Rehoming a challenging horse | with 1 yr update

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Roddy Strang is probably one of the best NH type trainers in Area II. He is up in SE PA. He’s very good. He also Fox Hunts and his wife events so he understands English too. I’ve sent him a problem child before.

Some trainers are better with quirky than others. You could also free lease him. That way you have a chance to prevent him from ending up in a bad place. That said…most horses that I have free leases came back worse trained then when they left and I had to do quite a bit of remedial training to get them back where they were. Me…I’ve been the one that bought the “bad” horse. And they became one of the best I have ever owned. Your guy doesn’t sound that bad to me but one who has to be managed. It’s totally fine if that isn’t suitable for you…but If me…I’d put him with someone like Roddy for seriously 6 months. And then see what he says. This is Not the sort of problem that is fixed quick and takes the right rider to desensitize.

[eventingalter2]

Update: I saw the how was your season thread and felt I should come back and update this one.

I appreciated the input from everyone on this thread. I worked hard to responsibly rehome him over the winter, with no luck. Anyone who knew him IRL or knew my trainer wanted no part, and from there the local interest and qualification levels seemed inverse (though I spoke to some lovely far away folks via PM–thank you guys).

Anyway, he turned it around. Had ribbons in all of his events this year, a tri-color at our area champs, and a move-up. He also bucked me off a few times (not at shows), had a couple really bad warm-up meltdowns, but the momentum was good. I’m not sure I can isolate exactly what did it, but a few things helped:

• Work. Coming back from time off his work was circumspect, but once he was able to work hard, regularly, his ethic improved.
• Challenge He can play and misbehave more easily over smaller stuff. When he got cleared to take on more he was more focused.
• Training/rideability–this year was the first year I think I could get him really round and forward in his jumping, which helped us a lot on landing (before our forward was more flat).
• My trainer warmed me up a bunch of times, which helped me really get him on the aids and not give up due to time or social pressures of hogging the warm-up
• Momentum. The more show days we had that weren’t bucking/tantrum focused, the more I could really get him going well and on the aids in public and make a habit out of it.

He is still a tough cookie and that explosive streak is still there, but I’m very hopeful after this season that we are over the hump.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

What a great update - always interesting to hear what happened next! Hope you and your horse continue in a positive direction.

[Synthesis]

@eventingalter2 That’s an update that makes my heart happy. Sometimes the way through, really is steady patient through with helping hands along the way. Its the steady, patient part that is so very hard and requires keeping the faith with no guarantees.

Congratulations on the success, patience and keeping the faith.

[OverandOnward]

Good for you, and him, too, for hanging in there for each other. For learning and growing as horse & rider.

Your “challenge” point is worth some attention. Some talented horses just can’t do the easy stuff! I bet you two go far together. Keep updating this thread from time to time, it will be fun to find out what adventures you two have together!

Your horse is very lucky to have you.