Advice needed!! (again)

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Siam Jack

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Hi All, me again!
Well I have my school mistress pony on a weeks trial,she arrived on sunday night and I know it's only wednesday but I am really thinking this is not the one for me!!
Apart from the usual "where the hell am I" with a new stable and yard which I expected,She is a real sweety on the ground ,leads perfectly on a lead rope,has perfect manners, lifts her feet without me holding them at all!!stands perfect to be rugged up etc! BUT I am very nervous riding as I have been told by her owner(just on sunday night after delivery!) she can tend to bolt off in open spaces and she supplied a "pelham" for this!!!
I am the worlds worst rider and really need a "happy hacker" a lot of people have said at 14yrs she will not get better, others have said keep getting on her and take her out to give her a try with the pelham....she also bolts out of the stable and has done this twice so far running out of the yard and taking about 10 of us to catch her! we have to tie her to a ring while in the stable with her headcollar, and then take it off when we are out of her stable...
any advice??? I keep thinking she may get better but then again.......
 
Its very early to decide. Poor thing needs a chance. Could you have a lesson on her to see what someone else more experienced thinks? It sounds as though the previous owners are trying to tell you as much as possible. Are you dwelling on what hasn't and may not even happen simply because they mentioned it? Could you get someone more confident to ride her in an open space to see what happens perhaps?
 
Send her back. She is obviously not what you thought and as such not what is needed for the job in mind. There are plenty of horses out there, and you will find the right one, it just might take a bit of time.
 
Yes I keep telling myself not to dwell on this and give her a chance as she would have a lovely life with us, being spoilt rotten with just hacking out, she has been in a riding school with loads of kids kicking her on!!!
I do feel her owners are genuine people, looking for a nice quiet life for her, I am going to take her out with my big boy tomorrow, and see what she is like with him, I am concerned with the pelham bit I have never used one before and thought these were only used for "problems"??
 
It orderpends on how much you like the horse and if you are willing to work with her. Maybe she needs more time to settle in?? Maybe you could have a lesson or two on her. Only you know deep down if she's right for you..it's very rare you get "the perfect horse"...but at the same time you need to stay safe.
 
We have a pony that is a schoolmaster second pony, but can be quite strong occasionally, so we put a stronger bit in when my son was first on him, as he got nervous when he was strong and joggy. After a few months, when my son got more confidence in the pony, we swopped the pony back into a snaffle, and there have been no problems since. Once the rider was calm and confident, the jogging and pulling stopped, and the pony was perfect.

Could you speak to the vendors, and say that you are nervous about what they said, and could they clarify.

The bolting out of the stable sounds a worry. Is it that she is frightened, or being naughty?
 
thanks everyone, I have her til the weekend so will see how she goes!
She literally barges out the stable when she knows the door is opening, even my 19 stone husband could not hold her the second time, she did live out 24/7 at her previous yard, and this could this be it?? we are not allowed to leave them out at night now on our yard and everyone else brings theirs in so I cannot leave her on her own, before the current owners though she was stabled and we thought she would accept this.We have sort of accepted this as we have her tied now in the stable while we are going in and out, and I know you always have something to deal with, its the riding I'm worried about, will keep you updated!
 
joeanne said:
Send her back. She is obviously not what you thought and as such not what is needed for the job in mind. There are plenty of horses out there, and you will find the right one, it just might take a bit of time.
Click to expand...

Those were my thoughts as well. If you were looking for a happy hacker then one who bolts in the open isn't going to do much for your confidence.
 
Given your confidence levels, you should send her back I'm afraid. She probably would work out BUT you only have a week to decide. If you really dote on her, you could see if they will extend her trial or even loan with view to purchase. The bolting out of the stable can be quite dangerous. I had one like that which I sold (honestly and had told them) and he put the girl in hospital on day 2 cos she tried to get in his way. (She still has him 3 years later and has done well). As one poster said, there are alot of horses out there
 
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