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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | That you just didn't get along with? I have one that is a very pretty, well built horse and moves nicely, and when she is good, rides like a dream! But it seems like we butt heads. Some days we can get along pretty well, then other days I wonder what planet she stepped off of. She has to do everything the hard way. And it doesn't follow her heat cycles, if it did it would make it much easier to predict and expect. If you have encountered this, how did you overcome it or work around it? Did you sell that particular horse? Or keep them and work through it? And if you kept them, how long did it take until you finally came to a meeting of the minds? I'm so frustrated right now with this one I've got, I don't know what to do.
ETA: Just wanted to add this is not a physical issue with this horse, but more of an attitude/psychological/personality issue.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2017-06-27 11:14 PM
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 Quarter Horse HIstorian
Posts: 2878
 
Location: Aubrey, Texas | Sometimes, TIME is an expensive luxury. The horses that I've had the most trouble initially with have taught me the most. BUT, there was no pressure on me to get it right in X amount of time. I prefer mares to geldings, but I am weird that way; I get bored easily, lol. I've been extremely lucky, in that the right people have always appeared to help me when I encountered a difficult case. So, with that being said, do you:
1. Like the mare (really like her, as an individual)
2. Have an open mind to learn new things/ways of looking at things
3. Have a lot of patience
4. Have the luxury of time with no pressure to produce by OX/XX/2017
5. Have access to someone who is knowledgeable and experienced with "difficult" horses to bounce ideas off of?
If you lack even one of those things- (there is NO shame- it's a tall order!) then find someone to sell her to who does. If you're up for the challenge, then go for it. If you can keep her, even if the mare doesn't make The One, the things you will learn from her might help you make the next one THE ONE.
Take the pressure off of yourself and I believe you will see a difference in your mare. Feel free to PM me if your want further clarification. | |
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 Scooters Savior
Location: "Si Fi" Ville | I'll trade you my serial killer for your b****! He HATES me | |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | Yes, bought one for my teenage daughter from a friend. She'd been aced when we tried her. Got her home she couldn't even lope a circle, no matter how much ace you gave her. We tried a few weeks and got rid of her. It wasn't the mare's fault that she'd been blown up but I felt we couldn't do anything with her except go backwards.
Is your mare being nervous and not responding? Or is she just not training like you'd want her to? Sometimes you need to just let them do their style and go with it. And when you have a bad day with her try to find a good note to quit on and quit. I've always said a sign of a good trainer is knowing when to quit. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | cloverleaf - 2017-06-27 9:32 PM Sometimes, TIME is an expensive luxury. The horses that I've had the most trouble initially with have taught me the most. BUT, there was no pressure on me to get it right in X amount of time. I prefer mares to geldings, but I am weird that way; I get bored easily, lol. I've been extremely lucky, in that the right people have always appeared to help me when I encountered a difficult case. So, with that being said, do you: 1. Like the mare (really like her, as an individual) 2. Have an open mind to learn new things/ways of looking at things 3. Have a lot of patience 4. Have the luxury of time with no pressure to produce by OX/XX/2017 5. Have access to someone who is knowledgeable and experienced with "difficult" horses to bounce ideas off of? If you lack even one of those things- (there is NO shame- it's a tall order!) then find someone to sell her to who does. If you're up for the challenge, then go for it. If you can keep her, even if the mare doesn't make The One, the things you will learn from her might help you make the next one THE ONE. Take the pressure off of yourself and I believe you will see a difference in your mare. Feel free to PM me if your want further clarification. Hi cloverleaf, in answer to your questions (and thank you for your response and ideas!).
1. Most of the time I like this mare, except when we are butting heads (and I'm a mare person too, I've only had one gelding and he was a complete dork  not a bad horse, but such a drama queen, LOL)
2. I definitely have an open mind...I have tried more/different ways so far of working with this horse (or at least I think I have), and I would love something that works with her 100% of the time.
3. I do have patience, although I will admit to being part Irish, and sometimes my patience is on the slim side. But I do try.
4. This is a hard one for me to answer. It is a yes and no sort of thing. Some things I have a time frame on and other things I can wait on. But as far as like barrel training, I don't have a time frame on and can just let her pick her learning speed. Other things like being able to check fence and not spook at the irrigation pipe we've seen 20 times, yeah, I think you could learn after 20 times and it NEVER moves.
