"Worried about daghters horse" Update!

"Tinselface" or something picked out the "I don't like him" comment. My daughter loves him! He's not mine (and I'm not in to horses much as it is) and no, I don't like something that hurts my child! I didn't buy him planning on disliking him. The comment when in the rest of the paragraph meant that I loved our old pony so was prepared to put up with it, but I have no desire to keep him as a (dangerous) pet.

Also, thank you everone! You are all so nice
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I would tell my daughter to sign up but I don't want her to stumble upon here and see I have been talking about them. (Haven't really told her I have been discussing this here, she'd kill me
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I also thank everyone who has PMd me and offered to take him and work with him but I really don't have the money and like I said, he has a trainer already. I would only be trying to make him good enough to be sold, which we have decided isn't going to be an option. You can all rest assured he will have a happy last few weeks/months and that is really all that matters.

EDIT: I meant to say finally, we have also cancelled the trainer and he is having a few weeks/months in the field. his ridden career is over.
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is he safe to handle? Can he not be a companion horse?
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I asked this at the beginning of the thread, getcape said no because basically he can be a mardy thing in the field (putting it nicely) and does kick, so putting him out as a companion wouldnt be an option as its hard enough to find companion homes as it is, let alone for a horse that is not nice/safe to handle. Someone else also said if he is a decent looking horse people might be tempted to get on him wich could play on the owners mind if they did and he injured them in any way, which i also think is a fair point. After all he doesnt appear to have any physical problems
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I don't like him.

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Great. I'm really glad for your horse that someone who doesn't like him bought him.
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Really hope you are never in a position in your life where you are not given every chance possible beacuse someone doesn't like you.....
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.....couldnt agree more with everything that Tinselface has said..who understands how a horse can be misunderstood, and a real advocate for horses, not of the opinion that we can play God and take a healthy horses life as we please.
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I'm sorry. I was going to end what I had to say in my last comment but I don't unterstand you at all! I can't keep this horse and right now he is pretty dangerous. So you would suggest that I give him to someone else? What if they decide he is to much and he gets in worse hands? What if he seriously hurts someone? I am not "playing god" He must have some sort of problem to be 12 and still acting this way, why has no-one sorted him out already? Why is he like this after 12 years? I have seen abused horses before and I no matter how difficult he is I wouldn't want him to ever go through that.
 
He sounds exactly like the pony I have just lost......he was indeed very dnagerous, broke a few of my bones and nearly killed my sister......I did however keep him and had him for 20 years and lost him 2 weeks ago
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however it was my decision to keep him, if he injured or killed me then so be it, I chose to keep him, I would not let my mam send him back to the sanctuary which would have been an option, because I was scared he would be rehomed again(he was a very nice looking pony) and he would be mis treat, and he had already suffered abuse before I took him on............we developed a trust, but it only went as far as the two of us, he would never trust others, he used to throw me in traffic, take off with me randomly, turn on my on the ground, as I got older I became more confident and able to handle him and the relationship changed, but it took time and I doubt anyone else would have been so patient, if it came to the choice that I could not afford to keep him, I would have pts.
I think you are definately right to pts than pass on.
Im sure as with the dog world, there are not, never ending loving homes for every horse, part of my reasoning in the doggi world for less breeding(going off track) but the amount of times, I get "ah poor dog surely somene can take it and work with it" what all the thousands stacking the pounds now? "No" there is not enough, it takes times and energy, space and money to rehab a dog.

Hope u understand my late night blathering.

Good luck, do what is best for the horse.
 
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is he safe to handle? Can he not be a companion horse?
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I asked this at the beginning of the thread, getcape said no because basically he can be a mardy thing in the field (putting it nicely) and does kick, so putting him out as a companion wouldnt be an option as its hard enough to find companion homes as it is, let alone for a horse that is not nice/safe to handle. Someone else also said if he is a decent looking horse people might be tempted to get on him wich could play on the owners mind if they did and he injured them in any way, which i also think is a fair point. After all he doesnt appear to have any physical problems
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He also is a TB type, which someone told me would make it even harder to find a companion home. I mean I could put him for about £10 a week on my freinds land but I don't want to put them in danger.
 
