When do you say enough's enough and sell your pony? (Long, sorry)

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Rocky01

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Brief history. I bought a youngster 21/2 years ago as a yearling to bring up and after being broken in and schooled a bit to ride and compete as he and I got older and I still have him and will always have him.

BUT

1 year ago I lost all my confidence in my riding ability and got to a point that I was scared to walk let alone do anything else. 6 months later I was confident enough to ride walk, trot, canter, small jump strange horses (that were deemed at my level) and was riding the horses that I was riding before I lost my confidence but it's still not back completely and small things and generally feeling out of control really scare me now, though I'm working through this with my trainer.

So, in April I bought an older horse to get my confidence back on completely, to learn more on and to generally have fun on but he's turned out to be very level headed most of the time but VERY green in his schooling (he was completely on his forehand before). I've had him schooled a lot since I bought him and though he's improved I've realised that I just don't relax and enjoy riding him as much as I did when I first got him as I'm always worried he'll run away with me as he spooks sometimes and because I worry he worries. If I were to let him go on his forehand he'd be fine and not spooky but that won't help with teaching me for then riding my youngster.

He's very good at jumping too and I've realised that I just don't love it the way I used to so he's wasted with me there really. I love him loads and I don't want him to go to the wrong home as he's been mistreated before and I don't want it to happen again. He'd be great for a PC teenager but I'm not that person any more and I just don't know if I should stick it our with him and wait till he settles down with his new training and way of going or if I should just bite the bullet, sell him and either look at borrowing a horse to ride in lessons or buying another older horse that would really suit me at the moment.

Any clues welcome.

Thanks

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What a rubbish situation
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From reading your post I think you know what's best
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Why not loan him out for a while at first to give you some time to think?
 
I wouldn't bother loaning - i think you sound like you've made your decision. Like you say, someone else can also give him a great home and you can search for another horse that gives you more confidence. There's no point spending so much money on something that you don't entirely enjoy. Your boy will find a fab home, so there is no reason to feel guilty or bad about selling him on.
 
It's never an easy decision to make but it sounds as if you have mind up your mind. He sounds great and I am sure you will find a good home for him.
 
If your going to sell him, make sure you ask as many questions of the purchaser as they ask of you. You can put your mind at rest in lots of ways . Trial periods, visting the yard he would go to, watching a potential buyer ride him to see if they're up to the job. If it's your confdence that is the problem and not the horse then your next horse may get boring quickly as you get your confidence back, then you'll have another one to sell! (You might want the old one back then)
 
If he doesn't suit you, sell.Take your time and look for a good home for him and then let him go and move on. He will be happier and so will you.Not an easy thing to do though, I know.
 
My heart always rules my head and is doing at the moment as I have been getting fed up with my horses silliness. I cant just go out and have fun and thats what it should be about. Ive decided to not beat myself up about it anymore and try to enjoy him more, laugh when he spooks etc but I know I will never be able to jump on him and hack where ever I want as he just isnt safe to do that with.

I think deep down you have made your mind up and it is the right thing to do. I know how hard it is as Im still there struggling on
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. Dont get me wrong we do have great times (sometimes!) but Ive had him since he was 3, hes 10 now and its been really hard.
Good luck
 
I thought I'd let you know what I've decided. I thought long and hard about selling him and talked to my trainer some more. What I hadn't really given fair weight to is that he moved yards and trainer a couple of weeks ago and was probably still settling in as he has moved about quite a lot recently. My new trainer has said that he's calmed down A LOT even in the last few days and is now behaving brilliantly so I'm hoping that when I get back from holiday (where I'm also riding) and after he's been schooled some more while I'm away he'll become the horse I bought again who I loved to ride. Fingers crossed.

I may still get to the point that I will sell him but at the moment everyone loves him (including me of course), he's settling in and I've moved to a new yard and trainer where riding should start to be more fun again so wil let you guys know how I get on.

Thank you for all the replies and they really helped me think through things clearly so thank you.
 
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