Thinking of down sizing- but am I being a fool?

[nikCscott]

I found my 16.2 WB gelding after a year of looking, on my birthday 2 years ago, i knew all the ad's off my heart so despondently googled a 'loan horse in gloucestershire' his 2 line ad came up and i was the 1st to call. He wasn't perfect but has something about him

2 years on ( bought him after 6 month loan) he's un recognisable in both looks and attitude, he was so weak and badly behaved, he didn't load, bronked when you asked for canter, paniced in the field if out too long..... but there was something about him!

He is now settled, achieving consistently high 60's prelim, jumping metre plus classes, bold XC and solid hack enough for my nervous mum to ride, BUT he can still be a handful on the ground when he's got it 'on' him, if we go anywhere more exciting then standard dressage or SJ'ing its a 2 person job to tack and mount (once on he's fine). I'm a single ish parent and like to do my riding in school time so hunting is perfect for me and I love it (so does he once i'm in the saddle) but I can't do it alone- he's just too big when he starts throwing his weight around I enjoy dressage we have lessons and am planning to move up to novice soon and we love show jumping but the lack of definite times makes it hard for me with child care, I have tried to stick to these things as I can do them alone but it limits what I can do with my lifestyle and I really enjoy doing a bit of everything.

So I'm thinking of downsizing to a NF type 14.2hh 5yo ish that i can do everything with and look at it becoming a future comp pony for my daughter.

Am i being selfish? He's come so far and we've come back into riding together but I do feel like something smaller would be so much more manageable to have fun on. Feeling so guilty for even thinking it....

Opinions please?

 

[staceyn]

If I was you I would downsize to a easy good doer cheap and simple to keep but I also think it depends on your bond with your horse . I have a wonderful bond with my two even though one is . Mini field ornament pointless and waste of money I wouldn't dream of selling him. logically I could be paying for a horse I can ride ect but he's my baby had him since a foal last year watching him grow in to a loving wonderful unicorn I would never sell as I know how happy he is and noone could look after him and spoil him like Ido tricky one hope u figure it out x

 

[Merrymoles]

How old is he? I had a 14.2 who could be a nightmare on the ground when he was hyped - not nasty but so wound-up he jumped around like an idiot - so downsizing may not be the answer.
You sound as though you know what you are doing but I wonder if you could try to get someone else (instructor?) to handle him on the ground in one of his bad situations and see if they can come up with ideas on how to deal with it. It will be hard to sit on your hands while they deal with him but I am a big believer in two heads being better than one when it comes to tackling problems like this.

 

[nikCscott]

My instructor has come with me and has tried its just just excitement he's not trying to hurt me, but forgets i'm there almost- he's not tanking off or kicking just makes himself MASSIVE and awkward for instance trotting around me which I'm holding the rein to lead him somewhere to mount, not attempting to naff off but just being a excitable handful..

Only at hunting, fun rides, and xc where there isn't the infrastructure or available assistance. Once i'm on its fine but need a leg up or a mounting block (or similar). 14.2 can jump on from the ground.

I also have 2 young daughters, 1 of which would like to start fun rides and children's meets if she need assistance from taking a tumble to just a dropped whip i can't be easily on and off to help her.

I too have had hard work 14.2 and smaller, I would make sure I found the right one 1st.

He's 9 BTW here a picture- see at home he can be held by a 7 year old (obviously she is safely in the car at shows before he's mounted)

 

[Cortez]

There is no shame in moving a horse on if he's not doing the job you want him for. He might be just what someone else is looking for, and there are plenty of other people who will apreciate him just as much if not more than you do. Can't understand why people think all other homes/owners are worse than them.