Advice please, first horse

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[105549]

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Hi there,

I bought my horse Willow last year from a dealership in Scotland, she is 10 years old and an ISH.
I was told she would hack out alone, great in the school and would have gone back from another season of hunting if I hadn't have bought her. She's my first horse and it's been really difficult, she's scared of trotting poles, spooks at water and puddles - doesn't concentrate when I have her in the school. People at my yard think she may have taken a bad fall which has made her this way.
With a lot of encouragement she will walk over a pole but it becomes a big ordeal and wouldn't dare to have her front legs over and have the pole underneath her, she has to get over it as quick as possible.

I've tried lessons with her, calming supplements and I'm not sure if she's going to even change.

Has anyone had a similar situation? I don't know if I could bare selling her as she has become a dream to handle and has calmed down to handle so much :(
Anyadvice would really help me. I have had her now for one year.

I have had one instructor out who basically said she isn't a first horse and to give her back ASAP as she is too much work. Then others who say it just takes time etc etc.

Very confused - any advice would be great !

Maisie x
 
I too have struggled with a pony bought from a dealer in scotland for the last year, he has also calmed down considerably and is really lovely to handle, but is still spooky. If you have easy access to a school would it be possible to turn her out there with trotting poles and shallow water trays regularly until they become commonplace to her, and no longer spooky?
 
WelshD said:
How long have you had her?
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Had her for one year now, took about four months for her rain rash etc to clear up and she was underweight to begin with so I couldn't ride, I've really done hacking with her mostly but wanted to start bringing her back into schooling, start learning to jump etc.
 
I don't suppose you have much comeback with the dealer now you have come this far then sadly

The desensitising thing someone mentioned above is good, perhaps a pole near the gateway so she has to step over to be turned out or feeding her inside a square of four poles
 
I think you need help from an experienced professional.

Someone who will ride the horse as well as teach you on her. Sounds mainly like a lack of confidence from the horse, and probably if you're not that confident a rider, you're transmitting your own nerves to the horse.

So first step I'd suggest finding someone who can work with both of you to get over this problem.
 
I too would be interested to know what she is like with a very experienced rider. My lad was very spooky with his old owner. Hated puddles, shadows etc. When I first got him I just didn't think about those things and neither did he. Then I fell off, and lost my confidence. Suddenly everything was terrifying and I had a real fraidy cat on my hands. Since I'm starting to recover my confidence now he's not worrying very much at all. It could be a self fulfilling prophecy. You think she will be scared in the school and start worrying, she thinks there is something to worry about and becomes very alert and then spooky. You then worry more about riding, and it gets worse next time. Maybe seeing someone very experienced and confident ride her will help, if she does go nicely for that person?
 
I agree you need to get someone experienced on her to school her for you if you're not able to tackle the issues yourself
 
SadKen said:
I too would be interested to know what she is like with a very experienced rider. My lad was very spooky with his old owner. Hated puddles, shadows etc. When I first got him I just didn't think about those things and neither did he. Then I fell off, and lost my confidence. Suddenly everything was terrifying and I had a real fraidy cat on my hands. Since I'm starting to recover my confidence now he's not worrying very much at all. It could be a self fulfilling prophecy. You think she will be scared in the school and start worrying, she thinks there is something to worry about and becomes very alert and then spooky. You then worry more about riding, and it gets worse next time. Maybe seeing someone very experienced and confident ride her will help, if she does go nicely for that person?
Click to expand...

Yeah I think you're right, I fell off her in about September and suffered whiplash which really put me off riding her again for awhile then was nervous I'd do something worse.
I have an experienced sharer lined up to start riding so fingers crossed it works out. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who has had these sorta issues :) Although people have said she's a typical chestnut mare :confused:

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I agree maybe someone experienced should ride her and see if that helps. You may want to get an eye test too to see if that's effecting her.
Maybe you could try leading her in hand over poles, through puddles ect to build her confidence. Then you could gradually build up to lunging, long reining and riding so she gets used to them.
If your not comfortable doing this yourself you could sent her away to be professionally handled. However you may find this doesn't work when she comes back if you aren't confident with her.
If you are not enjoying her maybe your instructor is right, you could send her back to the dealers (after this long you won't get a refund but they may buy her back) or sell her to someone who is more confident and is experienced in this sort of thing. Then you could buy a more suitable horse, but see how she goes.
Best of luck with her though x
 
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