Is there such a thing as an issue free horse?

daughter's groom said:
Humans all have "issues" don't they so why shouldn't animals?
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Indeed, so why do we try to change our horses? Why do some people refuse to buy a horse with 'quirks'?

Actually, thinking about it, quirks and issues are not the same. Quirks, to my mind, are things like face pulling, issues may be a little more serious. Not sure if my uncatchable Shetland is an issue or a quirk. Doesn't bother me as we have all the time in the world to build up a trust bond, but guess for others it could be a problem.
 
I'm going to say we've only ever had 2 who would qualify for 'issues'. The first was a Welsh D/TB mix and managed to successfully combine the quirky, stubborn welshy stereotype with the neurotic and tapped TB one. Bee was just quirky, and had issues relating to quite a difficult life- she broke her leg when she was in training and ended up having an operation and prolonged box rest, with colic issues in that time. And then had another leg-based trauma resulting in more pain to associate with being handled. Despite this, she was actually quite a charming little character and ultimately, as long as you minded yourself around her, wasn't bad.

The rest have had quirks and funny bits and bobs about them, but none that make them hard to live with...

ETA: when people have quirks and issues, it's accepted they'll try and work through them. I have an anxiety disorder that results in me having panic attacks, quite often for seemingly very small problems when I cruise through harder stuff without blinking. I don't avoid situations, and I have coping mechanisms. I pretty much think the same is what we do for horses- you acknowledge a problem and then work through/ around it...
 
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Mine doesn't have issues- I don't see why it's expected that all horses have issues?! He has a character, only knows what he's been taught and his body isn't totally perfect, but that's just him, not an issue surely?
 
It's all down to a persons perception of what an issue is! I wouldn't class my mare as having issues as such, just quirks they are part of her personality and a bi product of her handling in the past!

However, other people might class them as "issues" she's a hot headed tb mare who can be silly and strong and doesn't enjoy being stabled but I wouldn't change the way she is for the world! :-)

When I used to compete as a junior I had the ride of a mare that was 100% issue free. she never put a foot wrong when ridden ever!!! When show jumping she never knocked a pole or refused a jump no matter how scary or big, she was always placed and a pleasure to deal with on the ground, so the issue free horses do exist but they are few and far between.
 
Yyes there prob are some issue free but it depends what people see as issues and if they are comftable with the issues. Baby had major issues due to previous owner(plus failing sightthough i didnt know at time i bought her ) and i bought her knowing this. i understood baby and worked with her issues. many wouldnt have done. Baby was the horse of my life for many reasons. A very brave kind forgiving intelligent horse with "issues" :)
 
I have owned many horses iv never had a perfect horse they have all had their ways as I call them The two I have now
My cob ways are pull my mane and I will kill you and I have tried he very smart in a craftey way normally anything to do with food and getting out the stable again on the look out for food.
My Spanish as so many dos and don't would take me all day to write.
 
I've owned 11 horses. Only 3 with mental issues. And 1 with medical issues.

My current horse is a dream to own. If I were to pick holes, he can lack confidence jumping. This is not an issue, he just needs more schooling. He's also afraid of carriages. This is also not an issue, he just needs more exposure to them. Generally all the coloureds and connemaras I've owned have been sensible and straightforward to ride/handle.

Out of the 3 with mental issues. One I still own after 20 years so he can't be that bad. Another is currently being trained by some natural horsemanship teacher and they think the horse is a darling. She just didn't suit me. The 3rd was just a wagon
 
puss said:
I have owned many horses iv never had a perfect horse they have all had their ways as I call them
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this, what a lovely way of putting it.

and the human members of this household all have their 'ways' too - but we all seem to rub along together just fine.

We just work around the issues somehow - may not always be pretty, may not always be the methods others would choose, sure there are the odd days when we don't like each other very much, but on the whole we get there somehow. Maybe it makes it a bit easier in that our horses are at home and very much part of everyday family life.

Has everyone else found that their horses act up like the kids can? - are either model citizens or brats from hell when other people are about?
 
I was given fatty one of the best hunters we have ever had when he was very sick and PTS had been recommended by two specialist vets .
But he had touched a cord in me so I took him on in took two amd a half years and a lot of money and my time and staff time to get him right but we did.
He's an amazing horse we all love him he's such a character so so cheeky but he's was not exactly free .
 
Yes, there are many issue free horses, I have 3 of them, but they didn't all arrive that way. The ones that have issues that are not resolvable have been sold to people who like that sort of thing, or PTS. Life's too short to deal with horses that you don't get on with, can't do the job you need them to do, or just don't make you smile when you see them.
 
My horses have never really had *issues* as such, soundness problems yes.
Can do anything with both of mine - apart from the cob mare who hates cream applied to her nose in the summer, she goes bonkers! apart from that she's fine!
 
Cortez said:
Yes, there are many issue free horses, I have 3 of them, but they didn't all arrive that way. The ones that have issues that are not resolvable have been sold to people who like that sort of thing, or PTS. Life's too short to deal with horses that you don't get on with, can't do the job you need them to do, or just don't make you smile when you see them.
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This is it in a nutshell it's fine to deal with less than perfect horses when you are enjoying the journey I keep one that I can't hunt ( his action catches my back ) but he's great to hack in summer and fun to be around he's tries so hard to please it just goes wrong sometimes he tries too hard , but I love him and won't cast him out into the world as he's a bit alternative in his thinking.
I enjoy owning him if I did not he would be gone .
 
Auslander said:
Of course there are!
09535-sheltland-rocking-horse.jpg
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Brilliant :)
 
This! An 'issue' for one person might be a character quirk for another. I don't think that there is such a thing as the perfect horse, just the one that is perfect for you.


charliecrisps said:
I always take a handful or friends and family. Then I think of their 'issues'

Then I think well the horses, like humans, all have there own problems. Some more than others. No one is perfect :-)

My horses are all as scatty as a bag of frogs. But then so are my family! lol
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Is there such a thing as an issue free rider/owner?!
I've had 28 years of ace fun with my mare, we are lucky that she has never had health issues, mainly we have just rubbed along she has put up with me, I have put up with her!
 
I've had very few horses with what I would call "issues", I think thats because Ive always tended to choose young horses so they haven't been ruined by the time I get them! Or perhaps Ive just been very lucky. But then again, one persons "issue" is another persons lovable "quirk"...
 
In my experience, most horses don't have issues, but all have personalities. I would only consider a potentially dangerous horse as a problem horse. All the rest of it is just stuff that makes them 'them'. The trick is in finding a horse that suits you.

My mare, for example, was sold to me as a problem horse, but in reality she was just rather green for her age and needed confidence building. She's now a super mare who will do pretty much anything you ask of her. In fact, she's currently out on loan to a girl who really does have a problem horse - this other horse will work beautifully one day, the next will simply explode bronco style and do everything in her power to get her off. She's even gone over backwards whilst rearing once or twice. So my mare is the 'fun, sane one' who she turns to for an enjoyable ride.

That said, my mare does jump out of her field quite regularly. There's no malice, she just knows she's capable of clearing the gate and would rather be elsewhere. Some would consider that a huge problem, I (and the girl who currently has her) don't.

The lady who sold her to me also has another mare who is her 'star' horse - I got on that mare for a hack once and hated every minute of the ride.
 
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