When to give up?

You could use glue on shoes or a different brand/style of hoof boots - there's a lot of variety between them now and it's quite horse dependent what suits, a bit like some brands of rugs just never fit some horses
 
Exasperated said:
If you don’t want to re shoe (for whatever reason), and the horse needs protective hoof boots to hack comfortably, you simply need boots which do not also attach around the fetlocks, like Flex, or G2s with their figure 8 strap.
You need a different type, very simply: a boot that generally stays on with your horse’s paces, but spins straight off when detached, rather than remains anchored and flapping round his ankles!
Obviously, you will then have to find the damn thing, one reason garish colours are now so popular.
Can be a pain trying out boot shapes and styles, basically the best boot is the one which fits your horse, but the safety considerations described are equally important to both your enjoyment.
Doesn’t sound like you’re ready for the Tevis Cup yet - there are plenty of other hoof boot styles, including older, more ‘clumpy’ designs which would answer just fine for hacking about. Good luck
Click to expand...
I use Equine Fusion hoof boots and they never come loose or come off. No extra straps to hold them on if they come loose. I highly recommend them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tda
MuddyMonster said:
I think if you are confident the issues arose over winter for very specific reasons which you can pinpoint and redress so you aren't in the same position next year, I would give it a good go over the next few months. I mean, you've done the worst of winter.

But, with some clear parameters:

• Define what fun and success would look like for both your horse and yourself if you stay together as a partnership.

With two questions in mind:

• Is the horse enjoying the experience?
• Are you enjoying it?

Then I'd reassess in 3 months time with a plan to loan or sell in the late Summer/Autumn if not going so well.

I think buying horses is like a long term relationship - no one ever moves in with their partner wanting it to not work, but sometimes two people are just better suited and happier with other people long term. And there's no shame or blame in that.
Click to expand...

Thank you, you're right I think I've got in a slump and become a bit of a negative nancy and forgotten all the positives he has! The relationship analogy is quite true, in that I think we've hit a rough patch as you do where all the quirks you used to find endearing in your partner start to just irritate you 🤣

I think it's a mindset thing - I used to giggle when horse was being silly, eyeroll and give him a scratch and tell him to stop pratting around, but I've got in a negative headspace which means I'm getting uptight about things and horse is feeding off this as he's a sensitive soul that will rise to a fight, and we've got stuck in a battle. Plus I forget sometimes that it is Spring and they are all being particularly daft!

Looking back with a balanced view we've not had a bad few months, he's actually been rock solid over winter and I've been lamenting how he's the horse I've ridden out in high-winds, storms, after being stuck in for a few days etc. and he's been great. I've just hit spring at 100mph and piled the pressure on and got frustrated that we're not achieving what I want. Trainer is a perfectionist and has very high standards and pushes us out of our comfort zone a lot, he's fantastic and has improved me and my horse 200% but I think I need to take a step back and have a breather and learn to just fall back in love with riding my horse for the fun of it.

We've just been to the vets for his annual MOT and had his stifle re-medicated anyway as he was slightly off under flexion, so I've got a couple of weeks of taking it easy and hacking then bringing him back slowly so a bit of a forced reset.
 
Would trying a different trainer help? It appears to be their comments that have really sent you into a spiral.

Whilst I agree with the teaching a pig to sing analogy, a trainer should be able to help with what you are looking to achieve. Have you been with the same trainer for the whole three years?

Sometimes a fresh set of eyes and different skill set can really help. Even someone slightly out of the box that helps with horsemanship to give you tools when the horse is anxious. Someone along the lines of Tarrsteps or Joe Midgely.
 
Trainer is fabulous to be fair - I've been through a few over the years as struggled to find someone who really 'got' horse and could think outside of the box when needed. His heart-to-heart with me was entirely in response I think to the fact I keep turning up to lessons very glum and moaning about how terribly I felt we were going 😳 He just wants me to enjoy it and was basically saying he can help me to a point but he can't magically transform my horse into a different animal and if this is how I'm feeling then it's a perfectly reasonable idea to consider getting something else. He basically posed it to me that I have 2 options - get on with it and stop moaning, or sell up and get something easier. A fair point!
 
Do you actually like (not love) and gel with the horse? Having had many I just rubbed along with, or only liked a few days of the week, and then a couple I would have walked to the ends of the earth for, I'd never now plough everything I have into a horse I just feel a bit 'meh' about. Something to consider that might make selling a bit easier. I've always felt a sense of relief to move on the ones I didn't fully bond with.
 
IrishMilo said:
Do you actually like (not love) and gel with the horse? Having had many I just rubbed along with, or only liked a few days of the week, and then a couple I would have walked to the ends of the earth for, I'd never now plough everything I have into a horse I just feel a bit 'meh' about. Something to consider that might make selling a bit easier. I've always felt a sense of relief to move on the ones I didn't fully bond with.
Click to expand...

I adore him. With a regular big dose of “can you just not….” 😂 but yes I love the bones off him. He makes me smile every day and I can never deny he gives me 100% in everything he does, albeit a bit misguided at times! I love him as a ‘person’ and he’s the horse I’ve always wanted in many ways - he’s very flawed but he’s forward, brave and talented. I think a big part of it is that I just constantly worry I’m not good enough for him.
 
Horses are our hobby, our relaxation and they are expensive. You are not enjoying him and tbh he probably feels the same. At 16 he is not old and am sure would love a hunting team chase home. You in turn would prefer a horse that suits you. My best hunter was just that a hunter brilliant fantastic he lived for it. The rest he tolerated enough to get fit. That suited us both perfectly.

The hard part is making the decision the rest is just a process. Sell him where he will enjoy himself then you can too. Life is short have fun!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top