How much for a rearer?

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Zobaby

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Sorry, it's another 'how much' question!

I've been considering selling Morris for a while now, and the only thing holding me back has been that it's likely I'll make a big loss (I can't tell you what I bought him for). Many of you will know that Morris has a rearing problem, which we didn't know about when we bought him (he was deliberately mis-sold to us by a dealer who knows me well, but lied about his rearing), and even though I have spent a lot of time and money on him, we're just not getting anywhere fast. I know it's selfish, but at 16 years old, I want to be out competing and having fun, and I just can't do that right now. And i'm doing my Highers which is taking up all my time, and I'll be going to uni in about a year so I kinda want a horse I can compete with now. Anyway, I'll give you some info about Mo.

He's a very handsome 16.2hh 8 year old IDx type dapple grey gelding. He has nice paces, works well in the school in an outline and has a fab scopey jump (has jumped 1.20m at home). He's competed unaffiliated SJ, but would affiliate. He has a fantastic temprament (sp?), really friendly with people and other horses. Very affectionate (loves cuddles). He's just a laid-back kinda guy! He's 100% to do in everyway, walks onto lorry or trailer and stands like a rock when travelling, falls asleep when clipped/shod, easy to catch, fab in traffic (buses, tractors trains etc). Kind of horse that you can leave in the field for a week and will still be nice and laid back to ride, not fizzy or anything. His rearing problem is only when he's leaving other horses. So hacking alone can be an issue although he's very safe and not spooky at all with company, and will go leadfile with an experienced rider. I've had him up the track at the yard
alone, but due to busy roads round the yard, I can't really take him any further. He can be nappy when out at shows too. Just rears a couple of times when entering the arena, but after you get him moving forwards, he can go on to jump a lovely double clear! With a consistant confident rider, I think his nappiness would stop, I just don't have the time or experience to take him any further.
Anyway, sorry for the length of this. Thanks if you got this far! Honestly, what can I realistically expect to sell him for?

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I do think his rearing will drop his value significantly, so I think you would only be looking at around £2,500 - £3,000. Best of luck finding him the best home though and I hope you are more successful than the figures I mentioned as he looks lovely.
 
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He sounds more nappy than a true rearer, just from what you have written?

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He is very nappy, and its mostly just lack of confidence. Its usually just small rears, to turn round, but he's done a couple of big ones. But those are kinda like his last resort! Its really sad, cos I love him to bits and if he wasn't so nappy, he would be my dream horse!

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I do think his rearing will drop his value significantly, so I think you would only be looking at around £2,500 - £3,000. Best of luck finding him the best home though and I hope you are more successful than the figures I mentioned as he looks lovely.

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And thats about what I thought too. Thanks

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You won't get any where fast, it may take a while to sort out. But it is something that can be worked on with patience.
I hope you find a decent home for him.
 
I've had him since June and spent loads of time and money on lessons and stuff. I've had him out at training shows and stuff for experience as often as i can, but I don't have my own transport so have had to rely on catching a lift with my YO. I just don't have the time, and we're not really suited to each other, which makes it harder! Thanks
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why don't you send him away for schooling? I am sure there are enough pro riders in Fife who can help you with him. if everything else seems so right with him it may be worth being that little bit more patient.
 
I've considered sending him away, its just the problem that he only misbehaves when hacking alone and out at shows. So he'll improve going to one or two different venues, but when he comes back and try to take him to a new place, he'll do the same thing. But i'm gonna consider that as a last resort, cos I really can't (and don't want to) sell him.

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Well what ever you do I wish you luck with him. I know there are a few dealers in Fife but I can guess the one you bought from!
If you do decide to sell him, I dont think the rearing you describe will effect your price too much. Just be honest about him and I am sure you will find him the right home.
 
Sounds like to me he has got you weighed up! If he is scaring you then yes sell him, be honest and i am sure you will find the right home. expect around £2,000.
 
Rearing is very dangerous and at the least it can knock an experienced riders confidence and at worst cost someone their life!! If he finds it easy to stand up in protest of leaving the yard on his own then he will probably catch on that he can do it whenever he doesn't like what you are asking. I had a friend with the same problem and she sent him to Richard Maxwell who actually sorted him out for her until she sold him 3 yrs later to her cousin and out of the blue he started doing it again, he has now been retired as a companion. All I can advise is that you advertise him with his problem written in the actual advert and accept a loss of money, that way you will be able to sleep at night and should you ever get that phone call (heaven forbid) that he has injured someone you can hold your head high knowing that you told them exactly what he was capable of without masking over it unlike the dealer you so sadly got conned by. Good Luck.
 
Without seeing him I agree with the others - sounds more nappy than reary! a friends horse used to nap quite badly but with a confident rider got on with it - would just argue the toss......not something I could deal with but there are plenty of competent riders who would take him on. He sounds talented and most talented horses have their issues....
 
i agree, he doesn't sound evil, it's just what he does when he's stressy. they all have something they do in extremis, and that's his thing.
just out of interest, i watched a great vid on youtube of a guy working in Japan with very difficult ex-racehorses, he was on a real rearer (vertical on and off for 40 secs on the vid!) and when it stopped, instead of urging it forwards (as we've all been told to do), he asked it to stand and wait. it made an enormous difference, it took the fight right out of it, and it didn't go up again. very impressive. might be worth a try next time... if he does it with you again.
otherwise, very best of luck finding a nice experienced home for him, he looks a lovely type.
 
