Sending a horse for schooling

[poiuytrewq]

Am I wrong/Ungrateful here?
I've posted before about the issues with my horse. Hacking is the problem, He's pretty good in the school. I don't have a school but go for lessons weekly.
During these lessons we have tried to work on techniques to relax the horse and keep/get back his attention- Idea being when I'm out and he gets difficult I can hopefully get back in control of the situation. Admittedly Its not transferring from school to road.
The relaxed approach is suiting me also though because, in all honesty being run off and the state he get into sometimes has knocked my confidence a bit. I feel like this instructor understands this!
O/H- not horsey at all but deals in straw so has contacts i don't know has arranged (potentially) because I "whinge a lot" for a guy to have him at his yard for a week, get to know him and then teach me. I haven't instantly said yes. Its a great offer, but, the thought of going somewhere new as he is doesn't fill me with joy!- that said I'll only be dropping him off so not really my problem I guess.
My real problem is I have no idea how this guy rides/handles horses, what his training methods are like and so on. I know nothing about him and who would just dump a horse with someone they have no idea about.
Also is this going to undo what we have done in my other lessons so far. He took so long to be as chilled and workable as he is now there.
Part of me thinks i probably have nothing to loose at this point, He probably can't get much worse.
Anyhow, O/H asked for an answer this morning. I tried to explain my hesitation and he's completely gone off on one. I'm actually a bit mind blown right now

 

[Glitter's fun]

You need more info. about the guy. Could be anything from an absolute genius to a horrid rough dinosaur who thinks every horse can be beaten into shape.
(Horse can get worse- he is ok in school atm, if an eejit frightens him in a school ..
Do research.
Tell oh to back off (?? injured male pride because the lads have already sorted it between them & he doesn't want to lose face??)

 

[nagblagger]

No, I would not give my horse to anyone for a week I didn't know ! A good instructor would want to educate you as well. Could you discuss with OH and ask whether this man could teach you how to do it?

 

[paddi22]

I think that was the plan wasn't it, the guy would have the horse for a week and then teach her.

I would go and meet the guy and see what you think and see what his methods are. If you think your arena lessons are working, but not translating to the road then why not focus on the road with this guy? even if he spent the week longlining the horse up the road it would be a benefit? or it might be a case he can come to your place and hack the horse for a week. it might do the horse good to have a strong rider on it (once he's not rough)

 

[poiuytrewq]

No, I would not give my horse to anyone for a week I didn't know ! A good instructor would want to educate you as well. Could you discuss with OH and ask whether this man could teach you how to do it?

Well, that's his plan. He wants him there for a week to get to know him and understand the problems then for me to go once a week or whatever and him help me. He's not an instructor really.

Goldies mum, I think your right. He has probably already agreed a dropping off time and is not having to back track a little.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think that was the plan wasn't it, the guy would have the horse for a week and then teach her.

I would go and meet the guy and see what you think and see what his methods are. If you think your arena lessons are working, but not translating to the road then why not focus on the road with this guy? even if he spent the week longlining the horse up the road it would be a benefit? or it might be a case he can come to your place and hack the horse for a week. it might do the horse good to have a strong rider on it (once he's not rough)

Yes that's correct. He wouldn't be safe to long line on the road, he was originally a driving horse but bolted and had an accident. I'd say long reins remind him of that as he just looses his shi*
I'd love to find someone to come here and hack him but so far not transpired. If i could get someone once a week even would be great and I'll carry on the rest of the time- he's not always a nightmare!

 

[poiuytrewq]

His old owner is actually coming to ride him today which will be interesting.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would find out about how the guy operates I wouldn't just hand my horse over without having 100 % trust in the person, can you go and watch him ride and work with horses.

I sent Louis for training when I first got him for 2 weeks to a show producer in prep for her showing him for me that season, I had watched this woman compete for years had visited her yard I totally knew what she was all about.

 

[Kaylum]

I would want to see his yard set up first,, then see his training methods. hopefully not going to turn out with other horses. What insurance does he have etc. So many questions. You should also make some sort of contract in writing. Is he using your tack what if it gets damaged?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would tell OH to back off and mind his own business!
But if you think it could be worth it (which I doubt I would) arrange to meet the guy and take it from there.
However, the extra info that you have given explains why your horse gets tense hacking. I wouldn't risk hacking him on the road tbh. In fact, knowing his history, I wouldn't have bought him, tbh

 

[GreyDot]

Well, that's his plan. He wants him there for a week to get to know him and understand the problems then for me to go once a week or whatever and him help me. He's not an instructor really.

Goldies mum, I think your right. He has probably already agreed a dropping off time and is not having to back track a little.

I would definitely want to talk to him, see his yard in person, watch him interact with horses first and also ask about his insurance. If he takes your horse for essentially schooling livery (for which I am asssuming you will pay him) he should have relevant insurance in place.
In your situation, I would prefer someone to come to my own yard and work with the horse from there, taking him on the roads you intend to hack on.
Also bearing in mind you said the horse had been in an accident on the roads before and bolted - he will need some very expert care to re-educate himself, so you really need someone with extensive experience.

