I think I'm putting down my difficult horse

[whattodowheretogo]

I've posted about my horse on here before but I'd just like some last minute opinions.

I bought him a year ago from a TB breeder and trainer as she felt that she was too old for a horse like him and she couldn't sit his spooks.

No ground manners, didn't know where to put his feet, didn't respond to pressure.

I wanted a project and he was one in every sense of the word. I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him.

When I tried him out he was good, but at the end, he took off with me across the field and didn't stop until he physically couldn't go any further. I wasn't concerned about that, I just figured he was green and overwhelmed and these things would come with time.

When we got him home he needed a chifney to be taken anywhere or he would just set his neck and try to canter off (my ex was looking after him for a lot of the time - he's a racehorse trainer and rehab yard owner so he knows what he's doing!) and even he would struggle with him.

Through the months his ground manners improved but to this day he can suddenly try to drag you somewhere and canter off.

His biggest issues are ridden. I've had many rides on him when he's simply decided to take off and nothing can stop him until he's done himself in. One lesson I had we were cantering for so long with him screeching round the corners and bucking that I was getting lightheaded. My trainer couldn't do anything but stand and watch.

He will do things like take off, then screech to a halt in front of the fence, then shoot off again.

I've taken everything right back to basics, over the winter I worked solely on the ground with him, teaching him the saddle and bridle is a positive thing, we learnt to stand stock still at the mountain block, yield to pressure etc.

But he is so unpredictable - he'll do a nasty spook at "nothing", just completely drop his shoulder.

I've spent months just walking and trotting in the school to make it a nice calm experience for him. I've honestly tried everything.

He's just messed up his only saving grace - to hack he is brilliant and super calm. But this weekend he took one look at something on the floor, bolted for home and ran into the main road. I came off, got concussion and fractured my foot.

I've been riding for 17 years, I'll ride literally anything. I ride friend's difficult horses for them if they've come off and had accidents and have a great time. But there's just something about this horse that I just think.. what is it going to take?

I'm so thankful that this wasn't a worse injury for either me or him.

I'm pretty certain that I'm going to put him down. It's something I've discussed with my vet before after he remarked what a difficult git he was.

I feel like it would be unfair on him to pass him on, I'd worry about how he'd be treated given all his quirks, whether he'd be passed on again etc but also I'd worry that he may seriously injure himself or someone else.

Thoughts/suggestions?

I hope people realise that there are some highly strung and reactive thoroughbreds out there who don't settle well being put out to pasture (even if the op had access to pasture!). Some do, but some definitely do not. Some of these highly intelligent athletes need lots of work and hands on activity to feel settled. Ask any thoroughbred trainer or breeder. Some horses, for whatever reason, just like some humans, are unable to exist in a natural, calm state and remain hyper-vigilant and stressed. Contrary to what seems to be popular belief held by some people on here, condemning a horse to 10 yrs of misery in a field is not always the kindest course of action.

Sad as it is, OP, because you obviously love your horse, I think you are making the best decision.
(I have owned 2 horses when I was younger and ride for years, often sorting out difficult horses).

For the people suggesting various retirement options: horses put out to grass do need regular attention to be happy and healthy. So that’s 20 years worth of horse who isn’t really safe to handle. And I’m not sure how kind it really is to leave a large, highly strung energetic animal (TB) cooped up in a field for 20 years. They are not bred for it. This isn’t a Dartmoor pony.

A tough decision, a horrible solution, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t the best thing to do.

Cross-posted with ScoopIfChaff.

OP, meant to say I was reading your OP with mounting horror and in the end, serious as it was, I was actually relieved no one had been killed.

A horse through the windscreen kills driver and passengers.

slarty I'll never forget him. We were all gutted, even the Vet.

Spudlet how awful

I remember all the spindles farm thing

Slartybartfest yes and no. Any horse can be or become difficult to ride and/or handle. Some issues are down to management, e.g. too much food, too little turn out, too little exercise, inexperienced owner. Some issues are down to health problems, e.g. sore backs often from ill fitting saddles, lameness, hoof problems, dental issues, ulcers and then the list goes on to a million other problems, some easy to diagnose and testable, others impossible to find and with no cure.

