Would you keep going?

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sonjafoers

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I am at my wit's end with my horse and am starting to think about getting rid of her. I don't really want to but I'm not sure what else to do so am looking for some words of wisdom!

She is 6 years old & I have had her for 4 years, when I am able to get going with her she is fantastic and I really enjoy her but most of the time she is actually off work through various injuries. Since she has been backed she has genuinely been off work more than she has been in it, and it is causing problems with our 'bond' and my riding confidence.

I am an experienced and confident rider and I have another horse who isn't easy which doesn't worry me at all so I'm not quite sure what is going wrong here! Because I tend to ride her for a maximum of about 4 weeks before she is off work again we really don't seem to gel, and as soon as I start her again after she has been off for a period she is understandably very spooky and silly and makes me wary of her. I think that if I could get her really fit over a period of time she may be more resistant to these silly niggly injuries, but i can never ride her long enough to get her fit.

As an example she was ridden for 3 weeks in November after having a foot abcess, then she somehow managed to skin a back leg so was off work again. I rode her twice once she was ready and she then got kicked so was off work until Christmas when I managed to ride once before the snow came. This weekend was the first time I could get out because of the weather and she came in on Saturday morning with a swollen fetlock and feeling very sorry for herself. Now she will be off again for a few weeks and it seems to be the final straw really. Aside from the financial implications with regular vets bills, emotionally it's draining me as this has been the regular routine since I've had her.

Am I feeling sorry for myself or just being a realist? What would you do?
 
Have a look at your management - continuing little niggles can usually be easily avoided.

But I think many of us are feeling fed up at the moment - the weather has helped none of us.
 
Hi, just remember this really is the 'low' period as SallySmith said. Winter is all bills poor weather, particularly this year and all lots of work with rugging and mud etc.
I had a similar situation with my mare - I only got her in the August and she then lacerated her eye in September (5,000 vet bill)meaning she was off work until end January. Then my ET lady said there was a mouth problem requiring a recommended dentist for whom I had to wait til end March. I had heart surgery in July and couldn't ride until November.......I must have only ridden her 6 or 8 times in a year......These things happen. You need to bond on the ground and have some fun with her and maybe play games with her in the manege if you have access to one.
Spring is around the corner - my advice would be tp persevere and see what the spring brings. Horses are not selling now anyway so you need to wait for the right time of year and you may feel more positive by then. We all get fed up - owning horses is so rewarding but it is I would say 90% doing fo
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r 10% riding....the trick is to really enjoy that 'doing' bit!! Hope this may help!
 
Horses should be fun - if you are not enjoying her and she is causing you stress, I would sell her on. Don't blame yourself - after all do you 'gel' with every person you meet?
 
Well its a bit annoying that shes always out of work. Shes just one of them horses clearly, if its getting you down why dont you full loan her or something nearby for a while, least you can still keep an eye on her and check shes ok, if you still feel the same sell her.
 
Or you could leave her until Spring when hopefully the weather is better and that will remove one of the parameters for failure!
 
I think the winter is partly to blame for my melancholy - nothing ever seems so bad when the sun is shining! I have just been down to see her and she is so lovely all the hassle almost seemed worth it. Thank you everyone, I will spend some time thinking things through before I make a decision.
 
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