I am both frustrated and concerned with an individual who "loves" horses and takes on the responsiblity of ownership without doing the necessary work it takes to care for one. I am not upset with the physical care. The horse is in a boarding facility that puts the health and well being of the horse as its number one priority. I am talking about the emotional well being of the horse. This is an individual who has taken lessons off and on for 3 years, yet doesn't listen to the advice of the trainer and knows it all. She wanted to buy a horse and she found the perfect boy. Quiet, superb mannors, kind and an absolute joy to be around. I fell in love at first sight and would love to have him. We encouraged her to give him some time to settle into his new surroundings. Spend some time grooming, leading him around...letting him get to know her and allow each of them to earn each others trust. Her lack of confidence riding causes her to yank on him and ride his head to the point where the horse refuses to even walk for her. She of course claims that she got a a bad horse and her response is that "HE"needs to be straightened out. Oh and he is becoming headshy as well. Adding to her inexperience is the fact that she is stressed that she can't afford him. I give her a month and she will be done with this bad horse and get rid of him. I am around this horse daily and I know he is an awesome horse. I am seriously considering buying him from her. For me he has that special quality I look for in a horse but that being said he has no training in any specific disipline and if he goes to sale he would likely go to a kill buyer. WHAT is wrong with people. Had she left well enough alone he may have found his way into a home as a wonderful first horse to a kid. It's people like this that put horses at risk. Sorry to vent but how do you get through to people like this?

Kalo
You probably can't get through to that type of ignorance. Agree with her that the horse is unmanageable and not worth the money she paid, then shoot her a low offer "to take it off her hands".

You really can't get through to some people. Very frustrating. She asked the barn owner/trainer for help and was given honest feedback....that she has to work on herself first and to put into practice what she has been taught. We gave her helpful articles discussing the importance of gaining a horse's trust and respect etc and the barn owner has been riding him to help him trust again and to get him sellable. He's a wonderful guy and is coming back to the way he was before. In time she will get behind in her board fees so perhaps at that time I'll offer to pay the months board to take him off her hands. He deserves better.

You can lead people to knowledge but you can't make them think. Especially spoiled rotten owners who think they know it all, when they don't know anything about anything.

I like Sparrowhawk's reply. Bide your time and you just might get this horse for cheap.

We formed a group to help new horse owners, Trainers, Feed People, people with years of horse experience. We were willing to go to them to help anyway we could before or after they bought their first horse. We put ads out and even posted a notice in a local Horse Paper.
We got not one responce. It was discouraging.

:( Well, the story is coming to an end. The horse is now in the possesion of the ranch owner....couldn't pay board so best to for her to let him go.. It was just too much of a financial burden for the owner...thus causing huge stress....thus causing a strained relationship with the horse.....thus causing unhappiness all the way around. I'd love to have him but I too would have to consider the extra expense .We are working towards getting a small hobby farm and if we ere able to keep him I wouldn't have second thoughts but right now paying board on two horses in this area is pricey. The barn owner would sell him for the price of this months board. Hopefully he will find a good home. Hate to see him shipped off to a sale. Breaks my heart.