Should I send him away?

[Carlosmum]

Bit if background... 6 yr old pony gelding, I've owned since Sept 2022, bought out of the field but was told he had been backed but not ridden away. Spent last autumn on ground work and a little quiet riding round the arena. He bucked me off twice, both times I can give him the benefit of the doubt. Just after Christmas I had arranged for him to go away to a local trainer to ride him on a bit. Then I had an accident ( not horse related) and needed a total hip replacement, and he was sent away to stay at my family's yard. Whilst there he was 'backed' again, but then not ridden on. Fast forward to the end of the summer I was fit enough to have him at home, so once again we did lots of in hand work, whilst i got riding again on more experienced/quieter horses.

Now I feel ready to get back on him, but I am very wary of his ability to buck and don't want to injure myself. I feel I need professional help, to get him going but the help I have found would involve him going to stay at livery rather than have someone come to us here. I am concerned that sending him away again will be stressful for him, he has been moved from pillar to post in his short life. What would you do? Carry on trying to find someone who could work with me here at home or bundle him away 30/40 miles where I wouldn't get to work with him every day and would have to put my trust completely in someone else.
This feels worse than when I sent my children to boarding school!

 

[Squeak]

How did he cope when he went to your family's yard? Unless he was really upset by it I'd be inclined to send him to a professional so that they can get him going and then help you get going on him too.

If you could find someone to come to yours that would be ideal but I can imagine it might be quite hard due to having to be there a few times a week.

 

[millitiger]

I'd send him away personally.

I find the people who are very good with young and green horses, don't do home visits.
The person on the floor is as important as the jockey so anyone who values their neck, tends to take them onto their own yard

Just make sure you choose somewhere you can go and ride numerous times before you bring him home.

 

[Cortez]

Going away is part of the life of any horse that's ever going to compete, go to clinics, go on a beach ride, go to the vet's, change homes, whatever. So ultimately he'll have to get used to it, and I'd deffo send him off to get some proper grown up training under his belt before you get on board.

P.S. It's not all that common for horses to buck when being backed, or not here in my yard at any rate.

 

[Goldenstar]

Tbh in my experience that young horses who buck more often than not stay a little unreliable.
I would definitely send him away and I would wondering if he’s the one for you now.
You need to minimise the risk of falling you need to avoid breaking the implants or your femur .
I sold one who had bit of buck nice horse but not for a lady with two replaced hips.

 

[ycbm]

P.S. It's not all that common for horses to buck when being backed, or not here in my yard at any rate

This. The myth that it is common is encouraged by some pros who are paid for backing horses.

That said, it can also be easier to back them when they are not so confident because they are away from home.

I backed a mare for a friend and she didn't put a foot wrong. The owner came to watch me ride her and she bucked me off. At home, she had got away with all sorts that I would not have tolerated and her cockiness went through the roof just on hearing her owner's voice.
.

 

[#jackofallmasterofnone]

+1 for sending away. The riding away is the bit for me where you really want to set up for success. He’s had you off twice during this bit so I think sending to a pro in this area can only be a good thing. While you will miss being involved and doing your daily ground work etc a few weeks in the context of hopefully the next 20+ years is nothing really.