Should I sell him ..or not? Long & rambling!

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Lollii

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Aargghhh! I don't know wether to sell my horses or not ....help, what would you do?

I have had him a year and a half, he looked like everything I wanted when I brought him, tall, dark, sexy ISH :cool: I wanted a horse that could gallop around a xc course (I only do intro level) and hunt all day, so I brought him because he had hunted in Ireland then brought over here and jumping discovery sj'ing, I had a bit of trouble jumping him when I tried him as he was very keen but I thought we would gel eventually and he would teach me to jump bigger jumps.

Anyhoo .. he was trouble from the minute I got him home, wouldn't stand still while I got on him - I have sorted that now, clingy to other horses, he is really tense in the school, leaning and snatching at the bit, choppy trot, anticipating canter, cantering sideways and just leaning in canter so you can't really stop him, when he does slow down he falls in trot. I have had instructors try to help me with him and I have changed his bit lots of times, he has moments of being fab, but he never really gets any better :confused:

Then he started charging at the jumps after snatching the reins out of my hands and flying the jumps without really thinking about it, it all got a bit dangerous, I have tried doing grids with him, he is better but sometimes charges at them with his head on the floor :eek: so I have just been hacking him out, he is brilliant at that - good in traffic, walk, trots & canters along with others no problems at all.

So, I have advertised him at less money than I brought him for and I had no calls for a week, now I have someone coming on Sunday and I am worried that he will really show me up, I think he could really do with going to be re-schooled or something, maybe a selling livery but then I am paying out more money which I don't think I will get back. I also really love him, he was a bit mistrusting of people when I got him, but he adores me now, I suppose it is because he is a bit of a lost cause and I want to protect him. sorry but I thought writing it down may clear it up in my head ...... what would you do with him?
 
It sounds like he needs to be completely restarted with his jumping - taken back to the beginning and taught to how to jump again. Rushing at jumps is often due to a lack of confidence. Do you have lessons? perhaps starting him again with a good instructer could be the answer? Seems a shame to sell him if you love him and sounds as though you have made good progress in other areas.
 
sarahsum1 said:
Hi ya,
Would it be worth him sending him away for some schooling? :)
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Hi ya! I was thinking of that, but it would cost a fair bit I expect and I'm not I would get my money back. Maybe it is just the way he will always be.
This is him:
PaddiatSarahsFeb2010.jpg

And this is him after a jump :confused:
051.jpg

052.jpg
 
Well he looks gorgeous!!
I'm thinking if you send him away for some schooling then in the long run you will get your money back, as you will be able to sell him for more.
 
sarahsum1 said:
Well he looks gorgeous!!
I'm thinking if you send him away for some schooling then in the long run you will get your money back, as you will be able to sell him for more.
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Thanks Sarah, he is sexy! I have tried to take him back to basics, but it isn't what I really want to do, that is why I brought him (age 10) he just doesn't seem to get any better, each time I bring him out he is tense and we have to start from the beginning every time.

Maybe I should send him away, see what they say.
 
It's a tough one. Either send him away, or sell him maybe at a slight loss. If he is not what you want then maybe look for something else that is. Shame though as he is lovely. Horses can be such pains in the bums! :D x
 
if it's mainly his jumping attitude that makes you want to sell him then I would get him reschooled with someone whos approach you trust and get lessons with him too. If there are loads of things about him that you really don't get on with and this is just the straw that broke the camels back then I would sell. Though you may have to take a hit, just because he doesn't suit you doesn't mean he isn't the perfect horse for many people. You mention he is good hacking out - a sane, safe and sexy hack is the dream horse for many!
 
After checking the norms re saddling back teeth etc i would consider sending for schooling not for the purpose of selling but to get the horse you want yourself as you sound attached to him and loath to part with him. A few hundred quid may be worth it to get the horse you want.
 
Agree with Weezy, has he had a chiro and saddle fit.
I had a horse that did just the same, turned out his pelvis was out.

I would always eliminate the pain factor first, the feeding next and after that at least you can say it is the behaviour.
 
I totally understand where you are coming from. I have just sold my mare of 3 years and it was heartbreaking but i 100% feel i have done the right thing. She was a big 16.2 Shire X TB, moved beautifully and i wanted to do dressage. On a good day she was amazing, hold her own against any warmblood, on a bad day she would not even walk! She was sooooo tense she felt like she would explode at any point, canter was like the wall of death, pulled you out of the saddle etc. Now, i am a BHS AI so not a numpty. Anyway, spent 3 years with pro dressage lessons (hate to think what i spent!) to get to a point where good days where good but bad days horrid. there was more bad days then good. Have a great collection of all the top fancy expensive bits, balance saddles etc! After a heart breaking discussion with my trianer deceided that if i wanted to get somewhere with the whole compteing thing she was not the right horse. This upset me so much because she was the sweetest horse to look after, so loyal and loving.
Due to her difficult nature i struggled to sell her, advertised as not a novice ride, gets tense etc but had so many novices call me up/ come out and then wouldnt get on etc!! Anyway ended up selling her for £3000 less than what i paid to a lovely SJ home.
Sorry very long winded but what i am trying to say is sometimes it is better that they go. I am all for schooling and teaching horses to their full potential and am very stubborn, dont like giving up but as my girl prooved you can only do so much and spend so much. If you dont enjoy having them and every time you ride feels like a chore then perhaps its better to let them go. We should dont feel bad about losing money on a horse, i dont know why horsey people always want to make money on them. Sometimes you cant. Anyone who buys cars etc do not expect to sell for more than what you paid.
 