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He also is a TB type, which someone told me would make it even harder to find a companion home. I mean I could put him for about £10 a week on my freinds land but I don't want to put them in danger.

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Also why would you seriously want to pay for a horse which at the end of the day has no quality of life just stood in a field without a job to do. I completley understand the PTS option and think you are much stronger than i am to be able to do it, the horse doesnt know what is happening at the end of the day! I am not for putting a healthy horse down normally but in his case i do think its the safest and most sensible option.

On my yard over summer a friends horse that just lives in a stable and field broke free, but instead of going to the field it ran down the track and onto the road, made me feel so sad, that is not a good life for a horse. He just was bored of the yard, you could see it in his eyes (he wasnt injured thank goodness!).
 
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He also is a TB type, which someone told me would make it even harder to find a companion home. I mean I could put him for about £10 a week on my freinds land but I don't want to put them in danger.

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Also why would you seriously want to pay for a horse which at the end of the day has no quality of life just stood in a field without a job to do. I completley understand the PTS option and think you are much stronger than i am to be able to do it, the horse doesnt know what is happening at the end of the day! I am not for putting a healthy horse down normally but in his case i do think its the safest and most sensible option.

On my yard over summer a friends horse that just lives in a stable and field broke free, but instead of going to the field it ran down the track and onto the road, made me feel so sad, that is not a good life for a horse. He just was bored of the yard, you could see it in his eyes (he wasnt injured thank goodness!).

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Exactly. and at the end of the day the only reason I pay for my kid to have a horse, is so she can ride it. I do wonder what has made him like this, but I hope he is happy in these next few months. Maybe he just hates us!
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Exactly. and at the end of the day the only reason I pay for my kid to have a horse, is so she can ride it. I do wonder what has made him like this, but I hope he is happy in these next few months. Maybe he just hates us!
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That is very true, i can see where people are coming from when they say that you bought it so its your responsibility in some ways but really hes not, its the idiot that sold him to yous responsibility. And as you dont want him going back there for fear of being sold on etc and the same problem occuring for someone else so PTS is the only viable option. Keeping a horse is too expensive to be messing around and endangering your children in the process is even more of a reason!

As for hating you he doesnt haha, some horses are just messed up in the head, just like humans can become, but unfortunatley you cant section horses and get them sorted out
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. I am sure he will enjoy just being in a field for a few months chilling out
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P.S. I love being online at this time, no one here to argue back
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IMO-after reading all the posts PTS is the best for both parties involved-Horse and OP.
IF OP DID sell him on she would be putting herself at risk of being taken to court if anything happened. Sadly we do live in a culture that does state 'If there's blame, there's a claim' and new owner would surely be quick to blame OP.
From the horses point of view he could end up in a home where patience is not a virtue and find himself at the wrong end of a beating on a daily basis. Some people STILL use this method of discipline and I fear a horse like Boomer would fight back causing himself more grief.
I think that some people just have a problem with reality. Not everything can be cured with a 'carrot stick' and over priced DVD box sets...
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Some horses just are un-savable and no amount of bunny hugging will change that. Why keep passing the buck? I think that the OP is being incredibly brave and making the best decision for Boomer after all, someone with less integrity would sell him on to the highest bidder to recoup some of what they had lost.
 
My friend had this problem with a big coloured horse she bought to event. He was totally unpredictable. One day fine, the next thing would put you under a lorry given half a chance. he would bolt. Stop dead. rear, buck the lot. She tried everything. Back, teeth, feet, saddles everything. The vet investigated for brain tumour as this was felt to be a possibility, but found nothing. In the end she PTS as the horse was not safe. She lost a lot of money as insurance would not pay up. But at the end of the day riding is meant to be fun. I think the OP has made a very brave decsion, her daughters happiness & welfare are the most important thing. Good luck with your new horse, I hope your daughter has many years of happiness from it.
 
