She always felt something was missing and in the end she chose to sell. He did his job and then wanted to be left alone. Her gelding however, would never eat a treat - not an apple or carrot or any of the expensive horse cookies. The owner had always had horses that were curious, friendly and loved treats and interactions. I once trained a horse that was successful in the reining pen, but the horse and the owner didn’t ‘click’. If you want your horse to LIKE you, to run to you from the pasture and nudge you for a snack, don’t get your hopes up if your horse is of the second type. Others are more stand-offish and businesslike. Some are affectionate and seem to enjoy your attention. Horses, like people, have distinct personalities.
Two things can strongly impact your enjoyment with your horse - personality conflicts and energy level. If any of this sounds like you, it’s time to ask yourself why the joy is gone. Do you look forward to riding or do you avoid or dread heading out to the barn? Have you noticed that you are riding less often, and when you do it’s for shorter periods of time? Does thinking of your horse make you smile, or do you wince? Why do something so expensive and time-consuming if you don’t absolutely love it? So ask yourself if you’re still enjoying your horse. If you’re like me, the reason you spend time with horses is that horses bring you joy. This is one area where it is reasonable to expect your horse to change but if you don’t have the time or resources to facilitate this change-sell. If you hesitate in answering any of these questions, it’s time to consider selling. Are you really capable of addressing the dangerous behaviors in your horse? Are you willing to commit to the time necessary (a minimum of four times per week) to correct the behavior? Are you willing to be consistent over time (fixing your horse could take weeks, months or more)? Are you willing to postpone your goals? For instance, you may have had a goal to do some trail riding or enter a show this summer, and if you switch gears to fix bad behavior, that goal might not be possible. If you have the ability, time and inclination to train these behaviors out of your horse, it’s time to get to work fixing the situation. If you can’t maintain it, the training will not benefit you. #2-can you maintain what the trainer has done? Some horses become wise and know the difference between the trainer and the owner. If you don’t have the money to see the training through, it’s time to consider selling.
MY FIRST HORSE PROFESSIONAL
#1 a good professional trainer can be expensive. Sending your horse to a professional trainer is one possibility. You do have options if you consider your horse a safety threat. If you can’t control your horse, even if someone else can, the horse is still dangerous to you. No amount of loyalty to your horse is worth getting hurt.īehaviors that threaten your safety include biting, kicking, rearing, bucking and striking. When you feel unsafe around your horse, or if your instructor or some other professional is warning you about your safety, take it seriously. There are three things I tell them to consider: safety, enjoyment, and purpose.
The final decision is a difficult one each individual needs to make on their own. When someone asks my advice about selling a horse, I like to stick to some general points. Either way, the realization is unsettling - and usually for the very reason that the initial expectations were so high. This can happen after years together, or soon after a new purchase. The other end of that spectrum is coming to the conclusion that it might be time to part ways with your horse. You figure you and your new horse will be riding together years in the future, still enjoying a fruitful and fulfilling relationship. Expectations are high and as far as potential success goes, the sky’s the limit. It’s kind of like infatuation -easy to see all the great things about the new partner, and any negatives or possible problems are easily overlooked. There’s no doubt that some of the happiest moments of horse ownership come when you take delivery of that new horse.
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