Should I move my spooky horse on?

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Tabs

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Hi there

It grieves me to be posting this.
I bought my 13 year old a horse that I felt was too young. I know I know! even saying it makes me feel so dumb. You see I left the buying of the horse up to her instructor of 6 years and she insisted that there would be full guidance and help on training him. I said he was too young and oh whatever, no excuse I still bought him.

Thing is we never got any help and were dropped like a hot cake as the instructor was taken away on different things the instructor was interested in and so this left us high and dry.

He is a lovely horse and beautiful temperament and is so honest But, he is very spooky and is knocking my daughter's confidence. She rides him everyday and is really trying but anything at all and it unnerves him, he doesnt necessarily bolt because he is good enough to listen to you, but its more often than not.

I rode him several times and he is very shaky undersaddle, its almost like we beat him! He even tries to run off in fear when she gets on him. She never carries a whip and is a very light handed little rider too. We love him and have been very gentle with him.

I put him out on grass and took his feed off him to see if that would help, too soon to say if its working, and I did wonder if his shaking was coming from a place of pain but hes just had a 5 stage vet check and other people say he seems fine. He does however hold his take to the left and favours the left leg alot but we put that down to bad training.

Not sure if we should perservere or move him on. Just a wee bit of advice would be great no matter how cutting, i care about my horse alot, but my daughter is the main priority here. AND I am not at that place anymore, we found somewhere really lovely with lots of help.
Cheers
 
I am not sure what your question is as to me it sounds as if you have moved to a new yard where there is help and you have not yet given it a chance to see if that makes a difference, to me it sounds as if the horse is very green, possibly not had the best start and could have a physical issue as well, a vetting will not rule that out as it only covers the basics.
I would get a good instructor involved, have everything checked again, teeth, saddle, a vet to give him an assessment and probably a physio afterwards to double check him as they pick up on muscular issues that can be missed, he may well have a sore back if he is uncomfortable when ridden.
If you find nothing then the next suggestion would be to get the instructor to school him on for a couple of weeks alongside giving your daughter lessons, if after all that you are getting no further then look to selling but from what you say it is not a lost cause yet, you just need to go back a step to where you would have been if the first instructor had helped, the only exception would be if her real reason for abandoning you was because she realised she had found you a totally unsuitable horse and was too embarrassed to admit it.
 
Is it a welsh sec D by any chance?

Agree about the new yard - how long have you had him? How spooky was he when you tried him out??

When I had a very spooky horse like this, we persevered by doing tiny tiny baby steps with everything - e.g. sometimes in-hand walks, sometimes tacking up and not riding - but never expecting too much, so he'd get it "right" every time. However, that's less fun if you're 13! So depends what you/your daughter is looking for. You could do things like getting your daughter to play around with some easy agility with him to begin with so they learn about eachother - he needs to get used to you both as well as you learning to trust him.
 
This resonates with me a bit, one of my horses would become what you describe so easily, I have let other people on her and if they are not super confident and quiet at the moments she spooks or are a little unbalanced or strong she turns into a very stressed, shaking mess and would take off with people. For me and my instructor she is amazing, I can go anywhere and feel totally safe but I know she would be what you are describing within a couple of days if I sold her to the wrong home.
I do not feel that if she was with someone she didn't get on with it would get better over time, I think it would get worse to the point she would probably end up labelled as dangerous and could possible hurt someone just through fear not because she is ever nasty. I certainly wouldn't sell her to a 13yr old, I just wouldn't be sure they had the confidence/experience.
If he is healthy and ok you either need to find a quality quiet rider ideally of similar stature to your daughter that he feels safe with that can help him build confidence and help your daughter get there with him over some time or sell him and get her something a bit more fun and safe, for me it would have to be the latter.
 
I have had something similar. My horse is really spooky and it often turns into a spin and a rear, he's had everything checked and isn't pain related. He really picks up on my nerves and starts playing up and spooking when I'm nervous, in the past I have also had confidence so he's probably wondering why I'm a nervous wreck on him!
Cutting a long story short after persevering for 2 years, I have finally decided that I need something to have fun on and get my confidence back. My new horse is coming soon, so can't tell you if its been the right decision, but I've found my horse the perfect home and it felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders!
Good luck
 
A few years ago I bought my daughter - same age as yours - a 6 year old gelding from a Pony Club contact and he was fabulous with adults but seriously dented daughters confidence by bucking and not listening to her on ground or being ridden. I kept him for 18 months - had experienced instructors to work with them both but they didnt build a partnership so I sold him and bought a proper schoolmaster. Only you know if you have given him enough time and input but cut your losses if daughter not "feeling it" for her pony as the attachment grows and makes selling harder the longer you wait.
 