5. I have a friend who has had a couple of difficult ones, and I've already bounced a few ideas off of her. She pretty much told me some horses are just like that and you can't pick on them/push them on one subject or they get kinda pi$$y.
This horse is an odd one, but I think she'll make a good one. I want to get along with her so bad and I try to work with her, but somedays it seems like a fight.
Fun2Run: you are absolutely right about knowing when to quit. Most days I do...with this horse, most days I do not! I guess I haven't figured out the right formula with her yet.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2017-06-27 11:04 PM
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Quarter Horse HIstorian
Posts: 2878
Location: Aubrey, Texas | I'm sending you a (long!) PM- give me a few minutes. . . I feel your pain! | |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | My sister's horse. I did not like him and he did not like me. I was very involved with his care because she was still quite a novice so I spent a lot of time with him. Our personalities did not mesh at all. He was ear shy and would let my sister put the bridle on but not me, even though I was standing there coaching her through how to do it. When she lost interest I made the ad and helped my parents sell him to the first people that came to look.
There are issues I'll work with, but personality doesn't really change. I won't waste my time and money on a horse I truly don't like.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2017-06-27 11:22 PM
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Yep. Sell the horse.
I currently have three geldings on my trailer that are the light of my life. I am never frustrated, angry, or upset with them. They and I just get along so well, they delight me.
It took me a LOT of horse trading to get to them, and they are lifers that will die with me when their time comes due.
I don't give a horse more than a few months anymore. Ain't nobody got time fo' 'dat. | |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I have one… She is 11 now and was a yearling when I bought her. Now, you have to keep in mind that I don’t sell horses…. Never have….
This mare was awful, she bucked for many years, sets back, and could not figure it out. I hated her. I actually wanted her to get hit by lightning. But, since I don’t sell horses and I am a very hard headed German I did not give up on her. And finally one day it all came together. I was so proud. She ended up being my best friend, if I could, I would have taken her to the mall to go shopping and eat ice cream. It also helped that she was extremely lucky and we usually left the race with a check somehow. In her entire career this horse did not hit one barrel. Not one.
She now has health issues and is not sound. Not sure if she will ever come back. It breaks my heart, and I want nothing more than for her to be well again.
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Veteran
Posts: 217
| I have one...she's for sale right now. Started her slow and doing slow work she's great to get along with and with me it's slow work. For everyone else, she'll do whatever they ask her to. Fast or Slow. Idk if it's my hands or my seat and I'm okay with that. I tried changing ways for her, and I still couldn't get it right for her. So instead of hindering her, I'm selling her so someone can do her justice. It happens sometimes even though it sucks. I've had her a little over a year now, started from scratch. My mom has had two. She tried two years to make one work, but he knew how to push her buttons away from the farm. The other one was too big of a bully for her to work with. She sold him a couple of months after she got him (he's now in my pasture :) | |
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Veteran
Posts: 155
| My daughter and I had one. Super nice mare, bred well, great confirmation, but just different. We put her on regumate for her cycles, we would tag team riding her, tried everything. Eventually I decided I'd had enough. It wasn't fun anymore. I didn't say anything ,I wanted my daughter to make the decision since she started her. Eventually she decided it was time to fine someone who would be better for her. She went to a young girl who it doing more with her, and they are both happy! | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | I had one. Let me tell you, she was the ultimate MARE. She couldn't even be rode when she was in heat. She is the mare that ruined mares for me. I'm a gelding person all the way because of her. Now dont get me wrong, she was a great horse! Did 4h for years, knew all the patterns, big appendix beautiful girl that i could put anyone on. She hated men which wasnt helpful when my boyfriend helped out at the barn. BUT, we just did NOT get along. we butt heads like no tomorrow and it became a hassle anymore and i wasnt having fun..I gave her 8 months. Well, Come to find out.. shes a little girls horse. I traded her for my current barrel gelding and the little girl absolutley adores her! they get along so well. She was never one to let you just "hang out" in her stall with her, 2 weeks after we traded i got a pic sent to me of her sleeping in the stall with the mare!! So it worked out. IM happy, MARES happy, GIRLS happy. and My geldings are my world!! Some times its not always bad to just move on.. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| I think the best thing to do when training or riding a horse you don’t see eye to eye with is to always give them respect and the benefit of doubt. Don’t take anything personally. Horses are black and white; cause and reaction. I see a lot of times people taking things personally and getting after the horse for it, when if they'd just take a look and see what is causing the negative reaction and fix that rather than adding to the the problem..
