Spotsrock
Well-Known Member
Trying to piece together my new ponio's history and it occurred to me that horses on the continent may have been bred for something other than what I am now expecting of him.
He is totally unflappable to handle and very chilled and quiet, almost grateful for cuddles, follows you about, anyone, not just me, and I think someone may have tried (whispers) parelli on him to 'fix' his issues (unsuccessfully).
The moment you get on he turns into a stressed panicky pony, he bolts forward if you gently use your leg and is incredibly strong. He can jump and seems to love it though he puts a lot more effort in than required and is still learning to judge fences correctly, but his walk trot canter need a lot of work, all he wants to do is gallop and run, (canter behind trot in front). He's good with traffic but may bolt for home at whim!
His passport is a belgian one so I can't read it all. He appears to have been imported about 2008 when I think he was also gelded, he will have been 9 or 10 at the time.
Is it possible that he was bred for the food chain and 'rescued' by someone in England at that age, only to be badly broken and terrified?
He has all the characteristics of a brave horse that's been battered, you know how some become timid and nervy and some become angry?? Ridden, he feels angry, it radiates off him like a heat.
My physio found a badly displaced pelvis which will have been causing pain for several years and has almost fixed it which is helping, he is still receiving treatment, I give him weekly massages as she showed me and his tack fits and teeth have been done. He is spotted but crossed with ardennes or something/s else compact and chunky.
We are getting there and some days he relaxes so nicely and seems to enjoy his work, the anger vibes are lessening and we are calmly working through things, I refuse to smack him but refuse to be carted, napped with or bullied by him, trying to strike a balance of love and firmness, but I would like to understand what extremes of hell and back my boy may have been through.
I did contact a previous owner who had shipped him off to sales, terrified of him damaging her daughter and been feeling guilty ever since, she was lovely and clearly had tried with him, but I can't find any previous owners. There is a breeder name in the passport, but they are in Belgium, should I write to them (in english!)???
Does anyone know if there was a big push of 'rescuing' horses from Belgium around 2008? Do they breed for food over there? What might his life have been like?
I may be completely off track but I am interested to know as it may help me to be patient with him. He has more character and some serious jumping ability coming through so I can work around his issues while he gets the confidence to behave properly, not sure how any info will help but I want to know.
My other pony came to me at 2 after a fairly lonely start but has been my princess almost her whole life so he is the other extreme.
He is totally unflappable to handle and very chilled and quiet, almost grateful for cuddles, follows you about, anyone, not just me, and I think someone may have tried (whispers) parelli on him to 'fix' his issues (unsuccessfully).
The moment you get on he turns into a stressed panicky pony, he bolts forward if you gently use your leg and is incredibly strong. He can jump and seems to love it though he puts a lot more effort in than required and is still learning to judge fences correctly, but his walk trot canter need a lot of work, all he wants to do is gallop and run, (canter behind trot in front). He's good with traffic but may bolt for home at whim!
His passport is a belgian one so I can't read it all. He appears to have been imported about 2008 when I think he was also gelded, he will have been 9 or 10 at the time.
Is it possible that he was bred for the food chain and 'rescued' by someone in England at that age, only to be badly broken and terrified?
He has all the characteristics of a brave horse that's been battered, you know how some become timid and nervy and some become angry?? Ridden, he feels angry, it radiates off him like a heat.
My physio found a badly displaced pelvis which will have been causing pain for several years and has almost fixed it which is helping, he is still receiving treatment, I give him weekly massages as she showed me and his tack fits and teeth have been done. He is spotted but crossed with ardennes or something/s else compact and chunky.
We are getting there and some days he relaxes so nicely and seems to enjoy his work, the anger vibes are lessening and we are calmly working through things, I refuse to smack him but refuse to be carted, napped with or bullied by him, trying to strike a balance of love and firmness, but I would like to understand what extremes of hell and back my boy may have been through.
I did contact a previous owner who had shipped him off to sales, terrified of him damaging her daughter and been feeling guilty ever since, she was lovely and clearly had tried with him, but I can't find any previous owners. There is a breeder name in the passport, but they are in Belgium, should I write to them (in english!)???
Does anyone know if there was a big push of 'rescuing' horses from Belgium around 2008? Do they breed for food over there? What might his life have been like?
I may be completely off track but I am interested to know as it may help me to be patient with him. He has more character and some serious jumping ability coming through so I can work around his issues while he gets the confidence to behave properly, not sure how any info will help but I want to know.
My other pony came to me at 2 after a fairly lonely start but has been my princess almost her whole life so he is the other extreme.
