So I’m quite frustrated/stressed about my horse situation right now.
I owned my pony, Zoe, for 2.5 years [have been riding her for probably 6 years] and was trying to sell her a while ago. I didn’t have anyone interested, so I donated her to the lesson program at the barn I kept her at over the summer. I just graduated college, and this barn is about ten minutes from my house, so I figured it would be perfect. Money wasn’t important to me as far as selling her, I was confident she would be well taken care of, and I could still ride her since she was so close. The barn gladly accepted her, but they mostly just use her for kids doing walk/trot. She is very aware of who is on her back, and she’s great when doing walk/trot. She needs someone much more experienced for any cantering.
The barn hired a new trainer, and I began taking lessons with him. I really enjoyed his teaching style, and I was learning so much from him. I rode Zoe in the beginning but then began riding other horses at the barn. I started riding other horses because the trainer felt I was an experienced rider and wanted me to work with some of the other horses [many beginners at this barn] and because I wanted to focus my learning on dressage work. Zoe has a long way to go as far as her movement and any dressage work, so I wanted to try working with a more experienced horse.
Well, the barn ended up letting the trainer go [no idea why, nor do I want to know. I don’t like being involved in any gossip/drama at barns]. I was super bummed, but they said they had a new trainer that I could take lessons with. Before I considered any other options, I figured I would take a lesson with the new trainer first and keep an open mind.
Last night was my first lesson with her. I had asked to ride Zoe, because I hadn’t ridden her in a while. I didn’t even think about the fact that she probably hasn’t been really worked [past walk/trot] since I rode her a couple months ago. This should have crossed my mind, but it didn’t until I was on her and saw how much energy she had. Like I said, she is very aware of who is on her back, and she knows me and clearly associates me with more than just walk/trot. From the moment I entered the ring, she was a nut job. The lesson was a total disaster. It was only supposed to be a half hour, but this new trainer and I worked together for over a hour just trying to calm her down. I just fought with her the entire time, and she went on several bucking sprees. I never went off [her bucks are pretty contained and obviously nothing I haven’t dealt with in the many years I have ridden her], but it was so frustrating. We ended up putting her in the roundpen and letting her run for a little. The amount of energy she had was unbelievable. She just ran and ran for about five minutes until she decided she wanted to chill a little. The trainer was in the middle the whole time, and it was obvious Zoe did not have an ounce of attention on her at any time, which the trainer noted and was not happy about. I tried getting on again, and it was more bucking. I really got after her for it and finally she was able to canter around the ring three times with no bucks. I know some people will suggest checking for pain/saddle fit, and I respect that, but I truly don’t believe that has anything to do with it considering I have ridden her in the same saddle for 3 years and at the end of the lesson she was cantering fine.
I just think this all came down to her not being really worked for about two months. I am stressed, because I love this horse, but I don’t know if I should ride her anymore. The reason I wanted to sell her was because I know she needs consistent work, and after graduating college, I just don’t have that time anymore. As I said, she is great with the kids when she is just doing walk/trot. She is also great when she is worked multiple times a week. I can only take a lesson once and a week, and I don’t want to spend all my lessons fighting with her and getting her energy out. I’m starting to feel that it might be best if I ride other horses from now on and let her be used just for the kids. It bums me out, but she seems perfectly happy doing that, and as I said, I don’t want a crazy, energetic pony every week for my lesson. I really want to be learning more about a horse’s movement such as bending, collecting, lengthening, getting into a proper frame, etc.
After typing this all out and reading it, the best choice for me seems pretty obvious. I want to take my riding to a different level, and I can't do that with Zoe. So, I think I’m just looking for somewhere to vent and some reassurance that the decision I am making makes sense. Also, if anyone has some similar stories, that would probably be encouraging! Zoe has a lot of potential, but I just don’t have the time to bring her to that potential, and I need to stop feeling obligated to do so, I think.
I owned my pony, Zoe, for 2.5 years [have been riding her for probably 6 years] and was trying to sell her a while ago. I didn’t have anyone interested, so I donated her to the lesson program at the barn I kept her at over the summer. I just graduated college, and this barn is about ten minutes from my house, so I figured it would be perfect. Money wasn’t important to me as far as selling her, I was confident she would be well taken care of, and I could still ride her since she was so close. The barn gladly accepted her, but they mostly just use her for kids doing walk/trot. She is very aware of who is on her back, and she’s great when doing walk/trot. She needs someone much more experienced for any cantering.
The barn hired a new trainer, and I began taking lessons with him. I really enjoyed his teaching style, and I was learning so much from him. I rode Zoe in the beginning but then began riding other horses at the barn. I started riding other horses because the trainer felt I was an experienced rider and wanted me to work with some of the other horses [many beginners at this barn] and because I wanted to focus my learning on dressage work. Zoe has a long way to go as far as her movement and any dressage work, so I wanted to try working with a more experienced horse.
Well, the barn ended up letting the trainer go [no idea why, nor do I want to know. I don’t like being involved in any gossip/drama at barns]. I was super bummed, but they said they had a new trainer that I could take lessons with. Before I considered any other options, I figured I would take a lesson with the new trainer first and keep an open mind.
Last night was my first lesson with her. I had asked to ride Zoe, because I hadn’t ridden her in a while. I didn’t even think about the fact that she probably hasn’t been really worked [past walk/trot] since I rode her a couple months ago. This should have crossed my mind, but it didn’t until I was on her and saw how much energy she had. Like I said, she is very aware of who is on her back, and she knows me and clearly associates me with more than just walk/trot. From the moment I entered the ring, she was a nut job. The lesson was a total disaster. It was only supposed to be a half hour, but this new trainer and I worked together for over a hour just trying to calm her down. I just fought with her the entire time, and she went on several bucking sprees. I never went off [her bucks are pretty contained and obviously nothing I haven’t dealt with in the many years I have ridden her], but it was so frustrating. We ended up putting her in the roundpen and letting her run for a little. The amount of energy she had was unbelievable. She just ran and ran for about five minutes until she decided she wanted to chill a little. The trainer was in the middle the whole time, and it was obvious Zoe did not have an ounce of attention on her at any time, which the trainer noted and was not happy about. I tried getting on again, and it was more bucking. I really got after her for it and finally she was able to canter around the ring three times with no bucks. I know some people will suggest checking for pain/saddle fit, and I respect that, but I truly don’t believe that has anything to do with it considering I have ridden her in the same saddle for 3 years and at the end of the lesson she was cantering fine.
I just think this all came down to her not being really worked for about two months. I am stressed, because I love this horse, but I don’t know if I should ride her anymore. The reason I wanted to sell her was because I know she needs consistent work, and after graduating college, I just don’t have that time anymore. As I said, she is great with the kids when she is just doing walk/trot. She is also great when she is worked multiple times a week. I can only take a lesson once and a week, and I don’t want to spend all my lessons fighting with her and getting her energy out. I’m starting to feel that it might be best if I ride other horses from now on and let her be used just for the kids. It bums me out, but she seems perfectly happy doing that, and as I said, I don’t want a crazy, energetic pony every week for my lesson. I really want to be learning more about a horse’s movement such as bending, collecting, lengthening, getting into a proper frame, etc.
After typing this all out and reading it, the best choice for me seems pretty obvious. I want to take my riding to a different level, and I can't do that with Zoe. So, I think I’m just looking for somewhere to vent and some reassurance that the decision I am making makes sense. Also, if anyone has some similar stories, that would probably be encouraging! Zoe has a lot of potential, but I just don’t have the time to bring her to that potential, and I need to stop feeling obligated to do so, I think.