Every horse is different, you have to find out each thing that makes that particular horse tick.
Not every horse you’re going to click with and have a bond, but with time and understanding you can develop a good working relationship.
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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1849
| yes. sell the horse. unless you don't value your time lol. I had a mare that was 50% great and the other was horrid. we but heads terriblely! someone was gonna get hurt lol my vote - sell | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Thanks for all the great thoughts and info. I'm a mare person...I have a lifer horse that is a mare and she and I work great! But this other mare I have tried with for over a year and has been difficult from the beginning. When I went to look at her, she was great and we got along well, but it was all down hill from there. I don't like to give up on one, I want and try to make it work, but sometimes I'm tired of the struggle. | |
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Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | mtcanchazer - 2017-06-28 10:13 AM Thanks for all the great thoughts and info. I'm a mare person...I have a lifer horse that is a mare and she and I work great! But this other mare I have tried with for over a year and has been difficult from the beginning. When I went to look at her, she was great and we got along well, but it was all down hill from there. I don't like to give up on one, I want and try to make it work, but sometimes I'm tired of the struggle.
I'm a mare person too. I got a new filly a while ago. She was sweet but could be a jerk too. She is a completely different hosre now that she is on Regumate. Might be worth a try. | |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | mtcan,,,,
what are you feeding? I got my horse off 90% of sugars. He is on a forage diet with added fat ( renew gold ) and his supliments formulated for him from THE.
Granted he is a gelding but is becoming more consistant with this new diet. He couldn't handle commercial feeds at all. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | roxieannie - 2017-06-28 9:25 AM mtcan,,,,
what are you feeding? I got my horse off 90% of sugars. He is on a forage diet with added fat ( renew gold ) and his supliments formulated for him from THE.
Granted he is a gelding but is becoming more consistant with this new diet. He couldn't handle commercial feeds at all.
She is out on pasture 100% of the time in the summer and on grass/alfalfa hay in the winter. Hardly any additional feed grain or pellets, she's an easy keeper, and then a complete mineral supplement. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Alberta, Canada | I had one. No matter how hard I tried, she didnt like me and I didnt like her. 6 months into her futurity year I finally admitted defeat (which was incredibly hard for me) and sold her. Best choice for myself and the horse. She went on to do well with a different rider and the rest of the horses in my barn began to shine because I didnt have the added stress that came with this mare from us not enjoying each other. | |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| I have had 2 in the ) 60+ years I have been riding. Orb were given plenty of time to get it. I sold one to someone to pony thoroughbreds on---no stress and does not require thinking. I sent the other one to the killer so she would not hurt anyone. There is a reason horses are there | |
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 Some Kind of Trouble
Posts: 4430
| Best thing I ever did was sell it... worst thing was waiting too long to do it because she had my confidence down to ZERO by that time! | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I feel like you guys do about selling, but my family (bless their hearts) think trying more is the answer. So that is why I am trying to get more info, opinions before I make up my mind. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | How long have you had her? | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| mtcanchazer - 2017-06-28 3:27 PM
I feel like you guys do about selling, but my family (bless their hearts) think trying more is the answer. So that is why I am trying to get more info, opinions before I make up my mind.
On something like that, I’d personally say give it to the end of summer/September and if you still feel the same way, then I’d sell her. But, if by then, you are starting to feel like you’re on the upturn of the battle with her then continue on with her! | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Figure out what you want in a horse, make a list of the things you can tolerate, and the deal breakers.
Then figure out where this horse fits.
To me spooking doesn't bother me, I have one very well bred mare that honestly spooks at every natural made object when se is by herself, yet when it comes to barrels she is all business. In a group of people she is the go to horse for the green riders, and she is only 5. I know she wont grow out of her quirks, and she does have a few that do drive me bananas, but all don't affect her performance or my safety.
My old horse was a spooker too, every ride was interesting, but again manageable.
I have learned there are too many horses in this world to not be happy with the one you have.
I have sold a few that didn't fit my program. I had one just got back from the trainer, not a bad word to be said about her, my first time riding her I knew she wasn't my style, so I sold her.