I guess the other school of thought is circling when he naps? Not easy though and not something I could school out of a horse - haven't got the bottle....
 
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All I can advise is that you advertise him with his problem written in the actual advert and accept a loss of money, that way you will be able to sleep at night and should you ever get that phone call (heaven forbid) that he has injured someone you can hold your head high knowing that you told them exactly what he was capable of without masking over it unlike the dealer you so sadly got conned by.

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I would do this without a doubt. I couldn't live with myself knowing I had lied about his problems, not just because he might hurt someone, but I owe it to him. He's a fab horse, and if he's advertised honestly, then he'll get a proper chance at having the fun life which he deserves, but unfortunately, I'm not sure I can give him
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EDIT - And thanks so much guys for all the positive comments
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I'm gonna persevere until Spring and I'm gonna consider selling then, but maybe he'll improve enough that i'll keep him. Thanks again for all the help

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I hope you can overcome this problem with your boy!!I personally wouldnt touch a horse that reared be it nappy or otherwise with a bargepole!
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!If you love him that much i would try everything possible to get on top of the problem,as for the gelling thing,you will be amazed how you can go for months thinking "this just isnt working"then out of the blue you click!!As for value??Not sure on that one but would be surprised if anyone would pay £2000 on something that if in the wrong hands could turn into a serious problem(especially as he is soo big)
Sorry not more of a positive comment,as i said at the beginning i hope you can both overcome this and he stays with you!!
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On a positive note, he sounds very much like my horse - is fine until you ask him something he's not sure of, then he spins/naps/rears to try and get out of it. I tried a few things with my boy, before realising that if I don't pressure him and just let him take things in in his own time, he will stay calm and eventually go forward again without rearing/napping.

I'm back at the stage where I think we can start hacking out again now, as his behaviour is so much better and I've learnt to control him a little better. I've had him for just over a year (although he was injured for the first 4 months on box rest), so it's pretty good going really and shows that it can be done.
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Good luck with him - I hope you either sort him out or find a nice home, he looks lovely
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My ID mare used to be nappy (didn't rear) and I always thought it was lack of confidence cos she hated being on her own! She's much more confident now although she still prefers to be in company. I am so pleased I kept trying with her cos she's a star now. When you think about it, horses are herd animals so I can understand why they don't like being alone. I think if you are honest with prospective buyers and he's good in all other respects you should get £3.5k for him. Hope you have spread the word about the lying dealer!!!
 
Fly sounds very similar to your horse. Firstly it taken a good 8 months for Fly to settle in here with me at his new home. When he first came he was insecure and would rear at the drop of a hat when I asked him to leave other horses, go in the ring or do anything he wasn't keen on. Now he is a lot more settled. He used to napp all the time as a direct result of being insecure I believe and thus would rear when I wouldn't give in. These rears were vertical and he gave me very little warning. If he frightens you, sell him. Once they have shown they can rear like this it will always be only a tantrum away. Fly very rarely rears now BUT it is always just under the surface and I just know which buttons not to press now! Good luck in whatever you decide. xx
 
Does he do this with a more experienced rider?
It sounds to me as if he has you weighed up and is taking the p*ss tbh.
In all other ways he sounds like the sort of horse you will be wanting to go out and buy to replace him. If you could hack alone and compete with more confidence presumably he would be ok for you.

Without knowing what avenues you have explored since June, it would be interesting to see how a more 'forceful' rider would cope, and whether he could still be turned round for you.
 
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Its very hard to sell a rearer - I had a lovely 16.2 8yrs warmblood - the "lady" selling him lied through her teeth- i persevered for a year and when i decided to sell him as a dressage horse which he was fab at - only reared SJ- i was honest in the ad and asked £2500 (half what he cost) I had a never ending queue of weirdos/joy riders / novices (WTF?). i found him someone who swore she never wanted to jump, let him go for £2000 delivered to her yard inc nice tack only to get threatening phone calls one week later as she had taken him in a SJ arena and he had stood up with her, i took him back (had to collect) and refunded the money . It was incredibly upsetting and i had already spent the money and yard space on his replacement. I rang round and found a dealer to take him off my hands for £1000 inc his tack and thought i had done well to get that much.
 
We had a lovely horse and xtremely talented jumper that would stand up constantly in the warm up, this went on for a long time and with a variety of riders and was of the completely vertical type.
As a result he had to endure the minimum warm up as when he entered the ring he was the perfect horse and won most things he entered.

We tried numerous things over a long period but the learnt behaviour was just too ingrained. Eventually, despite his ability, he went on loan to a happy hacker who wasnt ever going to compete.

I think that you are probably doing the right thing, you've given him a chance and with your honesty its hopeful that he can find an alternative life where he wont be a danger to anyone and you can move on before you lose your confidence.

I cant comment on value as it seems more dependent on finding the right home however on 'project horses' the prices certainly arent low for some of the issues advertised.

Good luck
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I'm confused by the people saying 'he's only napping not rearing'. Isn't that true of most horses that nap - rearing, unless it is caused by pain, is an extreme outcome of napping?

Rearing isn't less dangerous because the horse is napping, surely?
 
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