Thanks! I’ll look into it!
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My gosh her belly in this new full body shot looks just …odd. Her whole everything looks put together by committee. It seems to me there’s a ton of things that could hurt or be off about this mare. That looks like edema to have such a pot belly. And she’s wound tight and gets light in the front end under pressure…i would really, really want a serious medical evaluation. That body shot gave me a gut mmmmmmm reaction.
I don’t know, man. There’s a lot to consider. Just don’t get hurt.
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It sounds like the last few months have taken you on one heck of an unpleasant ride - very sorry for all the things you have been having to navigate. It sounds like right now you are doing what you can to set you both up for success and safety with working through a trainer, which hopefully will help get you the informed and educated insights you need to make the best decisions (for you, and her).
Sometimes there is a horse we meet that at another time in our life, would have been a great fit - but for where we are at in our journey now, it isn’t a harmonious match. Coming across those situations can be really difficult, and figuring out what to do is never easy. Hoping you give yourself a little bit of grace and patience as you work through this - you’ve really been through the ringer.
I will also echo that winter/early spring horse vs horse the rest of the year can sometimes feel a bit like Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde - and maybe as you have helped her gain weight and other wellness, she is able to be more “herself”. Squirrely kids, squirrely horses, squirrely humans… Spring fever hits us all hard and when we turn the corner, it just feels like such a breath of fresh air 
The plan you have with the 3 days with trainer/1 day with lesson (and then if you feel up to it, the hacks) hopefully will be super helpful for all of you. Hopefully the ulcer meds help make a difference, too. Rooting for you.
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What general area is she in?
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Sorry. Not sorry. No.
You have a horse that rears and a trainer that is making her rear.
Give the horse to the trainer if you want to wipe your hands. At least this trainer knows what she is getting, even if she does not know how to train her. It is not your default if she is killed.
When I said rearing is THE most dangerous vice they’re is I meant. Being more experienced we know not to get on this horse.
It is your fault if you sell this horse and the person is killed.
There are so many horses that do not rear who would love to be loved by you.
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Illinois
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Agree Suzie. This horse has had a rear since the beginning. There is no way the person who sold the OP the horse didn’t know that. Problem horses get passed around and have bad outcomes because they are a problem and aren’t nice enough for someone to want to put up with the risk of getting hurt. It was incredibly unethical for the original seller to pass on this horse.
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She’s been entirely upfront about this horse since she got her; it’s not like she’s sneaking her off to someone. Especially someone in Australia. Maybe this won’t work out but maybe it will. I’m no fan of rearing horses but with the bend aspect I wouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water just yet. Maybe we can let the ulcer meds do their thing and not continue to kick OP around for being so open with her story?
Warwick Schiller just did a blurb on rearing horses after encountering them on the Gaucho Race… might be interesting to OP. I think whoever is around OP and Honey would probably be well served by taking things slowly and thoughtfully, with vets on board, but man give the girl a break with the doom.
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Honey looks so much better!
I’m not anywhere close or I would offer to help. Does Honey actually rear or just pop up in the front a bit? A rear isn’t my favorite thing but I’ve dealt with ASB’s that do it. Its usually when they feel held in the front and someone tries to take contact without teaching them what it means.
Give her some time with the trainer and hopefully she either turns the corner or you find a great home for her.
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Bingo.
Honey looks like a normal ASB and IMO is acting like a normal ASB. Mine will go up if you get in his face. You can ask for contact nicely but you cannot have the same level of contact that you might have with another breed. You cannot hang on the reins…period.
They are balanced such that it is easier for them to rear than buck. And they are balanced in a rear, unlike a horse that is heavier on the front end naturally.
They don’t like to be trapped. Mine also does better for farrier & vet work if held loosely.
I don’t know how many hours from you I am @AdultEmmy - I’m in STL. But I’m happy to help. Really.
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I’m thinking a lot of people here aren’t familiar with ASBs. Not that I’m that familiar with them, but they’re close enough to my favorites, the Morgans.
Feronia used to pop up in front when she got scared. Never a full blown straight up rear, but I knew she had it in her.
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Added underline by me.
I think this is a good point.
