saddest thing im ever going to have to do :(

[Kallibear]

No, most def not the saddest thing in the world. Having your beautiful 17hh hunter PTS because she couldn't canter on one rein nor bend in one direction, despite a year of professional schooling and thousands of pounds of vet investigation, and eventually became too dangerous to ride because of it. THAT is sad

Presumably you've tried having him professionally schooled to make sure it's him, not you? If they think he genuinely finds it hard then have him checked over for lameness etc.

There's nothing wrong with selling a horse because it doesn't suit what you want to do, but it's silly to sell him if it's something that's potentially fixable, and wrong when it might have an underlying cause.

 

[soulfull]

I personally think that she is wanting someone/s to support what she has already decided in her own head. Sell him, Get something you feel can do better on even though it isn't much more than you already have.

There you go, sell and find something better. That ticks all the boxes. After six years.

Good luck.

Echo this and there is nothing wrong with moving on.

But to say it is the saddest thing you are ever going to do. I truly hope it is, but I doubt it very much!!!!

 

[Abbeygale]

Well, you could sell him and buy another, and then find that no horse comes able to do everything for every rider....

..... or you could keep your boy, step up your act, change your instructor to one who is going to help you find a way to help your boy, and find just how much more your boy has to give.

I've no idea what your level of experience is or what books/videos you've looked at already in your quest to help you and your boy find better balance to be able to achieve more athletic stuff, but I'd highly recommend Philippe Karl's set of DVD's and his two books.

It can be absolutely amazing learning to truly school/train your horse to bring out the best of his natural abilities.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Sarah

This. I never thought my chestnut mare would do what I wanted to do when I first had her in all honesty, but with a bloody load of hard work, she does a bit of absolutely everything now. If selling your horse makes you feel that sad - don't do it. Find an instructor that will help you through his problems and help you move him past them.

It really can be tough to work through problems like that - my mare just could not canter at all when we first started - and she's pretty cool now - so it is do-able. Perseverance is the key in these kinds of situations.

 

[Spring Feather]

I personally think that she is wanting someone/s to support what she has already decided in her own head. Sell him, Get something you feel can do better on even though it isn't much more than you already have.

There you go, sell and find something better. That ticks all the boxes. After six years.

Good luck.

Exactly my thoughts too hence my initial response.

OP a word of caution, you can buy another horse which appears to be everything you want with its present owner but if you do not have the skills to continue handling the animal in the same manner then the new horse could also become not what you want. I've seen it happen so many times where it ends up in disappointment all round. And it's rarely the horse's fault ...

 

[NeverSayNever]

You may well have already decided in your own head what you want to do. You obviously have ambitions to go further and dont feel you can with this horse, the thing is you wont know either way if you will ever achieve these ambitions, as above ^^ you have to accept that you could sell and get another horse and still not get where you hoped... or maybe you will, who knows.

3 years ago I decided I was ready to 'move on' from my 14.3 , quite fine,connie x who was at that point rising 15. We had won out of novice level (2ft6) classes locally but I was struggling to go bigger with him, he wasnt built for flatwork and I wanted to event. Nothing big, just BE80 or 90. I had had tons of lessons with him and started to get frustrated as I couldnt achieve what I wanted. So I sold him.

However I found for me it wasnt easy to find my next horse. I totally accept that some horses are stepping stones and Im no way of the opinion that a horse is for life or anything like that. Im not the bravest however and didnt want anything too green, I didnt mind green flatwork but I knew I wouldnt have the nerve or time to bring something on over fences. I tried SO many horses. I was drawn to the big fancy,long legged type but couldn't find anything I felt happy with. I ened up buying a 16hh 5 year old ISH whom I had 2 bad falls off within 6 weeks. After the 2nd fall I was hurt and couldnt ride, he was sold to a lovely home with someone more fit for him than me. Then after again , lots of viewings, I bought a 15.2hh sportshorse whom I had a year. Lovely horse! But after 6 months I wanted to give up competing tbh and even contemplated giving up riding and horses altogether . It just never felt the same as when Id had my first, my little connie x.

...... finally I now have another horse who it feels 'right' with. And guess what? He is a 15hh connemara, 10 years old. Conformationally less challenged for flatwork than my connie x was, younger so plenty of miles left in him and a bit bigger and chunkier. If only I had realised after I sold my first horse that what I really wanted (and needed) was a slightly bigger/younger version of what I already had.

Im back out having a blast at 2ft6 and doing RC dressage and SJ, we've even done a little ODE - BUT when I look back at why I embarked on this journey when I sold my first one, I dont even know now if I still have the same ambitions anymore! Its been such a hell of a journey and Ive lost so much confidence on the way that Im just glad to be back where I was 3 years ago Yes, my new lad has the capability to take me on, he has more scope,he's younger, but I dont really know if it'd bother me if for some reason we couldnt.

Sorry for the essay, just thought it might help you think things out. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[littlescallywag]

Get the book COBS CAN, its informative and I found it gave me a lot of pointers to help me train my boy and agree with everyone else about a getting a classical trainer

 

[mystiandsunny]

Get a new instructor, and spend the money that looking for a new horse (and adertising this one) would cost you, on some proper lessons, or on sending him away for schooling. I could fix everything you see as an 'issue' and I'm just an ordinary rider with a little experience. It's nothing major!

I've backed and schooled ex-driving ponies and none were on their forehands. They proved to be bombproof, steady and sensible mounts, with a bit of a liking for a fast trot. Teaching canter took a little longer than usual but only a week versus a day or two. Canter leads were best taught from the seat, as driving ponies tend to ignore your more subtle leg aids at first due to having to ignore the constant stimulation from the harness. Yes they do also like the feel of a stronger contact than usual, but it goes in time, again with proper riding seat first for everything. Do make sure you're not hanging on when your horse gets strong - that can be taken as an invitation to pull more and go faster. Ask to slow, then release, then ask again a little stronger if the first time didn't get your desired result.

Sack the instructor and find a decent one. Your horse can do everything you want him to do. YOU need to change to help him. How do you know you won't end up with the same problems on a new horse - most of our horse's issues are caused by our riding!

 

[BethH]

Hi

I've had my numpty of a horse for 8yrs and boy has he been hard work, much as I'd love a horse that is easier, I thoroughly like him as a person and would spend every day worrying about his welfare if I ever sold him, so on that basis I will keep him for life, even though I know I'll be persevering at improvements for the next 20yrs!!!

The thing that allowed us to make massive progress was learning how to do groundwork properly. I am such a fan of long reining as it really helps things like correct canter leads etc. It is a matter of timing and using useful things like half a jump in the corner of a school. Teach him without a rider first and find a good groundwork instructor.

Good luck