up with a physically and mentally wrecked horse.
this is the opinion of a LOT of experienced people on here, not just me, i am positive of that. show her this page if you have to. i'm very sorry she was sold a horse so young, and expected to ride it, but surely there's something else she can sit on while this one grows up?
 
What a shame this situation is happening...2 year old is just soooo young to be having to do this. Its not just the bones that are growing but the ligaments, tendons, muscles...and brain.
It may be an idea to suggest a problem and get the vet out...see what they think to hopefully back up the message that it is all too much for a young horse.
Or suggest less time being ridden or some groundwork to build relationship with horse which will help the novice for the future, if you say you doubt they will listen or stop totally.
I have been told a horse laying down when being asked to do things can be a sign that a horse doesn't want to live its life and is trying to give up and get out.
 
this person who sold all of the horses may have missed out on te turn them away bit. they realise that the breeder/ dealer was a not nice person when his cure for rearing was hobbles and a big stick (need i say more but luckily not carried out)
 
If I were you I would try and convince her to sell the 2year old and buy something older, or turn him away until he is 3ish. (See if you can get vet advice to back you up on that). Sounds like the lil guy is overwhelmed by it all, probibily mentally, but in the long term riding him so young will cause physical damage. IMO its like sendind a 2year old child to school, it would be completely out of its depth. After all at the age of 2, the horse is still only a baby!
 
maybe selling it would be the best but they are all convinced that if they are broken western they are worth double normal money so she would probably ask around £3000 - £4000. has been persuaded to look for sharer but they would want to ride. advertised for sharer as 3yrs now but literally only just i think. can't get sharer if the horse keeps lying down!
 
Look around for horses that would be suitible for this novice, convince her to go see it and maybe she will fall in love with a horse that doesn't lie down!
 
Can anyone tell me if half term has started yet ????
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I'm going to sound a horrible horrible person now and I feel so awful. When I was a kid, 30 odd years ago, totally non horsey parents bought me a 2 year old who was broken in. He was a sweeheart for a week or two. Then he started doing all the things OP has mentioned. He would do anything to get me off, including lying down. I lost enthusiasm for him (after concussion and broken collarbone) so he spent most of the next year in a field whilst I carried on riding my first pony. Parents said I had to sell him which meant riding him again, surprise surprise he had turned into a thoroughly nice pony (he also grew about 6 inches!) We went on to have lots of fun doing a bit of eveything. I feel so bad looking back, I was so ignorant and had no help or advice from anyone (or even realise I needed it!) I'd never entertain backing anything at 2 now, I have a 3 year old now and I'm aiming to start him, very gently (as he's a slow maturing breed) in about 12 to 18 months time.

Please don't crucify me, I'm just being completely honest in the hope that my tale might help get the message across to the owners in the original post.
 
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am i the only one now thinking "i hope it rolls on her, the stupid cow"?
for goodness' sake, do these people have no sense of responsibility at all? poor poor youngster.

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Totally agree!
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Any NORMAL person with the slightest amount of sense would realise that it wasnt normal for a poor horse to do this, stop tring to ride the poor thing and go ask for advice!
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personally its wrong to ride a horse at this age like that
siting on it and siting still not a problem depending on her weight .
But making a horse at this age work as much as a nomal grown up horse is wrong .
as everyone says the bones are still growing and excess weight can cause problems now or later on in life look at racehorses that are broken as a two year old most of them have back problems and sylogical problems later on in life.
she needs to sell it due to the fact it will never work a green horse with a novice rider is deffently not a match and as to the yo im disgusted with she should know better.
 
Yes, but they wont necceserily understand why. They may just think the horse is being naughty so if they tell it off it will learn. Not everyone understands that there is usually a reason behind an action.

She no doubt bought the horse in good faith, she will look back in years and see what a huge mistake it was. But if she wont sell the horse, or turn it away then they only thing that can be done is to guide her in the best way. Not the best route but sounds like the only plan in this situation.
 
Stupid stupid stupid people! Makes me sooooo angry, poor baby - and on top of everything else she is riding it for 1hr 30mins
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Why oh why!

Would it be worth printing off this thread and letting her read it?
 
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Can anyone tell me if half term has started yet ????
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I think we're thinking along the same lines here!

No it's not half term - but it is the Easter school holidays in many areas.
 
