right decision?

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TandD

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bit of a long story, but, id like (constructive) opinions from people who dont really know me or my horse on this problem.....so all you H&H forum users :)

my horse is a 17.2 wb x tb mare, 8 years old. ive owned her for almost 2 years. her first year with me was brilliant and we started doing really well together, but exactly to the day she did her tendon so for the past year has been on rehab.

she had 6 months off all work and was out in a field, then moved yards to start her rehab work. the 3 months of summer rehab went brilliantly and she was very well behaved, coming on leaps and bounds and really enjoyed her work.!

we then had a set back by pushing her to far to soon, which = 2 weeks off, then 4 weeks walk, 6 weeks trot going into winter.......over this time she had begun to buck more and more, but was control-able and settled down once got going.

unfortunatly with all the wet and windy weather she couldnt be ridden as much as i would have liked. from this when ever i have ridden her shes been difficult and i have been lucky that i am not in a&e!

the problem is this behavour IS getting worse and worse, and so far i have fallen off twice in the past week in the same way.(she broncked a few weeks ago too, but put that down to someones misjudgement, upsetting her) she seems to have learnt she can be cantering on one leg, but quickly change direction and change legs...this means i just go over her shoulder....

but she doesnt stop there.....once im on the floor she will kick or buck over the top of me, and has been lucky not to get me with her hooves.
today it was a constant bronck that a cowboy would have been proud of!!!!!

i cant decide if this is vindictive behavour, and she just doesnt want to work....... or just excitment and i just need to ride throught it?

so my problem is that.....
1. do i either keep her and work through her 'problem' behavour....although i am young i dont know how much more 'bounce' ive got! :O......and i dont know if i do have all the time she needs i.e. hours school/hack etc every day (im at 6th form so exams)...... also with everything that she (and others) have done to me recently i have taken knocks to my confidence, so this obviously isnt helping when trying to push her through 'moments'

2. do i sell/get rid of her and taken on something more experienced that can teach me more? although i feel like this is the cheeting option and feel bad for useing someone elses work :(

as many of you, i love my horses, and would love to give them a 'home for life'. i have a good relatioship on the ground with her, plus cryed rivers of tears and spent many hours of work on her, but people keep say 'shes the wrong horse'. i do realise this...sort of.......

but im just lost at which route to take

chocolates if you got this far.....hopeing you can give a lost person a bit of guidance!
 
Everyone's going to ask the most obvious question but have you had her checked over? Tack etc?

It's funny how she's changed after a year but then again horses never fail to amuse me lol. If its not pain she sounds a little cheeky madam!

From your post I don't think you want to get rid of her and if you've got the time, money if necessary and knowledge then I'd try work her through it. Book in for a few lessons with a good instructor or have a professional come look.

The only thing is if she is getting worse you have to put yourself first, it's just not worth being seriously injured for. Sadly though the market is quite bad and if it is just behavioural problems, it will limit the amount of people more so who want to take on a problem horse rather than a straight forward horse.

I hope I don't sound negative! I'm sure you will receive fantastic advice from others so I'm going to be quiet now lol!
 
teeth done.......4 weeks ago
back seems ok......... cant really get physio right now, but nothing to concern me!
saddle fits well. she has a little less muscle one side than the other, but that is just due to work, and i am/was in the process of evening it out
 
Get back and saddle checked. If everything 100% fine I'd continue to work her but have a time frame in mind and maybe mix things up with a bit of in hand work to tech her some manners. Book lesson with professional instructor and maybe even get a freelance experienced problem rider to ride her and you watch to see how she looks when ridden. If after your given time frame she's still playing up then I'd sell but I'd give a good 6 months or so so that you go into the summer. Also could it be the feed sending her a bit loopy? As my mare goes nuts and will bolt and buck across the school if fed alfalfa. Xx
 
feed is......... scoop of hifi, 1/2 scoop of nuts, cup of balancer x 2 a day

plus adlib hay / haylage and as much turnout as possible

on the ground shes lovely! even for her size
i was having a lesson today with a grade 2a listed judge when i came off :(
and she came from a proff rider and have proff riders rider her and shes fine, but jumpy, but never bucked like she bucks with me!
 
