selling on and starting again...........

[cob&onion]

Anyone feel like/have they just totally sold there horse(s) to buy something they really really want??!
Not sure why am saying this but as of late am feeling a bit peeved off. In the past i haven't had much luck with my horses, right the way through childhood i always had the difficult pony! then we bought a beautiful ish and she was diagnosed with navicular aged 7. When i was older after a break i bought a TB mare - 2 years late PTS with KS. Now i have a cob mare, something a bit more robust i thought! but nope now aged rising 6 am thinking she has hind leg lameness issues going on if you have seen my recent posts it explains it all! i do have a nice rising 4 yr old welsh D who has been recently backed and hoping he turns out well this year - BUT now am thinking all i want is a nice all rounder who i can hack alone, isnt crazy but isnt a plod, i don't want to go the olympics or anything but something who can get me to novice level dressage and something which can pop a 1m course and something i can relax on and have a bit of fun, something already produced and brought on and competition ready.
I am very lucky that we own a 3.5 acre field but saying that its just a bog in winter as its heavy clay, there is no water connection and we have no stables just a shed and natural shelter. However 1 min down the road is a beautiful livery yard, i feel like doing a bit with the welsh D selling him in the spring, handing my mum my cob (providing she can still lightly hack out - sorry am expecting the worst case scenario!) she said she will happily take her for me, saving up a bit of money and buying something i really really want and keeping it at the livery yard. Fed up of having these horses which i seem to spend lots of money/time on them only to feel constantly frustrated as there always seems to be some sort of issue with them
Anyone else?!

 

[GlitterPup]

I have had this thought so many times over Missy but haven't had the courage/strength to do it. I adore her but there are days when I sit and think 'Why didn't I buy something I could ride' (I know riding isn't everything)
But then there are days where I wonder what i'd do without her so I guess that's set that she isn't meant to go (yet )

Hope you're okay xx

 

[cob&onion]

I have had this thought so many times over Missy but haven't had the courage/strength to do it. I adore her but there are days when I sit and think 'Why didn't I buy something I could ride' (I know riding isn't everything)
But then there are days where I wonder what i'd do without her so I guess that's set that she isn't meant to go (yet )

Hope you're okay xx

Yeah i know what you mean, am very lucky to have what i do but i keep finding myself looking at adverts of these fab all rounders and horsey friends who have lots of success out showing/dressage/sj - makes me a bit frustrated especially as i have put so much time and money into my cob, work my ass off for it and she isnt right

 

[GlitterPup]

Yeah i know what you mean, am very lucky to have what i do but i keep finding myself looking at adverts of these fab all rounders and horsey friends who have lots of success out showing/dressage/sj - makes me a bit frustrated especially as i have put so much time and money into my cob, work my ass off for it and she isnt right

I can understand how frustrating it is - I also have a habit of browsing adverts and finding the perfect horse and not being able to get it because I have Missy. I am a bit of a pansy though in the sense that I would struggle to sell/rehome her even if she was driving me mad. I get far too attached and it makes it difficult.

 

[mjcssjw2]

I don't because even when i have, they have ended up broken too!!

 

[GlitterPup]

I don't because even when i have, they have ended up broken too!!

I suppose that's a risk we take with livestock though. There's nothing to stop them injuring themselves or having a freak accident. Why do we put ourselves through it?

 

[twiggy2]

in the last 3 yrs they have bought produced horses at work each one cost in excess of 10K, 1 of them (13yrs old) is now a light hack as past stifle problems were missed during the vetting and diagnosed when abnormal muscle development was challenged, 1 of them (9yrs old) has a tendon injury and can now only compete to a max of 90cm-injury caused by blackthorn penetrating tendon sheath, a third one again has old injuries that have reared their head and will probably never work again she is rising 7yrs-paying the money and buying pre-produced does not gaurentee health and soundness

 

[AshTay]

Yeah i know what you mean, am very lucky to have what i do but i keep finding myself looking at adverts of these fab all rounders and horsey friends who have lots of success out showing/dressage/sj - makes me a bit frustrated especially as i have put so much time and money into my cob, work my ass off for it and she isnt right

