What would you do if your horse didn't do what you brought it for?

P

Parkranger

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 May 2006
Messages
10,546
Visit site
Most of you have read the posts about Ty over the last year. He's come on really well and looks like a good little dressage prospect and is great at local shows.

However, when I brought him, I didn't realise how much I'd want to get back into jumping.

We've done a bit but he really isn't going to make a jumper - he just doesn't enjoy it - he gets all tense and bolts out the side. When we hacked out the other day we came across a log on the path and the poor bugger was visbly shaking! I've had very experienced people jump him aswell and they all say the same thing - you could get him around the ring but what's the point when he doesn't want to do it?

He's a great little horse and we have a good understanding now but I don't think I'll ever be able to do more than dressage and showing on him - and that bores me to tears.

So, what would you do?
 
save up getting a jumping horse , jumping for you companion for ty :P
wink.gif
 
If you really don't think dressage is for you, then I would sell him and buy yourself what you really want. Either that, or loan him out and get one on loan yourself? It's good that you're not going to force him to do something he obviously doesn't want to do.
 
If your goals do not match, i think it is only fair to both of you to move on. You can buy something more tailored to your needs and he can go somewhere that his talents are fully appreciated
x
 
To be honest if I bought a horse for a particular purpose and for whatever reason the horse woudln't/couldn't carry out that purpose then I may consider selling it to a home where it's talent and 'job' will be carried out to full potential. It isn't fair to keep a horse to do the purpose you want it to do if it doens't want to but surley it isn't fair on having an owner carry out a horse's purpose if the owner doesn't want to.....doubled edged sword I guess.

Possible sell/loan/share if you are in the position to?
 
I know exactly what you mean. I bought my horse to do dressage on (which he can do very well when he wants but it bores him silly). However he loves jumping and to be honest I didn't realise how brilliant he was at it until my friend started jumping him! Anyway I am going to loan him out as a jumper and I'm getting a dressage horse on loan. It took me ages to reach this decision though but I think this way we both get what we want
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I know exactly what you mean. I bought my horse to do dressage on (which he can do very well when he wants but it bores him silly). However he loves jumping and to be honest I didn't realise how brilliant he was at it until my friend started jumping him! Anyway I am going to loan him out as a jumper and I'm getting a dressage horse on loan. It took me ages to reach this decision though but I think this way we both get what we want
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Fancy a swap?
grin.gif
 
I sold my last horse last year for that exact reason. I want to do mainly dressage adn some how jumping and he was far happier xc and hunting so sold him to a girl to do just this. Although I have just found out that she is going to be a working pupil at a dressage yard and is taking him with her
confused.gif
.
It was the best decision I ever made although hard it has worked well and he loves his new home and I have a fab youngster.
 
thanks guys - not a decision I'm going to take lightly - just going to enjoy the summer with him and see what happens.
 
Save and buy another one!

Having two is great, espec if they are good at different things, find a sharer for one or both of them to cover half the expense.
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Save and buy another one!

Having two is great, espec if they are good at different things, find a sharer for one or both of them to cover half the expense.
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

God I struggle with one!
grin.gif
 
LOL you know you want to!
I think you love Ty too much to sell him, you have been through so much, perhaps you could put him out on loan or share to stay at your yard, and advertise for a horse for yourself on loan?
smile.gif
 
What level dressage do you work him at? Have you considered having a few lessons with a really good dressage trainer or maybe on a schoolmaster, these might make you more enthusiastic about schooling, the basic stuff can be quite boring but once you learn more advanced things it becomes a lot more fun!
 
Have you and your intructor worked together to discover what the problem is with the jumping? Maybe you can work through the issues and find your self with a jumper after all.
 
I think I'll move him first (moving on monday back to assisted DIY) and once he's enjoying more field time he may chill abit. He hates being pushed out of his comfort zone so maybe once he's had time to chill he'll be ok.

In the school he's pretty good but freaks out in the jumping paddock.

think we need to invest in some more lessons!
 
I would weigh how much it would hurt to sell him against how much it would hurt not to do what you love.
IMO, sell him and find a horse better suited to what you want to do.
You could keep him as a happy hack, but if he enjoys dressage and you jumping, selling would mean you both get to do what you love.
 
If you really dont want to do dressage and are not happy being a happy hacker then you do need to sell him to someone who likes dressage/showing. My old chap hated jumping and found his niche in dressage. He was happy so I was happy. And it improved my riding no end! But I was lucky as my other one loved jumping so I had the best of both worlds!
 
thanks guys for all your input.

went out on a hack tonight and really enjoyed myself. think I'm just going to take the pressure off for now - maybe do the odd dressage test and see how we get on.

I think he'll chill alot when he's out for 8 hours a day again and maybe revisit jumping again in a couple of months.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top