What would you do?

What would you do?

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ABC

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This is not a post from me, but a close friend. She doesn't come go on her computer much, so rather than make an account I said she could use mine, so she's emailed me the following paragraphs, and I'm going to attempt to make a poll (note the word "attempt" :p )

"Hello people of HHO :D

I own a 5 year old TB, I've had him 3 years. He was backed as a 3 year old. I carried on riding him lightly, and then turned him away. I then re-backed him about 4 months ago, but I only walked him out and about. I didn't have the confidence to bring him on further so I sent him away to be schooled.

So far he has been away for 4 weeks. They spent a week long reining him, and have ridden him in the last two and a half weeks. He can now walk, trot, canter and they have even popped a small fence on him.

I went up to see him earlier today and they told me that from going to walk to trot he occasionally bucks and broncs a lot. Some days apparently he is fine, and works great but others he apparently decides he doesnt want to work, so bucks.

I've told because of this I should sell him to a professional, but that's not an option for me. I will not sell my horse.

So, my options are, either keep him there or bring him home.

The people who have worked with him are amazing, but they have changed his bit, and used a different saddle and I am wondering if this could possibly make a difference?

He is also usually kept out 24/7 but at the schooling yard he only gets 2/3 hours of turnout a day, again I wondered if this would affect his attitude?

Also, he is only ever ridden in the school, as they don't hack their horses out. I thought this could possibly make him bored, and if he got the opportunity to hack out now and again he might not buck?

I have a decision to make, do I keep him there, let the people who know what they are doing keep training him and hope he gets out of the habit? Or do I bring him home, get lessons from an experienced instructor and try and sort it myself? (I am not the best rider, but part of me thinks with 24 hour turnout, and the option to go hacking he might be more forward going, and not see riding as a punishment)

Like I said the place and the people are amazing, but it is expensive at £200 a week, and I can't afford to keep him there indefinitely.

So, what would you do? Keep him at the schooling yard, or bring him home?

Thanks in advance. Any advice/tips/stories are gratefully received :) "
 
I have voted to bring him home, but this is presuming he has equine company at home, otherwise I would leave him there.
 
Bring him home, get him into your routine and get some professional help. Good luck. Our boy went through the broncing stage but grew out of it.
 
bring him home and get some help to do it yourself! my mare is 18 now... but if she only got 2-3 hrs turnout and was only ridden in the school im sure i'd be hitting the deck before too long!

in my opinion, young/green horses should be out as much as possible, and hacked more than schooled. Good luck- im sure he will be fine once he has burned off a bit of energy and has a more varied lifestyle!
 
Bring him home

Bucking could be the saddle, the boredom of the school, or just plain unbalanced baby syndrome. It could also be him testing the boundaries a little.

Have you got a good instructor that you trust?
 
StarcatcherWilliam said:
2 -3 hours turnout is not enough imo! My horse would be bouncing if she was only turned out for that long every day!
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whisp&willow said:
bring him home and get some help to do it yourself! my mare is 18 now... but if she only got 2-3 hrs turnout and was only ridden in the school im sure i'd be hitting the deck before too long!

in my opinion, young/green horses should be out as much as possible, and hacked more than schooled. Good luck- im sure he will be fine once he has burned off a bit of energy and has a more varied lifestyle!
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Great thanks, this is my opinion too, but obviously my friend wants to make sure she's doing the right thing for her horse. The professionals and their yard is amazing, I just don't think it fits in with this horse, and that his "issues" are being made worse.

I've sent my friend a link to this thread, so she might sign up to respond :)
 
amymay said:
Well, try more turnout.But I would also have his back and tack checked.
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I clicked 'Other' and meant to say the above too, which might mean moving him to another schooling yard where he can be kept out all of the time, or heck of a lot more at least. If he's got company at home, your other alternative is to bring him home and get someone to come to you to continue his training there.

Definitely have his back, tack and teeth checked though. And ASAP. Has he got wolf teeth? I had to have my 4 year old's removed last year.
 
