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Re: [RC] Horse buying woes - rides2farOh, Sheila, you're probably stuck with him and will have to chalk it up to a tough lesson in horse choosing. Well, I've been a horse trader before...or maybe a better term is "horse finder". Didn't rip people off, was more in charge of "searching" for the right horses. I can tell you that for *you* this horse may be worthless...but he may be just right for someone else. Time to take stock of his positive traits. Why did you buy him? Is he pretty? Good ground manners? Is he fairly well behaved in a confined area? A little arthritis is no big deal for 90% of the people who ride. They take them out for a walk every couple of months and if the horse is ever off the next day they don't know it. They ride in groups, where a horse could be hardly broke but can figure out to follow the horse ahead of him and does great. I am absolutely dumbfounded every time I dare go ride with the local rednecks. Their horses, occasionally bolt (what fun! a race!) they jig (look! he's spirited!) They travel in a funky gait (I don't feel nothing wrong) etc. and guess what? They think those horses hung the moon. I purchased a little Arab for my friend Bekki Crippen. The folks stood there with a straight face knowing I was buying this horse for a disabled person. Bekki is a pretty good rider, but about 4'10", 140 lbs. and has sort of short arms and legs. Easy to topple. She's got some mental disabilities that for the most part just make her really nice and sort of soft hearted. When we got him home I went to a ride the next week and broke my collarbone so it was weeks before I saw her riding him at home. He had turned into a TYRANT *and* started showing some arthritis. He rode great around the barnlot or in a ring, but was psycho on the trail. I was sure I'd blown her money but when I put him up for sale a man came to see him for his little girl. Before I'd sell him to him I hauled the horse to his house and let them ride him in their arena. He was great there. They bought him and he worked out perfectly for them. I warned them he was awful on the trail and not to buy him for that. Ran into him a year later and he said the kid rides him everywhere. Go figure. Before I gave up on this horse I'd do a few things. Try riding him in a group with some well behaved horses. The change in atmosphere may be responsible for his change in attitude. You may find that if you control the situation while you put miles on him he'll be OK. Second, on the x-ray thing. I would never right a horse off simply for questionable x-rays. IF the horse is already showing lameness, OK. IF the horse is off on circles or to a flex. OK maybe get x-rays to try and pinpoint the problem. But if that horse is sound to flex and circle, toss the x-rays. Many a great horse has sorry looking x-rays and the most consistantly lame horse I ever competed had pretty ones. You already own him, so you've got nothing to loose unless you feel you're in danger. Angie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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