What to do (if anything!)

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moocow

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Hi Just wondered what your advice would be. sorry if this is long.

I have moved to new yard a couple of months ago. Everything is great and I have all the support I need. one of the girls that works there has a horse that she is really struggling with. we are trying to help her but she is a stubborn as a mule! Basically he is a only a four yr old but he is over 17hh and really well built. He is a ballchy (sp?) type - the kind you really ahve to keep on top off. he is lovely and she loves him dearly but he is getting dangerous. he has figured out that he is big and strong and basiclaly can do whatever he wants. She has him stabled and never rides him. She lunges him every couple of days but just for a short while and really doesn't make him work. He hardly breaks a sweat.

his lastest trick is that he wont let her mount. no matter how much we tell her to mount from a block, she doesn't listen. i don't blame the lad for being arsey about it as it can't be comfortable for him. he has gotten to the stage where he will barge in the stable, barge when you try to mount and lash out. We have had his back checked and there is nothing wrong

I understand why she doesn't want to ride him as it is soul destroying when you can't enjoy your horse. she sent him for schooling a few months ago and he came back as good as gold. Thats all been undone now.

Its so wet, he is just getting a few hours turn out in the arena at the mo and he tears off when you bring him up and back down. to the point that she has stopped leading him as he will hurt her.

there is no talking to her. we worked with him at the weekend and got one of the girls up on him but she wont maintain it - hasn't tried mounting him since. he is the type of horse that needs work. she wont let anyone else ride him. there is a guy in the yard who is a fantastic rider and very gentle whose horse is out of action due to injury and he would tear his right arm off to ride him but she wont let him.

we have suggested to her that she might consider keeping him out next winter with the grass liveries as he is a big strong lad and well able to winter out but she wants to keep him in.

she just wants something to groom and love but is completely over horsed. any suggestions?
 
sounds like he needs to be turned out and handled be an experienced person or else he will be ruined.
but,if she does not take advice there`s not much you can do.
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I think you summed it up in your last sentence- she's overhorsed.
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Sadly, if she's been told this and refuses to accept it, there's not much that will change until she realises the situation.

I think it's cruel of her to ignore your suggestions of changing his management and routine to help chill him out and get him exercised more. Surely she realises that a stabled horse needs more than a couple of gentle lunge sessions a week to burn off energy?

Poor horse, sounds like a new home or a complete ovehaul of his owner's point of view is needed.
 
Yip, is needed but I have no idea how to make it happen. the work she does with him doesn't really burn off energy so much as just maintains him superfit which doesn't help. he gets on to the walker as well the days she doesn't lunge him - sorry should have said.

he is such a beautiful talented boy - absolutely wasted.
 
How does the YO feel about the situation? Sounds like he is becoming very dangerous to handle, maybe one way would be to threaten that a dangerous horse would not be welcome on the yard and she would need to find alternative livery?

Not that I am advocating transferring the problem to a different place, more that I would hope it could work as a wake up call to the owner that she needs to do something about it.

It must be so frustrating for you to watch her letting him be ruined at such a young age, but ultimately there's not a lot more you can do by the sounds of it. People refusing to look out for the horses' best interests make me angry, especially when it has been shown that with consistent, firm, regular work and training he was much happier and settled.

Good luck and I hope she opens her eyes sooner rather than later.
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i have this posted in new lounge as well and basically she has been in the yard since she was about 12 and she is now 26. The yard owner has done her best - advising, offering to help and work with her but its all greeted with her stomping off in a mood. she works in the ayrd and she would never be asked to move. The horse is not a danger to any of the rest of us really as he is never out when we are around. its really just the girl and the yard owner that are at risk.
 
Sadly its her horse and her problem and nothing you can do will change that.. It could even be that she is digging her heels in because everyone knows better than her........

Unless you are in danger I think you need to let her get on with it..... yes its sad and yes he is wasted, but its not anyones horse but hers.

I moved from a yard where everyone knew better than the others (not just me) and it is very wearing. Perhaps if she was left alone she would come to the conclusions that you have all come to, rather than being browbeaten into having to admit she is cocking it all up.

Not said to be controversial but possibly how she feels.
 
I somewhat agree with Merlinsquest. She needs to figure this out for herself somewhat. It may help if you suggested that she work with him whilst you are there and can be around if he starts to get bolsy as she be scared of him but not want to admit it to anyone or even herself. If this is the case she needs to work with him and maybe you suggest trying certain things but you agree that it may or may not work (even if you think that it will).

My friend has a horse that is 16.2hh and very solid (a lot of muscle and good conformation so difficult to unbalance (8yrs now but 4 when she bought him) and he is what my mum calls a sock lamb (no idea how to behave but knows his own strength) it has taken her 4 yrs to get him to the point where anyone can lead him and ride him safely and a lot of training on her and my part so I get the problem and know that it needs to be sorted quickly.

She might want to try pulling on the leadrope quickly several times (but release immediately each time) if he gets bolshy. It normally causes them to throw up their head and go backwards so can be intimidating but it will eventually stop the bolshyness if done every time.

I terms on riding what I find works is to hold the reins (especially the rein on the other side of where you are getting on) tight and if he moves away (swings around) just walk around to the other side and push where you would if you were asking for leg-yeilding until he is straight again and go back round until he stands still when you get on, it may take a while, so stay patient.

Hope this helps. PM me if you want to chat.
 
thanks for the responses. I take on board what you are saying and I understand completely what you mean about everyone knowing best. its basically just myself and her best friend that are trying to help her. we are doing our best, but she has gotten to the stage where she just says no, no matter what you are suggesting. Even if its just to hack out at a walk.

her best friend is great and is trying to help but tends to go off on tangents. they ahve decided that there is something wrong with him and have called the vet. yesterday it was fisculated withers and when I said I defeinately didn't agree, it went to a viral infection. They have decided that the horse has fever - the horse doesn't have a fever! anyway the vet is coming today to see him.

I am just going to back off and leave them to it. it kills me though as what is happening to him is bordering on cruel. he is going stir crazy! and is on hard feed to the gills!

Ah well
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What a ridiculous situation, sounds like she won't listen to anyone. What about her vet, perhaps you could have a word with him and he may be able to get thro' to her.
Is it just her who deals with the horse?
Not a lot you can do, no point in horse being sent away and sorted out unless she is going to go with him and learn how to handle him properly.
Not a lot else you can do. I think yard owner could probably put her foot down a bit more, especially if he is putting other people at risk or if his mental welfare is an issue.
 
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