Horse put me in hospital - now confidence is really shakey

Serephin

Serephin

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I have had my TB (ex racer, 15 years old) for 17 months. We started out shakey, my confidence was very low, for no reason I could attribute it to apart from maybe being ran away with when I was trying out horses before I bought mine.

anyhow - fast forward a little and we were making great progress - my riding is better and he was listening to me more. However, still could be silly out hacking, so I would never go far, and had issues jumping - I have to always make sure I am practically in a meditative state before i ride as he can be so nervous - even now, after all this time.

last week, I was taking his rug off, something got caught, not sure what happened next but basically I was standing int the wrong place, trying to sort out the rug and he kicked out and got me in the groin - freakishly he managed to take a clip with it and it stabbed me in the groin - cue ambulance, rushed to hospital and talk of surgery as effectively I had a stab would dangerously close to my artery. Joy.

I am now out of hospital and can't walk very well, or drive or anything much really, although I am healing fast. However, the thought of going anywhere near my horse now makes me feel cold.

I am now questioning whether he is the horse for me as he can be so highly strung and I just want a horse that I can chill out with and go on long hacks, maybe a few sponsored rides - I knew that if I took mine he would be an idiot.

I am not sure what the point of my post is really - will things get better? should I just stik with him and work on both our confidences or is this kind of partnership doomed to be stuck in a vicious circle of confidence issues? I have never been like this with any other horse. I do love him, but I am not sure I have the energy for him.

has anyone else had a similar experience?

Thanks for reading, I went on a bit there!
 
IMHO no, he is not the horse for you. He is not making you happy, he is not fulfilling the job you have in mind for a horse in your ownership. Cut your losses and look for something that will give you plenty of smiles and good times - horses are a V expensive hobby, so why have a horse that makes you feel so wretched? And please do not look on it as being beaten, you have tried for months!
 
I think after 17 months you know if he is the horse for you and the fact that you are questioning this, really answers your question.

I expect it will be a huge relief once you have found something a bit more trustworthy and fun
 
no def not the right horse for you. if you do decide to keep him its going to be alot of wrok to re-build your confidence with him. i think you would really benefit from finding a new horse, maybe something more suited for a novice, i.e. bit more chilled so you can re-build your confidence and go and have some fun without constantly worrying.
 
You poor thing ending up in hospital, hugs for you. Doesn't sound like you're able to enjoy your time with your horse much and it should be fun and enjoyable. The situation is probably not doing you or the horse any good and maybe you'd be better off with something more laid back, and he's be better off with someone more confident. You've obviously tried your best with him, but maybe he's just not the one for you?
 
There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever when I say sell him.
This is not the right horse for you and he isn't making you wake in the morning desperate to get on him is he?
Remember we do this for FUN.
Send him to a yard to be sold, advertise him, swap him with another, but don't hesitate, this latest injury should be your wake up call that the partnership isn't right.
I ran a horse finding agency for a few years and believe me, I heard your story so many times.
There are people on the forum who will hopefully tell you they sold their horses and are now happy.
Write the advert, you truly won't regret it.
Take your time fiinding the next one and wait until you get that rush of feeling that tells you you must have that horse.. Some horses are more suited to professional riders and yours is not one for someonbe lacking confidence.
Good luck, hope you stop being sore soon!
 
Sorry to hear about your confidence crisis.
I was in a similar position to you a few years ago. I had a couple of nasty accidents from my horse, and it got to the point where I was shaking and feeling sick at the prospect of riding him.

I had him for 18 months, when I saw a wanted ad which pretty much described my brute. I sold him, and looked for a young horse with no TB in the breeding at all, so I could bring her own and school her myself.

3 years later I've got a fantastic horse I can hack by myself, do RC competitions, go on sponsored rides with a group, and am really enjoying riding and owning a horse.
She's nothing to look at, and has her awkward moments, but I can honestly say that getting rid of Thumper was the best thing I could have done.

There are sensible horses out there - maybe look for something cobbier if you want a chilled out life
grin.gif
 
You poor thing, that sounds like a very freakish but very nerve-wracking accident. I am glad you are on the mend, but I have to agree with the others. This is NOT the right horse for you. There are no medals awarded for perservering with a horse that scares you to death. Sell him to someone else, for whom he will no doubt be the perfect horse and buy another one more suited to your abilities.

