It should be fun, not hard work right?

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NatalieS

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Long story so I will make it short! I have had my loan horse nearly 3 years now and love her to bits but she is a nightmare to ride, absolute angel for the first mile or so and then she turns into a horse that possessed snorting, rolling eyes, wont walk jogs all the way then comes back dripping in sweat in a complete state. Its really hard work and I end up coming back in pain just from holding onto her.

You will probably ask about back, teeth, shoes etc - I had her teeth done 2 months ago and there were no major problems, vets been out and said maybe a bit of artheritus, so had the physio last session three weeks ago and she did say she was really tight and sore so she had about 3 weeks off in total (but I only ride at weekends anyway), also new shoes special fitting ones to help her balance! First 2 rides after the physio it was like having a different horse, she was having bute aswell just to numb any pain/inflammation. But now I am right back to square one (she is still have bute) and I think I need to make that hard decision to give her back to her owner.

Its just not fun anymore and I dont know from one week to the next whether she will behave or not, when she is in the field she is lovely and as soon as I come back get off/tack off she is fine. Its just when we are riding!

Just wanted anyones opinion? :(
 
Yes it should be fun.

Try her on global herbs supercalm and maybe give her a months trial. If she's still the same, send her back. By doing so you will feel confident that you've exhausted all possibilities :)
 
Sounds like she's in pain from what you have said.
At the end of the day she isn't your horse and if she's not capable of what you want her for it maybe best to send her back :(
 
Thanks for the replies, I really think she is in pain but the vet/physio wont give me a straight answer on things but she is 22/23 and had a pretty hard life up until now so I think maybe everything is coming to a head! I did think about a calmer, maybe its worth a stab.

I think the worse thing is I have to give the owner a months notice, so I still have to see her and look after her for another month once I make the hard decision :( and I know how hard its going to be.
 
I would say give her back, its ment to be fun.

And although it may be tough looking after her, you can give her a lovely long goodbye! Plus the money you will save from not having her you can have some lessons or trail rides, or even save up for another!!
 
yes it's meant to be fun!
can i just ask, has she always been like this and you've just finally had enough? if so, what made you go for her in the first place?
or is this just a recent thing?
 
Have you thought about that at 22/23 she is maybe telling you that she has had enough and wants a quiet life in the field. If she's suddenly started getting worse when out riding, but is still an angel all the other times and you say she's had a hard life, maybe it is time to retire her. Then you can find something a bit younger to have some fun with. Hoping she has a good home with owner who will let her have a rest.
 
What breeding is she? Is she stabled? What do you feed her? How long have you had her? Has she always been like this? How much experience do you have?

Sorry, but a bit of background might help but I would certainly be looking towards the owners for assistance with this.
 
Forget about you, its obviously hard work and not fun for her.

You think she is in pain, then dont ride her because it'll only make things worse.

If you cant afford to keep her just out in the feild then give her back and hope her owners dont loan her out again.
 
I just had a conversation with another horse owner and we were discussing how we just knew for a while maybe that something was not right but for sometime we both thought we would persevere or we were imagining it!! Both our horses did have problems and they developed quietly over a long period of time.But when they went wrong they came out in one go. I even got other riders to see if it was just me!

My old boy who when I got him had a fantastic trot etc & became quite short in the step and sore after being shoed but fine after a couple of days. Over a long period of time(ie two/three years) no one could pin point what was wrong, vet etc then he went lame big time. Had xrays and told his back legs were gone with arthritis(he is heavy and had driven in the past which all added up). We did rest him for a long time ie a year etc and lots of people kept saying bute bute! Got to say my vet was really good and did tell me I may not ride him again and I did get someone really light weight etc who would walk him out etc. This has gone on now over about 5 years.Recently he went completely down on his front legs with me out of the blue, no warning, so that was that! Retired now and just had a nice hose down and rolled in a whole load of mud!

But I think if your gut instinct is telling you that there is a problem I expect you are right. Trouble is with arthritis its trying to keep a happy medium. That is stopping the joints ceasing up with some exercise and also giving it a rest as well! I agree with other posters your horse is telling you something and unless you have bottomless pits of money to keep having physio etc and riding a buted horse is that really fair on both of you. The only people who are doing well looking at this is the vet/physio££. I too hope the owner will retire it or companion it. I spent ages looking for a companion and now I have a homemade one who I know is no trouble at all. I did feel sad for me in all this nice weather too but he did me a good service and I owe it to him.
 
It sounds like she could be in pain, maybe get her back x-rayed? Obviously riding is about enjoyment for most people, so see how you can solve the problem with her, if you can't then maybe seek advice as to what to do next, hope it gets better!!
 
windseywoo said:
Have you thought about that at 22/23 she is maybe telling you that she has had enough and wants a quiet life in the field. If she's suddenly started getting worse when out riding, but is still an angel all the other times and you say she's had a hard life, maybe it is time to retire her. Then you can find something a bit younger to have some fun with. Hoping she has a good home with owner who will let her have a rest.
Click to expand...

^^^^^^This

I'm sure people will say that 'my horse went on competing until it was 35!'....BUT as with any living thing, horses are different to each other.

This would be my choice, time to give the old girl a bit of an easy time maybe.....
 
Thank you for all your replies, I really cant make my mind up whether she is in pain or not we went out yesterday and the day before and she was absolutely fine, there just seems to be no pattern to the behaviour but she has had bute for the last 3 days so maybe now its in her system it is taking away any pain/inflammation.

In reponse to whether she has always been like this and have I had enough, she has always had a personality and can be on her toes at times but she is a tb x so thats expected but this recent behaviour and the fact that the physio said she was really sore last time she saw her makes me think there is more to it.

I think you may be right and she just wants to be retired in a field, but I dont have the space to keep her as a companion, and the girl that owns her I get the impression she doesnt care that much so I worry about sending her back.

I just want her to have a happy comfortable life and if me riding her is uncomfortable I dont want to do it but cant get a straight answer from anyone to whether there is an underlying problem.

Confused.com.........
 
I have had 'miraculous' results using magnets with arthritic horses (particularly a tbx), although it doesn't work for all horses.
I do think that you need to discuss this horse's future with her owner. Would she be prepared to contribute to more physio sessions, if that would help to keep the mare in work?
 
What does the horse's owner think?

You can keep throwing money at this horse paying for treatment and having everything checked and double checked, end of the day if she is no different now or in the near future than she was before you took her on loan, then surely the owner should be be responsible for paying to find out if this mare is suitable to be out on loan as a riding horse in the first place and I think this is something you should be discussing with them, specially if you are not getting the enjoyment from riding her and she has to be on bute, obviously something is not right and it maybe just that she needs a quiet life, if the vets are unsure then I can't see how it's fair to continue riding her at this stage, meanwhile owner is happy or non the wiser because your dealing with it all.

Talk to the owner, good luck.
 
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