Ideas?Thoughts? General HHO wisdom.

A

ApolloStorm

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2012
Messages
449
Visit site
I saw the loveliest mare for sale today, stated on the advert that she is a project. I enquired with the owner and she says that her problem is that after a few minutes ridden she just bucks and bucks.
Owner had back and saddle checked by the appropriate people, but not had a full vet run over. I love a good project but this either sounds like a medical issue or that she is sick of the school ( really badly). Owner hasn't ever hacked her out and thinks she needs starting again. So my main thought would be full vet check over, then if all is ok, then chuck it in the field for a few weeks/ months over summer, then start by going out on a hack in hand and then with a rider possibly company?
She is cheap enough that if I couldn't get her nice then I wouldn't lose out much!

Any general wisdom/ advice??
 
You will not be covered by insurance so if down the line something such as KS is diagnosed will you be prepared to pts or spend the money on an op? a vet check may not find what is wrong without a complete workup, many horses with serious issues will and have passed full 5 stage vettings, this one cannot even be ridden so a proper vetting is going to be difficult, I think if you tell a vet the history most will "fail" her if they can to cover themselves.

I would expect this horse to be free in the circumstances, turning away may work but it could prove to be a very expensive "cheap" horse. Look at the threads by Michen to see how quickly things can run away financially, her horse is really good to ride, cost peanuts but is running up thousands in vets bills to try and fix him physically.
 
Thats by biggest fear with this Be positive, that there is something seriously wrong, I may reconsider, having a friend currently in the middle of a vet bill pile.
 
What would you do if she didn't come right though. She may be cheap to buy, but she'll cost just as much as a sound horse to keep for the rest of her life. You could probably pick up a sound (in body and mind) ottb for next to nothing, which would come without a big cloud of uncertainty hanging over it.

I speak from experience btw. I have previous for buying broken horses with behavioural issues. I was very very lucky that my calculated risk paid off and I have a lovely horse out of it. Cost me a bloomin fortune though!
 
I knew I came to the right sensible people! She has some people buying her this weekend I think ( or at least viewing) Thanks for your advice
Auslander- I hadn't thought about an ottb, even though I'm looking for a project they always seemed like more work?
 
I wouldn't touch it, I'm afraid. When a horse is fine to begin with and then starts playing up, there is usually something quite seriously wrong (although it MAY be something as simple as the saddle). My KS horse was always great when I first started bringing him back into work and then the explosions would start. It was the work that caused the pain and he was fine to begin with. Also know of a horse who will be fine to start with and then just bolt or throw himself down. No KS there and had all the obvious checks, but must something very seriously wrong either physically or mentally. No, just no.
 
ApolloStorm said:
I knew I came to the right sensible people! She has some people buying her this weekend I think ( or at least viewing) Thanks for your advice
Auslander- I hadn't thought about an ottb, even though I'm looking for a project they always seemed like more work?
Click to expand...

My ottb was competing novice dressage within a year of starting working with me and I had neve done dressage before! Often an easy horse to bring on as they have little or no bad experience to be coloured by
 
be positive said:
You will not be covered by insurance so if down the line something such as KS is diagnosed will you be prepared to pts or spend the money on an op? a vet check may not find what is wrong without a complete workup, many horses with serious issues will and have passed full 5 stage vettings, this one cannot even be ridden so a proper vetting is going to be difficult, I think if you tell a vet the history most will "fail" her if they can to cover themselves.

I would expect this horse to be free in the circumstances, turning away may work but it could prove to be a very expensive "cheap" horse. Look at the threads by Michen to see how quickly things can run away financially, her horse is really good to ride, cost peanuts but is running up thousands in vets bills to try and fix him physically.
Click to expand...

Best reply so far. I had a few "Projects" back in the day and most of them turned out to be a fools errand. It's very hard for Vets or "back people" to spot some issues with horses like this and although problems can sometimes be associated with bad training or over work, in my experience the majority have some underlying physical issue.
 
I wouldn't touch it.

Theres 'projects' and then theres a living vets bill.

You say you like a project..but what would you want to achieve and what would even be remotely possibe with this horse?
Sorry to be cynical but I learnt the very hard and heartbraking way that no horse is cheap...and what you don't lose in money you lose in heart.
 
Well I happen to have a genuine, smashing project mare rising six, who's been left off for a year if you're interested. She would make a wonderful eventer or pure dressage horse as she has beautiful and very correct movement. In addition she's beautifully bred -damsire Triggerero - the same as this year's Badminton winner, her sire is Kennedy's Clover - a Clover Hill horse who jumped internationally. Her dam is sister to an international show jumper, a Class 1 Irish Draught stallion and a host of Irish draught show champions. My mare Chica is nearly 70% TB so perfect for eventing and hand over heart she has no physical problems. Can send you more info on her if you're interested, would love to see her going to a new home as she's wasted in the field.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top