Having said that, ex-racers will have had been brought up in a way that is incompatible with being leisure or sports horses and they need to be retrained. Some have been so negatively affected by their early experiences that they never recover. Some are bought by inexperienced owners and have even more negative experiences. Some have a fiery temperament that is not suited to everyday riding. However, the same can be said of other breeds. Many sports bred horses are quite energetic and if that energy is not properly channeled things can get out of hand.

Waves to Spudlet

Just out of nosiness I read this thread but don't know much about horses. It left me wondering why so adverse to them going to "the meat man"? I'm no animal rights activist and think you should do whatever you've got to but if she's going to be killed surely it's better it benefits someone? Is it because slaughter for meat is distressing to the animal? If not, why not allow that. So me seems less of a waste of life? Just curious.

Have a word with the horse sanctuaries first. They may be able to rehabilitate or find a companion home. That is what they do. But I wouldn’t sell.

Whilst thoroughbreds are indeed often highly strung we’ve kept loads happy put out to pasture just with enough land to play around on and stable herd buddies. A sanctuary will be able to explore all options whilst also potentially offering work if suitable.

The meat man shoots, most of us prefer vet injection whilst holding them.

I have one retired horse at the mo. My horses stay with me for life unless they are young, good and I can sell them to a good ridden home.

I never EVER pass on as companion, I never loan out. I PTS when the end comes.

All you non horsey sentimentalists have no clue whatsoever. Most horsey folk have more injuries and broken bones than not and that's from day to day stuff not dangerous horses.
Having a horse PTS is hideous - it never leaves you. Holding 600Kg of horse as it drops ...and you can't just dig a little hole to bury it.

Hard as it is, PTS is the kindest thing. He's a serious accident waiting to happen right now, and at his age there would be a risk of someone eventually getting on board and being killed. A horse that is dangerous on the ground can't be sent to a charity or retirement as at some point they need their feet trimming if nothing more (and a TB is different to a native who could live out 24/7 with no rug).

I know of dangerous horses who have ended up being passed on (dad used to have a job accompanying new vets round the area and helping them out and as he knew a lot of dealers locally he knew the horses), and one broke the vets back when it span and kicked her across the yard before she's done a thing to it.

potato
Moor Wood is closing down

They've been given notice by their landlord and can't find anywhere to go, so heaven knows what will happen to their existing horses
They won't take any more on at this time

Just read the ‘can he not be kept as a pet’ comment. 😂 bless.

A horse is not a pet. A horse is expensive to keep. Intelligent and needs stimulation be it work or herd buddies. They don’t do well as pets. I have 4 retired expensive lawn ornaments and 3 in work. It’s one hell of a commitment if you can only find one and want to ride

Fund not find

You know you’ve made the right decision OP. It’s hard because you’ve obviously put a lot of blood sweat and tears into sorting him out. But he sounds dangerous so you are definitely doing the right thing. I hope it goes as well as possible.

TALK to the charities is what I said. Explain. Some do take horses like this for rehabilitation. I used to work for one who did. Or pts if you want.

I think its quite incredible reading this, compared to the shit people get on the dog board when theyve had enough of a dangerous dog for instance

Really? Can you elaborate as frankly if a dog was dangerous I’d put that down too.... I’m not going to let anyone get hurt or killed because I can’t do the right thing.

@OverTheHedgeHammy

Why should I take the horse? I'm not the one who benefited from him when he was "useful".

I also wouldn't take on an animal I couldn't 100% commit to.

I hope, for the sake of animals, the op learns a valuable lesson here.

Am awaiting farrier .

Every 6 weeks like the clock.

Four horses, 3 shod.

55 a set.

20 a trim for the unshod.

Hay in winter - 50 quid a week.

I have my own land so cost saving there.

Those of you saying keep a dangerous horse as a pet?/ ( yes, bless !)
Why don't you all take on just ONE horse and see what that does to your income after a few months.

There’s very little overlap between dogs and horses - they’re at completely different ends of the food chain for one thing, dogs aren’t flight animals!

Oh OP. screechy hopes you learn a valuable lesson, you ignorant horse novice!!!

I really wish we had pet licenses in this country. If we did, it would stop a lot of this cruelty.

We used to screepy. They were d rapped years ago

Oh FFS screepy you know fuck all about horses.

OP took on the horse to bring right, that couldn't and didnt happen for a variety of reasons.

Horse is bloody dangerous. It has no sense of future so PTS is by FAR the best solution for all involved.

Unless you, horse and animal whisperer extraordinaire want to take him on? Good luck loading him by the way..