What to do with unhackable horse/find new safe horse?

[navaho]

What about loaning him to an equine college? The horses don't need to hack out but get plenty variety of work etc.

I think Pibwrlwyd in Carmarthen are looking for horses for the College, id give them a ring.
How much do you want to spend on another? Always plenty about, just depends on your budget, i know a lovely 15.2hh coloured cob mare thats for sale, shes good to hack out & has hunted & been shown.

 

[ladyt25]

These broad and dangerous accusations and diagnoses based solely on breed absolutely do my head in, sorry. And moreover will be of no help whatsoever to the OP, but potentially terribly damaging. I wouldn't be surprised if the "Welsh" hocus pocus has already been thrown at the OP elsewhere and exacerbated the situation.

Agree the horse is throwing something at the rider, but that's what they do, and that's what good instructors are there to fix. They show us (the hobby rider, apols OP if this is not what you are, but it is what I am) how to deal with curve balls our horses can and will throw, if they are so inclined!

And as for the ad, are you serious? Get rid of a nice 16hh Welsh and replace with this? Nothing against the poor horse, simply the ad. The horse may be grand, but I can't see it.

Although, has to be said, ads like that might convince owners to work with what they have.

Ah come on, it was not a serious post - I am not tarring all welsh with the same brush. Although that being said our family have had 3 over the years, welsh and welsh crosses ( still have one) and they are intelligent horses, they are physically very strong for their size and when this power does go against the rider it can be a bit of a nightmare.

All horses are different and what i am really saying is that sometimes some horse andrider combinations just do not work and you either decide enough is enough ro you have to work through it.

As for the ad - no i wouldn't seriouslty suggest the OP go and buy that horse instead of the one she has but she was asking for people to look for horses for her. I just happened across the ad and it just makes me chuckle that people seem to think the bets way to advertise a 'bombproof' horse is to ride it in a dangerous situation and do so without a hat!

Sorry if you read too much into my post - guess that's the problem with writing instead of talking! lol

 

[skewby]

Ah ok, I apologise. Missed the joke even though come to think of it the ad link should have made it obvious!! Agree with all you have said. Hope the OP is ok too!

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I'm not sure what you mean by school on the buckle. Do you mean buckle end and therefore with no contact? He sounds like he could have had a bad past, given that he was loaded with electric tape. He won't be an easy horse to move on, as he sounds like he has a lot of issues, such as the hacking, loading, schooling, catching, a male rider having to do a one rein stop using both hands etc.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Don't give up! Get a good trainer who can come alongside and help you with these issues. You need someone who will help you to be your horse's natural herd leader and someone he/she can trust to make the decisions. That will mean going back to basics, doing some groundwork, before progressing to ridden work.

Your horse obviously needs you to be the leader and is just being very honest with you that he doesn't feel safe, hence the behaviour you're getting.

He sounds like a very honest horse - and personally I'd be reluctant to get rid of him at this stage. You say you've "sent him away for reschooling", but this won't do any good as its obviously you the rider who needs to change and start showing him that you're the herd leader and that its OK to trust you, which is why YOU and the horse TOGETHER need the trainer, not just the horse in isolation!!! A lot of people send horses away thinking there's gonna be a big "fix", but it just aint like that.

I can't tell you what to you; but am so glad I stuck with my boy. To cut a long story short I was going to sell him three years ago, for some of the reasons you describe with your horse. I had some help with a very special trainer - and am eternally grateful I kept my gorgeous boy as we've worked through the issues and I've now got a really nice, polite horse who respects me as herd leader and looks after me when we're out.

I'd recommend a good trainer who can work with you one-on-one on the herd leadership issue coz I betcha that will make a difference.

 

[LaurenM]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm not going to sell him but I feel he should have a 'job'. The reasons being; he could get into the wrong hands and he deserves a good life. The colleges that I know of all charge to keep your horse there so it would be cheaper keeping him where he is.

I think if I was to change his yard, his behaviour would be different however on the other hand I'm looking to travel to local shows/fun rides etc - all of which is not fair to load him to attend.

Don't get me wrong, he can be a plod through the village. I think it's because he got away once in the forestry that means its in his head that he can get away with it.

I have had three different people to help - one of which classed him as dangerous, the second felt he was too old to change and the other thinks he was never broken properly. None can provide an explanation for his behaviour other than it being a mental issue rather than physical.

He doesn't scare me, he did initially but I've overcome it. My issue is, if two of the above people couldn't stop him and neither of us are having fun then something needs to change. I'm starting him on the global herbs supercalm and will see what happens.

 

[DaisyOscar]

I'm starting him on the global herbs supercalm and will see what happens.

Try the instant supercalm just before you go for a hack through the forest?

Any way you could distract him when he gets to the place where he wants to take off? Like backing him up/ turn on forehand or I used to distract a nervy pony that bolted like that by rustling a sweetie wrapper in my pocket or giving him a treat.

Hope you get sorted anyway!

 

[LaurenM]

Just a quick update; someone has offered to have him over summer to see if they can help. I'm sure a change of scenery would help as he wouldnt have already 'won' in that area. The calmer has arrived so will see how that goes.

Thanks for all the comments.