I would just like to tell you what my VET said when I was in a similar situation to you.
After putting the horse down her words were.....
"I know it doesn't help much right now but I wish more people would do the responsible thing as you did instead of passing horses from pillar to post."

Ignore the cloud cuckoo land my little pony brigade. Sometimes the right decision is the hardest decision of all.
 
Getcape I am sorry you are being given such a hard time by some idiots. You have taken advice and doing the sensible and responsible thing. Please keep on coming on here, we need some more sensible people around the place!
 
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The issue I have with all your supportive posts for having a horse put down, is that you are all making the decision on what someone has typed on a computer because they haven't been able to get on with a horse in a short space of time (is it less than a year?)

Have any of you seen it yourself? Seen the daughter ride? Is she a nervous rider? The 'trainer' are they a 'professional'? And what exactly is a 'professional'? Or are they just they best rider on the yard? What are they comparing it too? Can we see a video of the riders and the horses behaviour?

Also if the OP has the money for another horse, how can she not afford a few more hundred having the horse assessed properly by different professionals? As was suggested by many people in the original post.

Maybe just another case of someone buying a horse that has needs thats exceed the abilities of the rider. And they are happy to blame the horse, the previous owners and anyone but themselves.

My horse would be 'dangerous' with the wrong rider, he is very sensitive, and nervous riders freak him out.

And as for all the comments about bunny huggers, sorry for not thinking that pts is the best option in all these cases but, imho, the OP doesn't seem to have explored many avenues when trying to sort this horse out.
 
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The issue I have with all your supportive posts for having a horse put down, is that you are all making the decision on what someone has typed on a computer because they haven't been able to get on with a horse in a short space of time (is it less than a year?)

Have any of you seen it yourself? Seen the daughter ride? Is she a nervous rider? The 'trainer' are they a 'professional'? And what exactly is a 'professional'? Or are they just they best rider on the yard? What are they comparing it too? Can we see a video of the riders and the horses behaviour?

Also if the OP has the money for another horse, how can she not afford a few more hundred having the horse assessed properly by different professionals? As was suggested by many people in the original post.

Maybe just another case of someone buying a horse that has needs thats exceed the abilities of the rider. And they are happy to blame the horse, the previous owners and anyone but themselves.

My horse would be 'dangerous' with the wrong rider, he is very sensitive, and nervous riders freak him out.

And as for all the comments about bunny huggers, sorry for not thinking that pts is the best option in all these cases but, imho, the OP doesn't seem to have explored many avenues when trying to sort this horse out.

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My daughter is not a nervous rider, no. And yes we did have the money for a new horse as our old pony got £4000 so we used the rest of that to pay for him. How can I not afford "a few more hundred?" I have already used more than a few hundred on him. I mean, money isn't endless we don't all have huge wages and loads of savings and I have a lot more important things to spend my money on (eg Bills, insurance, food!) Maybe I shouldn't have got the new horse and pumped all the £4000 in to Boomer, but for what? Now my daughter has a safer horse to ride! And it is COMPLETLY my fault we have a new horse, I pushed and pushed at the idea (but also I thought I could sell Boomer, I didnt get a new horse with the idea I would out him to sleep) He has been checked out, the previous owners ignore any contact. My daughter helps other peoples bad horses when they are to afraid to ride, but he is in a league of his own and I as much as you try, you are not going to change my mind.

When we brought him home he was kicking, eveyone just said "he'll settle in" etc and he hasn't. No matter what you say we have tried with him and I am not keeping him, so everything I am doing is to make him safe enough to be sold.

EDIT: Tinselface: Would you honestly suggest I sold him? (Geuine question)
 
Getscape - I'm sorry you are being given such a hard time by a few of the forumites.

Having had to have four horses PTS over the years for health issues I know it is not a decision that you will have taken lightly.

I have far more sympathy for the horses that bunny huggers retire to fields that are lame, etc just so that they feel better about it.

Some humans are just bad and I am sure that some horses are just too messed up for whatever reason to be rehabilitated.