If no-one ever sold horses that weren't right for them, an awful lot of people would never have had the chance to buy their perfect horse.
 
thanks for all your replies

My heart is heavy at the thought of getting rid of him, but I think it is the only answer. I don't have that urge to jump on him and canter off into the distance, I have to decide whether I am calm enough and have the energy to deal with him if he gets silly. He is a lovely horse, and I have galloped across the fields on him, but I just don't trust him.

I have heard about Criollos actually - apparently they have wonderful calm and trustworthy temperaments but are forward going as well - they sound like my kind of ned.

however, first I have to find someone for my boy, and that fills me with dread a bit. I want him to be loved and understood - I know he probably won't be worth much though.

I have stumbled across the Bombproof website - does anybody have any experience with them?
 
I have to agree with everyone that it is time to sell him. I had a horse for 12 months and the day when he reared up at my husband, nearly striking his head with his front feet, I decided that enough was enough. I wanted a horse for fun and this horse was starting to make me miserable. Selling him was the best thing I did because I have now got a Highland pony and she is everything (and more) that I have ever wanted and we are having brilliant fun together. Don't feel bad about sellling please - it will be the best thing for both of you.
 
I think you should sell him on - but keep handling him and working him in the meantime (after all it sounds like he kicked you out of fear rather than naughtiness).
But, I don't think you should buy another one yet. I think you should spend the winter months having lessons again to build your confidence first...and get someone experienced to help you find your next horse.
Good luck
S
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I would sell.

Ive been in your situation, but not put in hosp, had a nightmare horse who would rear, try and roll on you, nap for england, I didnt enjoy her at all, but kept putting off selling her because I loved her.

Eventually I saw sense, sold her to a lady who loves her, and got Beau, Ive never ever looked back and I wouldnt swap Beau for anything.

Horses are supposed to be fun, not a punishment, and thats how I felt. xx
 
I hope that you get better soon. It really was a freak accident and is unfortunate as it does not sound like your horse did anything in malace but he does not sound right for you as others have said. You need to be happy with your horse even when you are going through troubles...which we all have!
I had all sorts of problems with my horse when I got him and he tested my patience and riding to the very limits, but all through this I knew he was for me and loved him...that is the difference. I never once thought he had to go and I was happy to persevere. You have to ask yourself the same questions really but at the end of the day you should know by now and feel he is right or wrong for you.
Take care and time getting better.
 
Dont dread selling him. Think of letting him to someone who can handle him and for you to move on and find a partner you trust completly. Give it time. I am sorry to hear of your accidents and send out hugs for a quick recovery. There is always someone out there for a horse like him, and there is a horse out there for you.
 
Riding is supposed to be fun.
Horses are supposed to be fun.
Going to hospital is not fun.
Wondering what the next injury will be is not fun.

Hmmmm...seem to have a pattern showing up here.

Get rid of him, get a lovely guy who'll take care of you without any drama.

I had a lovely chestnut, we had a great accident (concussion for both of us and I kept asking "what time is it"...got back to the barn, handed my horse off to someone, got in my TR-6...yep, it was a long time ago, and went to bed for 12 hours) and I lost my nerve on him. I'd had worse wrecks with broken this and that, but something about him and my confidence went out the window. I sold him and haven't worried about crash & burns since.

Life's too short to drink cheap beer, ride Indian saddles or keep a horse that'll put you in a wheelchair
 
Oh no; you definitely need to sell this horse onto someone who has no confidence issues. Find yourself a nice calm fun horse to enjoy.
 
I would sell him, we know what its like to have a horse that your scared off. My husband had a 5 year old tb gelding, in the end he would rear and buck cause he knew he could get hubby off. Hubby ended up having a great fear of him and the horse could pick up on it, would charge at him when he would go into the stable.

We sold him on to a competition yard as he was an amazing jumper, somehow we managed to get more for him than we paid. I do miss him but he wasnt the right horse for my hubbies riding skills.

Heard hes now competiting in england
 
Wont go into detail but I had a mare that was horrific to deal with. The day she went off to her new home I felt a great weight disapear from my shoulders, I swapped her for my anglo arab. It was definately the right thing to do. All I regret was not sending her back the first week, she was that bad
 
when you dread to go and do a task that is there for fun then the time is to sell. Horses are like people, some you click with and some you don't. After 17 months this is not the horse for you, and there is someone out there that is the right person. Write the advert and stick it on project horses as he sounds like he is someones ( but not your) project.
 
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