What do I do with my loopy horse?!

Had he had a full vet work up including back X-rays?
If as you say he is fine in walk but tucks bum under and tries to run in every other gait even in the school it could also be pain related to the behaviour.

My WB who were brought from feild to reback is perfect on the ground. But as soon as you get on her she is like a coiled spring. In trot and canter her paces are so explosive and if something spooked her or she didn't like something she would rear or bronc around the school.

I finally spoke to the vet about looking at her and we started at back X-rays showing kissing spines. She is now retired and compaion to my old mare.

It is another option to look at.
 
I hate to say this, but the only thing to do with a true bolter is PTS. The danger they pose to people and themselves is just not worth it.
 
We used to have a pony that would bolt at the slightest thing (or in fact nothing) he was uncontrollable and would literally go through anything. I was very nearly hit by a car on several occasions. Even running him into a sturdy hedge or whatever wouldn't help as he would either jump it or swerve sharply. He was incredibly strong and in fact bent his bit on one occasion :eek: he was not particularly safe in the school either and would bolt and jump out if the mood took him. He had a full MOT by more than one vet, no-one could find anything physically wrong with him. In the end we loaned him as a companion pony to a friend. He lived out his days keeping an eye on the youngsters at a farm just up the road, perfectly happy.

Please don't loan/sell your horse as a ridden horse OP. This is surely going to end in disaster if he's as dangerous as you say he is. Your options are companion or PTS. You could try turning him away for a year and having him professionally restarted but I think this depends on his age and how set in his ways he is. The pony we had was 19 and there was going to be a limited chance of an attitude change at that stage in his life. Be very careful, sounds like you've been lucky not to be seriously hurt.
 
You def need an expert in to assess the horse. A few pounds now could save you months/years of wasted time and money.

Some horses just dont settle in certain environments or with certain riders and a move to a trainers yard being ridden by someone competent daily is all they need and can be sold on to a more experienced/suitable home i.e. some horses are too sharp to be riding club/happy hackers, but excel on the hunting field where they are worked harder for longer hours.

Others are dangerous and should not be ridden - be it from a pain related issue or a menal one! Vets can't always find everyting wrong with a horse and many people have found issues from 2nd or 3rd opinions - usually with eyes, neck or back as these can be very difficult for vets to assess. A decision then needs to be made if you can manage to find a suitable companion home, keep the horse in retirement or PTS.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
I've been thinking about this op, & I have another idea. Whilst I don't disagree for a moment its better to pts than pass on, or continue riding, so far you haven't had any help from a real professional trainer. Which I know you said you don't have the money for. But, it could be a problem that with a real pro could actually be solved. If you are 100% confident your friend will only use him as a companion, & there is no chance whatsoever of her/him riding or passing on, then how about getting a pro out to assess whether there is any chance of safely sorting him. Only paying for a one off visit. Then depending on what pro says, loan him to your friend & then save up what you would normally spend on livery etc for however long till you have the money to pay the pro. Costly & time consuming, but it is another option. Just make sure the trainer comes with word of mouth recommendations from people who really know their stuff. The last thing you need is to plough time & money into someone who's schooled a few fizzy ponies & fancies a bash at sorting bolting.
 
I feel for you OP.
I have a pony who used to have a serious rearing problem. After a lot of searching we found the physical problem which caused it and she was rehabilitated. 4 years on and 98% of the time she"'s good.

having had nom real problem for years, I decided to find.p a loaner for her as I don't really have the time or desire for a happy hacker which is all she is really suitable for at competing stresses her too much.

However she promptly changed my mind on Monday. I was schooling her and she was being lovely, really soft and nice. Then without any warning she bucked, spun round and reared vertically. It caught me by surprise and we were very close to going over. Landed, then repeated and I bailed.

She's likely put her back out but t be honest, even if it's one in a hundred rides that she does that, one day she won't be lucky and will flip. I don't want anyone to die or get hurt because of her. So i think I'm going to retire her. Even if it's pain, it's too extreme a reaction. And she does tend to get muscular pain relating to the old problem every few months despite on going treatment.

Luckily we have the means to keep her as a field ornament and it's defo made me ealise I cannot put someone in her.
 
I dont think even a Pro would put their life, the horses and others at risk just to prove the horse is/isnt a bolter?

If you give away as a companion or on loan there is always the chance someone will get on him and if you still own him and that person or others were injured, wouldnt it be your responsibility, could be costly.

Have his eyes been checked. Does he suddenly tank off across the field or is it always when being ridden? Is he spooky even when you are on the ground?

As hard as it is, give him a big hug, a bucket of carrots and say good bye there is obviously something wrong, unless you can give him a forever home in a field.
 
You say he is only spooky under saddle, how about inhand? Have you took him out inhand, what happens when there's noises etc that would otherwise set him off ridden when you are on the ground?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top