My own horse is tricky and in the wrong hands could be a liability but his behaviour is not dangerous. It is not worth someone dying just to keep a horse alive.
 
getcape, you gave him a chance, it didn't work. I think you are a very very sensible person. You are taking into account many futures here, and ensuring that all parties are kept safe. Your daughter, you, other people and the horse, and by doing what you propose you are keeping everyone safe.

I am so sorry that you are getting a hard time, but you know in your heart of hearts that this is the right thing.
 
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The issue I have with all your supportive posts for having a horse put down, is that you are all making the decision on what someone has typed on a computer because they haven't been able to get on with a horse in a short space of time (is it less than a year?)

Have any of you seen it yourself? Seen the daughter ride? Is she a nervous rider? The 'trainer' are they a 'professional'? And what exactly is a 'professional'? Or are they just they best rider on the yard? What are they comparing it too? Can we see a video of the riders and the horses behaviour?

Also if the OP has the money for another horse, how can she not afford a few more hundred having the horse assessed properly by different professionals? As was suggested by many people in the original post.

Maybe just another case of someone buying a horse that has needs thats exceed the abilities of the rider. And they are happy to blame the horse, the previous owners and anyone but themselves.

My horse would be 'dangerous' with the wrong rider, he is very sensitive, and nervous riders freak him out.

And as for all the comments about bunny huggers, sorry for not thinking that pts is the best option in all these cases but, imho, the OP doesn't seem to have explored many avenues when trying to sort this horse out.

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You seem to be overlooking the fact that the advice was given by a professional trainer that knows both the horse, the OP and the daughter. You know Jack s***te about any of it.
 
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The issue I have with all your supportive posts for having a horse put down, is that you are all making the decision on what someone has typed on a computer because they haven't been able to get on with a horse in a short space of time (is it less than a year?)

Have any of you seen it yourself? Seen the daughter ride? Is she a nervous rider? The 'trainer' are they a 'professional'? And what exactly is a 'professional'? Or are they just they best rider on the yard? What are they comparing it too? Can we see a video of the riders and the horses behaviour?

Also if the OP has the money for another horse, how can she not afford a few more hundred having the horse assessed properly by different professionals? As was suggested by many people in the original post.

Maybe just another case of someone buying a horse that has needs thats exceed the abilities of the rider. And they are happy to blame the horse, the previous owners and anyone but themselves.

My horse would be 'dangerous' with the wrong rider, he is very sensitive, and nervous riders freak him out.

And as for all the comments about bunny huggers, sorry for not thinking that pts is the best option in all these cases but, imho, the OP doesn't seem to have explored many avenues when trying to sort this horse out.

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well said, Tinselface,
Can I add, as well, if he OP, didnt want other peoples views, then she wouldnt have put her problem on a public forum, and to call me, Tinselface, idiots, tree huggers, and other insulting names, is just plain insulting, and not welcoming to newer member like me. This is just our views, and there is no need to personally attack, me and others for expressing it.
We DONT all think the same, and everyone sees things differently..
PLus, I agree with Tinselface, that its difficult to condone putting a healthy horse to sleep, without knowing every possible avenue has been explored, to find out the reason behind the horses problems,
and no disrespect to the OP, but she admits herself that she knows nothing about horses...
At the end of the day, it could be quite possible, that if the horse had a more experienced knowledgable rider and management that the horse might be perfectly rideable.
Like Tinselface has said, her horse wouldnt behave for other riders, and likewise, I have horses in my yard, who I vcan be certain would quite likely be branded as dangerous, or unsafe, unreliable, but as I am used to coping with their behaviour, I have no diffulties, I know how to cope with them.
I am sure others as well as Tinselface, and me, on the forum have similar horses.
 
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Like Tinselface has said, her horse wouldnt behave for other riders, and likewise, I have horses in my yard, who I vcan be certain would quite likely be branded as dangerous, or unsafe, unreliable, but as I am used to coping with their behaviour, I have no diffulties, I know how to cope with them.
I am sure others as well as Tinselface, and me, on the forum have similar horses.

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Well I would suggest you put your expertise to use and sort them out - because what happens if you go under a bus??

