There was an angel

katastrophykat

katastrophykat

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On my welshy's shoulder last night as he dumped me (third time in two years) panicked and ran home. Three miles home, and across a 60mph road in rush hour on a blind bend. All I (and the friend that went after him on her horse) could do was to turn away and wait for 'that' noise. The little angel clearly did its job and he was collected at the yard gate waiting to come in. When I got back to the yard, I did have a sit on him in the school, confidence is fine but common sense has kicked in... What about next time?? As there will be a next time.

So here's the facts- i have had said pony three years In September. He is my driving trials pony. I deliberately went for a ride and drive as we are just out of town, and have a lot of off road riding, very little off road carriage driving. To keep pony fit for trials I usually (mid season) ride him ten miles three times a week, and drive him the other three days. However. All the rides- although mostly off road- at least cross the main roads, many on blind bends and people do stick to the speed limit- ie 60... And when I'm up to five miles away, if he does do his mega huge spooky-thing like he did yesterday there is no way of staying on then once off he panics and runs. There is no chance of holding the reins- I've tried that!

I've always said I will give pony a home for life, but am now thinking that he only acts like an arse under saddle- he's never done anything under harness- possibly due to the blinkers (he has a pre-existing eye condition that means he has some blind spots and is better in blinkers as his vision is narrowed anyway) and I'm wondering if a pure driver would be the better home for him. As it is, I'm a bit smashed up And in quit a bit of pain from yesterday as well- friend confirms that I was positively gymnast-like as I somersaulted backwards from my wonderful pony and landed on my head and shoulder before he went over the top of me and stood on my leg... And I'm now debating just letting him go. I can not keep putting the whole yard through the 'get out in your cars' act- my poor parents were beside themselves as I was watching him try to cross the road while trying to tell them where to get to in their cars... I'm thirty next year- they shouldn't have to keep bailing me out of pony related messes and bless their hearts, both of them sat in the school while I had a very quick ride on both reins.

I really feel like I've failed him if I advertise- the money is not an issue, as he's not worth a whole lot at the moment for to his many little foibles, and I would prefer to retain ownership to make sure he's looked after correctly- but have had loans go so bad and horses PTS in the past that I can't realistically put myself through that again! So, the upshot of this long and winding post is a What Would You Do?
 
Ill be honest- I really don't much fancy ever riding him again!

But no- there is too much 'up hill down dale' where I ride- things to step over etc where he needs his full vision... And yesterday what did it was the noise of him standing on a block of wood that was hidden in the grass- so he would have done it in blinkers too... But then if he did get loose, he'd be able to see even less traffic to judge when to cross the extremely busy road!
 
I would start looking for a reputable driving home to sell or loan to, and keep him ticking over in the meantime with lunging, longreining or even ride and lead.
The right home will be out there, it just takes time.
 
If he is a fab driving pony then I would stick to driving and perhaps drive him for longer (I know nothing about driving!) on the other days and lunge/school the others.

In your shoes I would invest in a stock saddle (less easy to fall out of) work on training in a coping mechanism (for him to tread on a piece of wood and the world to end is an over reaction and indicates a deeper problem somewhere (this sounds like a lecture sorry). You could invest in someone like Jason Webb to help you possibly. I would ride him out at 4am :eek: to reduce the possibility of him getting in to trouble crossing the road. However, on balance it sounds like this horse is not suitable to ride out and you have a responsibility to ensure he does not put other peoples lives at risk as well as your own. It wasn't only an angel on his shoulder, there were angels on the drivers' shoulders too. Doesn't bear thinking about.

Maybe he would be more suitable in a home away from traffic, however that doesn't solve the extreme spooking problem and the next owner may well find herself walking home.

Difficult one, hope your injuries mend themselves quickly.
 
I have a ride and drive mare. I read once that they're always better at/prefare one over the other. In my mares case, she's like 2 different horses : to ride, she thinks she's a racehorse & prefers to go one pace faster than you're actually asking. To drive, she's the most responsive, obedient horse you could ask for. Will happily canter across stubble fields, towards home & still have breaks. She's still very safe to ride, don't get me wrong, but she's so much more relaxed to drive.
Maybe your boy is just one of those who would rather stick to just being driven. Frustrating for you, but if he's making you feel like that, why risk everything?
Is there actually something legit that he spooks at when he panics? X
 
would he ride and lead safely? Could you borrow a horse from someone twice a week and do that to keep his road work up? Even if you topped it up with school work. Could you hire an "enclosed" area - eg a uk chasers course or something, that you could take him out to and not worry he can come to harm?
I can see why you do t want to risk taking him out in the same situation - really not worth the risk - a home for life is lovely, but not if it involves a risk like that :( good luck whatever you decide - not easy :/
 
Here_i_am- you've hit the nail on the head. He was driven for a long time before he was ridden, he is a standard 'hot headed' chestnut section D- often huffing and puffing at something, but nothing I can't cope with on a daily basis- apart from the hissy fit. Only two of the three falls in the last two years have been spooks- one where a bush suddenly turned into a mule (honestly!!) and the second last night. So considering that he goes out 4-5 times a week, the numbers aren't too bad...

The pole thing is permanent I'm afraid rebelrebel- we have tried for a long time to desensitise him but that noise of a pole hitting something or something hitting a pole just breaks his brain. We do occasionally manage to jump- but as soon as he tips a pole we go back to stage one. A pole on the floor in an arena is usually enough to make him stressed, though we have popped logs out hacking up to 2'9 or so? I once put poles in his stable- just around the edge- to see if we could numb him to them- he didn't eat or lie down for three nights. So I decided a while ago, if its avoidable (which it is, when lumps of wood aren't hiding in long grass!) most of the time, then it wasn't the end of the world... However I do appreciate that had we managed to desensitise him, yesterday wouldn't have happened. Or certainly not to the same extent.

Ps... My test as to whether any new rider or friend can take Ru out hacking safely is whether they can take him over a pole on the floor in the school... It's as bad as he gets usually. I know that sounds awful, but what he does with one pole is more of less what he does out hacking... Once in a blue moon. The rest of the time- no bother, he passes 15-20 dirt bikes hating about the field, scary looking ground, holes where they don't belong, waves at the beach etc etc... He's 'looky' but not 'spooky' generally.
 
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