Some people have the stomach for it. That’s all I’m saying. People like different kinds of horses. Some people prefer the BTDT horse, some people like myself like the ones that are borderline pro rides if not an actual pro ride.
Despite skill set, just because you wouldn’t want to work through it, doesn’t mean no one else would. Kid or adult alike.
Just because you aren’t a good candidate to ride through and teach a horse to relax under saddle doesn’t mean a kid isn’t.
I’d be interested to know more about the rearing. As in, is the horse really going up with the front feet 3 or more feet (as a measure) in the air? Or are you getting the “light in front” feeling and the front hooves coming less than a foot or so off the ground?
To my mind there’s a big difference between those two types of “rearing” and I’m not even sure I’d call the latter type “rearing.”
Why does this matter? Well partly it matters because if the horse is only getting light in front rather than rearing for real, it may be a whole lot easier to work on as long as you have a relatively confident rider on board.
And I’m not necessarily suggesting that the OP can fix this issue, particularly if she has decided that the horse scares her. But just that it need not be described as rearing in ads, and not for any devious reason but rather to reflect reality more accurately.
But it may be that the OP is going to have a tough time finding a buyer for this horse as is, and it might be time for her to start getting creative about how to find a trainer who is capable and who is willing to work with the horse and at least make it into a more salable animal. The OP might start casting a wide net: talk to your vet, your farrier, the local horse community (such as it may be), local bulletin boards, people working in the feed store, etc., and try to get a list of possible names together.
The OP should tell us on COTH where she lives (and if she has already, I’ve missed it), and there may be some more concrete help or tips about possibilities forthcoming.
Good luck.
Because if they get hurt their parents can and will take the op for all she’s worth.
When I was a kid people were a lot less litigious.
As for having the skills means you live to tell the tale… Courtney King Dye comes to mind.
Accidents happen. And one doesn’t expect to get hurt, but suggesting only those without skills do is either disingenuous or ill informed.
Maybe you as a parent or people you know would sue but my parents never did. They assumed the risk. Not everyone sues because their little poopsie got hurt doing something inherently risky.
Courtney’s accident has no bearing on this because riding horses is inherently risky. If one needs to be taught that then stick with merry-go-rounds.
I never said they are disingenuous or ill informed. I said some people have the stomach for it. Quit trying to take offense over things I never said nor implied. There is nothing wrong with not wanting to deal with a horse like the OP has. BUT, just because you wouldn’t want to doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t want to kid or adult.
I get it. Adults have hang ups when kids are better and more skilled with less time in the horse world. That’s your problem not theirs.
the issue these days isn’t parents suing, it’s insurance companies suing.
Some how even today I avoid all that. Crazy. It’s called not throwing people under the bus. Strange concept I know. When I have gotten hurt on other people’s horses, I don’t mention it was someone else’s horse. Why? Because I and I alone assumed the risk.
Lol you are too funny.
As @ladyj79 suggests, family don’t have to want to sue for one to get sued if when someone (child or adult) is injured. Suggesting it was your horse is hard to do while unconscious on a life flight… or when insurance get hold of claim. Reality.
Oh please do not find a willing teenager to take this on.
Convince your horse that where shes trying to go (back to the barn) is more work than the trail. I agree 100% that this rearing is not something you ride through, I’ve been here with a dangerously anxious horse.
Once you realize the horse is only trying to go where there is no pressure, it will be a whole lot easier. Of course she wants to go back to the barn… that’s where her friends, food and no pressure is. People climb on, take a hold of their horses mouths and generally try to just push them through stuff when they are uneasy or anxious about things. Take it back a step or 5.
Assuming you’ve covered the ground work with sensitizing, desensitizing, and lateral work… start in the arena.