I consider it my responsibility to ensure my horses are well mannered and safe enough to be ridden by any half-way competent rider -because that way I ensure they have a future if I HAVE to sell them! Obviously, as I'm a breeder, I have youngsters who wouldn't YET be suitable for complete novices ,but that's because they are still learning -NOT because they kick, bite, buck, rear etc. And when I sell weanlings or other youngstock NOT backed, I make damn sure they're good to catch and handle in EVERY way before they go.

I can never understand why some people like to BOAST about having ill-mannered horses that 'only they can ride' - I'd be ashamed to admit I was so cr*p at training horses!!
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And to the OP, ignore your critics. You're doing the right thing! There is a glut of perfectly NICE horses on the market - the likelihood of someone who can sort this horse out properly actually WANTING him is too small to gamble his future on. Let alone the safety of some well-meaning person who thinks they can sort him!
 
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The issue I have with all your supportive posts for having a horse put down, is that you are all making the decision on what someone has typed on a computer because they haven't been able to get on with a horse in a short space of time (is it less than a year?)

Have any of you seen it yourself? Seen the daughter ride? Is she a nervous rider? The 'trainer' are they a 'professional'? And what exactly is a 'professional'? Or are they just they best rider on the yard? What are they comparing it too? Can we see a video of the riders and the horses behaviour?

Also if the OP has the money for another horse, how can she not afford a few more hundred having the horse assessed properly by different professionals? As was suggested by many people in the original post.

Maybe just another case of someone buying a horse that has needs thats exceed the abilities of the rider. And they are happy to blame the horse, the previous owners and anyone but themselves.

My horse would be 'dangerous' with the wrong rider, he is very sensitive, and nervous riders freak him out.

And as for all the comments about bunny huggers, sorry for not thinking that pts is the best option in all these cases but, imho, the OP doesn't seem to have explored many avenues when trying to sort this horse out.

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well said, Tinselface,
Can I add, as well, if he OP, didnt want other peoples views, then she wouldnt have put her problem on a public forum, and to call me, Tinselface, idiots, tree huggers, and other insulting names, is just plain insulting, and not welcoming to newer member like me. This is just our views, and there is no need to personally attack, me and others for expressing it.
We DONT all think the same, and everyone sees things differently..
PLus, I agree with Tinselface, that its difficult to condone putting a healthy horse to sleep, without knowing every possible avenue has been explored, to find out the reason behind the horses problems,
and no disrespect to the OP, but she admits herself that she knows nothing about horses...
At the end of the day, it could be quite possible, that if the horse had a more experienced knowledgable rider and management that the horse might be perfectly rideable.
Like Tinselface has said, her horse wouldnt behave for other riders, and likewise, I have horses in my yard, who I vcan be certain would quite likely be branded as dangerous, or unsafe, unreliable, but as I am used to coping with their behaviour, I have no diffulties, I know how to cope with them.
I am sure others as well as Tinselface, and me, on the forum have similar horses.

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I owned a horse for over 10 years and yes, I know said I know nothing, but I do know basic things. I am also surrounded by knowledgeable people on my yard which has 30 other horses on and almost as many other owners. It's not as if we bought this horse as a first horse as complete novice owners! He doesn't need a "more experienced knowledgeable rider." You seem to be branding my daugher as an inexperienced rider which I don't agree with, but because of her age I will call this a fair comment. However, as far as I am concerned, the trainer we have had is very experienced as is some people on the yard which have recently seen if they can help when I informed them that we may put him to sleep, which for your information didn't help, he acted the same with these magical "experienced" riders. My daughter is also completly capable of handling "difficult" horses, which I'm sure I have said a million times, but she rides (and often gets paid to ride) horses on the yard which need getting fit or if the owner is scared or the horse needs bringing on etc. but he obviously has some problems!

