Getting my old confidence back--NO MORE BAD HORSES!!

[ducks4you]

I posted this on another forum, and I really think I should share it here!
PLEASE READ THIS.

My Standardbred, "Slightly Confused," didn't work out. Here is the list on counts against him, in opposite order.

1) 04-11 DD rode him at a walk in our large turnout (250 ft. x 310 ft.) next to DH, also at a walk. He lunged forward and bucked--unprovocated--I know, I was watching when it happend. She didn't go off. She lunged him (on the ground) and he acted as if he was being beaten. Checked the mail Monday, and his new Coggins papers were in. Goin' to the auction Saturday!

2) 04-10 DH rode him at a walk in our small ring. 2nd time around he lunged forward and bucked. He got off, and I got on. Same thing. I slammed his head around and yelled at him. Eventually I got a decent trot out of him. I thought we had resolved it.

3) 03-27 Rode SB at a CW warmup. He did ok trail-riding--not really listening to my leg, but, rather, following my other horses, his herd. When the company shot simultaneously, he jumped--not bad--but when they fired at will, he got used to it and ignored it. When the drummer played, he practically came unglued. We rode off alone. He stopped and called to his friends. When they came out of the clearing, I cued to go and gave him his head. He froze. Should've dismounted. He waited to move until my other two horses were almost next to him.

4) 03-17 Trailering to/from farrier. It took 30 minutes to load him each time, despite following his friends into the trailer. While tied, by himself, was spooked by "who knows what", and threw himself backwards--hard to untie THAT knot.

5) Every time I've lunged him, he either walks with no impulsion, or runs away as if scared of being beaten.

6) 03-20 First time riding at home. VERY sluggish to aids to walk and trot.

7) 02-25 Seller had to use carrots to get him to load in my trailer. I didn't listen to "hasn't been ridden in 2 years".

My POINT: THERE ARE BAD HORSES OUT THERE. DON'T BUY ONE.

I paid for my $500 mistake. Sold him for $300, to an Amish man, who will make something of him. Fortunately NOBODY was thrown or hurt by him, but I DID have my church friends pray for no incidents while loading, transporting, and leading in the auction ring.
We REALLY must STOP the "bleeding heart" reaction to horses who have gone bad.
I didn't stick him in a field for 2 years. I didn't race him and have an accident or trailer him and have an accident. I was willing to give him a good home, where the work wasn't hard, and my expectations were for good manners.
I sat next to a older woman at the (tack portion of the) auction, who has a bad back and bad knees from, as she put it, "being thrown by too many horses." She had to find somebody to walk her horse in the ring, because she couldn't walk well enought to do so. Really...

The next time I go off it's going to be because my GOOD horse stepped in a hole and we BOTH will go down together. And, I'm going to be careful about holes.
***********
I am FINALLY feeling like my old self. I love the 2 horses I've had for 1 and 2 years, because they BEHAVE!!!! I have specific ground manners expectations from the new 4 year old, and I'm spending MUCH more time ground training before I get on anybody. Anybody else out there been spooked?

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I've definitely had my share of bad horses. We had one that was downright nasty. Got him from and auction and he was drugged when we bought him. We had another horse we got from the auction who was awesome so we figured we'd take another chance. This guy was great under saddle, but the devil himself on the ground. My dad lost $500 or so dollars on that horse as well when we brought him back to auction.

Since I haven't ridden consistently for a few years due to college and the loss of my mare, I've lost a lot of my balance. We have new horses now and they are pretty good, but I find myself nervous to lope on them. I think I just need to get my balance back (The horses could use some balance too!) then I will feel more confident.

I did fall off last summer when my gelding spooked at a step stool that fell. I wasn't mad at him though because if I was paying more attention I would have stayed on.

I have resolved not to ride OTHER people's horses, unless I know for a fact that it will not buck me off (Ok, so you can never know for a fact, but I want to see the owner ride at all gaits before I get on!) I was thrown from a friends horse (who I had advised him against buying in the first place) when he bucked at the canter. That horse still bucks at the canter and has almost thrown my friend many times. I was stupid to get on the horse first, but luckily I wasn't hurt.

I was only ever bucked off my mare once when we took her out and ran barrels without warming her up. We were beginners and it was our mistake. She knew she had done something wrong, even though I never got mad at her for it. After that, I fell off a few times doing speed events, but not because my horse bucked. She would always stop and look at me on the ground like "What are you doing down there, silly?". I really miss that horse!

I will not purchase a horse if the owner won't get on an ride first. But I'm with you, I'd take a lazy horse over a crazy horse any day!

 

[michickenwrangler]

I can sympathize. Luckily, my mare is great though a little barn sour at times.

Too many of my friends bought psychotic horses, mainly because they were talked into these horses by other people or misled by the sellers, and they now all have confidence issues.