I've been where you are. One of my mare's massive spooks dumped me on the ground once. But we investigated and found she had incredibly painful ulcers which obviously we treated (and continue to treat) and she was v hormonal. My horse was gifted to me so I didn't want to give up on her. I had lots of lessons, took away the pain, and changed my own attitude and she's now my horse of a lifetime. I had to toughen up, and build up a relationship so that she trusted me. It's been hard going at times, but been worth it.
 
Thank you for your replies they are very much appreciated. I have just put my connie on grass and have cut his haylage but I might give him a handful of chaff to mix with some calmer and see how he fairs. We are very much loving him and are very willing to persevere for a while longer. I have spoken to many people who have had the same problem with horses over the years, at the yard and we are getting great encouragement. My daughter is determined to school him out of it and with lots of help, I am sure we will be ok. Cheers everyone for the helpful feedback xxx
 
Tabs said:
Thank you for your replies they are very much appreciated. I have just put my connie on grass and have cut his haylage but I might give him a handful of chaff to mix with some calmer and see how he fairs. We are very much loving him and are very willing to persevere for a while longer. I have spoken to many people who have had the same problem with horses over the years, at the yard and we are getting great encouragement. My daughter is determined to school him out of it and with lots of help, I am sure we will be ok. Cheers everyone for the helpful feedback xxx
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Have you considered ulcers as mine is incredibly spooky when her tummy is playing up. I would get him scoped. Do you feed a scoop of chaff before you ride (it helps) ? Haylage might not be the best thing (aggravates ulcers). Possible magnesium deficiency? Is he fed any alfalfa (it's hidden in an awful lot of feeds and supplements) and if so is he intolerant to it (mine is) ?
There can literally be a million causes of the spookiness (consider the rider too - could be anticipating it) and once you get to the bottom if it, your pony will love you forever :-)
 
Loads of replies of folk who have been where you are OP. And I'll add to that. I bought my daughter a young ISH to bring on and we had very similar issues. If they can work through it then it can be a partnership what both will benefit massively from. We kept ours 4 years and both learned massively from one another. He was a Junior BS pony so has now moved on to continue his competitive career which he was far too good not to do. You seem willing to give it a go and the summer is a good opportunity. Personally I think a mix of professional schooling and good quality lessons for her work best. But absolutely do all you can to rule out pain. If nothing has changed by the end of the summer then think again.
 
Shay said:
Loads of replies of folk who have been where you are OP. And I'll add to that. I bought my daughter a young ISH to bring on and we had very similar issues. If they can work through it then it can be a partnership what both will benefit massively from. We kept ours 4 years and both learned massively from one another. He was a Junior BS pony so has now moved on to continue his competitive career which he was far too good not to do. You seem willing to give it a go and the summer is a good opportunity. Personally I think a mix of professional schooling and good quality lessons for her work best. But absolutely do all you can to rule out pain. If nothing has changed by the end of the summer then think again.
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Thank you so much for your reply. When out in the arena with my daughter riding I consistently said to her, Im not sure what is wrong but he is not a happy horse at all!! I just did not want to give up, especially when we have such a gentleman of a horse, soooo...I went over his tack with a fine tooth comb and checked his back and feet. However, I ran my fingers along the inside of his mouth and ..... there it is .. a big crack . His happymouth bit has been catching and cutting his mouth. It was bought by her old instructor and I never questioned it, so stupid of me.

Since discovering this, We have only lunged him or put him in the walker, and will continue to do so until his mouth is completely healed. So of course the poor soul was dreading being ridden. We are very pleased to be able to eliminate this terrible thing and move forward! I had a physio check him over and she says he is brill but the crack in the mouth will be very painful. Considering it, he was a complete angel for putting up with it!!
I will always be attentive to him, because I want him and my daughter to have a great and happy relationship!!
 
Oh wow. It just goes to show. Well done for finding it. Poor lad. Hopefully when he heals you can get going again with him. He'll remember the pain of course - it takes ages for them to forget. But now he has a chance!
 
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