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?

Branleuse: thousands more people own dogs than horses. Maybe it is just sheer amplification of numbers. But I have seen plenty of posts advising that an unreliable dog be pts.

Karigan: the thing about rehabilitation: the previous owner sounds very experienced, and couldn’t cope. The OP’s partner is a professional, and ageees enough is enough. The OP has ridden this horse in school with a trainer...spent months on calming techniques, sought vet ‘s advice. More rehab? And what if it doesn’t work, or worse, they think it has worked?

It sounds like passing the buck to me, and causing more sadness for people like Spudlet.

Just thinking of loading this horse then driving the lorry - unless it happens that both those activities are ones the horse is ok with and there aren't any triggers... bloody hell the thought scares the bejeezubs out of me. The potential for serious damage to horse and human (and lorry) is huge. A 'normal' horse when unhappy with either of those activities is worrying enough, one that'll blind bolt is one I'd not want to be involved with.

OP you'll do what you need to do. Know you have support.

What do people think a sanctuary professional is going to do that other professionals haven't been able to? Had OP not had external help fine, but she has. By the sounds of it, several times by several different people! There is only so many chances you can give a dangerous animal before you admit defeat. And for those STILL ignoring the point...retired horses still need to be manageable from the ground

Maybe all these people thinking the op is being cruel and that a horse that has been bred and raised as a domesticated animal think it should be released into the wild to run freeeeeeee!

Except this horse would likely die horribly one way or another - either by malnutrition, or fatal accident. Slowly and painfully and in terror. Or kill others. The horse cannot be safely handled. Not just not ridden. There is no happy ending and it's horrible but that's how it is.

i wasnt judging btw, comparing the attitude towards dogs and horses. I would also advise a dangerous dog being PTS, but the amount of hate people get on here if they want to give up on a dangerous dog sometimes is really OTT. A very different bunch to the horse people it seems.

I worked in a stable when I was younger where there was the meanest horse in the years. He would deliberately try to crush stable hands against the wall when entering his stall. He cracked a rib and I refused to go in to him ever again.

I would bite the horse for a month and see if there's any improvement.

I would then pts if no improvement.

Branleuse, I agree - and I think the OP has been very brave and honest posting here.

Only you can make this decision OP.

FWiw it sounds as though you've tried literally everything.

I for one wouldn't judge you for pts.

@Halfpass WTAF?

I am presuming 'bite' is a typo

I hope so anyway!

OP I have ridden for 40 years and have 4 retired eventers - luckily have own land and stables. They when in work have never bolted, reared and had beautiful manners. But once retired their manners have deteriorated. This is because they are not handled as much and live 24/7 as a herd - so pushing, shoving and kicking each other is the norm and can spill over to how they treat me. One kicked another and chipped a bone - if it had been me he would have shattered my leg. They are also flight animals, which was much more held in check when they were in work.

Even if you had the resources to retire yours I think his behaviour on the ground will get worse and he will be a danger to himself and others.

So although I have 4 retirees who I love and spend a fortune on I think you need to PTS

Tough decisison but I think it's the right one.

I think halfpass meant "bute"

ah yes of course bute!

Actually that's not a bad idea, I have done bute trials in the past, although of course if it is learned behaviour it sometimes doesn't help.

Or a course of vetrofen intense for a month? I had amazing results with that with a pony who was behaving in a ridiculously spooky unpredictable way.

It's the hardest decision to make but it sounds like it could be for the best - after all you have done your best for him and it's not fair on either of you! As a last attempt I'd suggest having him scoped for ulcers - both of my TB's behaviour improved no end once they had been treated (on their insurance!). One had very similar traits to your boy - I gave up riding her all together because it was just dangerous and it was clear something wasn't right. Ulcers treated and we hack/fun rides/ride and lead etc every weekend, she's like a dobbin! Doubt I will ever compete her again just in case the stress of the situation triggers another ulcer flare up but that's currently where we are! Good luck!

OP, I second the advice to post on a horsey forum like horse and hound as you won't get the people who don't understand the reality of keeping a horse there. FWIW, it sounds like you've exhausted all the options, and PTS is the right thing.

If he was safe to handle, then I'd suggest considering other options- but he's not. It's all very well saying "have him follow another" between fields when you don't know OP's yard's set up. They may well have to go on public roads between fields, where this would be illegal, or through parts of the yard where this would be dangerous. And there is still the risk of the horse panicking and running on to the road.

Many livery yards will insist he's jabbed for tet at the very least- if he's unsafe to handle, how will OP manage that?

There may also only be limited grazing in the winter so he has to come into a stable- that means handling x2 daily at least, with the risk he'll injure someone or panic and break loose.

And I agree that trying to move this horse to another yard could potentially become a nightmare.

It's a horrible thing to contemplate, but yes, horse owners do have to consider the fact that even a small pony could cause chaos and deaths if it gets loose on the road, let alone a large, strong ex-racer.

If you want to be angry at someone, be angry at the racing industry, where horses like the OPs are seen as a natural part of the "waste" of the industry by some. 1000s of TB foals are born every year in the UK and Ireland. Only a very small proportion of those will go on to race successfully, and many of them will finish their racing careers at a young age, when their owners will happily get rid of them to the first home that comes along.

These horses are in work from 2 in many cases (which can cause them physical issues later in life) and kept in very institutional ways, which means they cannot always adapt to private homes.

Obviously there are people within the industry who try to do better by their horses, and do some rehab work before finding them new homes. There are also some amazing charities who work with ex-racehorses in order to give them a safe future. If you're saddened by this thread, why not find your local charity for retraining ex-racehorses and give them a donation?

For OP's horse, I think the damage has been done. A charity can't take him on when he's a potential danger to their staff on the ground, and it would be terribly irresponsible for OP to lie about his behaviour. Personally, I don't think any horse that's unsafe should be passed on to a private home as a companion, you just cannot guarantee what will happen in the future.

Fenwick It is a lot to do with the method. the vet puts them down with and injection and the meat man shoots them. Everyone has their own opinion on which is best, personally i have seen the injection go very wrong and would far rather my horses be shot if it is needed.

I’m sorry but I worked in the field and no longer tend not to believe it when people claim to be professional. I’ve spent years of my life rehabilitating horses that people take on as projects and find they can’t cope with. Frequently the horse needs a different approach. So no I don’t think it’s passing the buck to have a chat with a specialist.

Either way though the op is being responsible to make the hard decisions and not just sell the horse on or pack it off to the meat lorry. OP should be applauded not criticised.

Katihar - is this something you could help op with if you have experience?

Karigan sorry that was meant for you!

Answer is probably but I have 7 of my own and no time as it is. It takes a lot of work to rehabilitate a horse. Every one I own rides in a plain snaffle, comes when called and stops when I put a hand up. I don’t sell on and they live life as a peaceful little herd. They are my cv.

The lesson the OP will learn is not to post stuff like this on MN and to go to a more knowledgeable site where all the "keep him as a pet" and " you don't deserve another animal" experts would be laughed out of it.

Please don’t buy another ‘project’ (as you call it) when you put this one down.