If I really had my heart set on this project, and I was such a *young* 32 that my body still had a good sense of humor about being chucked offa horse
, then what I would do is this.
I would spend maybe an hour watching the horse at her current home, then maybe a half hour or hour (longer, in some cases) catching her and standing there holding her on the leadline while she grazed and trying to tune-up her leading skills and teach her to back up and so forth.
If she seemed calm and peopley and teachable, I would maybe say to the people "Well, what about we take her for a week or two on trial". And then, while on trial, rather than worrying about RIDING her, I would work on getting her towards the point where she could be saddled without fireworks, and continuing to work with her on the ground.
After that, you should have a pretty good idea what size of a project she would be,and whether you want to take it on.
(Note that I am assuming her explosion was literally just when the *saddle* was put on. If I am incorrect, and it was when the *rider* went on, I would be a lot leerier of her)
If she is dangerous to handle at the current home, or if even with a couple hours of patience you cannot get close enough to put a hand on her, or if they will not do a trial (or maybe let you come work her *there* for a week or two, if they're located close enough), then I would say that non-youthful bodies bounce poorly enough and there are enough perfectly good sane safe horses in the world that personally I'd pass.
If you do take her, make sure you've worked out what you will do if you can't keep her and she still has an unsaleable temperament/training. Otherwise you can be stuck with her upkeep in perpetuity. Always a potential risk with these free project type horses.
GOod luck, have fun,
Pat
I would spend maybe an hour watching the horse at her current home, then maybe a half hour or hour (longer, in some cases) catching her and standing there holding her on the leadline while she grazed and trying to tune-up her leading skills and teach her to back up and so forth.
If she seemed calm and peopley and teachable, I would maybe say to the people "Well, what about we take her for a week or two on trial". And then, while on trial, rather than worrying about RIDING her, I would work on getting her towards the point where she could be saddled without fireworks, and continuing to work with her on the ground.
After that, you should have a pretty good idea what size of a project she would be,and whether you want to take it on.
(Note that I am assuming her explosion was literally just when the *saddle* was put on. If I am incorrect, and it was when the *rider* went on, I would be a lot leerier of her)
If she is dangerous to handle at the current home, or if even with a couple hours of patience you cannot get close enough to put a hand on her, or if they will not do a trial (or maybe let you come work her *there* for a week or two, if they're located close enough), then I would say that non-youthful bodies bounce poorly enough and there are enough perfectly good sane safe horses in the world that personally I'd pass.
If you do take her, make sure you've worked out what you will do if you can't keep her and she still has an unsaleable temperament/training. Otherwise you can be stuck with her upkeep in perpetuity. Always a potential risk with these free project type horses.
GOod luck, have fun,
Pat