 

[Widgeon]

However, the extra info that you have given explains why your horse gets tense hacking. I wouldn't risk hacking him on the road tbh. In fact, knowing his history, I wouldn't have bought him, tbh

Yes....this is interesting. If he's had a nasty smash up while driving I'm not sure I'd be trying to ever ride him on the road again.

OP is he ok to hack off road? Assuming his accident was traffic / road related?

 

[Irish Sally]

Could you google the trainer's name? See if anything comes up. I probably wouldn't go through with it if I was in your position. I would want it to be my decision. I'd be asking around about this trainer as well. Surely someone you know will know him

 

[ihatework]

OH has obviously done this in a well meaning way, just doesn’t get the complexity of the situation.

I wouldn’t send a horse anywhere without doing some research on the person and meeting them in person to discuss the horse.

Given the horses history this doesn’t sound like a quick fix, if it’s fixable at all. In the interim horse and human at not insignificant risk trying to fix it. Worth just boxing to off road hacking instead?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ohh, ok so i thought everyone knew about the driving accident? I've never purposely kept that quiet and assume/d I'd mentioned it.

It was some years ago, It wasn't traffic related, He is in fact pretty good in traffic.
He was being driven past a field of hunters that had just been turned away for their holidays, they were tearing round (and this is my main problem- other horses wind him up) He would have done exactly as he does with me ridden- Get very on his toes and try to go. Knowing him now as i do i can see totally what happened. Its one thing being on top of a lit up horse but on w small windy road on a cart essentially chasing him would be lethal.
He was, after that sent to be broken to ride and has been sold to me and the previous owner as must never be driven.
He's usually worse off road as he has a level of excitement before seeing anything that may wind him up.

 

[poiuytrewq]

OH has obviously done this in a well meaning way, just doesn’t get the complexity of the situation.

I wouldn’t send a horse anywhere without doing some research on the person and meeting them in person to discuss the horse.

Given the horses history this doesn’t sound like a quick fix, if it’s fixable at all. In the interim horse and human at not insignificant risk trying to fix it. Worth just boxing to off road hacking

Yes....this is interesting. If he's had a nasty smash up while driving I'm not sure I'd be trying to ever ride him on the road again.

OP is he ok to hack off road? Assuming his accident was traffic / road related

Traffic and roads are not the problem. I feel safer on the road!
I don't think the accident is really related either otherwise I'd surely have these problems all year round not just Mid October to spring.

We live on a farm, I have off road riding. I can guarentee he will play up off road though whereas last week for example he was horrible on two days and perfect on 2 (road hacks) If I'd done 4 off road i can 100% say all would have been awfl.

 

[DabDab]

No. Hard no. I wouldn't have someone work on my car or my house without knowing their reputation and seeing examples of their work, so there's is absolutely no way on God's green earth I would hand over the care and training of one of my living creatures to some random.

Find out more about the guy and go and meet him yourself if it is something you want to pursue, but absolutely do not feel pressured into just dropping off and leaving your sensitive horse with previous bad experiences.

 

[ihatework]

Traffic and roads are not the problem. I feel safer on the road!
I don't think the accident is really related either otherwise I'd surely have these problems all year round not just Mid October to spring.

We live on a farm, I have off road riding. I can guarentee he will play up off road though whereas last week for example he was horrible on two days and perfect on 2 (road hacks) If I'd done 4 off road i can 100% say all would have been awfl.

Ok, stating the obvious then, but are you sure the horse is actually sound?!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ok, stating the obvious then, but are you sure the horse is actually sound?!

Feels sound, Instructor and partner (who's ridden him) agree sound. Ive not had a lameness work up- again would he only have pain issues between certain dates. One day next Spring he will be back fine and again, i won't have changed anything.
I have done a bute trial.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Also, Its only if something gets his attention. we meet horses or whatever it might be (can be a weird array of things) if we don't and just have a quiet ride he's fine. He's also fine in the school.
Wouldn't pain be a bit more across the board

 

[I'm Dun]

Traffic and roads are not the problem. I feel safer on the road!
I don't think the accident is really related either otherwise I'd surely have these problems all year round not just Mid October to spring.

We live on a farm, I have off road riding. I can guarentee he will play up off road though whereas last week for example he was horrible on two days and perfect on 2 (road hacks) If I'd done 4 off road i can 100% say all would have been awfl.

I dont think its related either. My old boy had an accident driving and wont be driven again, hes absolutely completely reliable ridden. He doesnt equate the two things.

