Should I sell?

[Fizzletheequineew]

Hey guys, I have your pretty average story here. My horse, Fizzle, he is my first horse. I have had him for about 2 or three years, he is 15 (My mother used to own a lot of horses so we are not idiots or new to owning them, but all of her horses passed on before I was born.) We got him kinda cheap from a friend, he was originally just a trail horse. It is all he had ever done, at first he was perfect. But then his insecurities and problems started to appear, he is very barn/buddy sour and nothing we do makes him chill or listen. He is very spooky and nervous on his own but is a amazing trail horse with other horses. My own momther does not want to get on him anymore, and I am a semi green rider as well, see the problem.
He will do anything cross water/hop logs/climb steep hills, but only with other horses. We can not afford two full sized horses, but we did get a miniature to calm him down some. The miniature helped his confidence but now he is worse about barn sourness. Now days(due to my own fault and inexperience, not his) he has developed a habit of crow hopping or spinning on a dime when I want him to go anywhere without anyother horse. Once again, he is perfect with others. I have lost all of my confidence around him and doing things with him is now a chore sadly. I have already fallen multiple times(once breaking my wrist entirely, at least I have learned to sit a buck!) I am not nervous around other horses but with Fizzle I always have to be ready for something. I am sorry, I know I am being whiney. He would be the perfect horse for someone who wants at buddy horse/ trail horse and in the right hands he could go far. Sorry this was so long, what should I do..

 

[EllenJay]

It sounds like you would have problems selling him as he currently is.

You need to get a good instructor to help you work through his problems

 

[Fizzletheequineew]

I wish I could, the trainers where I am are incredibly expensive. If I even did how do I know he would act better with me than the trainer. Sorry if I sound like a whinny person, but I know that neither one of us are happy.

 

[ycbm]

What country are you in Fizzle? It doesn't sound like it's the UK so most of us will have trouble knowing what the situation would be like where you are to sell a horse like him.

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[Fizzletheequineew]

What country are you in Fizzle? It doesn't sound like it's the UK so most of us will have trouble knowing what the situation would be like where you are to sell a horse like him.

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I am in the US, this forum is the only good one I could find

 

[JackFrost]

My opinion - Sell him. He could be a great horse in a different home, he is just not the right one in yours.
Be honest and clear with buyers, and make sure he goes to knowledgeable and experienced people who understand the issue and can guarantee him the ridden companions he needs.
Trying to 'fix' him might be a matter of trying to change his personality. Do not look on a decision to sell as a failure, either on his part or yours. Do the right thing by him, and look for a home that will make him happy.

 

[Gloi]

If he is good going out with others how about trying taking out his little mate with you on a lead rein.

 

[ycbm]

Your situation is very different from what most of us have, and varies depending where in that big place you are.

Is there a market for a horse like him? Would he sell if you put him out there?

If so, i think you should sell.

 

[ycbm]

I think a lot of US people are on Chronicle of the Horse forum, they might have better ideas as to your options.

Stay here too, though, it's a good place

 

[PeterNatt]

I would definitely sell your horse and then if you want another one find a nice steady one that will merrily go out by itself. Good luck!

 

[Fizzletheequineew]

If he is good going out with others how about trying taking out his little mate with you on a lead rein.

The little guy has a misinformed back leg sadly so he can't go as fast as Fizzle wants to

 

[Fizzletheequineew]

My opinion - Sell him. He could be a great horse in a different home, he is just not the right one in yours.
Be honest and clear with buyers, and make sure he goes to knowledgeable and experienced people who understand the issue and can guarantee him the ridden companions he needs.
Trying to 'fix' him might be a matter of trying to change his personality. Do not look on a decision to sell as a failure, either on his part or yours. Do the right thing by him, and look for a home that will make him happy.

I feel the same way, and he has such an amazing personality.

 

[Upthecreek]

He needs to go back to being a trail horse so you are better of selling him to a home that can offer him that. Unfortunately sometimes horses just don’t adapt and settle to a different kind of life and it sounds like that is the problem you have. You need a horse that is already doing what you want to do with him and kept in a similar environment.

 

[Fizzletheequineew]

He needs to go back to being a trail horse so you are better of selling him to a home that can offer him that. Unfortunately sometimes horses just don’t adapt and settle to a different kind of life and it sounds like that is the problem you have. You need a horse that is already doing what you want to do with him and kept in a similar environment.

Yea I think I will spend time trail riding him and making sure he is good on the trail if I sell

 

[JackFrost]

I feel the same way, and he has such an amazing personality.

I'll bet there is someone out there desperately seeking a horse like him. Square pegs and round holes. Horses for courses. Loads of people never ride on their own, and loads of people want a good trail horse.

 

[Gloi]

The little guy has a misinformed back leg sadly so he can't go as fast as Fizzle wants to

That's a shame

 

[Jellymoon]

If he’s perfect in company, then a home where there are always other horses to ride with would be good. Maybe a trail riding centre? You could always loan him, is that common in the US?

 

[Winters100]

Would it be possible to keep him with the friend who sold him to you? Presumably they have other horses. Or keep him at a yard where there are others to ride with? If you could get him settled somewhere he might be easier to sell.

 

[oldie48]

Sell with full disclosure. Many years ago I was in a similar situation and a move to our own yard with just one other horse really exacerbated the problem. Mine was sold to someone who kept him on a big pro yard, he was surrounded by lots of other horses, got hacked out in company and I saw him out and about twice. Once he was hunting with the blood hounds and the second time he was doing a pairs hunter trials and he was a very happy horse and his owner was happy too as in company he was just a real gent.