I can finally tell you about my new horse!

slumdog

slumdog

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Imagine my surprise a few weeks ago when we had that post about the pony called 'Gamble' who turned out to be a hoax, I had recently got my own Gambler who was also a rescue, although I couldn't post about him due to a few issues. Issues are all sorted and now I can tell you all about Gambler.

Anyway, I posted a few weeks ago about an 18 year old grade A that I had been offered and whether I should buy him or not. That part is true, what I failed to mention because it would have swayed opinions was the state of him, I'm not really sure what has happened to Gambler, or why he was in that condition. I know he's come directly from Ireland and he's jumped 1.20s-1.30s in his younger days. His record is fantastic.

The first thing we did was worm him, have his teeth done and his feet sorted out. All were surprisingly ok. I said if he hadn't gained weight in a month, I would have bloods etc and start investigating further. I knew I was potentially buying a vets bill on legs and everybody thought I was mental. Even I questioned my sanity! The dentist said his teeth were fine although he cribs but if he gained weight quickly then basically he had just been starved.

I just adore him. He has won people money to the moon and back and owes nobody anything, when he says he doesn't want to jump anymore he will be gently hacked out by my other half (he only does walk lol) and will be my pet.

I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.
Arriving on my yard
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5 days in
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And some recent comparisons
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The first time jumping him at home was a shock!
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Our first day out on Saturday
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What a lovely old boy. Even after the first five days you can see he has got some sparkle back and the weight is going on steadily.

Personally I would have given him the winter off and not ridden him, let alone competing, but he is your horse and you know him best.

Well done for taking him on. x
 
Ladyinred said:
What a lovely old boy. Even after the first five days you can see he has got some sparkle back and the weight is going on steadily.

Personally I would have given him the winter off and not ridden him, let alone competing, but he is your horse and you know him best.

Well done for taking him on. x
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Oh yes, totally take your point and I wasn't sure what to do myself. He was in regular work and was taken to shows (yes really!) in that condition so I wasn't sure whether to carry on with some light work or give him the winter off due to his age. I've only jumped him three times since I've had him, I don't really jump at home anyway and we usually just do some light schooling. I wouldn't have brought him back into work in that condition :)
 
Beautiful horse :) what a lucky chap, I tried to post on your FB picture but it kept removing itself ! Do you still have Billy? if so, you are mad having two greys !
 
Flippin eck! Poor chap! Brings it home how competition horses are just commodities at the top. Landed on his feet with you. Good luck to him.
 
Why would someone let an animal get in that state, it makes me sad and mad at the same time.

You have done a great job with him. Surprising how some TLC and a decent diet can make such a difference. Great that he's found a loving home.
 
God he was in a right state! Thank god he's getting pampered now.

I've often contemplated buying an older pro to get my confidence back. But I also have a silly fear of buying an older horse, so I'll be reading your future posts with interest.

Good luck!
 
I'm surprised you've taken him out jumping already?

great transformation in just a few days though, sounds like he's landed on his feet with you! Poor boy, fancy him being treated so poorly prior to you having him despite what he's given people.
 
Wonderful to see how much he's picked up already. And he's your horse, do whatever you like with him (bar starve him, someone else has done that)
 
Great to see him looking so much better and he obviously (well from one pic lol) loves to jump still.

Have to say though, he's not the first grade A I've seen in horrendous condition, the one I knew was kept starved as a 10yo to keep him controllable. He was a panicky strong horse when fit, and would panic when he hit a fence and lap the arena before being stoppable, no doubt a result of beatings :( he moved on and was owned last I knew by a hhoer (although not sure if she's been on here at all in recent years ) So perhaps there's a reason he was kept like that that's not obvious yet? Just a suggestion, might be completely unfounded. :)

If you ever need someone to jump him...... ;)
 
Really nice boy, and yes orange suits him beautifully! Don't need all the 'if he was my horse' comments, he's not your horse so it's got nothing to do with you really.
 
Stencilface said:
Great to see him looking so much better and he obviously (well from one pic lol) loves to jump still.

Have to say though, he's not the first grade A I've seen in horrendous condition, the one I knew was kept starved as a 10yo to keep him controllable. He was a panicky strong horse when fit, and would panic when he hit a fence and lap the arena before being stoppable, no doubt a result of beatings :( he moved on and was owned last I knew by a hhoer (although not sure if she's been on here at all in recent years ) So perhaps there's a reason he was kept like that that's not obvious yet? Just a suggestion, might be completely unfounded. :)

If you ever need someone to jump him...... ;)
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Yes I've also known a couple who were in bad condition and when fit and healthy turned into nut jobs...not wanting to put a downer on the whole situation...well done for the difference you have made. He's very lucky! :)
 
Stencilface said:
Great to see him looking so much better and he obviously (well from one pic lol) loves to jump still.

Have to say though, he's not the first grade A I've seen in horrendous condition, the one I knew was kept starved as a 10yo to keep him controllable. He was a panicky strong horse when fit, and would panic when he hit a fence and lap the arena before being stoppable, no doubt a result of beatings :( he moved on and was owned last I knew by a hhoer (although not sure if she's been on here at all in recent years ) So perhaps there's a reason he was kept like that that's not obvious yet? Just a suggestion, might be completely unfounded. :)

If you ever need someone to jump him...... ;)
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I think that second sentence is very close to the truth, but that's all I can say on the matter. :)
 
The lady I worked for who owned the horse in my story had to ride (I say had to as was riding for owners) him in a double bridle with lots of other leather work for 1-2 years just to be able to control him whilst he re leant that knocking a fence wasn't a crime :(
 
Amber1012 said:
Yes I've also known a couple who were in bad condition and when fit and healthy turned into nut jobs...not wanting to put a downer on the whole situation...well done for the difference you have made. He's very lucky! :)
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I would guess their high stress life contributed to their being 'nut jobs'. Whatever this lad was like in his previous life, he has no reason to be a nut job in his present home.

And if he enjoys jumping, and jumping is what you want to do with him, then with an older horse I would stay an occasional, not too high, pop over a jump is better than an entire winter off. Giving older horses a long break can sometimes be counter productive. It's not like you took him to a show and did 6 , metre plus tracks!

Well done you for giving him the home he deserves:)
 
Stencilface said:
The lady I worked for who owned the horse in my story had to ride (I say had to as was riding for owners) him in a double bridle with lots of other leather work for 1-2 years just to be able to control him whilst he re leant that knocking a fence wasn't a crime :(
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Poor sod :( he's not knocked one at all yet so we will see. One of the reasons I popped him round a course on Saturday, he didn't seem worried or anxious at all though which was my main worry. Such a shame :(
 
Cragrat said:
I would guess their high stress life contributed to their being 'nut jobs'. Whatever this lad was like in his previous life, he has no reason to be a nut job in his present home.

And if he enjoys jumping, and jumping is what you want to do with him, then with an older horse I would stay an occasional, not too high, pop over a jump is better than an entire winter off. Giving older horses a long break can sometimes be counter productive. It's not like you took him to a show and did 6 , metre plus tracks!

Well done you for giving him the home he deserves:)
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Well HOYS was on that weekend but we decided to go next year ;)
Exactly my point of view re-jumping, thank you :)
 
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