Its easier to make a good horse bad...

[ihavefailedahorse]

Its easier to make a good horse bad... than it is to make a bad horse good

Discuss : - (I am sure we can all contribute to this)

[treacletart]

And this is where IH and Kelly and Monty and everyone else come into their own. Its easier to blame others for faults, or is it? Quite often, I enjoy challenges of putting right others mistakes with horses, and a few yeas ago took it upon myself to start a pony from scratch (a newfie). The only pressure was my own i put upon myself. If the pony had a problem, it was my fault - no-one elses. (still got her and having fun).
(Sorry, waffling...will leave to others now).

Modified to add, i think when things go wrong it is lack of understanding from the partys involved, which leads to fear (of maybe being wrong) and not being able to deal with the fear, which then develops further thus creating more problems which again arent addressed until its too late.

[wabuska]

Sadly, you can't reach them all.

[pip]

Yes true and it is not necessary cruel behaviour, but incorrect handling. Having once learned something it is very hard to be unlearned.

[specialsparkle3]

Yes without a doubt

[tikkatonks]

Good question.

Part of the problem is that what one person sees as confident and friendly another may see as rude and bargy. So even when you do a horse from scratch and stand back and admire your handy work someone else may think the horse has issues.

[Holly ET]

In short yes. But its a simple question that can demand a difficult answer.

[june]

I think it depends on what is meant by "bad".

I've seen horses with good ground manners change to bargy, difficult horses with new owners and back to well mannered horses again in a very short time when the owner seeks the right help. I think ground manners can be put in place quite quickly with most horses if the owner gets help and is then very consistent with their handling.

Horses that have had really bad experiences with people can be more difficult to turn around, especially if they've become aggressive. If they aren't aggressive but just very scared of people then it isn't necessarily that difficult to turn them around but it takes quite a long time. I have one of those and its taken a couple of years for her to start to be a normal horse again. I doubt very much she'll ever be described as a novice ride but she will make a nice riding horse for riders who are organised and give her confidence.

If horses have turned aggressive then sometimes it isn't possible to turn them around, or it may be possible to make them safe with a couple of people but not for everyone. Those horses need a one on one relationship to be safe to have around, and there aren't many people around with the skill and inclination to take on such a horse.