But I do think you need a work up at this point. No one reputable would take him for reschooling without that I wouldnt have thought. Sometimes the pain is there and managable, then something else happens and it puts them over the threshold and thats when they play up

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Am I wrong/Ungrateful here?
I've posted before about the issues with my horse. Hacking is the problem, He's pretty good in the school. I don't have a school but go for lessons weekly.
During these lessons we have tried to work on techniques to relax the horse and keep/get back his attention- Idea being when I'm out and he gets difficult I can hopefully get back in control of the situation. Admittedly Its not transferring from school to road.
The relaxed approach is suiting me also though because, in all honesty being run off and the state he get into sometimes has knocked my confidence a bit. I feel like this instructor understands this!
O/H- not horsey at all but deals in straw so has contacts i don't know has arranged (potentially) because I "whinge a lot" for a guy to have him at his yard for a week, get to know him and then teach me. I haven't instantly said yes. Its a great offer, but, the thought of going somewhere new as he is doesn't fill me with joy!- that said I'll only be dropping him off so not really my problem I guess.
My real problem is I have no idea how this guy rides/handles horses, what his training methods are like and so on. I know nothing about him and who would just dump a horse with someone they have no idea about.
Also is this going to undo what we have done in my other lessons so far. He took so long to be as chilled and workable as he is now there.
Part of me thinks i probably have nothing to loose at this point, He probably can't get much worse.
Anyhow, O/H asked for an answer this morning. I tried to explain my hesitation and he's completely gone off on one. I'm actually a bit mind blown right now

This could be my liveries story as she has a nice mare and she is nervous of it as it has bronked her off twice and she sent mare away in Cambridge for schooling horse very green and rider a medium rider. 3 Months schooling and the mare came back, but found this guy was more hands on ground work, so mare currently away locally at a sales and training livery to see if things improve.

Failing that she is selling her. Sounds like you are not too far from where this horse has gone for schooling as you are in Cotswolds.

 

[poiuytrewq]

This could be my liveries story as she has a nice mare and she is nervous of it as it has bronked her off twice and she sent mare away in Cambridge for schooling horse very green and rider a medium rider. 3 Months schooling and the mare came back, but found this guy was more hands on ground work, so mare currently away locally at a sales and training livery to see if things improve.

Failing that she is selling her. Sounds like you are not too far from where this horse has gone for schooling as you are in Cotswolds.

Any idea who it’s gone too?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I dont think its related either. My old boy had an accident driving and wont be driven again, hes absolutely completely reliable ridden. He doesnt equate the two things.

But I do think you need a work up at this point. No one reputable would take him for reschooling without that I wouldnt have thought. Sometimes the pain is there and managable, then something else happens and it puts them over the threshold and thats when they play up

This guy isn’t really taking him for reschooling. He just offered to help and said it would be good for him to have the horse just so he knows him a bit and how he reacts to things before trying to tell me how to ride him.
i *think that’s the jist of it all, obviously reschooling would take a lot longer and I can’t afford to actually send him to be re-schooled properly.
I couldn’t really justify it.

 

[malwhit]

If your current trainer is working well, get OH to pay for extra lessons or pay for the trainer to ride/school him.

If that's not possible, maybe they could recommend someone

 

[poiuytrewq]

She doent ride other peoples horses, her partner has ridden him and I can ask for that again, problem with that being although obviously he go’s way better for him than me is that it makes no difference to me out hacking the next day when a few hunters trot ahead and round a corner.
I think the deal is straw and muck heaps rather than money she has suggested getting some one brave to hack him out but is a half hour away and didn’t know anyone herself.
Be interesting to see how he is with his old owner today.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I think it’s a lovely offer but I wouldn’t send away to someone I hadn’t researched/know/been recommended. I’d certainly want a meet up first to see if we were an “match” and accompanying on a hack to witness the actual problem. In fact I’m actually doing this process now to find someone to bring on our baby horse. Go with your gut.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Feels sound, Instructor and partner (who's ridden him) agree sound. Ive not had a lameness work up- again would he only have pain issues between certain dates. One day next Spring he will be back fine and again, i won't have changed anything.
I have done a bute trial.

If he had arthritis, which could easily be a result of an accident, he could be in more pain in colder/wetter weather

 

[Tiddlypom]

He wouldn't be safe to long line on the road, he was originally a driving horse but bolted and had an accident

This is very relevant and throws quite a different slant on things. Tbh, I wouldn’t ride this horse again, you are getting plenty of warning that he is unhappy at times. He’s bolted in panic before, he might well do it again.

Sometimes a bolting incident can be parked as a one off unlikely ever to be repeated occurrence, but you have posted many times about being worried about riding this horse when he is antsy.

Don’t be railroaded by your OH into sending him to this unknown contact who may do feck knows what with the horse.

 

[dottylottie]

whilst i can see that your OH meant well, i don’t think you’re being ungrateful- surely if you thought sending him away would be a good idea, you’d have sorted it yourself!

if you were to consider sending him, i’d want to thoroughly check out this guy online, and go and meet him/look around the place/see how the other horses are kept and what condition they’re in (if he has other peoples currently), and maybe speak to someone he’s helped before