Sense check please on a mild lameness plan?

But why won’t he have a use for you once he’s been rehabbed? You don’t know what is wrong with him yet. You’re going to be spending the money on diagnosis/treatment anyway, regardless of whether or not you sell him afterwards, likely for not a lot of money if it’s straight after box rest or from the field. It just doesn’t really make sense if you are really fond of him, or are you wanting to cut your losses in case anything else goes wrong with him? Also if you aren’t keen to spend 2k on a saddle having owned the horse for a year it’s likely that a potential buyer or loaner won’t be either.
 
Upthecreek said:
But why won’t he have a use for you once he’s been rehabbed? You don’t know what is wrong with him yet. You’re going to be spending the money on diagnosis/treatment anyway, regardless of whether or not you sell him afterwards, likely for not a lot of money if it’s straight after box rest or from the field. It just doesn’t really make sense if you are really fond of him, or are you wanting to cut your losses in case anything else goes wrong with him? Also if you aren’t keen to spend 2k on a saddle having owned the horse for a year it’s likely that a potential buyer or loaner won’t be either.
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I guess I just don’t think I’d want to hunt a horse that’s had a soft tissue problem, not for a long time anyway. And that’s pretty much the only use I had for him. He’s more than likely out of this season and so keeping him another year plus for the possibility of next winter, with all the associated costs, feels a bit bonkers

I don’t think spending a couple of grand on a saddle (or less if they have more luck than me) would put people of having what is a very nice horse for not very much purchase money (if anything). A LWVTB could work well.

Argh I don’t know. Yes I’m very fond of him but I would never in a million years have sold Basil or Boggle or even considered it but I don’t feel that about Bear.

ps I already spent 2k on a saddle and fittings and it still now doesn’t fit ?
 
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ITPersonnage said:
Ok so where is the white line for a queue to form ? :)
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i hope so, I feel like someone I know however indirectly would surely be up for what would be a 10k connemara without injury, once he’s full rehabbed. So I’ll get him sorted then have a think I guess. A full loan with option to buy if all goes well would be the ideal I think.
 
Well you missed by 6 weeks, I'd have had him like a shot if Joe wasn't here already. But maybe if Deza sells easily ....... (that's a joke, I want to stick with 2)
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ycbm said:
Well you missed by 6 weeks, I'd have had him like a shot if Joe wasn't here already. But maybe if Deza sells easily ....... (that's a joke, I want to stick with 2)
.
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Well it's comforting to know that I'm not completely bonkers in thinking someone would appreciate such a nice horse at a hugely reduced price, even if they did have to invest in a saddle!

I think there’s probably these other factors as well.

- riding him doesn’t set me alight. He is SUCH a nice hack. He’s what most people would say is the perfect amount of forward. But I find him bland after Bog and Basil. I like hot and buzzy and punchy. He's obviously had a very quiet year so I've no idea what he will be like when strengthened and jumping etc.
- I really need part livery at some point. My yard has very limited part spaces, I'm hopeful one may come up before winter but two would be extremely unlikely. Moving yards really isn't an option- it's the best yard by a huge stretch that's in the area and has excellent turnout etc I'm not willing to compromise the perfect yard for Boggle to keep Bear. Plus again, I don't particularly want to be paying well over £1k a month in livery for two horses, one of which I will barely ride. It seems somewhat pointless.

Keeping him felt an easy enough decision when I was able to hunt him and enjoy him in that respect, even if it meant paying a fair whack for him every month to only ride once a week or so. Now I just feel like it's all become a burden. I am commited to finding what's wrong and getting him right, but when you start adding that up, another year of keeping him before the following hunt season, plus another new saddle etc you are looking at £8,000 or so of expenditure. That's a lot of money to commit when you aren't feeling like you'd be completely heartbroken to sell the horse.

I am trying to remind myself that this was always a horse I meant to sell.
 
Are you selling him after he is sound or while still needing treatment? Just be aware that as the market is so hot right now a lot of people are buying horses like this, promising all sorts of things and then selling them immediately for a high mark up and hiding the physical issues.
 
shortstuff99 said:
Are you selling him after he is sound or while still needing treatment? Just be aware that as the market is so hot right now a lot of people are buying horses like this, promising all sorts of things and then selling them immediately for a high mark up and hiding the physical issues.
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Absolutely sound, I would not sell him as he is.

