Is it time to move on?

M

Mrsox

Member
Joined
25 October 2014
Messages
15
Visit site
Hi everyone! I suspect I am posting this in the wrong place, but heyhoo!
Anyway, I wanted to pick your brains on the subject of when to let a horse go.
Let me describe my issues with my horse.
I own a black cob gelding, 5-6 years old. Bought from eventer as a great pony club prospect for me to bring on. I was assured of his wonderful manners and temperament. And sure enough, it all seemed fine.
Fast forward to now.
He has begun to act rather unpredictably, and I must admit that I don't enjoy being around him as much anymore. He is now bargy and rude, often seen dragging me around the yard. I've been told on numerous occasions that he is not suitable for me. Me, being stubborn and naive, ignored them, thinking that he only needed 'some more work'.
When I am riding him, he can either be sluggish and lazy, or bouncy and excited. Honestly, I'm not sure which one I prefer.
I bought him as an eventing prospect, but I have quickly learned that perhaps he is just not made for it. He stops at all jumps at least once, can't canter on the right leg or do a canter circle, and the minute he decides he's had enough, the bucking begins!
At the same time though, he could be a nice hacking or hunting pony, but that is not something that interests me.
The other day he dragged me up the muck heap when we finally got to the yard!
Sorry for the long post. Please reply and tell me whether you think I should stick with it or just let him go and find something more suitable.
Thanks.
 
My advice is to get the support from an experienced instructor whose opinion you respect and let them see how the horse is on the ground and ridden. They will then be able to support you in making a decision that is best for you and for the horse. It is impossible without seeing him to know what is happening but he could simply need a different approach to handling and riding, he could be in discomfort or not be the horse for the job you want. Whatever the reason you need some backup and support. Best of luck
 
He is still very young and at the stage where he will be testing the boundaries he was fine to start with so has something changed possibly having a less strict routine than on the pro yard.
If you are not prepared to bring on a youngster with all that it entails, they do require time, patience, a firm hand and often plenty of work until they become more established then it is probably best to sell him on and look for an older horse which has done the job already.

If you are prepared and want to put in the work then start setting out some clear rules starting with getting control on the ground, there are plenty of threads on groundwork and leading, once you get him listening to you on the ground it will transfer to some extent to ridden work, stopping at jumps is probably just that he requires more training the same with the canter it takes months to get some horses well established and confident, the rider has to be able go at the correct pace for the individual if you push some too quickly they will go backwards, for some if you go too slowly they also go backwards due to boredom, it is part of the skill when bringing on youngsters to know how far to go at each stage to educate without pushing too quickly and over facing them.

All eventing prospects will benefit from being good to hack, many will gain a lot from hunting so don't rule out doing these and certainly hack regularly anyway, get his teeth checked if you haven't recently as well as the saddle and back, he may well have changed shape as he is still growing and be uncomfortable, if they are no problem then a few lessons with a good instructor may be useful in getting him going in a more correct way.
 
You seem to have a lot of posts, essentially struggling, it sounds as though you don't have the experience to bring on this horse. Now he needs re trained to take him back to a position where he can be found a suitable home.
 
He is not in pain as have checked everything. Have tried lots of different approaches, and our trainer thinks he was not taught any manners at a young age. He is the worst behaved on the yard and no matter what you do he is always the same. When he decides he won't do something, that's it, you're doomed! He just says 'I'm not doing that and you can't make me!'
It's really irritating and actually quite scary now as I have no idea what he will do next!
 
Sell him. It's not fair on him to be in a home where he's not being handled and ridden in a way he understands and respects, and buy something you can handle that is a bit older. Horses don't just wake up in the morning and decide to be naughty they react to the situation they are in, if he was fine when you got him then your approach doesn't work, find a horse for whom it does.
 
Scarlett said:
Sell him. It's not fair on him to be in a home where he's not being handled and ridden in a way he understands and respects, and buy something you can handle that is a bit older. Horses don't just wake up in the morning and decide to be naughty they react to the situation they are in, if he was fine when you got him then your approach doesn't work, find a horse for whom it does.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%
 
You know what the saying is "Every time you handle your horse you are training him." Sounds as though you need some more support and the horse needs a few lessons in manners. Sometimes bargey horses can be insecure, looking for leadership and to be told where to put their feet, and not dragging you to the muck heap!
 
Sell him,
You sound very novicey and far from ready to be bringing on a youngster.
Learning manners has nothing to do with age and id get rid of any instructor who uses that as an excuse.
My current lad was 4 when he was handled for the first time ever. So he certainly didn't learn manners early however with firm, consistant handling he is very well mannered now. He is still only 4 and occasionally pushes his luck but I stomp down on it immediately and he doesn't try again for a good while.
Getting the correct leg in canter is a typical baby thing and is only helped by lots of schooling. My lad realy struggled with the correct leg for several months when first broken and it took nearly a year with the previous lad before he could canter without getting his legs in a knot!
 
Thanks everyone. I originally posted when I was feeling rather low, so I'm sorry that it came out a bit weird. :)
Think will find him a home more suited to him and his abilities. He's not nasty at all and I just feel bad that I haven't been able to complete his training. He's come on a lot since I bought him (yes, he was worse) but we just aren't getting where I was hoping we would.
Thanks a lot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top