Last year, about 15 months ago, I was given our old guy, Viejo. As I have oft said on this board,he was rescued and then 9 months later given to us. We didn't know much about him, other than the fact that he had been a bones and skin, " will he make it through the night" kind of case. THe apparent owner from whom he was taken, spoke only spanish and our friend wasn't able to get much communication with hm other than to say that he would be turned in to the law if he didn't turn over our horse and 2 others. Ours was said to be in the worst shape, he was by far the oldest and has permanent gray lines down the sides of his cheeks where a halter had dug in and left its permanent impression, the tattoo of sadnes and neglect lest we should ever forget his suffering. We never will, as we can only imagine. Our friend rode him for us when we went to see him, and she rode him in a hackamore ( and so did I) around her field in a comfy old padded cloth English saddle.HE had a nice walk , trotted but didn't really canter, other than a few strides. I could see that he didn't buck and he seemed a gentle old gentleman who needed to be built up gradually once again in fitness and trust. ANd we took him home. Fast roward to now: What we have learned so far, is that Vee has a fine walk, big strong legs and feet ( not draft, just not delicate and definately not small) a fine walk, and one hell of a trot! This kid can trot as fast as some can canter, big long strides, far reaching in the front and neck is always up.He has high withers,he is about 14.3H and a sweet head that is nicely shaped, not too stright and not really dishy. THe boy doesn't gate, but he is definately some kind of trotter in use. Its a nice trot to sit to. He is very road savvy, cars don't bother him but the spook is complete runaway, comes unglued easily at liberty. HE parks out alot at rest, though his feet are in great barefoot shape. HE has great teeth ( believe it or not)and it is thought that he is between 22 and 26 but no one seems to know for sure.THe dentist has checked his teeth recently and there is nothing that needs to be done again yet. The bit; Vee has only been put in jointed such as ringed and full cheek snaffle bits.I even tried a mild curb, but he acts like he is gagging, sretches head all the way down; opening mouth hates it. Tried a tom Thumb which is also again, jointed but it seems that it irritates the pallet which I understand. I wish we knew more about this mostly sweet old man, where he has been and what he knows. He had no ground training at all,but he does know quite a few things now ( when he isn't being bull headed).HE will always move his butt over away from me ( on lead and even when not as long as he isn't being turned out and in a mood). WE think that he may have been a carriage horse because of his tro and road savvy but who really knows. At his age, should he really be retrained, how difficult is it for an older horse like this to learn, or should we just let him retire as we have been doing? He is plenty strong and healthy, but what is best for him? And if it is fair to get him started again, should it be in a hackamore, a straight bit, is there something more comfy for him that we can try. He seems to have an aversion to anything in his mouth. Even when I was riding regularly, he seemed to be having a problem with that. But is it fair to even consider taking him out of retirement? He loves to be with us,..gee ANy advice, thoughts , sorry,..this was a long one...
Marcy, all we can do is guess at his story, but he sounds lovely.
Your description of him is very clear! I'm going to guess that he MAY have been a 3-gaited Saddlebred (or half saddlebred, although with your description of his conformation, I'm aiming towards full Saddlebred, half Arab/saddlebreds do tend to have the dishy Arab face) park horse or English Pleasure horse, or yes, he could also have been a Pleasure Driving horse; he may have been both. : ) They ride Park Horses in two bits at once, a small snaffle and a curb with huge straight shanks, so it's easy to concieve that he may have been hurt in the mouth and is a little leery of a bit now. Abuse of Arabian and Saddlebred show horses runs rampant, too (I have a little abused Arabian mare that was a Country Pleasure horse once, I know she was beaten because I know who her trainer was).
My opinion is, that if he's sound and healthy and seems to enjoy being ridden and worked with, why not? If he were mine, I'd sure be using and enjoying him!
No horse is too old to learn. I know of an Arabian trail horse who at 19 was pressed into service as his owner's granddaughter's show horse, as a park horse no less (I believe she also did Native Costume and Show Hack with him as well)! He won big for her for the next several years, too, despite never having been in the ring prior. He learned it just fine. ; )
Good luck! Sounds like you and Vee are going to have a lot of fun! : )
Krystle - I agree with Meezer - you may be able to have a couple of fun years with him before he has to completely retire.
How about a bitless bridle or a Myler bit? My boy LOVES his Myler - I wouldn't put anything else in his mouth. Wish has a low palate and I think everything else just plain hurt. Maybe your boy is the same - your dentist could tell you.
I would put him back into service if that's what he seems to want but I would make it fun service and not work service --- meaning no strenuous mental and physical training.
If he likes the hackamore, so be it. I am for the "if it works don't fix it".
Also, if you decide to do something with him, be prepared for mental relapses.
It sounds as if he has been truly "rode hard and put away wet" and probably carries a lot of mental scars to go with the physical scars.
There may be some completely innocent task you ask of him that will set him off in unbelievable ways. It won't be his fault, it will be bringing back a horrible memory.
The Arab I rescued 16+ years ago to this day has to be cajoled when putting a halter over his head and when leading him ---- unless you want rotator cuff surgery.
It is the ACTION that evokes the memories, not that I am doing anything wrong. I cannot put his halter on standing in front of him, like I do my my other horses. I have to be standing at a certain defined postion further behind his head than is normal to put the halter on. To take it off, I either need extra time or I need to unbuckle it and let it drop from his head.
I don't know what happened to him all those years ago but it must have been memorable, which is why I bring it up for your horse:)
Nothing is his fault, you will have to just sort of figure out what works for his special mental needs:)
you know, it's not that he wants to be ridden, he is just kind of a big Teddy bear and wants to be with us! LOL I will post a pic of this crazy old soul.Boy can he spook, and he is always looking for somthing to run from, he must have been quite a handful in his younger days, When ever we have brought a new mare in to stay, he canters around his paddock and then all at once, bucks off to the side and ' clicks his heels together', I kid you not. He is a funny funny guy. Bolts out the gate sometimes and nearly stops my heart, but really funny sort of guy!LOL
Saddlebred was the same thing that crossed my mind.
I also agree about, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to the hackamore situation and I'd advise staying in an enclosure. Personally, I think I would just let him be retired and give him lots of love and handwalking. There is nothing written in stone that says ALL HORSES MUST BE RIDDEN.
I'd keep things pretty simple training-wise, if you go that route. A horse that is twenty something and has a questionable history which indicates abuse/neglect can only be trained limitedly anyway (unless he had a sound foundation at some point and was also cared for properly...)
He has earned the right to have little expected of him otherthan what he indicates he can give readily and willingly. (This would be the equivalent to asking someone who is 60-70 yrs old, who can't communicate with you but has a scarred and battered body to learn a new job-trade.)You know he's been abused.
I do expect ALL horses to behave with impeccable groundmanners, however. It is the Golden Rule for all involved.
