Sensible advice/suggestions for this lads future please.

lindsayH

lindsayH

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Clyde is a rising 7 16.1hh gelding and I'm not sure what to do with him. I've had him since he was 2 and a half. He is unridable due to extreme trust issues after a bodged backing by a well known local professional aged 4 (the horse, not the trainer!). After a string of disasters last year I'm losing my house and land and have to drastically cut down on horse numbers and really think this guy needs to go. He lunges and long reins nicely, would pass a vetting and has regulaly had the dentist and physio. He wouldn't show in hand any higher than local level as he has tiny splints on both front legs (from before I got him). What on earth do I do with him? He is a classic case for being passed from pillar to post as he's pretty and sound. I would rather have him shot than risk that happening. My local natural horsemanship guy has assesed him and thinks he can back him but I'm not so sure. This would cost £180 a week (for an unknown length of time) and finances are limited. If it worked than I'd recoup it by selling him but if not I'd be in the same situation only minus my pitiful savings! He'd make a rubbish companion as he's big and nervous and anyway, I've heard too many stories about companion homes. Someone would be bound to try and get on him at some point. Any ideas?

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Actually, I hadn't thought of that. Might not be such a bad idea. He's a bit of a nut job, jumps out of his skin if you move too quickly, but good in traffic. Food for thought, thank you...
 
Could you offer him to the natural horsemanship guy (if you would only PTS to stop him being passed arounf) with a deal that if he doesnt get backed then he PTS or keeps him? A written contract or something? Does seeem a long shot but just a thought?
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I know, isn't it! And you should see him move, WOW! I haven't got on him for a couple of years now as I have been on my own with no help. Traditionally, you can get on but the minute you move off, or shortly afterwards, he broncs like a rodeo horse (very impressive to watch). I thought I was doing the right thing getting in a professional, but I think he really rushed him. He was always a nervous horse as he was totally unhandled until I got him.
 
Snowysadude (great name btw), I had been thinking about this. I don't think he'd take him as he's got 3 he's been trying to sell for ages. I think it's worth asking though.
 
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I know, isn't it! And you should see him move, WOW! I haven't got on him for a couple of years now as I have been on my own with no help. Traditionally, you can get on but the minute you move off, or shortly afterwards, he broncs like a rodeo horse (very impressive to watch). I thought I was doing the right thing getting in a professional, but I think he really rushed him. He was always a nervous horse as he was totally unhandled until I got him.

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I had a warmblood that was like this for about two months after breaking. No bad experiences, I backed him myself - he was just "that way out" and of a very nervous disposition. I have no idea how I stayed on him during most of his episodes. He did get over it... eventually.

Just a thought - it seems a waste as he's gorgeous!
 
Would you consider getting someone to work with him to try to build his confidence at a place that would cost less than £180 a week?
 
I dont have any particularly helpful suggestions other than my observations (I dont have any room for a project horse and OH might just have words - tho VERY SORELY tempted!)

To me he looks like he is unbalanced and ungrounded - very likely if he has had a traumatic start to his working career. He has got a nice uncomplicated face so in the right hands and given loads of time I am sure he would have a lovely ridden career.

I will ask around. What is your timescale for finding a good home for him?
 
Yes, I do think a lot of it is down to his personality. The unhandled until 2 and a half thing is a poor excuse really, I've had untouched 3 year old welshies that were hacking out in a couple of months.

Equitune, I'd consider anything, just have trust issues of my own after the last guy! Every penny I spend on him is taken away from the rest of them. Obviously worth it if it secures him a future but a bit of a disaster if it all goes pear shaped!
 
Thanks CF. Funnily enough, the NH guy said the same thing. He's confused and unbalanced but very honest and straightforward in some ways. The scary thing is how fast he goes from standing there like a donkey to exploding into space. You don't get a lot of warning. The timescale partly depends on other factors such as when I have one of the others PTS :-( and if my landlord manages to put my house back together after last weeks flooding disaster! I should be here until the end of april, so probably then.
 
Is he registered? Some of the people on BAPS website may show an interest. Do you know his breeding etc, it may be that someone would know of quirks in the family and how they were dealt with. Our old Appy mare would put herself 'in charge' if she was nervouse, came across as bolshy. The current appy mare could spook for England, although they both had courage in bucketsful in some situations. They are wonderful horses but do need very confident, firm handling, lots of attention and mine have been one person horses.
Hope you find a solution as he is rather good looking
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have you tried Ian Waite (apologies if you have already). I don't know him very well, but have seen him work his magic on a few rude stroppy horses at my old yard, and he really is quite amazing.
 
I know a natural horseman type who I trust implicitly, would trust him with any of my lot. He doesn't charge that amount
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His name is Mickey Gavin. PM me if you want his number - he might be able/willing to come to some arrangement with you.
 
No, YorksG, I don't know his breeding sadly. When I bought him I was told he was appy/holstein, but then his passport also said he was a mare so who knows!!! Weirdly, I would actually describe Clyde as quite un-spooky. He is scared of people but not too bad with anything else. Def a one person horse though, which is part of the problem as I haven't had the time to give him the one-on-one he needs for some time. Some interesting ideas here which I will be following up, more welcome if you can think of anything!
 