1. C bought a Spotted Saddle Horse mare. Talked into buying it from stable owner by the stable owner. Pretty horse, but aggressive and unpredictable. C made some improvements and sold horse. Lack of confidence prevents her from progressing with her sweet but green TWH mare. She does work with a trainer once a month and no longer shows after a few incidences (but also has had some great shows too).

2. B bought a beautiful Paso Fino mare. Talked into this horse by a friend who has mare's half sister. Mare was psychotic and unpredictable. Her husband hated the horse, put a HUGE strain on their marriage. Eventually sold her and has two TWH geldings but is afraid to canter.

3. J bought a tri-color paint gelding. Supposedly trained to 2nd level dressage. Talked into buying him by a dressage trainer who trained this horse. Same dressage trainer was very rude ti J's daughter and smacked my horse on the rump with a whip without warning. Would rear on the traill. She fell off twice on the trail (a group trail ride with 9 of us on it, incl. C & B). Tried to mount up but was shaking so much that the horse bolted and she couldn't get on. Sold him, got a nice TWH mare (our tainer is a TWH trainer, can you tell?). New mare skittered last week when J went to mount. Now J is afraid to ride, though taking weekly riding lessons to overcome fear.

It is always terrible to see people frightened of their own horses.

I have further comments to make, but since they are controversial, I will refrain from mentioning them.

 

[ducks4you]

I gotta admit--after being thrown by horses I was trying out, I might not have ridden again. However, I still had my old horses, in their 20's--the ones that I owned OVER 20 years until they both passed away last year. TOTAL TRUST THERE, even when my Arab jigged, I knew he would never throw me. It took me one year to trust my awesomely SAFE mare (She's my Avatar). She's a registered Spotted Mountain Horse--it shows that breed and color have nothing to do with temperment/personality. She's not a slowpoke, either--loves to amble and lope immediately after you get on. She just loves people and has won me over, too. It took me the next year to trust my 4 year old KMH colt--his 16"2hh height had a little bit to do with that, but now I trust him, as well.

I think that we should be as careful and wary about buying a new horse as we are wary about driving a Toyota.
michickenwrangler, PM me with your controversialities!
EDIT: HEY, look what I found:
http://horsehealth.blogs.equisearch.com/2007/10/anti-slaughter-vets-call-on-avma-to.html

 

[ducks4you]

I am going out on a limb to admit that I have (had) developed an anger issue with my horses, as a result of lack of confidence. I think that I REALLY wanted an opportunity to go back and win the fights I've lost with about half a dozen horses over the years who threw me. I pictured me as "Mongo" from "Blazing Saddles," when he punched the horse in the middle of the street (Rock Ridge), and horse fell over. ...ah...the vision brings great satisfaction...
ANYWAY, I've realized my overreaction wasn't making anything better. So, I've stopped--to wonderful results. My 4 yr old ("Sweet Cuppin' Cakes") was perfect when DH mounted using the mounting block Saturday. He also stood patiently for several minutes until asked to move. I petted, praised, laughed at him when he was fussy about the bridle and had one ear up, one ear flat from the crownpiece, and gave him a handful of oats to show my pleasure. (We didn't work long--we were actually filming.) When I un-tacked him, I made more of a fuss, and he laid his head on top of mine--I think I moved first. Just thought you'd like to know.

 

[TheMiniaturePony]

Not to sound like a bitch at all but you guys are being irresponsible about this. There are not many bad horses, only people who make them bad. Not everyone can ride a certain horse, it may take time to try and form something with the horse that works but calling them a "bad horse" and selling them to be someone else's problem. If you aren't willing to take the time it needs to work with a problem horse, then maybe you shouldn't own horses and lease a horse.

Did you check if it was something else then a bad horse? Maybe the saddles didn't fit right? Maybe the horse needs a chiropractor or its teeth done? Maybe something is bothering its stomach or tendons maybe? Or have you possibly evaluated yourself? A bad rider makes a bad horse.

 

[ducks4you]

**edit**
Oh, you are TTOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!!

 

[TheMiniaturePony]

*raises eyebrow* Way to be bitchy. If you think you're such a good rider that it couldn't possibly be you causing the problem...*shakes head*

I'm sorry for you.

 

[lupinfarm]

I trust in ducks4you's judgement, and there are *a lot* of "bad" horses out there. As has been demonstrated by ducks4you and michickenwrangler not all bad horses have to have a bad end. Most of the horses depicted in their stories have gone on to new owners and new prospects. Sometimes it takes a special person to work with a difficult horse, that doesn't mean the first person was incapable it just means they don't have that connection and that ability to know what to do. Many of the users on this forum are accomplished and experienced horse people and would have thought about/checked all the possibilities you listed. Your attitude was definitely uncalled for.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Thank you, Lupin

Not to sound arrogant, but I do generally know what to check for in regards to bad behavior. Ducks is as well.