I'd prefer to full loan or even loan with a view to buy within a certain time frame (so that loaner doesn't feel they'd be putting effort into a horse that could be taken back etc)
 
It’s a tricky one because it sounds like you are fond of him for his personality, but he just isn’t your type for riding. I think you will easily find a great home for him if you get him sound. You won’t recoup what you have to spend, but that’s horses for you. There is a big market for his type and what he can offer as a really enjoyable hacking horse who is nice to handle and generally pretty laid back about life.
 
Upthecreek said:
It’s a tricky one because it sounds like you are fond of him for his personality, but he just isn’t your type for riding. I think you will easily find a great home for him if you get him sound. You won’t recoup what you have to spend, but that’s horses for you. There is a big market for his type and what he can offer as a really enjoyable hacking horse who is nice to handle and generally pretty laid back about life.
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I’m not bothered about recouping what I’ve spent on him, that’s part of the risk I took buying a project to bring on and sell.


He’s got far more potential than a hacking horse, he’s very athletic in his native type way and moves pretty well too. I expect he will be extremely bold over fences from what I’ve seen of him already. I really do think he will be a cracking all rounder and he’s got the basics there ready to go on and be produced more (once he’s recovered!). Between him and Bog, he is actually the more naturally talented. He won’t have to try as hard as Bog does.

But sitting on Boggle is like sitting on a little thoroughbred and that seems to be the feeling I love.
 
Michen said:
I’m not bothered about recouping what I’ve spent on him, that’s part of the risk I took buying a project to bring on and sell.


He’s got far more potential than a hacking horse, he’s very athletic in his native type way and moves pretty well too. I expect he will be extremely bold over fences from what I’ve seen of him already. I really do think he will be a cracking all rounder and he’s got the basics there ready to go on and be produced more (once he’s recovered!). Between him and Bog, he is actually the more naturally talented. He won’t have to try as hard as Bog does.

But sitting on Boggle is like sitting on a little thoroughbred and that seems to be the feeling I love.
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Well there will be even more of a market for him then if he is quite talented and has the makings of being a good all rounder. I think I’d want to produce him further before selling, but financially what you gain in sale price you lose in what he costs to keep for longer. And you run the risk of picking up the bill for more saddles ?
 
Upthecreek said:
Well there will be even more of a market for him then if he is quite talented and has the makings of being a good all rounder. I think I’d want to produce him further before selling, but financially what you gain in sale price you lose in what he costs to keep for longer. And you run the risk of picking up the bill for more saddles ?
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Exactly the problem :( for the sake of potentially “making” a grand or two by the home I’ve factored in costs, it’s not worth it.

I also find it hard to feel motivated knowing the end goal is selling him, if that makes sense. But I will get him sound etc for his own sake, I am motivated to do that!
 
Michen said:
Exactly the problem :( for the sake of potentially “making” a grand or two by the home I’ve factored in costs, it’s not worth it.

I also find it hard to feel motivated knowing the end goal is selling him, if that makes sense. But I will get him sound etc for his own sake, I am motivated to do that!
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Makes complete sense. Putting time and energy into producing a nice horse for yourself or to sell for a hefty profit is one thing. Doing the same to sell and break even if you are lucky is quite another, particularly keeping him through another winter like we just had. I hope you get to the bottom of his lameness and get him sound very soon??
 
Someone will definitely want him. I was yearning for a nice Connie this time last year after exercising one at the yard. Then I came to my senses about the second horse thing. ?

It's just such lousy luck you've had with these horses and their ailments.
 
Re the saddle thing. Once, ages ago, when I was complaining about saddle issues a good, sensible pro said to me (genuinely a bit baffled), "can't you just get a thicker numnah?". Now I know it's not always as simple as that but it did stick with me, and now having a wide, curvy, croup high, forward girth grooved, asymmetrical, sensitive horse, the solution, apparently, is a thick, sheepskin, shimmy pad under a saddle that doesn't fit perfectly.

Don't dismiss it, especially for a horse that is intended as a project.
 