The old Appy wasn't spooky, but was scared witless of big vehicles on narrow roads (would spin and leg it
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) She was bought for my sister and I to share, 18 months after we got her we bought another mare (welshxTb) also to share. The first time we rode them out together they were fine, the next time we swapped riders, with sister riding the Appy, half way round we changed horses, as the Appy was behaving so badly she was upsetting the new one and we thought it might help, it did and I remained hers for over 20 years! I also one day rode my dad's little welsh driving pony in sight of the Appy, when we put the pony back in the field the Appy grabbed her by the neck and dragged her round the field
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fortunately there was no lasting damage, but it was the only time she turned on the pony and they co-existed peacefully the rest of the time.The current appy mare was better brought up and is much better mannered, but is still very much mine (or I am hers!) She is spooky but traffic proof, so much so that she has almost no regard for cars! She will spook out into the path of cars if my outside leg is not on sufficiently when a spook happens!
 
He's a lovely looking horse. Would you consider/have you anywhere or the resources to just fling him out in a field for a year, preferably with you/someone just boringly bringing him in in the evening, bit of a groom, pick feet out, bit of low level feed, throw out again with others, give him the chance to just be a horse with his place in the herd and then consider starting again with one or other of the suggested trainers? You say he would make a rubbish companion, but that's not the same as being in a group and finding where he stands - it may be bottom of the pile! His picture looks as if he's sort of raising an eyebrow in surprise, but doesn't look evil.

I still have a horse who I have had since he was 3 and he is now 18 who everyone said should be put down due to similar issues. Thanks to wonderful loaners who didn't see his issues as much of a problem and just got on with it, he is now pretty much as safe as you get, does elementary dressage amongst other things and has been a loan horse at a university for the past 4 years until he developed low level unsoundness - you'd never guess if you saw him haring around the field! At one time you could not have paid me enough to get on him but now I don't have any qualms about getting on him. There were times when we couldn't really afford to keep him and this is where my life saving loaners came in. I still keep in touch with them as we have the horse in common.

Hope you can find a solution.
 
What a beautiful horse.

Good luck in finding him a good and understanding home.
There are lots of genuine horse lovers out there that are able to provide a home for life, you will find one x
 
Thank you Cariad/Missyme. He has been turned away now for well over a year and for a couple of years before that he only did the occasional bit of lunging/long reining. He is very much boss in the field, unless the stallion is out with them which I think he likes as the pressure of leadership gets to him! He definately isn't evil, would never kick or bite. More like a scared BIG puppy!
 
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Actually, I hadn't thought of that. Might not be such a bad idea. He's a bit of a nut job, jumps out of his skin if you move too quickly, but good in traffic. Food for thought, thank you...

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And what happens if you KEEP moving too quickly - does he KEEP jumping out of his skin? Do you tend to move very quietly around him to avoid frightening him? Do you know what the 'professional' DID when he tried to back him - or what he SAID the horse did?

99 out of 100 of these 'unbreakable' horses can be turned around (we've sorted a number of them and not had a failure yet - funnily enough, most have been sent home as 'unbreakable' by NH trainers - but not until after a big bill has been run up!
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) Part of the problem is that they LEARN that if they don't like something, people stop doing it. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

If he CAN'T be turned around, then he'd be better PTS - but he's a good looking horse and deserves a chance. Whereabouts in the country are you?
 
Oh god... *i canot afford another horse...i cannot afford another horse....i cannot afford another horse*

If i could.. id have him in a shot. He is most definitely, outstandingly stunning.

Sorry that wasnt constructive in any way shape or form, i just thought id express how beautiful he was...im a sucker for a spotty
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Thanks once again for your message Janet, can I just put you on speedial please?!

Yes, depending on the situation he keeps jumping out of his skin, his priority being getting as far away as possible. Although, this is more from memory as for quite some time now I've only caught him in for the farrier, quick groom etc. I'm not especially quiet around him, if anything I have a tendancy to forget what he's like and treat him like one of the others. To my cost occasionally. I know exactly what the 'professional' did, I was there at all times. I felt at the time that things weren't right, but to be honest, I was slightly intimidated by him and his reputation. Yes, it's the big bill thing that worries me! As you know, I have a mare in foal who is my priority at the moment. But how do you know who to trust? I went for a very 'traditional' trainer and that went wrong so had considered the NH route. I genuinely don't know what's best. Clyde has absolutely learned that people sit on your back, you bronc like a rodeo horse, and they're off again! He learnt this the very first time the guy got on! I agree on the PTS front, I hope it won't come to that but I'll do that before selling him on without a job to do. As I said in my original post, he is CLASSIC pillar to post material. I'm herts/beds border x
 
Hun, will keep my fingers crossed for him (and you).

Our discussions - one of the things I like about MG is that he works the horses to be comfortable in our world. I'm not namby-pamby in my approach and can't be doing with anyone that is
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, so was a bit wary when I heard about him. Was pleasantly surprised when I saw him in action
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Thanks once again for your message Janet, can I just put you on speedial please?!

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Feel free!
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I know exactly what the 'professional' did, I was there at all times. I felt at the time that things weren't right, but to be honest, I was slightly intimidated by him and his reputation.

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If you don't want to outline what he did here, would you like to PM me. Would give me a better idea of WHY he is as he is - and how easy/difficult he would be to bring back. There are quite a few BIG name professionals that I wouldn't trust to teach a cat to drink milk! What stuns me is that they manage to say in business!
 
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