TandD said:
teeth done.......4 weeks ago
back seems ok......... cant really get physio right now, but nothing to concern me!
saddle fits well. she has a little less muscle one side than the other, but that is just due to work, and i am/was in the process of evening it out
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But there is something to concern you. You have posted about it on here. The horse is doing her best to tell you about it and you're not listening!
 
Noodles_3 said:
Everyone's going to ask the most obvious question but have you had her checked over? Tack etc?

It's funny how she's changed after a year but then again horses never fail to amuse me lol. If its not pain she sounds a little cheeky madam!

From your post I don't think you want to get rid of her and if you've got the time, money if necessary and knowledge then I'd try work her through it. Book in for a few lessons with a good instructor or have a professional come look.

The only thing is if she is getting worse you have to put yourself first, it's just not worth being seriously injured for. Sadly though the market is quite bad and if it is just behavioural problems, it will limit the amount of people more so who want to take on a problem horse rather than a straight forward horse.

I hope I don't sound negative! I'm sure you will receive fantastic advice from others so I'm going to be quiet now lol!
Click to expand...

I completely agree with this.

Obviously no one on here can really judge if it's pain or naughtiness, but to me it sounds like it's a bit of both.

There really is no market for this type of horse, and if I were you I'd be getting a vet out sharpish to give her a proper check over so then at least you know if it's pain related or not.

You'll also have to think long and hard about what you want out of riding/owning this horse. If it's not pain related, get a professional to school this horse for a week or two and get them to give you their honest opinion as to whether it's worth trying to work through the issues to get to a horse that you're comfortable and happy with.

If not, I think you'll have to think along the lines of pts. A lot of people are against it, but surely it's a kinder way of dealing with with problem horse, than it to move from home to home and potentially causing someone a serious injury.
 
piebaldsparkle said:
3. Get her checked (tack/back/teeth) incase this bucking is pain related. Perhaps even a bute trail........
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^^this is the first thing that popped into my head too

EDIT: Just read the other replies and saw you have recently had her teeth done. I would definitely get her back and saddle checked, and agree that the horse is telling you somethign is wrong. If her behaviour is getting worse, I would think it would be due to pain rather than ill manners (although that could be coming into play as well if she is feeling fresh.)
 
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her tendon is perfect! scanned on thursday and given all clear by the vet!!!!

she only ever goes off bucking when she spooks......so spooks alot obviously!.....she more uses the spook as an excuse to buck
 
You must get back and saddle prof checked.

You can't sell her until you know what is wrong with her. Horses generally don't start to misbehave for no reason.
 
Sounds like she's big and clever and learnt she can throw her weight around. Send her to a pro yard, get her in work there and have some lessons with them.
 
amymay said:
You must get back and saddle prof checked.

You can't sell her until you know what is wrong with her. Horses generally don't start to misbehave for no reason.
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Absolutely this. My old mare started to mis-behave in her old home before she was given back to me after being away from us for 4yrs when we sold her. She was sold on to another lady who was the one who actually investigated what the problem may be, she was found to have kissing spines. Not saying this is whats going on but it is an example of behaviour changing, she wouldn't be caught in the field, was very grumpy about being tacked up etc. Vets said it was a miracle she hadnt bucked anyone off, she is a very honest mare.

I would agree with most of the others, get her thoroughly checked out. Just another thought, she could be coming into season early and her ovaries a bit sore...
 
If I was you I wouldnt sell, sounds like you are patient and want to work through it. Also, in her current state do you realisticly think you could sell? Im also in 6th form atm but what I would do would be to give her the rest of the winter off while you get your Jan exams out of the way. I would bring her back into work when you have more time and when the evenings are longer and lighter. Perhaps re start her at easter during the holidays. Then you will have time to work her through summer. Winter makes everything seem worse but good luck with whatever descision you make
x
 
Hi,

If back, tack and teeth have been checked and shes otherwise in good health and prof riders have ridden her safely - then i should have an instructor watch you ride - she may be trying it on and learning that by playing up she doesn't have to work for you.

Shes sapping your confidence and you need to get back in control. Take some lessons with her and give it a couple of months.

Also try a lunge session before you ride - may just be happy high-jinks.

:-)
 
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