Not sure what to do!

[littlen]

So I own a lovely Arab gelding. He used to e my endurance horse and didn't do much else. He is now 12 and mainly hacks with my sharer.

I am bored and want to compete and show but he has never done anything bar endurance.. He also dishes badly in front.
Last year I tried to take him out to show and he went mental every time despite months of work as every time he gets off the box he thinks he is going to run. He also gets severe anxiety when away from his companions in the ring.

So, I was offered a lovely mare with showing potential but I am not sure whether I can cope with 2 horses financially if my sharer ever left. I would never sell Arab. Also my yard only has 1 box so for me to get another it means uprooting him or leaving horse 2 out 24/7.

So, friends at the yard are saying I am daft and just to concentrate on Arab rather than risking another. They say he can easily do what I want, I want to show locally/county level, do some low level dressage and the usual hacking/schooling.

He does look lovely when he works but then he throws it out of the window once he leaves the yard!

So, not sure what I am asking here but I just don't know what to do. I need to make a decision about the new horse asap before she is advertised properly and will be snapped up, but then again I am not sure whether to stick with the devil I know and realize I am not going to go where I would but enjoy him anyway. He is my soul mate in horse form it's just a shame he is conformationally bad and is too hot headed to go to parties

Can you really teach an older horse new tricks, even if they don't want to learn? And more importantly is it fair to make him do something he docent enjoy to suit me? Or shall I just let him plod about with my sharer?
It's a shame I can't afford 2 horses indefinatley or i would have no dilemma at all!!

Sorry for the moan, I realize it makes me sound selfish!!

 

[scatty_mare]

I don't think you sound selfish, just confused!

12 isn't old, and if the hot-headedness at shows is the main problem there are definitely things you could do to get him used to getting out and about. Some never really settle, but some do. What is he like at endurance shows?

To be honest it does sound like he can do the things you want to do, but it is going to take a lot of work and patience to get him there. Depends if you want to put the work in really.
In your shoes, if he really is your soul mate then I would persevere with him, and try getting him out to low key events often and see if he becomes more calm about it. If he doesn't make any progress by, say, next spring, then I would think again about finding him a new home and taking on a new horse that will do what you want.

Don't take on 2 horses if you can't really afford it - been there and it's not a good idea!

Don't worry about missing the boat with the mare, it's not worth rushing into a decision and regretting it.

 

[Kat]

If there is only one box at the yard would your yard let you use it for two horses? One could come in during the day and the other at night? That would be one barrier dealt with.

 

[pip6]

Not wishing to be rude or upset showing people (own 2 arabs myself), but from what I've seen of showing they like them to throw their toys out the pram & positively reward lack of control (coming from a person who nearly got double barreled in the head in an arab class where only badly behaved colts were placed in all the classes which were mixed). The only classes where manners seem to be expected are the traditional classes.

If you have any doubts, enjoy the guy you have. You wouldn't want to be so skint you couldn't afford to compete.