You can blame it on an inexperienced rider all you like (which she isn't), but he has had many "experienced" riders on his back and it hasn't helped. You can repeat that I know nothing about horses, but I meant that in the sense that I don't ride. I'm not stupid - I wouldn't put him to sleep for no reason at all. I'm glad you can cope with your "dangerous" horse, but either you give us your magical cure or stop repeating yourself with the whole "I haven't done everything I can." What else?!! Everything has been done. I know you say you have horses on your yard which can be branded as dangerous, but he is more than that. He charges and doesnt stop untill theres a dead end. He bucks and rears until the rider is off his back (incuding the trainer and others on the yard) Also, let's dicuss his general behaviour when being brushed or simply when someone is walking through a field. How do you explain the fact he will go over to someone and kick them in the field. Now that is not due to an inexperienced rider!

I also wanted to say to you, I do honestly love animals. I am not doing this for fun. We have done our best for him.
 
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Like Tinselface has said, her horse wouldnt behave for other riders, and likewise, I have horses in my yard, who I vcan be certain would quite likely be branded as dangerous, or unsafe, unreliable, but as I am used to coping with their behaviour, I have no diffulties, I know how to cope with them.
I am sure others as well as Tinselface, and me, on the forum have similar horses.

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Well I would suggest you put your expertise to use and sort them out - because what happens if you go under a bus??

I consider it my responsibility to ensure my horses are well mannered and safe enough to be ridden by any half-way competent rider -because that way I ensure they have a future if I HAVE to sell them! Obviously, as I'm a breeder, I have youngsters who wouldn't YET be suitable for complete novices ,but that's because they are still learning -NOT because they kick, bite, buck, rear etc. And when I sell weanlings or other youngstock NOT backed, I make damn sure they're good to catch and handle in EVERY way before they go.

I can never understand why some people like to BOAST about having ill-mannered horses that 'only they can ride' - I'd be ashamed to admit I was so cr*p at training horses!!
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And to the OP, ignore your critics. You're doing the right thing! There is a glut of perfectly NICE horses on the market - the likelihood of someone who can sort this horse out properly actually WANTING him is too small to gamble his future on. Let alone the safety of some well-meaning person who thinks they can sort him!

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Oh dear, another personal attack on me,
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just because I have a view,
I must add, I also have youngsters,
And horses are not machines, some are quirkier than others..
some will do one thing, another will do another, NONE is perfect. More or less like people.
I am NOT boasting, and I am not crap trainer, infact, Im very competent, AND Im sure some of the most talented horses in the world, are very quirky in character, and require experienced, understanding approach.
and I dont expect to go under s bus, But THANKYOU, for your obvious concern, IM touched!
 
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And horses are not machines, some are quirkier than others..
some will do one thing, another will do another, NONE is perfect. More or less like people.
I am NOT boasting, and I am not crap trainer, infact, Im very competent, AND Im sure some of the most talented horses in the world, are very quirky in character, and require experienced, understanding approach.
and I dont expect to go under s bus, But THANKYOU, for your obvious concern, IM touched!

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I am aware horses are not machines and some horses can be quirky, but I also expect horses not to put many human lives at risk. I agree not all horses are perfect, but not all horses are 100% unperfect! There are many quirky horses on our yard, they can be a challenge to hack out and take the piss out of bad riders and throw them off BUT they are not dangerous enough to be classed as life threatning.
 
It doesn't sound to me like this horse is quirky, it sounds like he is downright dangerous.
The OP has tried all the options she can find open to her and the horse hasn't improved. Surely, you would expect to see some change. And how many trainers opinions should she seek, keep going til one gets injured or worse?
Her daughter loves this horse, there is no way she would be going down this route lightly. You are making it sound like she is some kind of incompetent, hard hearted monster. It sounds to me like she is someone who has made a very difficult decision for absolutely the right reasons. She is a mother and doesn't want her daughter or someone elses damaged or killed.
Serious question for Tamba and Tinselface, what do you think she ought to do next?
 
OMG, I can't believe this thread's still going. I wish people would debate "what should be done with a dangerous or lame youngish horse" on its own thread, instead of giving individuals in a difficult situation such a hard time.

OP, there are always the odd one or two people absolutely against pts horses who aren't half on their death bed already. Funnily enough very few of them possess endless lush fields and vets funds to take in and maintain all the useless, hopeless, dangerous horses that they think everyone else is obligated to care for.

