Re backing a supposedly unbacked horse :(

milliepops

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I have bred and backed many young horses - because I bred them I know all their history for certain. I have had one or two that were seriously difficult and I have always sent them on to a professional backer BEFORE spending too long and failing - every bad experience makes it more difficult for the pro to do their job.

I can tell you that the most difficult of all of them unexpectedly turned out to be a star and competed and won at international level show jumping. Do not despair just get good help and until you can I would leave the horse ane not work it.
I think this is really good advice. although it's tempting to keep trying, it's so much harder for them to unlearn stuff from bad experiences and so handing the reins over to someone else is probably the right move if nothing physical is found.

I've got what appears to be a very straightforward rising 3yo and have backed horses before just fine, but as I can't guarantee help when I might need it I will probably send him to be started, for exactly this reason - I've had enough tricky ones to untangle, it would be soooo nice to just dodge any tangles this time!
 

ycbm

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I have had one I just could not get to accept being ridden. We realised after a few months that he was going blind at 3 years old :(

I absolutely agree with sending the horse away to a Pro, but I would also caution that I've seen several horses sent to Pros, (especially the more unconventional ones who specialise in difficult horses), who turned out after months or even a couple of years to have serious physical problems and were retired or PTS very young.
 

milliepops

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I have had one I just could not get to accept being ridden. We realised after a few months that he was going blind at 3 years old :(

I absolutely agree with sending the horse away to a Pro, but I would also caution that I've seen several horses sent to Pros, (especially the more unconventional ones who specialise in difficult horses), who turned out after months or even a couple of years to have serious physical problems and were retired or PTS very young.
yeah there are some that bring their own bargepole when they spring to mind.... someone like Sophie Seymour would be the sort I'd look for, she seems to spot the broken ones before progressing with them.
 
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