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?

they can't all be that stretched as the one that just took my mates TB 2 weeks ago picked him up within 3 weeks of her contacting them

Actually she said he normally hacks out well. She said it was his last saving grace until recently. This isn't that he isn't improving but he's actually regressing. And he's also dangerous on the ground, not just when ridden. So any argument about it's her fault for riding him are ridiculous and entirely irrelevant. There's also a difference between a project horse who's a bit green, and a horse who is a danger to himself and others.

Her vet seems to have advised that she may have to accept at some point that he may need to be PTS, and she now seems to be at that point.

There's a world of difference between dogs and horses, but if your dog bit a child, would you keep it? Many rescues won't accept a biter as they can't rehome them. Many dogs that bite end up PTS due to neurological or psychological disorders. Would you keep a dog like that? Would you make the dog live in a world where even a shadow is a potential threat? Or would you eventually accept that the only responsible thing to do is to PTS?

Why can't you see that sometimes being responsible for an animal means making the incredibly difficult decision to put them to sleep?

Yes, but even if OP didn’t ride him for 6 months. He’d still have to be handled daily to groom, check feet, take rugs on/ off, be fed, brought in and out of stable and see the farrier and vet regularly. If his behaviour is very unpredictable then he may bolt or hurt someone even when being handled.

Thank you for the further posts and kind words.

Peng, it is a good idea but it is one that I have tried already. As I mentioned in my first post, over the winter he was not ridden to give him a "reset period" to relax and learn basic manners, and I spent that time working on the ground with him.

He has been slowly and consistently brought back into work, and he is the same horse.

Anyone who first meets him will always say "Crikey, he's a sprightly one!", and I always smile and say "Yes, and this is him on a good day!".

There's a world of difference between dogs and horses, but if your dog bit a child, would you keep it?

If the child had persisted in treatment towards the animal that it knew to provoke biting, yes, I would.

Another non horsey person and I understand your position. The danger isn't just in the risk of someone trying to ride him but if he bolted into the path of a car. That could be your car with your family in pengwwyn.

And having seen the way that some people up here treat their horses, pts would be kinder than him ending up in the hands of someone who would try to beat him into submission.

@Repeal Well said!

Peacefulbanana your friend was lucky. We have had several pleas out recently for horse charities to take neglected horses after owner dumped in a field (many rescue friends don't just do dogs) & everywhere has a wait list of months over weeks. This is for severely neglected horses with nowhere to go, not horses still with owners

It's obviously a very emotive subject and no one wants to put down a healthy animal. But sadly the decision has to be taken to put down a dangerous animal.

I wonder if some posters missed ohdear's post? Such a tragic situation - caused by a dangerous horse escaping. I can't help but think the op's horse could cause a similar accident, which is why just retiring a 9 year old TB isn't really an option. And there really is nothing worse than seeing a horse passed from pillar to post.

People mention companions. In reality, very few people need companion horses and the ones that do want sensible, easy, sane horses and ponies - and often ones that still could occasionally be ridden. Because after all, even a companion horse will cost several thousand pounds a year to keep.

The op sounds a very experienced rider. I don't know many people capable of riding a horse like this. So it's not as if she hasn't already tried everything.

I think its clear there are some posters who haven't a clue about horses.

I've worked with racehorses and we had a bolter. He got loose when being walked through the yard and was off. Jumped multiple fences, legged it up the gallops and into the town centre. Huge drama, police involved, roads closed. He did it often, would for no reason barge you and take off when being led. Extremely dangerous on the ground yet an absolute dream to ride, he sadly went permanently lame after a long gallop up an A road.

Even if you kept him OP it's just not safe too. It's not practical to say OP can just keep him as a pet. Horses requiring handling. What if she were ill/got pregnant and someone else had to handle him? And tbh a 9yo TB being retired to a field will probably go pretty loopy.

And if there was no provocation? If the child did nothing more than walk past the dog?

People forget that 'healthy' doesn't just include physical health. Mental health & wellbeing of the animal MUST be a factor too. An animal that can't settle isn't really all that healthy tbh!

I know absolutely next to nothing about horses but I would like to say well done op! you've recognised a problem and made a responsible decision that will stop anyone being inured by this horse... it also stops your horse being mistreated or ending up in a bad place.
You've made a hard choice as you know... you know deep down... that it's the kindest thing all round. I only wish all owners of pets/horses were as responsible

RepealRepealRepeal

I would put the dog down. That isn't what is happening here. The OP knows the animal is unsuitable for riding but has continued to ride it. It is unsurprising that it hasn't settled down. It is not aggressive, it is stressed.

ShinyShooney

I've asked the OP a question about why she can't stop riding the horse and see whether its leading behaviour improves. Before deciding I am "dim", shall we see what she says?

There is a big difference between retiring a young TB and, say, a native pony. Nobody in their right mind would take a dangerous, large horse who needs to either be rugged or stabled in winter. I have an 11hh hairy lawnmower myself and the expense, even for her, is significant.

I pts my 'healthy' TB when she was 8. Hardest decision i ever made and i cried for weeks; before, during and after. But as excruiatingly difficult as it was i don't regret it. I did all that the OP has done for her horse but it made little difference. She was a danger to me, to others and herself. A life in a field was not for her.
Sometimes the right decision is not always the easiest or without heartbreak. I feel for you OP. I loved my girl and in loving her i made what i thought, was the best decision for her. Some things are simply not just a black and white situation.

Peng If you'd like some specific examples of how he can be unpredictable on the ground, my ex, who deals with difficult young racehorses for a living, was pinned against a wall by him in the stable. There was also another occasion where he got loose from my ex, and galloped around his farm until we managed to shut off all gates and catch him.

We have just been lucky so far that he has not caused more damage and I think you are SEVERELY underestimating how dangerous horses can be when they are loose and panicked.

Penggwyn did you miss OPs comment where she mentioned the horse was kept off riding for 6 months with no change??? Or are you ignoring that one?

mustbemad17

Can you quote that one?

Pengggwyn did you miss the part where the OP said the horse is dangerous to handle on the ground too? Do you not realise that even if she were to never ride him again, it's impossible to meet his needs safely? What alternative would you suggest? That he gets chucked in a field and never handled again? Never groomed, shod, rugs changed, teeth checked? Seriously, as you seem so adamant that the OP is wrong to consider euthanasia, what are your recommendations? And while you're thinking about it, maybe consider that you're talking about a tonne of unpredictable animal that can travel at up to 40mph, because you seem to think it's the same as handling a pet rabbit or guinea pig.

Peng - "Peng, it is a good idea but it is one that I have tried already. As I mentioned in my first post, over the winter he was not ridden to give him a "reset period" to relax and learn basic manners, and I spent that time working on the ground with him"

whattodowheretogo

He does indeed sound like an unhappy animal.

Are you considering answering me? Could you not stop riding him for a period of a few months, to see whether he would be less volatile without being ridden, at all?

And then you started riding him again?

Why?