I've voted bring him home, sounds like other than the broncing he's being a good lad.

If it does still continue with a more varied work regime and with plenty of turnout, perhaps look for another training yard where he could be hacked out as well as schooled. I'm actually (perhaps naively) surprised that a yard brining on young horses does not take them hacking!
 
Has she seen him do this, if not I would be asking to watch some sessions.

Small possibility that the professionals they want her to sell him to are themselves :D It wouldn't be the first time.
 
CrazyMare said:
Bring him home

Bucking could be the saddle, the boredom of the school, or just plain unbalanced baby syndrome. It could also be him testing the boundaries a little.

Have you got a good instructor that you trust?
Click to expand...

amymay said:
Well, try more turnout.But I would also have his back and tack checked.
Click to expand...

Spyda said:
I clicked 'Other' and meant to say the above too, which might mean moving him to another schooling yard where he can be kept out all of the time, or heck of a lot more at least. If he's got company at home, your other alternative is to bring him home and get someone to come to you to continue his training there.

Definitely have his back, tack and teeth checked though. And ASAP. Has he got wolf teeth? I had to have my 4 year old's removed last year.
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Thanks for all your replies. Teeth and back have been checked, and the saddle he was sent in was checked as well, but they have ridden him in a different one. I'm sure my friend will get him checked over again if she feels he needs it :)
 
rockysmum said:
Has she seen him do this, if not I would be asking to watch some sessions.

Small possibility that the professionals they want her to sell him to are themselves :D It wouldn't be the first time.
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Funny you should say that, whenever she has seen him (5 times in 2 weeks) he has been perfect, other than spooking at jump fillers! but I can imagine him give a huge buck when he feels like it :p
 
Sorry, but for me they should be using a saddle which has been fitted, not some random GP. I would also be highly suspicious of them telling me he should be sold to a pro. I would bring him home, get a freelance in who can ride him, and go from there. The fact that he has never bucked when she is watching is also suspect.
 
Bring him home, and start from the beginning with him. It doesn't matter how great a rider she is, if she takes it easy, at the horse's pace - and uses the tack she chose and had fitted. It would probably be worth getting her original saddle checked again when she gets him home, just to make sure that he's not changed shape when brought into work (and get his back checked out, just to make sure that the saddle they've been using hasn't caused any pressure points).
 
They don't sound all that good. Why would they consider it strange that a young horse would go through a stage of bucking - he's finding out where the boundaries are.

She probably also could check what they are feeding him as it may just be over feeding and under exercise.

Paula
 
Bring him home. He needs more turnout and hacking out rather than schooling. Get his back checked out just to be on the safe side as the GP saddle they are using does not sound as if it has been fitted to him and could therefore be making his back sore. Get his proper saddle checked to make sure it still fits him.
 
Thanks :) Friend was told that the way a dressage saddle is designed the horse carries more weight than in a GP or jumping saddle, hence the question :)
 
Spyda said:
I clicked 'Other' and meant to say the above too, which might mean moving him to another schooling yard where he can be kept out all of the time, or heck of a lot more at least. If he's got company at home, your other alternative is to bring him home and get someone to come to you to continue his training there.

Definitely have his back, tack and teeth checked though. And ASAP. Has he got wolf teeth? I had to have my 4 year old's removed last year.
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As above which of the two would work best for you, this is why I clicked other
 
'should sell him to a professional'? Now I'm a nasty old cynic, but is it possible that they have seen significant potential in this youngster and are trying to get your friend to sell him to them/their mate cheaply? Just a thought...
 
I would have him at home, or on a nearby livery yard where there were lots of people to ride out with, and spend the rest of the summer taking things easy and letting him learn canter transitions in straight lines on hacks etc.

I too think it sounds a bit fishy that he should be sold to a professional.

A dressage saddle would be fine if your friend feels comfortable hacking out in it and it fits the horse ok.
 
Thanks for all your input, if my friend doesn't sign up I'll pass on the messages :)

Any more opinions welcome :)
 
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