Dream horse on paper but not in reality.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Janet;7939018]
This is what I am reading.

RIGHT NOW this horse need consistent, firm, knowledgeable handling EVERY DAY

With a young horse, you can’t afford to wait until you have more time.

You do not have the time RIGHT NOW.

It seems to me you have two rational choices.

A- Sell the horse to someone who wants him, and has the time, knowledge and skill to give him the handling he needs RIGHT NOW.

B - Send the horse to a trainer who has the time, knowledge and skill to give him the handling he needs RIGHT NOW.

But even if you send him to a trainer and work through the current stage, he will probably always have a bit of an “attitude”. If that isn’t something you want, then chose A.[/QUOTE]

That, ditto.

Consider it a learning experience, it hurts to see your dream didn’t work out, but if you can move on wiser, will make you a better owner for your next horse.

[findeight]

Oh, please do NOT wait a month. Just get 'er done now. Call that lady who wanted him, not a bad idea to make sure she still does actually want to write a check for him. Might be assuming something here that’s not really on the table. Lots of people make lots of statements about buying but vanish when it’s time to write the check.

Dont worry about the breeder’s feelings, you won’t hurt or disappoint them. They breed knowing they have to sell and that they will see them sell again but are professionals and not as emotionally invested in the horses as some hobby owners can get to be. Fact if the other lady does not really want to buy, your breeder can probably help you sell without any hard feelings at all.

[DHCarrotfeeder]

[QUOTE=Darty;7938652]
What would you do if you purchased your ‘dream horse’ as a weanling, only to discover over time that the horse, itself, does not mesh well with you and needs a more hands on environment than you can provide?

Said horse is now a yearling and I just don’t like his personality. Would you stick it out til he was an adult and hope with maturity he would be better suited to you or accept that he’s just not right for you and sell him?

I have a buyer wanting him for the price I would accept. Been tossing and turning over it for a month and still haven’t decided. I’m starting to think I’m going to have to move him on but I worry I’ll regret it.

Thoughts?[/QUOTE]

No way to make this one with any certainty.

Some horses take a few years to grow a brain. Then they change. If this one hasn’t been gelded yet, double the uncertainty again.

What is certain is the cost to you and consumption of your time. Unless you have a field of propects, then that’s a lot of time and money to gamble, if you’re not optimistic now.

[Darty]

Yeah I guess. The reason I’m sensitive about the timing is because the breeders are friends of mine and were very disappointed when I mentioned a month ago that I was considering selling him, as they said they’ve been very happy with how I’ve been looking after him. But that’s more condition wise as I don’t vent to them about his behaviour except when I said he was demolishing fencing and so I didn’t think I could keep him as I can’t have a horse running around the neighbourhood. When we got the fencing redone, they thought it was all good now and expressed that they were happy he could stay.

Guess I’ll just have to bite the bullet and, if they jump to the wrong conclusion, theres nothing I can do.

The offer is definitely legit. They’ve wanted the horse since he was born and don’t want to miss him a second time.

[Darty]

Actually, I am probably really overreacting. The breeders told me last time if the lady couldn’t buy him if I did decide to sell, they’ll buy him back to use in twin harness for the same money. So they’ll probably be happy in a way.

[demidq]

That’s another reason to sell. I’m sure the breeders want him to grow up into a good equine citizen as well. Adds to their reputation.

[ex-racer_owner]

Sell the youngster before he hurts himself at which point you would possibly be “stuck” with him.

I am in kind of the same boat with the horse that I adopted, so I feel for you…

[Lady_Eboshi]

The BREEDERS sold him, didn’t they? :rolleyes:

[californianinkansas]

There is NOTHING unethical about selling a horse to a good home.

Just as with romantic partners, a lot of the time it is about goodness of fit.

[Field_of_Dreams_Mini]

I had the same issues last year. Had a nice colt, showed him and he did fabulous, but I just didn’t like him. He also was feisty and had issues with clipping- something I absolutely hated dealing with. But he showed so well… I waffled back and forth for months.

Finally sold him, and I couldn’t be happier. New owner loves him and gets along super with him. I got my mare back and am thrilled.

