Blythe Spirit
Well-Known Member
Is there a future for my horse? I own a nice little 15hh coloured mare (Of unknown breeding) I was bringing her on and she was going great guns until she had some injury in the field and since November has not been right. As you may recall from my previous posts my vet swears she is sound and that her performance is now poor simply because I am not riding her well enough. I have how had three instructors look at her and each one thinks there is an underlying problem (and says I am riding at least well enough not to be causing the issues) possibly one that was there all along but that was brought out by the traumatic injury (which I didnt see but a fall which basically broke every strap on her rug). And now my once happy all rounder is often upset when asked to work correctly. I am going to collect some video evidence to add to my armoury and get a second vets opinion eg asymmetric action and toe dragging when walking down hill, not tracking up in trot, unwillingness to lengthen, hind legs filling in the morning, stifle catching slightly when moving in stable, inability to urinate standing on tip toes (As most mares do) she either tries and her legs tremble or stands with one foot flat, 4 time canter, and shakey legs when standing with hind legs extended esp. after a long road hack etc.
But most of the professionals I have had give their (non vet) opinion seem to think there is an issue which will not be easy to resolve and probably a weakness which will prevent her from doing the dressage and jumping I had hoped to do.
As I have previously had a horse who turned out to have kissing spines and OCD who I decided to retire from ridden work but could not afford to keep I have already done a lot of thinking about what to do with a young but unsuitable horse. In the first case I think I made the wrong decision and loaned and then sold her on as a companion/in hand show horse although she is now in a good home I know she has been in some terrible ones in between and with hindsight I would have had her PTS.
Now this is a slightly different case my current horse can certainly be ridden just not very much, very hard or very well ie she finds real work on the bit and forward very hard now. BUT she has some nice qualities. She is well schooled and thus light to the leg and the hand. Ie a very easy ride. Her paces are super comfy. She is never strong or joggy. She is a peach to hack with another horse being 101% in traffic and other situations. She is total love to handle being slightly timid but she never pulls away, drags, barges or even walks out of the stable when the door is open until you tell her too. You can box her up and take her places by yourself without the slightest fuss hassle. Etc She never ever bites or kicks even if she hates what you are doing to her.
However she can be aggressive with other horses though some she likes. I have never seen her actually hurt anything but she is just mean chasing away with teeth and heals. She is not easy to hack alone. Not impossible either I usually hack alone but I wouldnt want to if I was a novice rider as she often has a plant and would spin if not pretty firmly directed not to. She would no longer do much dressage forward and round has become a struggle for her. Although she was working at Novice level getting 70 + % in every prelim I took her to (about 5) She also has lateral work (But again its not much use to her if not forward and round but means she does gates etc I guess). She could jump coloureds and small XC but I have not tried since the injury as IMO if the canter is not comfy for her whats the point in jumping.
IF It turns out this horse is not going to get better and is not strong enough to do what I want to do. Do you think she has any chance of a decent future with some kind polite rider who wants a comfy gentle small horse to hack out with friends a few times a week and not much more?
OR do you think letting her go will set her up for mistreatment down the road and I would be better to PTS as I should have done with my other horse.
I have no financial means to keep her as a pet, she is 8 and I am at livery where I can afford a horse for me and my husband but no pets (They dont really have facilities for pet horses either there not being enough turn out for a horse with nothing to do but stand in a small field all day) Also I work 9-5 so owning a happy hacker is not practical in the winter any way, although I am a happy hacker my real passion is bringing them on for dressage and tinkering with low level jumping. So if she cant do that she is not the horse I really want. I know that will sound harsh to some but thats how I see it. They are very expensive to keep forever when they are young but unsuited to what you want to do.
But most of the professionals I have had give their (non vet) opinion seem to think there is an issue which will not be easy to resolve and probably a weakness which will prevent her from doing the dressage and jumping I had hoped to do.
As I have previously had a horse who turned out to have kissing spines and OCD who I decided to retire from ridden work but could not afford to keep I have already done a lot of thinking about what to do with a young but unsuitable horse. In the first case I think I made the wrong decision and loaned and then sold her on as a companion/in hand show horse although she is now in a good home I know she has been in some terrible ones in between and with hindsight I would have had her PTS.
Now this is a slightly different case my current horse can certainly be ridden just not very much, very hard or very well ie she finds real work on the bit and forward very hard now. BUT she has some nice qualities. She is well schooled and thus light to the leg and the hand. Ie a very easy ride. Her paces are super comfy. She is never strong or joggy. She is a peach to hack with another horse being 101% in traffic and other situations. She is total love to handle being slightly timid but she never pulls away, drags, barges or even walks out of the stable when the door is open until you tell her too. You can box her up and take her places by yourself without the slightest fuss hassle. Etc She never ever bites or kicks even if she hates what you are doing to her.
However she can be aggressive with other horses though some she likes. I have never seen her actually hurt anything but she is just mean chasing away with teeth and heals. She is not easy to hack alone. Not impossible either I usually hack alone but I wouldnt want to if I was a novice rider as she often has a plant and would spin if not pretty firmly directed not to. She would no longer do much dressage forward and round has become a struggle for her. Although she was working at Novice level getting 70 + % in every prelim I took her to (about 5) She also has lateral work (But again its not much use to her if not forward and round but means she does gates etc I guess). She could jump coloureds and small XC but I have not tried since the injury as IMO if the canter is not comfy for her whats the point in jumping.
IF It turns out this horse is not going to get better and is not strong enough to do what I want to do. Do you think she has any chance of a decent future with some kind polite rider who wants a comfy gentle small horse to hack out with friends a few times a week and not much more?
OR do you think letting her go will set her up for mistreatment down the road and I would be better to PTS as I should have done with my other horse.
I have no financial means to keep her as a pet, she is 8 and I am at livery where I can afford a horse for me and my husband but no pets (They dont really have facilities for pet horses either there not being enough turn out for a horse with nothing to do but stand in a small field all day) Also I work 9-5 so owning a happy hacker is not practical in the winter any way, although I am a happy hacker my real passion is bringing them on for dressage and tinkering with low level jumping. So if she cant do that she is not the horse I really want. I know that will sound harsh to some but thats how I see it. They are very expensive to keep forever when they are young but unsuited to what you want to do.