I have certainly felt like this in the past - not so much that I want to swap mine, but slightly green that no matter what I did, things went wrong! My little mare was infallible until she suddenly broke. My gelding was supposed to be my fab allrounder but has had various issues. My fab old boy who was my first pony broke a couple of years before I got the other two but we did get him sound again after a lot of rest and treatment but then he just broke down again and I lost him. I've got a reputation on my yard for always having the vet out at what others consider to be the slightest thing (YO said the other day "I did an AshTay and called the vet..."). But it's usually ended up being for good reason.
I also have the rather sceptical and bitter theory that if you were to actually do a full MOT on all of these "successful" horses that people around you are riding, a fair % would actually fail and have issues which just haven't been noticed. There are horses locally that I know of that are seemingly being ridden without issue but that I wouldn't have in work at all.

That said - my mare and my gelding are currently in work and things are going well (touch wood!) but my goals for 2014 have been totally readjusted (slightly higher than "keep horses alive" which was my goal for 2013) . I sat on my gelding for a couple of minutes over Xmas just to remind him of his purpose and it went fine and he didn't care and to me that small but significant achievement was worth a season of red rosettes!!!

 

[Bazzel]

Know exactly what you mean. I bought a gorgeous mare almsot two years ago to replace my horse of a lifetime who passed away. New horse was fab for the first year, but we never quite clicked and I had a really nasty fall on her where I broke my ankle in a SJ competition. After that I completely lost my nerve jumping with her as she kept stoppingg(because of me) so did a season of dressage where we were really really successful, but jumping is my main love so after a lot of thinking we decided to sell, found her a brilliant flatwork home and started looking for a new one with a strict checklist of what we wanted. Went for an uncompeted baby in the end so we could do all the work ourselves without any pre-existing problems (hopefully) and so far it has been the perfect decision for both my old horse and my riding.
At the end of the day we put so much effort into our horses if it's not making you happy something has to be done about it

 

[cob&onion]

Know exactly what you mean. I bought a gorgeous mare almsot two years ago to replace my horse of a lifetime who passed away. New horse was fab for the first year, but we never quite clicked and I had a really nasty fall on her where I broke my ankle in a SJ competition. After that I completely lost my nerve jumping with her as she kept stoppingg(because of me) so did a season of dressage where we were really really successful, but jumping is my main love so after a lot of thinking we decided to sell, found her a brilliant flatwork home and started looking for a new one with a strict checklist of what we wanted. Went for an uncompeted baby in the end so we could do all the work ourselves without any pre-existing problems (hopefully) and so far it has been the perfect decision for both my old horse and my riding.
At the end of the day we put so much effort into our horses if it's not making you happy something has to be done about it

Glad its working out for you
Am going to do some thinking over the next few months, see how the welsh D pans out - he certainly seems to tick all the boxes for me but haven't really started him properly yet, am hoping to do dressage with him, already have the trainer in place and she seems to approve of him, hes nice and flashy and moves well but i just don't know yet. He has a fair bit of filling and growing to do so will have to be patient with him.
Regarding my cob, i know if she is proven to be okay and its something minor and fixable - will have to await the physio first and possibly the vet - will sell her on as a happy hacker/all rounder. She is lovely and 100% in every way but i feel i need a bit more and its probably unfair to try and change her into being something she is not? If its the worse case scenario and she is only ever going to be a hack then my mum says she will happily take her as shes looking for an easy horse she can hack twice per week.

 

[Bazzel]

Glad its working out for you
Am going to do some thinking over the next few months, see how the welsh D pans out - he certainly seems to tick all the boxes for me but haven't really started him properly yet, am hoping to do dressage with him, already have the trainer in place and she seems to approve of him, hes nice and flashy and moves well but i just don't know yet. He has a fair bit of filling and growing to do so will have to be patient with him.
Regarding my cob, i know if she is proven to be okay and its something minor and fixable - will have to await the physio first and possibly the vet - will sell her on as a happy hacker/all rounder. She is lovely and 100% in every way but i feel i need a bit more and its probably unfair to try and change her into being something she is not? If its the worse case scenario and she is only ever going to be a hack then my mum says she will happily take her as shes looking for an easy horse she can hack twice per week.