Sell him. For both of your sakes…

[Ajierene]

[QUOTE=DJohn;7938954]
They don’t change THAT much. That’s his personality. I know many yearlings that annoyed the heck out of me, and they still do to this day! That’s just the way they are![/QUOTE]

This is what I was thinking. When my filly was in the weanling to yearling and older stages there were times when she tried my patience, but the same sweet personality was always there somewhere. She can get a bit opinionated and to excited about what’s going on, but under it all, she’s paying attention to me and more letting me know her opinion than trying to just do what she wants. As example, she could easily buck me off and did once - accidentally (threw a happy buck on the canter depart) - was very concerned about me for the next two rides after that. Now, when she wants to do something and I won’t let her, she roots and tosses her head around, but will not buck (still bucks and carries on in the field).

When I first bred my mare, I had a grand training plan for the resulting baby. Some things worked out differently, like mama and baby spending time much farther away from home than originally planned. Filly did not become harder to mess with. She did not always remember all the training from the week prior, but she didn’t get obnoxious. Your boy getting obnoxious leads me to believe he is that type of horse that will always need more time. My filly proved herself an ammy friendly horse - even as a two year old, I didn’t mess with her at all for other a month once, pulled her out of the field, brush, saddle, quick ride, no issues. Does not sound like that will work so well with your boy and that is the type of horse you need.

So, if you are finding you do not like his personality and do not have time for him now, then sell. It is better for you and him to move him on if it is not working out.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=Ajierene;7940440]
This is what I was thinking. When my filly was in the weanling to yearling and older stages there were times when she tried my patience, but the same sweet personality was always there somewhere. She can get a bit opinionated and to excited about what’s going on, but under it all, she’s paying attention to me and more letting me know her opinion than trying to just do what she wants. As example, she could easily buck me off and did once - accidentally (threw a happy buck on the canter depart) - was very concerned about me for the next two rides after that. Now, when she wants to do something and I won’t let her, she roots and tosses her head around, but will not buck (still bucks and carries on in the field).

When I first bred my mare, I had a grand training plan for the resulting baby. Some things worked out differently, like mama and baby spending time much farther away from home than originally planned. Filly did not become harder to mess with. She did not always remember all the training from the week prior, but she didn’t get obnoxious. Your boy getting obnoxious leads me to believe he is that type of horse that will always need more time. My filly proved herself an ammy friendly horse - even as a two year old, I didn’t mess with her at all for other a month once, pulled her out of the field, brush, saddle, quick ride, no issues. Does not sound like that will work so well with your boy and that is the type of horse you need.

So, if you are finding you do not like his personality and do not have time for him now, then sell. It is better for you and him to move him on if it is not working out.[/QUOTE]

I agree, the OP’s horse seems to be a very nice horse, but maybe not that ammy friendly to raise and bring to maturity.
He probably needs to be in a professional’s hands and barn under direct, continuous handling and in a program that will keep him busy, not where he is full of unspent energy he is using to tear fences down.

Wrong situation for that horse where he is, maybe?
Once you realized that, good of you to go ahead and find him a more fitting place for who he is now.

[ellebeaux]

[QUOTE=Janet;7939018]
This is what I am reading.

RIGHT NOW this horse need consistent, firm, knowledgeable handling EVERY DAY

With a young horse, you can’t afford to wait until you have more time.

You do not have the time RIGHT NOW.

It seems to me you have two rational choices.

A- Sell the horse to someone who wants him, and has the time, knowledge and skill to give him the handling he needs RIGHT NOW.

B - Send the horse to a trainer who has the time, knowledge and skill to give him the handling he needs RIGHT NOW.

But even if you send him to a trainer and work through the current stage, he will probably always have a bit of an “attitude”. If that isn’t something you want, then chose A.[/QUOTE]

Janet, as she often does, says what I am thinking but much more clearly

[gloriginger]

[QUOTE=Darty;7939413]
I would agree with you that he is destructive because he’s bored out of him mind but he does it while in a large pasture with a herd as well. He does it when he’s in with other draft babies his own age he loves to play with. He leaves the herd, pushes on the fencing until it gives and takes off. He’s not only like that when he’s by himself (as he is now with weekend turnout with my retired grumpy Clydesdale when I’m home to watch him to make sure he’s not on the fences)[/QUOTE]

What are you doing to challenge his mind? Horses need mental and physical excercise, just like we do, and a young, smart bored horse will find their own fun.

[californianinkansas]

Keeping this or any horse that is not a good fit for you because you don’t want to feel uncomfortable around the breeder is like staying in an unhappy marriage because you don’t want to upset your mother-in-law.

[reinerspook]

Sell before your buyers move on or the horse gets injured.