Hi everyone. Sorry this will be long.
Some years ago I bought an absoloutley gorgeous talented show cob. He knows his job inside and out and has won more ribbons than I can count. He had many many homes on his passport but I assumed that this was because he had been unlucky- now I know why! Nobody has kept him for more than 6 months since he was 4. he is now 9.
His behaviour is horrendous and I am starting to feel like I am not enjoying him any more but I feel too sad for him to pass him on again.
Basically he has a very strong panic button which means he can not be stabled,tied anywhere except one place or put in a horsebox without almost being flattened with sedation. This means I have stopped doing much competing, stopped taking him anywhere and don't want to compete him anymore. A behaviouralist said he was the worst she had seen, he has smashed stable doors clean off, put a hole in the side of a trailer and been stuck over the breast bars. He box walks, kicks, rears and eventually will climb out of a stable. When at events he is very difficult to handle and needs a team of people to help me as he is so hyped up. He flips if another horse comes near him while he is confined (either by a tie, stable or held) however is fine in the field. He is a nightmare in the lorry as he rocks it when rearing and stamping, he can not be travelled alone and needs a companion at all times (which I don't have any more hence the issues becoming worse!)
At home he is more relaxed, however he stomps/rears/kicks walls/spooks/snaps headcollars and is generally a thug. He has a number of issues I am too exhausted to fix! He has seen a number of professionals over the years and can only be handled by me or the most experienced groom at the yard. I have had lots of trouble on yards and he has even been thrown off one for persistent damage to property.
Riding at home he is sometimes very good and sometimes very horrible depending on his mood. He can sometimes buck which does not bother me but he has an annoying habit of spinning and pretending to gallop in the wrong direction of spooked, he is not scared he has just learnt this trick as it scares me and gets him out of working. He is strong and he knows it but I can generally cope. He is happiest in the field and would be over the moon if he was never ridden again, however I can't afford an expensive field ornament. He lives out at present with a few friends.
From some digging in his past I found he was kept confined while still entire in a stable until he was 4 and was used as a stallion hence where I think the provlems started. Various owners I have traced admitted they couldn't cope and sold him. One said he was very dangerous. He is definatley not a rig and was gelded after producing 7 foals at 4.
I am seriously debating selling him, I love the bones of him but realistically he is sucking all enjoyment out of it for me. I don't really want to ride as there's no point as I have nothing to aim for, I can't go anywhere and he is unpredictable in most respects. In the wrong hands I think he could be dangerous. I used to love to compete and happy hacking does not do it for me!
He has some good points. When he works well he tries his heart out, he loves attention and is very quiet and easy to do in the field plus he is a great show horse (if you can get him to the ring!) he would suit someone looking for a happy hacker to live on a very quiet yard with no other people he can hurt and a few small companions, it's not going to be that easy to find though!
Has anyone else ever bought the wrong horse? I wanted an all rounder to compete and have fun with and have ended up being stuck with him. Problem is I do love him and do not want to see him fall into the wrong hands- plus who would seriously take on a happy hacker who can't be stabled or boxed and who does not enjoy fuss or being ridden and who is only 9?
Not expecting a resoloution to this and I proberbly will end up keeping him and resenting him regardless but it's made me feel better to admit how I feel to someone!