I wouldn't let your family influence your decision, you are the one who has to ride the horse, if it isn't fun, then why do it? | |
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  Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | Life is too short to waste it on a counterfeit POS. It's likely they will never "get it" they aren't meant to be a barrel horse. I had a mare that was wonderful to be around on the ground but on her back she was horrible. I called her the food stamp cause she sure didn't want a job. Just a free ride. After her I quit making excuses for all the failures. If they don't want to be a barrel horse, they might be really good at something else. But not at my place. They find a new zip code.
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I don't mind spooking, I was just using that as a for instance.
I have owned her for more than a year, and usually by the 1 year point with any horse I have had, I have the kinks worked out and we are good to go and we get along pretty well.
As far as riding style goes,when she is good, our style fits pretty well (but I attribute that to the trainer, he trained my good horse as well), it is just the attitude she goes about things. It is like she is bipolar: one day she will do something perfect, and the next day it is a fight to get her to do it at all, and these are things she knows...not difficult things, just simple every day run of the mill. And it isn't all under saddle, its on the ground too. I understand horses have good days and bad, but what I don't understand is how her bad days can be so awful that I can hardly stand to be around her. She's not necessarily dangerous, just so hard to get along with on those days I don't even want to deal with her. I have tried to work it out of her, and make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard, but on those days she does not care, she would rather lunge into the ground or stand tied to a patience pole, or throw herself on the ground than do what she is supposed to do.
I can't help but think it is something I'm doing wrong or I'm not doing, but I'm out of ideas of what to do. It is almost like she doesn't want to do it for me. Maybe it is like another poster said, maybe she knows how to push my buttons.
Edited by mtcanchazer 2017-06-28 8:38 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I have one that I literally HATE. I have never disliked an animal more. I am not a bleeding heart who believes animals are innocent and sweet and respond to kindness always and blah, blah, blah.. seriously. Just like some people are just a-holes, there are some animals who are just a-holes and I own one of them.
Now, he is smart. And, once I figured that out, it's been easier to get along with him. But, this was the first time I'd seen an animal con people. He would act (no, really "ACT") all scared because when he acts scared, the people are supposed to give in and stop pressuring him. A trainer figured it out for me. I remember seeing him repeating his responses (when he was pushed to work through) and then throw a hissy fit when we didn't do what we were supposed to. He's spoiled.
He is also the EASIEST horse to train because of that smartness and personality he has ... now that I have his quirks figured out. He remembers everything I show him and catches on so quickly that I have to be on my toes because if I let him get away with something more than once, I have to spend weeks trying to fix it. Or, I spend weeks thrilled at how easily he caught on to something new I showed him.
Every time I try to sell him, of course, I spend more time riding him and he shows me a glimpse of the incredible talent that he is just sitting on... I know what he could be worth in the right hands and I can't bear the thought of letting someone buy him and seeing him somewhere down the road with chains hanging all over his head and someone fighting with him and watching him blow up because he's the type who that could happen to him easily. I just feel responsible for seeing that he ends up with the right fit of an owner. I can't just sell him to anyone. As much as I curse him. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| Sell her. Dont spend money on something you cant enjoy. She might do better with a new owner. I had a gelding that i did not like. Had him for a few years and finally sold him. He loved the new owner. | |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Nita - 2017-06-29 12:26 AM
I have one that I literally HATE. I have never disliked an animal more. I am not a bleeding heart who believes animals are innocent and sweet and respond to kindness always and blah, blah, blah.. seriously. Just like some people are just a-holes, there are some animals who are just a-holes and I own one of them.
Now, he is smart. And, once I figured that out, it's been easier to get along with him. But, this was the first time I'd seen an animal con people. He would act (no, really "ACT") all scared because when he acts scared, the people are supposed to give in and stop pressuring him. A trainer figured it out for me. I remember seeing him repeating his responses (when he was pushed to work through) and then throw a hissy fit when we didn't do what we were supposed to. He's spoiled.
He is also the EASIEST horse to train because of that smartness and personality he has ... now that I have his quirks figured out. He remembers everything I show him and catches on so quickly that I have to be on my toes because if I let him get away with something more than once, I have to spend weeks trying to fix it. Or, I spend weeks thrilled at how easily he caught on to something new I showed him.
Every time I try to sell him, of course, I spend more time riding him and he shows me a glimpse of the incredible talent that he is just sitting on... I know what he could be worth in the right hands and I can't bear the thought of letting someone buy him and seeing him somewhere down the road with chains hanging all over his head and someone fighting with him and watching him blow up because he's the type who that could happen to him easily. I just feel responsible for seeing that he ends up with the right fit of an owner. I can't just sell him to anyone. As much as I curse him.
