Olas11
Member
Hi all,
I've been a lurker on this forum for over 10 years now and am looking for some advice please as i'm feeling at a crossroads.
So i've recently started loaning an absolutely wonderful horse (first time loaning as an adult but have done lots of shares and part loans as a teen). I am currently saving up for my own and aim to buy my own within the next 2 years. Everything about this loan is perfect for me in principle - the horse is forgiving, non-spooky, good jumper, decently schooled on the flat, perfect size and age and just a joy to ride. He is a little bolshy on the ground but nothing nasty - he has already taught me so much in the 2.5 months i've been loaning him. I have him 2-3 days per week, yard is located 20 mins from me, great facilities and horse is on full livery so zero yard duties - it's literally a dream situation for me and I couldn't believe my luck at the beginning. Able to compete and have lessons on him if I wish. it's the perfect situation for me in the lead up to owning my first horse.
But, there are a few issues which have cropped up which i'm not sure I should ignore. Mainly, my concerns relate to the horse's welfare.
Bit of context - owner is younger than me (17 or 18), mainly likes to jump him, and whilst she undeniably adores him, she likes to tank about and pushes him and her limits regularly. Horse is fully paid for by her parents, she doesn't have a job/isn't financially independent.
1. The saddle doesn't fit. It is too long for him, and saddle and pad slips back during riding. The only way it doesn't slip back during riding is if it is placed too far forward on the horse. NB This is a new saddle; the previous saddle which was on him when I first started loaning him was broken (girth straps) and was dangerous to ride in and the only reason a new saddle was bought was because I expressed my concern about mine/our/the horse's safety. Owner has no interest in changing the current saddle and has stated that saddler has told her no saddle will fit her horse as his back is ''too long'', and she believes he goes well in current saddle.
2. Horse has started to develop issues under saddle - namely, he is very heavy on the forehand in downward transitions, his head flies up in trot-canter transitions, and he has started tripping in walk, trot-canter transitions, and in canter. Owner is currently out of riding for a month due to falling off him when he tripped in walk at the weekend. I'm not sure whether issues are due to the saddle, or whether there is an underlying issue with leg/hoof since owner has mentioned intermittent heat in his back left hoof (vet not been out to see him and she has no intention of calling vet out).
3. Owner is defensive if any issues are raised - when I *gently* mentioned the first saddle being dangerous and hinted at her getting another one, the response was "you can stop loaning him if you want". However, she did then buy a new saddle the following week.
Should I persevere? My heart is saying yes - it is SO hard to find a horse on loan at the moment, and everything about this situation was perfect until I realised the owner's attitude towards her horse's welfare. Do I stick around and try my best to guide owner towards right decisions? Or do I say nothing and continue riding? Do I walk away? I'm so torn and any advice / similar experiences would be really really helpful. I know that ultimately only I can make this decision, but hoping some words of wisdom could steer me in the right direction. I don't want to cause this horse discomfort by riding him in ill-fitted tack - so much so that i've started to opt to just groom him rather than ride on my loan days, as I feel guilty that he has something going on which is being ignored. I also feel like if I walk away, the poor horse will not have any days where he is not tanked about with ill-fitting tack.
Please let me know your thoughts.
I've been a lurker on this forum for over 10 years now and am looking for some advice please as i'm feeling at a crossroads.
So i've recently started loaning an absolutely wonderful horse (first time loaning as an adult but have done lots of shares and part loans as a teen). I am currently saving up for my own and aim to buy my own within the next 2 years. Everything about this loan is perfect for me in principle - the horse is forgiving, non-spooky, good jumper, decently schooled on the flat, perfect size and age and just a joy to ride. He is a little bolshy on the ground but nothing nasty - he has already taught me so much in the 2.5 months i've been loaning him. I have him 2-3 days per week, yard is located 20 mins from me, great facilities and horse is on full livery so zero yard duties - it's literally a dream situation for me and I couldn't believe my luck at the beginning. Able to compete and have lessons on him if I wish. it's the perfect situation for me in the lead up to owning my first horse.
But, there are a few issues which have cropped up which i'm not sure I should ignore. Mainly, my concerns relate to the horse's welfare.
Bit of context - owner is younger than me (17 or 18), mainly likes to jump him, and whilst she undeniably adores him, she likes to tank about and pushes him and her limits regularly. Horse is fully paid for by her parents, she doesn't have a job/isn't financially independent.
1. The saddle doesn't fit. It is too long for him, and saddle and pad slips back during riding. The only way it doesn't slip back during riding is if it is placed too far forward on the horse. NB This is a new saddle; the previous saddle which was on him when I first started loaning him was broken (girth straps) and was dangerous to ride in and the only reason a new saddle was bought was because I expressed my concern about mine/our/the horse's safety. Owner has no interest in changing the current saddle and has stated that saddler has told her no saddle will fit her horse as his back is ''too long'', and she believes he goes well in current saddle.
2. Horse has started to develop issues under saddle - namely, he is very heavy on the forehand in downward transitions, his head flies up in trot-canter transitions, and he has started tripping in walk, trot-canter transitions, and in canter. Owner is currently out of riding for a month due to falling off him when he tripped in walk at the weekend. I'm not sure whether issues are due to the saddle, or whether there is an underlying issue with leg/hoof since owner has mentioned intermittent heat in his back left hoof (vet not been out to see him and she has no intention of calling vet out).
3. Owner is defensive if any issues are raised - when I *gently* mentioned the first saddle being dangerous and hinted at her getting another one, the response was "you can stop loaning him if you want". However, she did then buy a new saddle the following week.
Should I persevere? My heart is saying yes - it is SO hard to find a horse on loan at the moment, and everything about this situation was perfect until I realised the owner's attitude towards her horse's welfare. Do I stick around and try my best to guide owner towards right decisions? Or do I say nothing and continue riding? Do I walk away? I'm so torn and any advice / similar experiences would be really really helpful. I know that ultimately only I can make this decision, but hoping some words of wisdom could steer me in the right direction. I don't want to cause this horse discomfort by riding him in ill-fitted tack - so much so that i've started to opt to just groom him rather than ride on my loan days, as I feel guilty that he has something going on which is being ignored. I also feel like if I walk away, the poor horse will not have any days where he is not tanked about with ill-fitting tack.
Please let me know your thoughts.