Who would buy a horse like this??

[Flicker]

I just want to get it straight from the off, THIS IS NOT AN AD. The horse is not on the market, but the owner is considering the options and it might be helpful to give her a bit of a steer on what those might be.
My friend owns a nice little conny x, bought from a dealer. Friend is very novicey and the horse, while quite talented, is definitely not a novice ride. Unfortunately he has a habit of bronking when he gets excited - he's very go,go,go and the bucking starts when she tries to hold him back. She doesn't want a horse that is so speedy and gets very nervous when he gets fast, tries to get him back and then the fun and games start. He's ditched her three times now in the six months she's had him (although he's given it a jolly good try on other occasions and she's stuck on).
I've ridden him in the school, doing flatwork, and I've also hacked him out quietly, and he's not put a foot wrong although you can sense that he can be quite willful. Another girl on our yard (more guts than brains type) took him in an 85cm and 95cm class at a SJ competition and he flew round at the speed of light but kept all four feet on the ground and jumped two lovely clear rounds. The girl loved it and laughed all the way round.
He is heaps better in hard work and an absolute doll in the stable, to lead, load etc, so I don't think he's nasty.
She has regular lessons on him and both of them have improved loads, but I don't think his personality is going to change - ie, he is a spirited lad and knows his own mind only too well. Also, she wants to jump and do xc and have canters in the fields etc - all the things that seem to wind him up - without feeling like she's going to be ditched, or break the sound barrier. She is now considering selling him and getting something quieter.
Do little horses like this sell (he's around 15.3hh)? I don't think she'll recoup what she paid for him, but a guide on what sort of price she could ask would be handy.
Must add - his back is fine, teeth done regularly, saddle fits etc.
OR - should she grit her teeth and carry on with lessons in the hope that they somehow 'click' eventually (ie, she'll get better at letting him go forward, and he'll not feel the need to tank off when he gets excited)??

 

[bexwarren24]

It sounds like this horse is not suited to your friend. If she is a novice then she is just going to end up scaring herself more and more with an unsuitable horse. If she's scared she's going to continue to hold him back and it sounds like a vicious circle to me.

If the horse was mine and I wanted to sell it I would be tempted to get someone (ie. ballsy girl) to do some more competing on him as this seems to be his fortie. Maybe even some BSJA classes. A few rounds clear at that level and I think she could expect £3500-£5000 depending on his talent. Has she ever tried loose schooling him to see how big he would go? Oh and what kind of age is this horse?

 

[BeckyX]

i would my mare is quite quirky and not a novice ride a little jumping machine, people say you should over jump your pony but with her if you don't jump at least twice a week she WILL go mad!!!! as long as the broking was manageable i wouldn't mind

i think your freind is right to consider sale as she doesnt seem to suit the horse, and you want boh of them to be happy, the horse would probably prefere a more competative rider? and your freind a quieter more reliable ride? i would say between 3k and 4.5k ?

anychance you can post a photo of the horse

 

[Sparkles]

IF it's not pain related...then I think he's just a high spirited large competition type pony that been sold to the wrong people and turned his excess 'spirit' into naughty behaviour from lack of work and boredom...if he has a decent jump and attitude despite all of this, I'd advertise geared towards a confident teenagers PC type ride and hunting etc tbh....BUT, I wouldn't be risking paying a huge amount considering all. Maybe £1700-2k tops, if he's fairly young [ie, younger than 8)?

I'd suggest if they want to sell, send him away to a sales comission livery possibly for 3-4 weeks so he can get schooled and kept in full work. Or advertise on project horses? I don't think tbh, this match will work as he's not what she wants from the sounds of it and it has got worse and will continue to probably. She'll be better suited selling him for around that mark and getting an older seasoned horse to have fun on,which she isn't atm!

 

[Kat]

I think a confident competent teenager would have tremendous fun with this horse. He needs someone who is happy to whizz about and won't get scared. I just to ride a little mare that was similar, would jump the moon but had a MASSIVE buck. Didn't bother me back in the days when I bounced.

I'd get him competing more with someone brave, and try to sell him off the back of that but be honest that he needs someone confident and prepared to work at his speed. He could be a super prospect for a kid who can't afford a nice jumping pony but has the balls and talent to sit on him. Put the word out round pony club and hunting contacts.

 

[Flicker]

Thanks all - great advice and I'm inclined to agree that she'd be much happier with something a bit steadier.
Not sure of his age - he's not a baby, but not old - looks about 9 or 10.
She's not free-schooled him, but I reckon he'd probably have a go at pretty much anything.