Bless your heart, I know the same feeling. I have several horses who are ok to ride down the road, but not sound for anything else. So what do I do? I keep them. If people find out how they are bred or that they used to be owned by someone who runs barrels, it seems they usually put them on the barrels again and then try to sell them for more than they paid for the horse. I can't stand to see that. So I keep them. I would love to have a nice older barrel horse to regain my confidence on and give a final forever home to but I don't have room in my pasture for another horse. So I wait.  | |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| OregonBR - 2017-06-28 1:49 PM
Life is too short to waste it on a counterfeit POS. It's likely they will never "get it" they aren't meant to be a barrel horse. I had a mare that was wonderful to be around on the ground but on her back she was horrible. I called her the food stamp cause she sure didn't want a job. Just a free ride. After her I quit making excuses for all the failures. If they don't want to be a barrel horse, they might be really good at something else. But not at my place. They find a new zip code.
Could not agree more! | |
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Expert
Posts: 5293
| Nita - 2017-06-28 10:26 PM
I have one that I literally HATE. I have never disliked an animal more. I am not a bleeding heart who believes animals are innocent and sweet and respond to kindness always and blah, blah, blah.. seriously. Just like some people are just a-holes, there are some animals who are just a-holes and I own one of them.
Now, he is smart. And, once I figured that out, it's been easier to get along with him. But, this was the first time I'd seen an animal con people. He would act (no, really "ACT") all scared because when he acts scared, the people are supposed to give in and stop pressuring him. A trainer figured it out for me. I remember seeing him repeating his responses (when he was pushed to work through) and then throw a hissy fit when we didn't do what we were supposed to. He's spoiled.
He is also the EASIEST horse to train because of that smartness and personality he has ... now that I have his quirks figured out. He remembers everything I show him and catches on so quickly that I have to be on my toes because if I let him get away with something more than once, I have to spend weeks trying to fix it. Or, I spend weeks thrilled at how easily he caught on to something new I showed him.
Every time I try to sell him, of course, I spend more time riding him and he shows me a glimpse of the incredible talent that he is just sitting on... I know what he could be worth in the right hands and I can't bear the thought of letting someone buy him and seeing him somewhere down the road with chains hanging all over his head and someone fighting with him and watching him blow up because he's the type who that could happen to him easily. I just feel responsible for seeing that he ends up with the right fit of an owner. I can't just sell him to anyone. As much as I curse him.
I actually PERSONALLY saw an NFR quality horse, consistent high 16's on a standard pattern ACT and PRETEND to be crippled! He would be fine in pasture, fine if you wanted to go ride, etc. But if he saw the trailer already hooked up to leave, or when you unloaded out of the trailer at a rodeo, he would be GIMPY as crap!!! He has learned that Gimpy=I don't have to work and I will be pampered and treated like royalty because he was such a " Tough " horse to outrun. THe people went to a million vets, millions of dollars. Nothing wrong of course. THey paid over 100k for the horse and when he would run, he would limp out f the area and people felt sorry for him. THey sold him for 45k I do believe and the new owners had him vetted.. SOUND ( Of course) so first time he tried it, he got something a little new, and got his butt whooped. lol He mysteriously quit limping and won a LOTTTTTTTTTTT of money. | |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I can honestly say no..i have managed to adjust to all the different horses i have had....and i have learnt from each one....1 i have now is probably the most challenging i have ever had but all the horses before her have prepared me for her bs....lol..m | |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| My stallion Zan (in avatar). I hated him for the first 3 years after his training. He had -0- respect for me but was/is sensitive to correction. He permanently damaged my right shoulder trying to pull (leap, running leaps) away from me while travelling to Kansas. Finally he crossed all lines of decency and rammed the ladder I was on and using to try to trim his bridle path. All bets off. Come to Jesus meeting. And after that he became a better horse. Now he is my bonded partner, at 13 years old. He is the best. Perfect show stallion. But stallions are different and once you make the connection it's steadfast.