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Agreed. OP, my advice was meant in good faith.
I wish for you and Honey to succeed, I truly do. But sometimes it’s just not a good match and that’s ok. Set some checkpoints in your mind, that if after XYZ or ABC is tried, or a certain time frame - if this hasn’t become fun then you need to figure out a whole new road.
I feel for you, I’m there with my young mare. Talent for days, some physical issues we’re working through - but frankly, I just don’t like her. I’ve got the checkpoints in my head (she’s moving to a 24/7 turnout situation, get the physical stuff worked out), but if in another year I don’t like her, something will have to give.
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On that note; when I was younger, my second horse was suppose to be a project horse. Very nice solid bay 5YO Appaloosa that was broke to ride but was no where near finished. Long story short, he behavior worsened over a few months and he LAUNCHED me with a nose in the dirt butt in the air bronco buck going into a canter Thankfully I wasn’t hurt but that was the first time in my life I had been shaken with anything to do with horses.
Thankfully I had enough sense as a 17-18 year old to not get back on and reflect that this was not what I signed up for. At the time, we knew so much less about all the health issues that might cause that behavior so we chalked it up to behavioral stuff. There was some form of a natural horsemanship trainer at the barn we all agreed he could see if he could get anywhere. Started off ok and he got a face full of dirt pretty soon after he started working with him too. Horse had a dirty buck.
With that said, we were not a good match and I didnt want to get hurt. The BO found a pasture home for him and that was that. That experience gave me so much reservation when I bought my 3YO fjord nearly sight unseen and its been nothing but joy with him from day one. It’s ok if it doesn’t work out for you, and if you know in your gut thats the case, listen to it.
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I agree. Rearing is a deal breaker problem and you don’t sell a rearing horse, or give it away, to someone else. There’s pain there somewhere, also, seen in the body/stance, and whether that’s making her rear or if it’s uneducated hands or sore mouth or wrong bit, who knows. But somethings wrong, and rearing is a big red flag. My guess it’s tied to that odd belly, as well. That’s very strange. Hopefully the OP won’t try to ride her.
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These are the comments that are aggravating as all heck. (edit, and extremely passive aggressive)
She’s taking the advice of HER TRAINER. Who is there, with hands on the horse.
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There’s rearing, and then there’s popping up a bit in front (which can feel like a huge rear to the uninitiated). Depending on circumstances I can deal with the latter BUT it can be SO easy to take that front end version of a tiny crow hop and turn it into The Most Dangerous Thing a horse can do.
Proceed with caution, make sure any trainer she goes to understands that you can’t get in her face the way you can some other types.
Personally I’d still want some really good physio work if possible. A massage therapist can tell you a lot about how a horse is feeling and give you some ideas when heading to the vet.
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We all know “trainers” who aren’t worth the time it takes to say good-bye. I’m not saying this is the case here, but let’s get real. Her trainer might not be the best, especially for this situation.
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Sorry to see some of the same tone that drove OP away last time cropping up. Hope she can glean the helpful information and disregard the overly judgmental, borderline hurtful remarks from some who, apparently, are unfamiliar with the entire story.
Yes, stand up rearing is unacceptable and dangerous but having never laid eyes or hands on this horse and not personally knowing the admittedly timid OP? Not sure exactly what is going on so leaving that to the in person, hands and eyes on professional she has been working with.
OP here is not the first to buy a kindly project type and get them healthier only to find they overhorsed themselves. I have done it (twice). Pretty sure many in this community have done it too. Moved them on in better health then we got them to more suitable owners. It happens.
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Yep. For example, I’ve personally preached the “get a PPE” sermon while buying a horse without a PPE myself. A couple of horses, actually. I have also been over horsed at times as an experienced and competent rider and have dealt with my fair share of behavioral issues that have popped up for one reason or another. Tis the path of the equestrian. The rude and negative comments aren’t going to encourage this owner to do anything other than exit out of the thread.
I personally wouldn’t give the rearing a great deal of thought until I was sure this horse scoped clear for ulcers. Not sure if this horse has scoped clean or been treated for hindgut ulcers, but ulcers will certainly cause a horse to be light in the front.
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