Advice please!!! False advertising?

[cheraroo]

Please help!

I bought my horse three months ago. I was told he was suitable for a fairly novicey rider and had perfect stable manners. I visited him several times at the yard and brought a friend along for a second opinion. Although he seemed clueless in the school, he did appear to be fairly easy to handle on the ground.

Since then, he has bucked and reared, barges out of his stable and has shown some other really odd behaviour when in the stable (walking backwards/pawing the ground). He has kicked out at two farriers. ( I was told he was perfect with the farrier!) However, some days he is perfect, a real softie. Today was not one of those days...

It seems as though the horse I bought (or thought I was buying) is not the horse I have now.... What can I do?? Where do I stand??

 

[ponypilotmum]

was the seller a dealer or a private seller? Did you have a vetting done (If so, you can ring the vet and check it wasn't doped), and have you still got a copy of the ad?

 

[hoggedmane]

Where did you buy him? Was it in Kent?

 

[cheraroo]

It was a private sale through word of mouth from a livery yard. I do still have the advert and all the info...

 

[WelshD]

Three months is a long time to decide he isn't suitable, was it like it from the start or has he got progressively worse? I think you'd have a hard time proving false advertising now ad they could claim he has got bad through mismanagement or novice handling (not saying you are a novice)

As a seller I would be cautious as a lot could have happened to him in three months

 

[cheraroo]

Where did you buy him? Was it in Kent?

No, from the North East. His passport and limted info and only has his first owner recorded.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Would it be fair to say that you are fairly inexperienced in horse ownership ? If so, you may need some help to deal with your new horse. you might have been mis sold, but equally, it may be that your horse is finding it hard to settle in a new home and getting advice from someone to explain how to deal with his behaviour might make a big difference.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Why whenever there is a post like this does someone always say "did you buy it from Kent?"!!

What is so bad about Kent?!!!!

 

[LaurenBay]

Why whenever there is a post like this does someone always say "did you buy it from Kent?"!!

What is so bad about Kent?!!!!

Someone please correct me if I am wrong. But I believe there is a huge Horse dealers in Kent who don't have a great reputation and usually sell dodgy Horses.

 

[hoggedmane]

Why whenever there is a post like this does someone always say "did you buy it from Kent?"!!

What is so bad about Kent?!!!!

If you are ever thinking of buying a horse in Kent from a dealer ask me or some of the other poor people who have had the misfortune to buy from a certain group of dealers first. I am not saying all horses bought in Kent are bad. There is a facebook page of us!

http://www.facebook.com/EponaStars

 

[Footlights]

OP did you get the horse vetted?

 

[Kallibear]

3 months is a long time for a horse to change in. You sounds like a novice owner? Many (most!) horses become difficult after a month or so as they start to test the boundries. It starts off as really subtle little things but a novice owner will easily miss the signs and it quickly turns into outright naughty behaviour.

I suspect if you get YOUR handling sorted, he'll learn his place and settled down back to as he was before.

Have you thought about getting a groundwork instructor out to help you?

 

[DGeventing]

3 months is a long time for a horse to change in. You sounds like a novice owner? Many (most!) horses become difficult after a month or so as they start to test the boundries. It starts off as really subtle little things but a novice owner will easily miss the signs and it quickly turns into outright naughty behaviour.

I suspect if you get YOUR handling sorted, he'll learn his place and settled down back to as he was before.

Have you thought about getting a groundwork instructor out to help you?

This is what I was coming to say, probably in a more harsh way - thanks for saving both me and the OP!

 

[evj]

I'm a novice owner and when I first got my boy home nearly 4 months ago he was like a totally different horse, bargy and walking all over me. He needed lots of time to settle and firm handling to sort it out. I'm lucky that i'm on an experienced yard and have a lovely instructor so lots of support. It has taken him a long time to settle in and we still have our days. Do you have an instructor or any one who can help you sort it? Also did you get him vetted? Bloods done? I'm in the North East pm me if you want instructors number

 

[riding_high]

just wanted to say on the flip side to everyone saying about the OP being a novice owner and how it's taken 3 months to get like this etc that if the OP had posted sooner saying they only had the horse for a week, a month or even 2 months then most likely people would have said to give the horse a chance to settle in and get used to the new routine etc.

have you changed the horses diet, changed it's routine or is it on a busier/quieter yard?

btw i'm not saying the OP is a novice or that i disagree with what's been said but just wanted to flip the coin.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

just wanted to say on the flip side to everyone saying about the OP being a novice owner and how it's taken 3 months to get like this etc that if the OP had posted sooner saying they only had the horse for a week, a month or even 2 months then most likely people would have said to give the horse a chance to settle in and get used to the new routine etc.

have you changed the horses diet, changed it's routine or is it on a busier/quieter yard?

btw i'm not saying the OP is a novice or that i disagree with what's been said but just wanted to flip the coin.

Very true, that's why OP was asked, because there are a few clues to suggest inexperience, but as you say, this may not be the case.
OP did try the horse a few times in its previous home when it was fine so a little more information would be helpful in finding the cause of the behaviour change.

Hopefully, the situation is easily sortable and the horse is actually not a problem horse at all. I think every new horse owner has had settling in worries at some point or other, so sharing experiences maybe all the help that's needed.

 

[Spicey]

Why whenever there is a post like this does someone always say "did you buy it from Kent?"!!

What is so bad about Kent?!!!!

Because there is a woman in Kent who buys horses with injuries cheap promising a quiet forever, loving, knowledgeable, loving home, she rode for fb in junior days, loans a private livery yard(says she owns it) and sucks people in like me. Then days later she readcertises them for 4 times the price and sells them on not disclosing injuries and saying they're wonderful and not telling about their querks. Is awful and while trading standards are aware, it takes ages to prosecute. Even if they prosecute, they'll carry on, after all she made £3.5k on my horse in 10 days. She did 10 in just 3 lmonths. Usesfake names and numbers.