I believe in the US it is quite common to back horses at 2. It certainly happens here with farm/stock horses. Lying down as you describe is, to my mind, the response of a horse that is too immature to cope and is literally overwhelmed. Poor duck.
 
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personally its wrong to ride a horse at this age like that

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I agree. However...
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look at racehorses that are broken as a two year old most of them have back problems and sylogical problems later on in life.

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Really? Something of a sweeping generalisation. I've had a stack of racehorses and they've all been very sound and healthy. Perhaps I was lucky to get them from a very responsible trainer. The only one who had psychological problems had them, I believe, from being stabled 23 hours a day. He improved dramatically from being living out.
 
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Why on earth would a complete novice buy a unbroke youngster? I though long and hard before getting Chancer and I have ridden for over 40 years and have lessons with a professional every two weeks with him to make sure I don't do anything daft with him.

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Because ignorance is bliss as they say, they know know different. They don't know how much it hurts to get dumped or how challenging young horses can be.

Like you, I thought long and hard before getting another youngster, he is the 4th horse I've owned and not the first baby either. At 40 I don't bounce so well and tried loads of 4/5 year olds before settling on him. I was determined to have a young horse to get something that hadn't been pre-spoiled by people such as these.

The poor animal will probably be lame by the time it's 4 and will get passed from pillar to post before being slung in a field or if it were a mare God forbid, bred from by these people because 'it would be nice for her to have a baby' then they will probably bugger that up too.
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i agree but i have seen a few that turned out like this but as you say it depends on trainer and how there treated
but to this horse i think the yard owner is completely in the wrong to
saying to hit it no wonder the thing wants to lay down
i didnt back mine till she was 4 even though i did sit on her a couple of times but this would not put alot of excess weight on her limbs
i thnk she should get rid even though people say turn it out she still got the problem of bringing back into work which i think is going to be impossible maybe its just me
 
Changing the subject slightly! Monarch gold are you from Verwood? If so, i knew your horse before you bought him! IF its the same one, its really good to see he is doing what he enjoys!
 
Get the owner to look on the website Equine Studies - this will tell her how the horse's skelton matures, and it also gives good ideas on what to do with an unbroken horse to educate it and play with it and have a good time, before riding.

www.equinestudies.org under the Ranger article on the first page.

She shouldn't be trying to ride a 2 year old.
 
This is what I would do (because I dont care what people think of me ha ha)

I would print this forum thread off - and leave it in the tack room - put a big notice on it that says 'Hello - I am so concerned about the welfare of you and your two year old horse - I have sought further advice - please read the forum thread below and take heed'

Regardless of wether they are new to riding is garbage - to not even have the notion of how old a horse should be when you buy one is a disgrace - not ignorance!!!

Be brave and well done for being so caring xxx
 
EH! is this post for real?

First horse/learning to ride/ and she buys a 2 year old, not only that but she trying to ride it...Western?

Eh?

not only that but riding it in a heavy western saddle....

Eh?

First time ever that I'm gobsmacked.

Phew thank god she's got someone like you to set her on the straight and narrow, ditto everyone else...

Join a riding club
Get some lessons
Turn the horse away or perhaps persuade her to sell it and buy something she can ride perhaps? makes more sense!
 
You know, along with the big no smoking sign at the entrance to the riding club yard there is a huge notice saying 'respect your Horse'. Wish some people would
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. Good luck and I hope your efforts to help this poor animal are not wasted.
 
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personally its wrong to ride a horse at this age like that

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I agree. However...
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look at racehorses that are broken as a two year old most of them have back problems and sylogical problems later on in life.

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Really? Something of a sweeping generalisation. I've had a stack of racehorses and they've all been very sound and healthy. Perhaps I was lucky to get them from a very responsible trainer. The only one who had psychological problems had them, I believe, from being stabled 23 hours a day. He improved dramatically from being living out.

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I owned an ex racehorse many years ago. He had back problems, loads of splints on his legs and did have quite a few issues with the farrier. I put the farrier down to psycologial, the fact that he related being shod with racing. Apart from that he was an amazing horse, but having raced definatly did affect him.

I think you have been lucky.
 
This is a serious welfare matter and should as such be reported without any delay to the ILPH so that they can send down one of their inspectors to have a word with the owners. www.ilph.org Tel: 08000 480180
 
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