Is it too early to make assumptions?

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amanda1788

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Hi

A month ago I loaned out my project horse, he basically needed rebreaking. The person I loaned to rode him on his worst day (rainy and very windy) so got to see him at his worse, as he bronks and bucks badly. He did several bad bronks and bucks when she rode so she saw what he could do. She was happy that he needed rebreaking and that she could do it. Now I have heard from the person and they said they are not sure if they are going to keep him as they don't think he is going to improve. Would you say this is a bit early to make assumptions since I thought it would take 6months to a year to rehabilitate a horse?
 
It's obviously not too early for her to realise that it's not going to be the quick fix she thought it was.
 
Sometimes you're on a horse that you know is going to injure you, and its better to cut your losses rather than get hurt. A month is enough time to realise that. Fair play to them for admitting it rather than carrying on and risking doing damage to the horse, and making life much harder for you. Surely you would want the horse to come back rather than get established problems as a consequence? It sounds as though you would be better sending this project horse for proper schooling at an established breaking and schooling yard if you can't do it yourself.
 
I hate to say it but get the horse back and do it properly! Obviously you thought this girl was competent enough to re start you horse, but maybe that is not the case. All to often we have horses sent to us that have been started by someone without enough experience and they have turned into uncontrollable nightmares because of this, it's not their fault and 9 times out of 10 it takes twice as long to put this problems right than to have started them properly in the first place. I'm sorry if inbound harsh, but my oh ( we now have a young baby ) has to risk his neck everytime he gets on one of these horses... And for next to no money... Yes it's his job and yes that's his choice but really and truthfully if people can't do it themselves properly and safely send them to someone who can in the first place or don't have a youngster, because this happens far too often.

Sorry about the rant - bad day...

This is not aimed at you personally op, just to people with babies in general! :)

X
 
I think in this instance you have to be happy that the person is being trueful with their own thoughts and capibilities. Much rather that, than someone possibly doing it whilst being nervous or not fully committed and then making the situation worse!

If it were me, i would speak to someone like Michael Peace who is a true professional in these matters and get your horse properly sorted out with the rebreaking.

x
 
If he comes back it might be best to get a proper veterinary investigation to see if there is a physical cause for his bucking and bronking - for example kissing spines. I presume you have already ensured that his saddle fit is correct.
 
amanda1788 said:
Would you say this is a bit early to make assumptions since I thought it would take 6months to a year to rehabilitate a horse?
Click to expand...

It took me 15 months just to get on a horse that I was rehabilitating...15 months of gaining trust back, groundwork, games and no riding. It took A LOT of work time, effort and tears! The results are remarkable now, we are out hacking again gently - 19 months later. So yes it is not a quick fix as someone mentioned above.
 
I wouldn't just send him to any professional yard.

You need to go right back to basics with bond building and groundwork before you even consider riding again.

You need Richard Maxwell or someone of his ilk.

My tricky youngster was trained / backed by a prof SJer and I often wonder if the outcome would have been better had I sent him to Max first.
 
I know it isnt her fault and she really does care about him, its just I had owned him for 3 years and ended up not riding him for a year as I totally lost my confidence and am not experienced enough to ride and sort his problems. So thought I had found a home for life for him, which took a long time to finally admit and come to terms with the fact he needed a more experienced home. He is so lovely on the ground and it was such a hard decision to make. So if the person decides not to keep him then I will need to find him another home.
 
I loaned a horse under similar circumstances and it really is best for all involved if the loaner is totally honest with you which they are being. Mine worked out well and I still have the horse 2 years down the line and it's sucessfully out competing etc.

The loaner is doing you a massive favour actually and it's not her horse, if the problems arent going to be worth her time and effort sorting out, you need to have the horse back and make a responsible decision. Loaners who'll take on this amount of hassle dont come around very often.
 
When I got my boy and realised that there was no way he was going to let me get on I was recommended a yard/trainer who would be able to help. They were able to re-break him and I was riding him 3-4 times a week but I was the only person to ride him. No-one at the yard would ride him and similarly to you I didnt feel confident enough to do this alone, hence going to experts. We didnt progress and after a couple of months they said they couldnt do any more, he was dangerous and to get rid!

Anyway I found a reputable remedial yard where he was again re-broken, saw a chiropractor for back probs, changed saddle that I had had professionally fitted (!!) and came on leaps and bounds! We still have one or two residual issues but I can cope with these now. Sorry to go on but I guess what I am saying is there are some really good people out there that can resolve these problems in lots of cases. At least she has said she can no longer do anything rather than him staying there and going backwards. You could sell him as a project to someone who may be in a better position to help?
 
At the end of the day the horse belongs to you and you have the final responsibility for the horses present and future welfare.

Re-training someone elses horse is a major favour taking in to account the time, expense, risk of injury and emotional attachment one builds with the horse.

This horse clearly has problems and I would suggest that the only way to resolve them is for you to spend out money to get a professional with agenuine first class reputation to sort out the horses problems so that the horse will be of use to someone.

Alternatively if you do not wish to go down this route you will need to find it a home as a long term companion.

However before sending your horse away please ensure that you have it freezemarked on it's shoulder and micro-chipped so that it can always be identified in the future.
 
If he is that bad, there is no way he could be rebroken and reschooled in a month! I think you would be looking at 6 months at the very minimum - possibly a year! It sounds like this girl might be fining him a bit much for her and this is her way of saying so. Take him back, rebreak him yourself and then sell him after that. Surely if he was your project pony, you bought him to bring on yourself anyway? :confused:
 
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