Franqui
25th Jun 2006, 09:06 PM
Hi everyone. I haven't managed to get on here lately, because I've been really busy with our TWO ponies!
Dexter has been slowly improving. His barging is much improved since we used a knotted halter on him (lent by one of the other liveries). He's been lunging well. Liz got on him again the other week. Hubby and I led her over the motorway bridge, but Dex didn't bat an eyelid. We got him down onto the Vale, past noisy kids, dogs, cars and a motorbike, oh and some rude teenage boys (LOL). When he got onto the grass on the Vale, he got very excited, and Liz got scared he'd rear, but he didn't. However, on the way back, he planted again and started a rear. We grabbed him and got him moving forwards, but Liz leapt off after another few strides as she was scared again. We ended up leading him back to the yard with her shaking all the way.
We've had another girl off the yard, fearless type, and a good little rider. She knew his history and, despite our hopes, he reared at least 10 times with her this morning, usually when someone walked past the field or another pony passed.
So we've decided he is definitely not for us. I'm still injured, but Liz has lost all confidence in riding him. I don't think that's doing either of them any good. He's a lovely pony in so many ways. Stood like an angel for the farrier this morning. But he clearly is a rearer. Oh, and he stood beautifully for one of the other liveries to measure him (which we hadn't done), and he is 13.1, rather than 13.2.
We do feel as if we've been 'done'. When we tried him, he was really well behaved - no sign of any problem. It's easy in hindsight, but the signs were there that the previous owner knew... she told the vet she used tranquiliser gel when clipping him, and tranquiliser gel for this and that... and he reared a bit when the vet took his blood. I was assured he had no vices, and no he doesn't in the sense that he doesn't weave, crib-bite or windsuck, but I do think rearing is something that should be mentioned at purchase?! We did see him ridden by someone else before trying him, although the owner's daughter was 'feeling unwell', and he did nothing wrong. When he was loaded onto the lorry, he did start rearing slightly. It's all so easy in hindsight, and I didn't ask the specific question, does he rear? Would you expect someone to tell you if a prospective purchase reared? Or am I just being naive??
We feel very sad, because he has really settled down at the yard now. And we feel duty bound to tell any prospective buyer/lessee that he rears, which will probably limit the number of people who would want to take him on.
On the brighter side, I couldn't bear seeing Liz so unhappy. It's taken a lot of her enjoyment out of horses. So we went and bought a Connemara schoolmistress. She's forward going, but safe, and has lots of experience at 12. Her last owner but one has already been in touch to give us loads of her history, and she's exactly as described by her last owner. She's bang on 14.2, so definitely no question of us being too big for her, like we had with Dex (although he rides 'big' so we don't look any bigger on him than her).
So, be pleased to have any advice from you as to what we should do as to selling Dex. Thanks.
Dexter has been slowly improving. His barging is much improved since we used a knotted halter on him (lent by one of the other liveries). He's been lunging well. Liz got on him again the other week. Hubby and I led her over the motorway bridge, but Dex didn't bat an eyelid. We got him down onto the Vale, past noisy kids, dogs, cars and a motorbike, oh and some rude teenage boys (LOL). When he got onto the grass on the Vale, he got very excited, and Liz got scared he'd rear, but he didn't. However, on the way back, he planted again and started a rear. We grabbed him and got him moving forwards, but Liz leapt off after another few strides as she was scared again. We ended up leading him back to the yard with her shaking all the way.
We've had another girl off the yard, fearless type, and a good little rider. She knew his history and, despite our hopes, he reared at least 10 times with her this morning, usually when someone walked past the field or another pony passed.
So we've decided he is definitely not for us. I'm still injured, but Liz has lost all confidence in riding him. I don't think that's doing either of them any good. He's a lovely pony in so many ways. Stood like an angel for the farrier this morning. But he clearly is a rearer. Oh, and he stood beautifully for one of the other liveries to measure him (which we hadn't done), and he is 13.1, rather than 13.2.
We do feel as if we've been 'done'. When we tried him, he was really well behaved - no sign of any problem. It's easy in hindsight, but the signs were there that the previous owner knew... she told the vet she used tranquiliser gel when clipping him, and tranquiliser gel for this and that... and he reared a bit when the vet took his blood. I was assured he had no vices, and no he doesn't in the sense that he doesn't weave, crib-bite or windsuck, but I do think rearing is something that should be mentioned at purchase?! We did see him ridden by someone else before trying him, although the owner's daughter was 'feeling unwell', and he did nothing wrong. When he was loaded onto the lorry, he did start rearing slightly. It's all so easy in hindsight, and I didn't ask the specific question, does he rear? Would you expect someone to tell you if a prospective purchase reared? Or am I just being naive??
We feel very sad, because he has really settled down at the yard now. And we feel duty bound to tell any prospective buyer/lessee that he rears, which will probably limit the number of people who would want to take him on.
On the brighter side, I couldn't bear seeing Liz so unhappy. It's taken a lot of her enjoyment out of horses. So we went and bought a Connemara schoolmistress. She's forward going, but safe, and has lots of experience at 12. Her last owner but one has already been in touch to give us loads of her history, and she's exactly as described by her last owner. She's bang on 14.2, so definitely no question of us being too big for her, like we had with Dex (although he rides 'big' so we don't look any bigger on him than her).
So, be pleased to have any advice from you as to what we should do as to selling Dex. Thanks.