Stressy mare

Question
I need some help with my daughters 5yo Thoroughbred/Arab mare. As far as i know, she was broken at 3, then turned away. When brought back into work, she began to rear and the breaker/trainer didnt want her back. My daughter was then given her by her Aunty after she had had a year off, as she had nowhere else to go. We were given very little information about her, and gave her some time to settle in and then began lunging her. When riding her for the first few times, we established she didnt really know what the bit or legs meant. As she was kept at a riding school livery, things were always going on and she would notice everything, no matter how focused she had been before. She would do Arab trots, and take off and bascally just show off, even if a horse just moved in the next field. Also, she couldnt be ridden with other horses in the school as she would become focused on them and just go crazy. It was impossible to get her to concentrate. We moved to a quieter yard but the problems continued. She would rear excessively and even came down on my daughter, and would buck when asked something. She was impossible to lunge, she never respected bits, always playing and grabbing, and the only one we had slight control in was a full cheek waterford. As she never respected leg or voice either, when she would show signs of rearing it was impossible to correct as my daughter couldnt get her forward. We had her back checked, saddle teeth done, vets and trainers. She wasnt in consistent work as when left alone in the field for even a second she would go mental and frequently made herself lame. She knocked my daughter unconcious, and after that we sent her back to her owner for winter. She still hasnt been ridden so its still inconsistant but my daughter is in love with her and would really like her back, but i want to know if there is anything we can do and any chance she would ever be fully ridable? If not, she has a home as a broodmare as she has fanastic bloodlines, but i do think its a waste. What do you think?

Answer
Hi Sue!

Unfortunately, this is not the first time I have heard a story such as this.  I only have the information you gave me to go on but, I would have to say it is time to think about re-purposing this mare to a different job.  I would deem her unridable and I would not breed her.

In my opinion, rearing is the worst habit/issue a horse can have.  It is 99% unbreakable and extremely dangerous, as you have found out.  Once a horse starts it and gets  going...that is it.  They will always do it.

Do not feel bad.  You did not fail the mare and she did not purposely try to hurt anyone.  Anything that has a brain can be organically off....the wires in her head are crossed and no amount of patience or training is going to make her safe for your young daughter.

Also, I would not breed her.  This may very well be passed on to a foal or she may injure the foal with her space issues.

Obviously, you cannot sell her in good conscience.  So that is out of the question.

Think about giving her a job she can do.  A pasture mate for a lonely horse or perhaps just a pet for an understanding person who will not get too close but, will keep her fed and pastured.

Lastly, if worse comes to worse...do not send her to auction/slaughter.  Euthanasia performed by your vet is the only humane way to destroy a horse.

I know you have a good heart about this situation but, your family's safety must come first.  It is now time to stop thinking with your heart and only think with your head.

Solange