Now my young stallion is another story. I don't know that I have it in me to get past the testing part to the partner part. He's not as bad as Zan was, but he bit me bad last year (boob bite) and I now have confidence issues in handling him on the ground. Not a good playing field to be on with a stallion. I really believe he is a man's stallion. He has been golden for his two male trainers and both trainers just love/d him to pieces. He will probably find a new owner. | |
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Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | lonely va barrelxr - 2017-06-29 3:06 PM
My stallion Zan (in avatar). I hated him for the first 3 years after his training. He had -0- respect for me but was/is sensitive to correction. He permanently damaged my right shoulder trying to pull (leap, running leaps) away from me while travelling to Kansas. Finally he crossed all lines of decency and rammed the ladder I was on and using to try to trim his bridle path. All bets off. Come to Jesus meeting. And after that he became a better horse. Now he is my bonded partner, at 13 years old. He is the best. Perfect show stallion. But stallions are different and once you make the connection it's steadfast.
Now my young stallion is another story. I don't know that I have it in me to get past the testing part to the partner part. He's not as bad as Zan was, but he bit me bad last year (boob bite) and I now have confidence issues in handling him on the ground. Not a good playing field to be on with a stallion. I really believe he is a man's stallion. He has been golden for his two male trainers and both trainers just love/d him to pieces. He will probably find a new owner.
He'd be a gelding so fast at my place. His head would spin.  | |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | FLITASTIC - 2017-06-29 10:51 AM
Nita - 2017-06-28 10:26 PM
I have one that I literally HATE. I have never disliked an animal more. I am not a bleeding heart who believes animals are innocent and sweet and respond to kindness always and blah, blah, blah.. seriously. Just like some people are just a-holes, there are some animals who are just a-holes and I own one of them.
Now, he is smart. And, once I figured that out, it's been easier to get along with him. But, this was the first time I'd seen an animal con people. He would act (no, really "ACT") all scared because when he acts scared, the people are supposed to give in and stop pressuring him. A trainer figured it out for me. I remember seeing him repeating his responses (when he was pushed to work through) and then throw a hissy fit when we didn't do what we were supposed to. He's spoiled.
He is also the EASIEST horse to train because of that smartness and personality he has ... now that I have his quirks figured out. He remembers everything I show him and catches on so quickly that I have to be on my toes because if I let him get away with something more than once, I have to spend weeks trying to fix it. Or, I spend weeks thrilled at how easily he caught on to something new I showed him.
Every time I try to sell him, of course, I spend more time riding him and he shows me a glimpse of the incredible talent that he is just sitting on... I know what he could be worth in the right hands and I can't bear the thought of letting someone buy him and seeing him somewhere down the road with chains hanging all over his head and someone fighting with him and watching him blow up because he's the type who that could happen to him easily. I just feel responsible for seeing that he ends up with the right fit of an owner. I can't just sell him to anyone. As much as I curse him.
I actually PERSONALLY saw an NFR quality horse, consistent high 16's on a standard pattern ACT and PRETEND to be crippled! He would be fine in pasture, fine if you wanted to go ride, etc. But if he saw the trailer already hooked up to leave, or when you unloaded out of the trailer at a rodeo, he would be GIMPY as crap!!! He has learned that Gimpy=I don't have to work and I will be pampered and treated like royalty because he was such a " Tough " horse to outrun. THe people went to a million vets, millions of dollars. Nothing wrong of course. THey paid over 100k for the horse and when he would run, he would limp out f the area and people felt sorry for him. THey sold him for 45k I do believe and the new owners had him vetted.. SOUND ( Of course ) so first time he tried it, he got something a little new, and got his butt whooped. lol He mysteriously quit limping and won a LOTTTTTTTTTTT of money.
^^that's a good story.
This one is the same horse that sets back on the trailer. One of the last shows I took him to, he was setting back. I just went about my business and ignored him. Well, it was kind of a playday and a lot of people started to gather so they could help and offer advice. That was making it worse, so I started picking up so I could just go home. A lady walked toward him saying "easy boy" all sweet and he looked right at her, set back, stood up and turned his head and looked right back at her like he'd found his sucker and this is how he was going to get his way. It was obvious to me, because I know the horse. But, the lady got pretty insulted. I did kinda snap at her when I said "don't do that". But, I had to stop her before it reinforced his bad behavior.
I actually appreciate people's intentions to help and offer advice, but I was announcing to everyone to just ignore it and go about their business as normal, please. I'd never seen so many people gathering at once to help, lol. | |
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Have you ever had a horse...