What to do?

aidybex

aidybex

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In the Valleys, oh what's occuring..
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Well, I foud out yesterday I've got a new job!! I currently live in Notts but will be moving to Wales!! It's something that's been on the cards for years but we've really put the plans in motion recently.

Issue is my horse - I've had him since November, hadn't done much with him due to the weather and now he's been off for about 10 weeks as he was a bit sore on his back so left him to relax and get some grass in him.

Before we stopped working him he bucked my friend off who rode him (bad back) but I became quite nervous of him. I'm concerned about what to do for the best, as I'll be 3 days in Wales and 4 days in Notts until daughter finished school. I'll be living with my Dad to begin with and there no safe outriding and not really anywhere decent to ride. We will be buying somewhere eventually with better riding options.

What would you do in my situation? I've considered loaning him, leaving him turned away then send him for re-schooling, sending him to a college or just selling him? I absolutely adore him, he's the sweetest horse I've ever owned and when we were going well together he was amazing but I have had confidence issues.
 
I'd find a competent jockey to start riding him for you. It also sounds as if you need to get some work done on his back and saddle etc.
 
He's been looked at by a McTimoney practitioner and she gave him some treatment and agreed a rest would do him some good. I've just bought a brand new Bates saddle and had that set up correctly for him too! I will try and find out what jockeys there are near to where I'm going and see what they can do, it' certainly worth asking I guess.
 
I would probably sell, assuming he is no longer in pain with his back. If you're only going to be back home for 4 days a week then you'll prob want to spend time with your family and maybe not have time or inclination to do horse. It sounds as if you're going to be v busy! Also it doesn't sound like you can come home after a hectic week and just have a nice relaxing hack or schooling sesh as he's been out of work and you have lost confidence with him. He sounds like he needs to be in consistent work so if you could find a sharer or possibly have to pay someone to ride him whilst you're at work and if you think you'll really want to ride him when you come home then possibly keep him, but personally I wouldn't - good luck :)
 
He's been looked at by a McTimoney practitioner and she gave him some treatment and agreed a rest would do him some good.
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You haven't had a vet look at him then? If he's bucking people off because of a sore back that would be my first port of call.

Was the saddle fitted to him?

Also what 'type' is he?
 
Well if you sell him, you’d have to point out that he’s had a back issue and not been in current work, which will limit the market and the price, plus you’d need to find out if he’s now ok before selling him on.

If you loan him, you going to have to do the same as above, find out if he’s good to go back into work, fi so then you’ll either have to bring him back to work yourself to enable you to put him out on loan, or find a loan home that is willing to do this anyway.

Send him away to be brought back into work which will cost money, then you have the option of keeping him, selling him or putting him out on loan.

If you have spent good money on having him brought back to work/professionally schooled etc then you don’t want any of that to go to waste by putting out on loan to the wrong rider etc, so that’s something you will have think about when choosing a loan home, however if he’s gone to the right place to be re-schooled, they may be able to match up a good rider/loan home for him.

If you have spent money on having him sorted out and you don’t think you will have time (due work/family/moving) or the confidence to continue with his schooling/ridden work, then again that will have been a waste of time and money if you keep him and not do him justice.

I’d say, loan (if you want to keep him for when you settle down with your job etc) or sell.

Either way, your going to have to make sure he's sound and kitted out ready to begin work again.
 
Thank you for opinions. I'm not one for getting a vet out to look at a horses back, I would rather have someone who knows about backs as this is what a vet would usually recommend. Everything has been done carefully, the other two ladies at my yard have been event grooms for some of the top riders so they are my 'bibles' and they both recommended this pratitioner as she is recommended by our vets - saddle fitted by a master saddler too. I'm lunging him tomorrow then I'll hop on and see how he is. I have had quite a few offers for him previously just due to his general attitude towards life so I may follow these up as at the time I wasn't going to sell.

I will just bide my time and see how things pan out. Thanks again
 
What about finding some supervised grass livery for him until you are a bit more settled?

It would be fairly cheap (maybe a retirement place even though he isn't retired) and he could have longer to get better then you could bring him back to work either yourself or with help when you are sorted in your new job.

Loaning (part loaning?) or sharing would be a good option if you can find someone suitable who is happy to bring him back to work or just wants a short term companion. You could consider a teenager as the A-Levels will be over in a few weeks meaning they would have lots of time free.

I would only pay a pro now if you intend to sell him now (which it doesn't sound like you want to) or if you are fairly confident you will be ready to have him back before the schooling livery runs out.
 
I'm not one for getting a vet out to look at a horses back, I would rather have someone who knows about backs as this is what a vet would usually recommend.
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Mmmm, think you need to use every available tool at your disposal - and that includes the vet. My horse came to me with a bad back - which was treated for 2 years by a McTimothy practioner, with very little improvement. I wish my vet had been involved much earlier - because once it was discovered he had a problem with his feet - which was successfully treated - his back issues vanished.

So not all back issues stem from the 'back' and can be secondary to what the real problem may be.
 
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