Was the same with me, wouldn't have been fair to keep pushing her jumping as she wasn't happy with the big heights so better to find someone who appreciates her dressage than have her retire in my field at only 12 years old. My mum was going to keep mine as a hack but she was a very fine TB who mum felt a bit heavy for. Would be great if your mum could use her but fingers crossed everything works out with the physio and the vet

 

[Archiepoo]

i think having 1 horse on a really friendly livery yard is 100 x better than being by yourself with horses that just dont fit your needs. its ment to be fun! all this hard work and getting soaked being out in all weather is a thankless task , you need to be skipping to see your horse every morning and feel that excitement that you did when you were a small child. i did my own thing -ended up with 9 horses and none were "the one" sold them all and then got one that makes me grin at the thought of seeing him everyday-im 9 years old again when i skip on the yard now ;-p

 

[cob&onion]

i think having 1 horse on a really friendly livery yard is 100 x better than being by yourself with horses that just dont fit your needs. its ment to be fun! all this hard work and getting soaked being out in all weather is a thankless task , you need to be skipping to see your horse every morning and feel that excitement that you did when you were a small child. i did my own thing -ended up with 9 horses and none were "the one" sold them all and then got one that makes me grin at the thought of seeing him everyday-im 9 years old again when i skip on the yard now ;-p

Exactly. Often i come back from schooling the cob/competing dressage only to feel deflated and disappointed totally not her fault if there are issues going on.
I am excited about the welsh D but not enough to stop me thinking about selling him on.

I used to be at the livery yard and do miss it, would be nice to be out the mud too and have someone always available to do the horse if i couldn't be there for whatever reason.

I guess am just going to have to wait and see

 

[GlitterPup]

I do think it would have been better for me to wait until I was an adult before buying my own...

 

[khalswitz]

I had one horse go lame with incurable stifle problems... another no longer able to jump due to conformational problems finally catching up with him... my schoolmaster went lame after a year and a half after a horrible accident, and was pts... and now have a sound, but very sharp and difficult TB I'm still struggling to get round 80cm without a stop or hit the 60% mark in an intro/prelim (despite nice work at home), a lack of transport and a shoestring budget to compete on.

I keep telling myself that I learn something new with each horse, and that when I finally am out doing well, I'll appreciate it all the more. I'm getting closer to it, albeit very slowly, and at least the nutcase is sound!!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Regarding my cob, i know if she is proven to be okay and its something minor and fixable - will have to await the physio first and possibly the vet - will sell her on as a happy hacker/all rounder. She is lovely and 100% in every way but i feel i need a bit more and its probably unfair to try and change her into being something she is not?

Is your cob not going to be enough horse for you even if she comes sound?

Once you have a definite diagnosis, you will know your options re her future much better, whether it is with you or with someone else. I'm sure that you're feeling really cheesed off at the moment.

 

[cob&onion]

Is your cob not going to be enough horse for you even if she comes sound?

Once you have a definite diagnosis, you will know your options re her future much better, whether it is with you or with someone else. I'm sure that you're feeling really cheesed off at the moment.

Am not sure TBF whether shes a bit steadier because of her nature or whether its due to her being uncomfortable? i guess i sometimes miss just being able to go for a blast across an open field without having to push on or running out of energy half way through? I miss the extra gear my TB always had and her scope/speed for jumping. Although my cob does jump and can shift its just not the same?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

We do this as a hobby and we need to be happy doing it. I lost my mojo last year big time, my guys never suffered they still got ridden and looked after but my heart just wasnt in it, didnt do half as much as I had the year before nor the yeare before that, Stella is gone to another home and Kia is out on loan and its giving me the space to think about things and get my life straight.

Sometimes you need to just think about what you want. I will say though, horses break, they are pretty much designed to break no matter what you do. Id say stick with your D great all rounders, Stella was a D x and she'd done 1m courses. D doing WH classes are doing 1m+ and competing low level BE so dont give up there.

