I guess I'd just like to share and get some unbiased views and advice. I've had DHorse since last May, he was sold to me as riding club type, 9 yrs old native, easy to do etc.etc. I had 5 stage vetting, teeth, saddle etc. done. He is very easy and polite to handle, look after etc. and this has not changed.
However, he has a tendency to spook sideways sharply when ridden and sometimes then runs if the rider becomes unbalanced. This has gradually got worse over the last 6 months. If the rider is good enough to catch the spook with the leg and keeps balance, he can be gathered up and carries on as before. His previous owner is in touch, although not local, and said he never did it with her ever, in fact they used to take him out as a nanny for young horses. He doesn't do anything else, buck, rear, kick, bite, spin, nap etc.
I have fallen off him many times ( I know that this won't have helped his confidence), and currently I am in plaster having broken my arm and fracturing a bone in my spine coming off him a fortnight ago. There is hopefully no long-term damage. I feel a bit sick when anyone gets on him at the moment as i am afraid he will have them on the ground. He did it yesterday with a new rider but she was able to sit to him - I had to leave as I couldn't watch.
I am having him professionally schooled 3 times a week currently and have been once a week since September when it started to bother me. My instructor is extremely competent and can sit to him. She says that the spooks are sharp, but as a whole, she's ridden far worse and she thinks he has a lot of potential to be a nice horse with work.
To be honest, I can't imagine getting back on him (or anything else) right now - I could end up in a wheelchair, or worse next time. My DS 13 was supposed to be sharing him with me but there's no way I'd let him get on again.
I've got another 4 weeks in plaster and my instructor advises not to make any decisions until then. I am paying someone to ride him and someone to care for him and I'm having to get a taxi to the yard as I can't drive due to arm so feel like I am bleeding cash right now. If I did want to ride him again, I'd have to have lessons at a riding school horse before getting back on him as well as paying for him to be schooled.
It all feels a bit hopeless - has anyone else been through similar and did you persevere or try to rehome? I bought him with the intention of having him forever - apart from this, he is lovely.
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Not how I envisaged horse ownership - please be kind
60 replies
bandito · 04/03/2017 10:32
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