Thank you and everyone it is good to get other peoples opinions, I will have his back double checked I think, he had a lot of work done on his teeth, I really thought it was mouth pain, but it didn't change him and cost a fortune!

Maybe a 2nd opinion on a back check would be worth while.

Geezzy, I think yes, sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say enough is enough, I could have been having fun doing BE intro's this season (that was the plan with him) if I had brought the right horse, but I didn't so I am kind of stuck with him, but he was show jumped successfully before I had him so there is no reason someone who is experienced couldn't do that with him and do it really well, he has a huge pop in him.

I will see what these people say on Sunday that are looking at him, then ask a lady that I know to have him for a while and check him out.
 
I should have also said that i had my girls back done every 2 months, saddle checked reg, fed non heating food, hacked/jumped to give her time to destress etc, teeth done every 6months. I tried everything!!

Just remember why you ride and have horses in the first place. Most horsey people cant afford the luxury of a horse, we scrimp and save as its our passion and we would rather do without other things then be without a horse. But in return for your hard work, early mornings, being in your over draft all the time you do want to enjoy it! Selling your beloved friend however difficult they are is such a horriable decsion to come to but you also have to remember that he may go to someone who does enjoy him and doesnt mind his naughtiness, just like i found. Your problem might not be someones elses problem. Dont feel bad for giving up as it sounds like you have 100% tried your best. On one hand i am glad i had my girl as she did teach me so much (you always learn from every horse) but i also think i have wasted so much time and money on getting to that decsion! Good luck, hope it goes ok at the weekend.
 
Gezzy2910 said:
I totally understand where you are coming from. I have just sold my mare of 3 years and it was heartbreaking but i 100% feel i have done the right thing. She was a big 16.2 Shire X TB, moved beautifully and i wanted to do dressage. On a good day she was amazing, hold her own against any warmblood, on a bad day she would not even walk! She was sooooo tense she felt like she would explode at any point, canter was like the wall of death, pulled you out of the saddle etc. Now, i am a BHS AI so not a numpty. Anyway, spent 3 years with pro dressage lessons (hate to think what i spent!) to get to a point where good days where good but bad days horrid. there was more bad days then good. Have a great collection of all the top fancy expensive bits, balance saddles etc! After a heart breaking discussion with my trianer deceided that if i wanted to get somewhere with the whole compteing thing she was not the right horse. This upset me so much because she was the sweetest horse to look after, so loyal and loving.
Due to her difficult nature i struggled to sell her, advertised as not a novice ride, gets tense etc but had so many novices call me up/ come out and then wouldnt get on etc!! Anyway ended up selling her for £3000 less than what i paid to a lovely SJ home.
Sorry very long winded but what i am trying to say is sometimes it is better that they go. I am all for schooling and teaching horses to their full potential and am very stubborn, dont like giving up but as my girl prooved you can only do so much and spend so much. If you dont enjoy having them and every time you ride feels like a chore then perhaps its better to let them go. We should dont feel bad about losing money on a horse, i dont know why horsey people always want to make money on them. Sometimes you cant. Anyone who buys cars etc do not expect to sell for more than what you paid.
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what a really good honest post... and I wholey understand, as my warmblood was exactly the same, taught me alot, but would never go the competiting way I wanted to, due to him having a few health issues I have put him on a long rest, over summer, lucky for me I have enough space for a few, and now have an adorable id xthbred that I bought as a broodmare, who is proving to be exactly the competition horse that I have always dreamed of.. and I enjoy riding her 10 xs more than my warmblood... so I totally agree, sometimes, hard decisions have to be made if you want to enjoy your hobby.
 
If he was mine, i would send him to a jumping yard to be schooled for a few weeks.
I know how u feel i sent my mare to a local guy to me to re-train jumping as she was running off with me at the jumps going sideways etc. After 2-3 weeks i got her back a different horse.

For the sake of £300 its worth a go as you might get the horse you wanted back. If it doesnt work then you never know if you pick the right person to send him to they might sell him for you and have him.

Good luck:)
 
OK, this would be my thoughts for what they are worth.

Whenever you buy a horse it is a financial gamble and I always think if you are a decent person you have to be prepared to loose money and move on. Also, whatever you do, you have to live with your decision ... my pony was sold 30 years ago and still know in my heart it probably went on the first meat lorry to France (I was only 12 at the time) and I still really regret it.

So, I would send it to schooling livery, he looks lovely and there is a good chance you probably will get your money back. But I would ask it you could have some involvement (ie go and watch, sit on it again, ask them why & what they are doing etc) then at least you would learn a lot from the experience ... and experience is worth everything!! Oh, and meet the new owners (how nice if they kept in touch and the horse turns out well.)

Lastly, bearing in mind the horse is not easy, I think you look as if you are doing a really great job!
 
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