Is there any suggestion from the horse that shed like to head to the gate? Work on that, no reins/direction from you. Let her go where she wants, and when she heads back to the gate, make her work/disengage her hind end. When you finally feel her bulge her shoulder away from the gate, allow her to walk off on a loopy rein. When she circles back around again, repeat. As many times as it takes for her to decide that the far end of the arena is a good spot. When she does venture to the far end on her own, let her stop and rest there. Make sure that your rest spots have previously been undesirable to her.
Then take the same process outside, allow her to head back to the barn when she wants to. Then work her there. Repeat as necessary, until she willingly heads out on a loopy rein.
You’re going to change her mind on where she’d like to be, and you’re going to allow her to make mistakes in the process.
I didn’t read the whole thread, and I’m sorry if it’s already been mentioned, but OP if you’re willing to work with the mare, have you considered trying Warwick Schiller or Clinton Anderson’s training videos?
Some how myself and others avoid that lawsuit even with the described scenario. It’s called people around us not throwing people under the bus either.
I am very careful about who handles my horse because of what you describe. Someone like yourself would never be allowed to touch her. Why? You’d yourself or your insurance company would probably sue me because she stepped on you.
Lol you ARE funny.
but asking some rando teenager you don’t know is not really the same as being very careful about who handles your horse. If OP knew someone suitable, we wouldn’t be having this convo about finding rando sticky bouncing kid, and people can say oh yeah no sure we understand the risks and then when their child gets hurt change their mind or simply don’t want to lie to their insurance company for a relative stranger’s benefit.
FWIW, I don’t think a “kid” has to be a 12 or 13 year old young teenager. A 16 to 18 year old is perfectly capable of being able to ride and work a horse confidently and efficiently in a sensitive manner. If you worry too much about the age thing, then look for 18+. Still young and sticky, old enough for it to not be a liability and to have a bit more maturity and intelligence but not so old to have the old school" ways ingrained that can make things worse.
Though yeah, I agree it sounds like OP doesn’t have access to anyone like this anyways so it’s a bit of a moot point. Are there facebook groups for horses/livestock in your area? I’ve seen a ton of horses like this go through here that get snatched up pretty fast. And the amount of “rear” really is an important bit of information, a little hop up in the front when frustrated/stuck/confused/worried is not that big of a deal and is easily worked through.
@ladyj79 I don’t think anyone means a completely random teenager. I guess the forums are at the point where people need to state the obvious?
Yes we covered that. My point is, anyone who says they will help me with my horse and then goes on about not wanting to get sued so needs a contract doesn’t get to handle my horse. In my experience those are the litigious ones.
But continue pretending to be obtuse so you can argue.
Anyone under the age of 18 is not legally able to sign away liability. The parent can sign, but if the kid gets hurt, they can sue when they turn 18. There is a reason why kids are not allowed to sign liability waivers until they are 18, mostly because they are considered unable to comprehend assumption of risk, make mature, adult decisions, etc.
The OP can’t get a trainer skillful enough to get this horse’s issues resolved. I don’t know if in her area there are oodles of kids skilled enough to get this done. If there are, why not just use the trainer who is teaching the kids? Then you have a professional who understands what he or she is getting into, and the OP is not on the hook for getting someone’s kids hurt.
Its not that i cant get a skillful enough trainer, its that i cant afford to put her in training. The original idea was to get an assessment from a trainer but the only good trainers are 2-3 hours away so i cant justify hauling and paying for gas all that way for one ride. At this point i cant afford or want to put any more money into this horse beyond basic care. Ive already lost thousands. dont have time to read all the previous posts right now but will later.
So, a paid assessment is out. Paying for training is out. Free help may be worth exactly what you pay for it. My only remaining suggestion is to send her info to a trainer and say that if they’re interested in taking her to sell, they can deduct the cost of board and training from the sale price.
It’s that or a) donate to rescue b) give away to unknown fate with full disclosure c) euthanize.
Thats all i was looking for was advice on how to advertise her and what to price her at or to give away. I wasnt really looking for how to fix her.
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