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I've got a spare saddle just waiting for a horse - and its a WOW saddle so I'd hopefully just need to tweak ;)

If he's reliable in traffic and the vet resolves the soundness issue so that he isn't going to break down the minute he looks at a 70cm jump then I'd be in the market - so I doubt you'll have an issue. If vet can't resolve the issue then you know you've given him your best shot.
 
SEL said:
I've got a spare saddle just waiting for a horse - and its a WOW saddle so I'd hopefully just need to tweak ;)

If he's reliable in traffic and the vet resolves the soundness issue so that he isn't going to break down the minute he looks at a 70cm jump then I'd be in the market - so I doubt you'll have an issue. If vet can't resolve the issue then you know you've given him your best shot.
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He is so damn good in traffic. When I moved to Gloucestershire for a bit and was riding and leading a lot on busy roads I would send him in front of Bog (riding Bog!) to lead past traffic ??

He’s popped a few things out hunting and I’ve jumped him on the lunge and he’s been great and bold.

Scan later today so I’ll update on here if we find anything :)
 
So there is a tiny tiny tiny “thing” on top of the suspensory branch. It’s so minor that my vet said he can’t even be sure it’s that so surgeon is going to review. But it does tie in with where he’s blocked. It basically looks like he’s banged it or knocked it, so the suspensory branch itself is good. Not a chronic type thing very much an unlucky injury.

Assuming surgeon agrees it’s this it’ll be 3 months box rest walk rehab (maybe less depending on future scan). I did ask if he could just be field rested but vet not keen, thinks the controlled walking is key and doesn’t want to risk him damaging it further etc.

It’s about as minor a soft tissue thing as you can get! So will rehab and then probably give him 3 further months walking or rest in the field just to really overdo the required rest and then sell or loan.

Good news for Bear. Bad news for me ?

poor guy. Here goes night 1.
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Only just caught up with thread. So sorry to hear about Bear. He will definitely find a home once sound though. Toby had huge interest to go and be a happy hacker.

I think we have been on fairly similar journeys- bought as a sale project when the main horse was injured, hugely fond of them but not set alight by them, promptly went wrong and cost ££££!

I have come to the conclusion that conscientious owners who investigate thoroughly and then disclose every last sneeze wont ever make any money buying and selling! But I had fun so dont regret it.

I totally get what you mean about the difference between the heart horse and the 'spare'. I think you are right to move him on when you can and am sure he'll find his happy ending where he's someone's main horse. X
 
Ambers Echo said:
Only just caught up with thread. So sorry to hear about Bear. He will definitely find a home once sound though. Toby had huge interest to go and be a happy hacker.

I think we have been on fairly similar journeys- bought as a sale project when the main horse was injured, hugely fond of them but not set alight by them, promptly went wrong and cost ££££!

I have come to the conclusion that conscientious owners who investigate thoroughly and then disclose every last sneeze wont ever make any money buying and selling! But I had fun so dont regret it.

I totally get what you mean about the difference between the heart horse and the 'spare'. I think you are right to move him on when you can and am sure he'll find his happy ending where he's someone's main horse. X
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Thanks AE, we've been on scarily similar journeys!

I could still bottle it, damn horse had his head in my arms whilst being scanned. Vet said he's one of the only horses he's happy to sit behind uin doped with an expensive scanner.

Such a good boy.
 
Wow what an ordeal you’ve been through! Glad you’ve gotten an answer and now have a plan. He is very handsome. I’m going through a little bit of the same, I hope our outcome is a minimal as yours ??
 
I was another who was going to say that someone would want him. I mean, I bought Rigsby! He had just finished 3 months of box rest for Lami, was ems+, COPD, stiff in his back legs....

He seems like a really sweet boy. If he had been available when I bought Rigsby, I would have had him like a shot!
 
Thanks Red! I feel much better about finding him a good home.

if I did sell, any idea what sort of price I should be asking? He will be rehabbed but not in full work, will be at the point ready to be in it if that makes sense so walk rehab all completed.
 
If you decide to sell I really would think long and hard about selling before he is in full work. Doing this will probably halve your market and knock a couple thousand off what you could get for him if you spend a bit more time getting him into full work.

He’s a really nice horse and I think you’d have a lot of potential buyers if he’s in full work, but many people would be put off buying a freshly rehabbed horse.
 
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