You're better agreeing to disagree, its an argument that's thrashed out over and over again.
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FWIW, you're doing a great job explaining your reasons for your decision, but you won't get through to everyone.
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It's sad you've come to the decision to have him put to sleep. Not sad that he's going to be PTS, but that he needs it.
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He sounds one messed up horse and something has happened to him along the line to make him like that.

There is maybe some magical person out there who can fix him but there's far far more who would just make him worse or end up getting hurt. As many have said, it's just not worth the risk.

Your critics seem to have serious problems with putting a healthy animal to sleep, if he could be called 'healthy', yet I doubt they are vegetarian or vegan. It seems to touch some raw nerve regarding having 'god complex' and whitter on about 'power of life and death' and all that rubbish. But these are ANIMALS and they have no concept of being 'killed'. They don't fret about it, dwell on what's going to happen to them in the afterlife, worry about what or who they are leaving behind.

I DON'T have a problem with having an animal put to sleep. If they are 'healthy' it's sad, but in some cases it can be a huge relief. I've shot, slaughtered or PTS many animals. Each time it's sad, sometimes tragic, watching their life slip away, but always for the humans, never for the animal. They are safe and stressfree whereever they've gone.

It's such a difficult decision you've come to, but not for him. He has no idea what's going to happen, and never will.

Try and enjoy the little time you have left with him.
 
I still have a problem with phrases like 'he sounds downright dangerous' to quote chesnutty mare. Yes, he does sound dangerous doesn't he? But I still ask, have you seen this horse or his behaviours? No? Then how can you support putting an otherwise healthy animal to sleep?

And again chesnuttymare, what do I think she should do? I have already said this numerous times, as did others (not tamba
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) on the original post. I think she should have it asssessed by someone else. I had a 'problem' horse 12-15 years ago, and if the kind of people like NH people were around then as they are now, I would have tried that route, anything to avoid having a horse put down. I have nothing against putting a horse down if it is dangerous, but to me he really sounds like he hasn't had a fair crack at life
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And FWIW Kallibear (and not like its any of your beeswax really
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) I am indeed veggie, does that earn me more mud slinging for what I think I have put forward as straight forward and (mainly) non-emotive posts? Whatever. Call me a 'forumite' a tree hugger whatever you like. The OP has asked for opinions and this was mine. I would offer to take the horse off her hands, but I really don't have the space or funds for another horse.

And OP, someone above gave me an idea, how can he jump, cos if he's up to 2.0m plus I think Miss E Whitaker might be interested
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Tinsel.. your saying you'd need help to assess your own horse, so go back to your box. If you need help to assess a horse, then you certainly can't give critism/assess on someone else's horse.

Getcape give him the best time ever, ignore the tree huggers of the horse world as they aren't always right
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Getcape - I'm sure if you did want an independant opinion there are genuinely experienced people on this forum who would be prepared to asses the horse.

Where abouts are you? If anywhere near Northamptonshire I'b be happy to pop over myself (foc). I'm sure there must be someone in your area.

I only mention this as having been around horses for 46 years (yes I am old), one of the things I have learnt is that the ability of instructors varies massively. Often people dont realise their instructor cant really cut it until they meet one that can
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Not saying this is the case with your instructor at all but a second opinion couldn't hurt.
 
I have been reading this thread since it started and have held off posting frankly becasue the outcome of my situation is not one I am at all proud of nor is it one that I have communicated to the forum before I have just drawn a veil over it. But sorry the tone of this thread has actually made me angry and I would like to let you have this from another angle.

Let me start by saying I was in a previous life a qualified BHSI. I have competed and hunted for most of my life save a break in my thirties. So I am not a novice neither was I a nervous rider if anything I was always considered gung ho to the point of madness.

2.5 years ago I bought a 11 year old TB I have had TB's for most of my life and this one was needing a home due to his owner being too scared to ride him.....She was dismissed as a Novice who was over horsed.

