Hi, guys, I'm hoping some of you experienced horsey people might offer your honest opinion here. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time.

My boy is fifteen years old. He was broken in as a youngster but only had about two years (maximum) where he was ridden regularly. Then he did nothing for a couple of years. I then adopted him, when he was six years old, and tried my best to get him started again. After a couple years of light work, I had a little accident that stopped me from getting back on him for a little while, and then started a new job that hindered things a lot. We ended up going back to just long lining on my days off. Attempting to get back into riding was made even more hopeless by the fact he developed severe sweet itch and was suffering horribly with his skin.

Fast-forward a few years of concentrating on managing his sweet itch while trying my best to work any chance we could (but mostly being thwarted at every turn,) we ended up having to take a break yet again due to a virus that went around the yard and kicked the horses' arses for months, closely followed by a stupid crack in his hoof becoming infected, basically meaning the poor lad's been physically incapable of doing any work since last year.

Now that he's back to his old self, I'm itching to get him started again.

Here's the deal. He's 16.2hh, 15 years old and still very green. We have no proper facilities, no school, no decent or safe area to use, no trained horses to be a good example - just a horse-unfriendly environment and lots of spooky horses. Am I just kidding myself here? Is it even possible to get him riding like a normal horse? Everyone knows that it's pointless even trying, but I can't help it, I want so much to get back in the saddle, you guys must know how I feel there.

Have any of you started from scratch with an older horse in less than ideal conditions?

I will keep trying, but deep down I know the reality is that our chance died a long time ago, and it's never going to happen for us. And it's so sad, because it's such a terrible waste of a wonderful horse. (Of course I love him to death regardless. lol. )

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Heather

Oh dear, where are you keeping him? You say you have him in 'horse unfriendly' surroundings & have no safe area to work him, the first thing I would consider is putting him into livery somewhere where you have some facilities. I'm expect that with plenty of groundwork & re-starting him he has every chance of becoming a happy ridden horse. How experienced are you at training horses? Would it be worth getting a trainer in if you don't have the experience yourself?

Echo Sarelis. That sounds like a bad situation even for a fully trained, peak fitness, prime of life horse. You have every chance if you can move him to a horse friendly situation with good people you can ride out with.

I've known ex breeding horses that have been started from scratch in their teens having never been ridden before. A friend of mine had a mare who wasn't broken in until she was about 14, maybe 16, she went on to be competed at local level riding club stuff for a few years, did some pleasure rides and some veteran classes and was only retired last year when in her 20s.

Hopefully you can move him.

hi

I think you would be best moving the horse to a new yard with better facilities, get yourself a good instructor and take it slowly.

start at the begging if thats where you need to be... there is no shame in having to start from scratch. Set yourself small goals and move on from there.

there is no reason that you cant get some degree of satisfaction with the work between you and your horse.

Keep trying im sure it will be worth it

Good luck X

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First I would say there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to train him (even at this late stage).

However, I do think you have to give yourself the best possible chance of success, and as others have said look to keep him somewhere that you have the facilities, safe working areas, experienced help on hand ie at a proper livery yard.

Hi, Yes it is possible, and you dont need to move yards with posh facilities to be able to turn him round. Ive done it with an ex eventer, who had not been ridden for 6 years. It takes alot of time and patience.
I started off long reining in walk around her paddock, doing lots of transitions and repetative work, getting her used to my voice commands. After a few weeks I moved onto lunging her, but not too much as doing lots of circle work could end up in injury with an unfit horse.
I then long reined her on the lanes, getting her used to traffic again. And eventually I got on her back. Just short little rides, again just walking, talking to her when her gets nervous. We had a few 'moments', but we stuck to it, and now a year later she is a dream to ride, alone or in company.
Please dont give up, and take your time!!

i would of loved to come and train him for you shame you live so far .when i was younger well upuntill 3 years ago i used to ride people horses and get them bk on track i loved it .my mom never used to come and watch me lol as she said i scared the living day light out of her .

is there no one close to you who could ride him for you who is a good rider?

i can understand how you are feeling but im sure things will work out soon