You do have to be happy though and we spend too much money on this hobby not to be happy.

 

[BethanT]

I can totally get where you are coming from OP as I too have been in a similar position in the past. Growing up I never had flash ponies that did everything perfectly and even when it came to buying my own I never had the money to buy something I really wanted. The closest I've ever got to my ideal was my 14.2 mare of a lifetime when I was 16 or so who I had for 4 years before I sold her, but at the time I wanted more of a horse for BE etc.

I now have 2 where one is a tempermental little s**t but I love him and my newest who is a 4 year old untouched mare. But at this moment I wouldnt change them because I am still learning so much with them rather than with a pushbutton, and they are so much more rewarding.

In my perfect world I would have these, and a been there done it perfectly well behaved horse, but that isnt going to happen. I can dream though!

 

[Flame_]

They nearly all have issues! I've come across few REALLY sound ones without any ongoing thing or things that need managing/ preventing/ putting up with. The odd one that is completely right and never sick or sorry isn't necessarily straightforward in its work or handling on the ground. Its just horses for you and if you sell yours you might get something with worse issues than the ones you sell. weigh up your horses' good and bad points before you decide you can do better.

 

[chestnut cob]

They nearly all have issues! I've come across few REALLY sound ones without any ongoing thing or things that need managing/ preventing/ putting up with. The odd one that is completely right and never sick or sorry isn't necessarily straightforward in its work or handling on the ground. Its just horses for you and if you sell yours you might get something with worse issues than the ones you sell. weigh up your horses' good and bad points before you decide you can do better.

This.

I have come to the conclusion that horses are badly designed and they all end up broken, whether it's through work (incorrect, or accidents, whatever) or because they self-harm, endless things. I have yet to meet a single one that doesn't have something going on, even something niggly and small. I often think with the niggly things that you can't quite put your finger on, work is better than none as you'll either work through it or the horse will break and you have something definite to diagnose. I also don't think there are actually many sound horses out there. As long as it's happy and sound enough for the job, it doesn't really matter.

 

[Leo Walker]

I've spent years with no facilities at all, with a field full of youngsters. For all sorts of complicated reasons, after all that time NONE of those youngsters were suitable I now have one horse, and pay double what it cost me to keep 4 or 5, to have him on a livery yard. Its assisted DIY which means I go once a day, I have a stable in a barn, 2 indoor schools, 2 outdoor schools, people to talk to, hay and straw sourced and on site. Its a pleasure again instead of drudgery!

Dont get me wrong, I loved having young horses, and my current one is only rising 4yr old, but I wouldnt ever do it again! If my only option for keeping horses is the muddy field option then I will sell up. I want to ride, I want to chat to people when I'm at the yard sometimes, I want to know that if I cant or dont want to go on any specific day, that for half what I earn an hour he can go on full livery for the day

 

[Kallibear]

Horses are meant to be fun. Don't forget that!

I was in a similar position. I had a lovely little cob that I bought as a yearling. Such a dude but didn't quite make the size I wanted (was meant to be 15hh and only made 14.2) and just didn't have the 'get up and go' I like. He was the easiest, most hassle-free horse possible but I'm afraid I just found him a bit boring and his lack of fizz and desire to go wheeeeeee was wearing.

I had an inkling he'd never be my cup of tea, even from breaking. My friend had recently a bought a very nice ID that I spent some time riding and I quickly found that that was what I was really wanting. Something much bigger and more enthusiastic. So on a whim I bought (unseen!) a 20 month old ISH.

18 months later and cob still wasn't what I enjoy riding. The ISH had been lightly broken and proving very sane and sensible (an absolute must!). The perfect home came up for my little cob (as a family pony for a nervous rider: his absolute forte) so I sold him.

I've not regretted my decision. The ISH is now rising 4 and lightly hacking and he is totally the horse I enjoy riding. Rather than riding because I have to, I WANT to ride because I really enjoy it.

My only worry now is I might not be saying that in 6 month time when we go Common Riding!