He kicked anyone that got near him, reared when led, would lunge for 5 mins then come at you to attack, he would turn his rear end on you in the box and kick out.

When riding he would be perfect one day and the next spin, buck, rear in fact do anything he could to get you off him.

I got teeth, back checked, vet to give a complete MOT and saddler out to fit a new saddle nothing found all fine no pain issues. So I carried on we had good days (i.e. days when he didn't manage to actually get me off him) and we had many days when I hit the deck and ate dust. During this time any love I had of horses and riding was being slowly sucked out of me.

The day he decided that if he couldn't get me off by the normal methods he was going to run at the menage fence was the day I called a trainer who specialised in dealing with difficult horses. She suggested taking back to total basics i.e. a re-break.

Three months later she told me "In my opinion this horse is totally unpredictable I have no idea what on earth has happened in his past to make hinm like this but you will never be able to trust him I am sorry but I am not prepared to put myself in danger anymore"

I ws at a point where I had no idea what to try next I had a horse that in all good faith I could not sell on, he was not suitable as a companion as he would be fine with another horse for a day or so then turn on it (I have paid out some huge vets bills for other peoples horses!) and no one was prepared to turn their horses out with him any more.

I decided to give it one last try (he still didn't scare me and my ego saying if I can sort this horse out!) one day I was in the menage he had just failed to get me off by standing upright and threatening to go over when another livery opened the gate and walked her horse in, my horse took off running at her and her horse then bolted for the first time I had the cold realisation that this time he had not only no care at all for me but no sense of his own welfare as he gathered to jump a canal onto a main road I bailed out.

I woke up in an air ambulance with a broken shoulder, fractured hip, fractured knee, broken ankle and a head injury that caused me to be blind in one eye for a month.

A month later I sat down with my YO, The trainer, the vet and we had a full frank discussion of what to do. We decided that as sad as it was pts was the only safe and sane answer.

Now this is where I lost the plot. One of my friends persuaded me that no way could I ever have this beautiful horse killed when he was perfectly healthy and that there would be someone somewhere that he would click with and all would be well. She gave me the contact details of a lady that would take him on and re-train him I am ashamed to say I sold him to her for 300 euros.

The relief was fantastic it was no longer my problem and I set out looking for a youngster that I could bring on in my own way and hence bypass the issues caused by someone elses cack handed handling.

So what became of my old horse was it a happy ending. Afraid not two weeks into his re-training he reared up and went over with one of the riders fracturing her pelvis and breaking her arm in 3 places. His new owner sold him for slaughter and he ended up being transported across Europe to a Slaughterhouse.

Whatever had happened to him in the past I have no idea, all he had with me was consistancy and gentle treatment for 9 months my biggest regret is that I did not have the balls to go through with my origional plan of giving him a bucket of feed whilst the vet gently injected him. The thought of just how terrified he must have been in his last hours haunts me.

I fully accept that some horses are labelled dangerous when in fact it is a case of the rider not being able to cope (I have had a horse in the past that was a Donkey with me but would be a nervous wreck if anyone was even the slightest bit nervous around him). But the OP has stated quite clearly her situation and in all honesty it does not sound like total numpty novice gets big scary horse and can't cope with it. Some horses are quirky and need someone experienced to sort them out a bit but there is a huge difference between quirky and downright dangerous.

I for one am pleased that the OP is doing what she thinks is the right thing for her horse because for a few horses there is sadly only one way to secure their future, lets be honest here what do we really think the chances are of the OP's horse finding that one person who can make him come right and what happens 5 years down the line if anything happens to them?

Having read all of this thread I think that Janet George's comments are superb and I only can only hope that more breeders and trainers take on her sane and measured approach.

Having been the type of rider that enjoyed the whole "my horse is a complete bastard and only I can manage him" feelings I am very glad to say that I have now grown up!

It has been 18 months since my accident and I have now started to ride my sane, sensible rising 5 year old and I am proud of the fact that he hasn't been ridden for 15 days because of the weather and I can get on him and he just gets on with the job with no drama.

Apologies for the length of this post
 
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