Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
Horse that is!
I bought my youngster 2 1/2 years ago after losing my horse of a lifetime to old age. I bought this one, admittedly against my initial instincts, as he was very aggressive, bitey, rude and dominant. But my friend said not to worry that I'd be able to get rid of that as 1-2-1 should help (i bought off his breeder) now i am an experienced horse person and very confident in my abilities but this horse has really tested me! He was a nightmare on the ground and I'm a real stickler for ground manners but slowly, slowly i made big progress with him and he has been a gem to back BUT i just don't know if i love him. I have been off horses for 4weeks after breaking my hand while leading him, i had an operation came back too quick, broke it again and had to have another op, anyway i decided to be sensible and take the time off. So i went back on Friday to take over duties again and he was a pig, wouldn't stand to have feet picked, swinging his bum into me, now i stood him up and would not allow him to walk over me , he was snatching his feet out of my hand (physio would have kittens!) All just general arseiness. And i just thought at 51/2, after 2 years of very black and white handling he should be passed this. I was leading him today and as i stopped to say hello to someone he bit my jumper! I'm tired of constantly correcting him. I do reward good behaviour. I have had the help of a pro on his handling which got us this far. And lastly he won't load, which is an issue, again I've had an IH guy out who after 9 sessions declared he was the most difficult loader he'd experienced. Something must have happened before i bought him as when i went to collect him he was sedated and they were clearly very worried!
Wow that was longer than expected! I just want to enjoy my horse rather than constantly revisiting manners! And i understand youngsters are hard work, my riding instructor refers to him as a boundary checker as he's always testing
Re reading this i haven't gone into huge detail about his difficulties, but believe me there is more than what i have gone into.
So how do I know if i should keep on persevering?
I bought my youngster 2 1/2 years ago after losing my horse of a lifetime to old age. I bought this one, admittedly against my initial instincts, as he was very aggressive, bitey, rude and dominant. But my friend said not to worry that I'd be able to get rid of that as 1-2-1 should help (i bought off his breeder) now i am an experienced horse person and very confident in my abilities but this horse has really tested me! He was a nightmare on the ground and I'm a real stickler for ground manners but slowly, slowly i made big progress with him and he has been a gem to back BUT i just don't know if i love him. I have been off horses for 4weeks after breaking my hand while leading him, i had an operation came back too quick, broke it again and had to have another op, anyway i decided to be sensible and take the time off. So i went back on Friday to take over duties again and he was a pig, wouldn't stand to have feet picked, swinging his bum into me, now i stood him up and would not allow him to walk over me , he was snatching his feet out of my hand (physio would have kittens!) All just general arseiness. And i just thought at 51/2, after 2 years of very black and white handling he should be passed this. I was leading him today and as i stopped to say hello to someone he bit my jumper! I'm tired of constantly correcting him. I do reward good behaviour. I have had the help of a pro on his handling which got us this far. And lastly he won't load, which is an issue, again I've had an IH guy out who after 9 sessions declared he was the most difficult loader he'd experienced. Something must have happened before i bought him as when i went to collect him he was sedated and they were clearly very worried!
Wow that was longer than expected! I just want to enjoy my horse rather than constantly revisiting manners! And i understand youngsters are hard work, my riding instructor refers to him as a boundary checker as he's always testing
Re reading this i haven't gone into huge detail about his difficulties, but believe me there is more than what i have gone into.
So how do I know if i should keep on persevering?