advice wanted novice loan problem

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abc321

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Hi, when I've searched on the internet this forum keeps coming up with good advice so wondering if you can help.
I've had a bit of a bad loan experience and wanted some advice. I'm a very anxious person (this is partly to do with a disability). When I was little I rode for a few years and started to jump small jumps. I have done some odd bits of stable care but not done regularly so not really experienced with it. I have tried to take up riding as an adult a number of times in lesson but have struggled due to finances and anxiety. What I would love to do is have a loan and go out hacking.

I took on a loan that was for a novice or someone returning to riding, confidence giver. He was on loan for a lot of money and I've only been allowed to ride twice a week and it's been hard to plan days in advance. The owner was prepared to show me and ride/walk out with me to get me going. I have since masted the basics of stable care. He is lovely in the stable.
Little things have worried me such as the tack is not for a novice (the owner feels more confident with a stonger bit), I'm not allowed to school him, the price. His ears prick up and he looks a bit worried and increasingly I felt he might take off, but always stopped him and learnt to preempt and maybe halt and walk on again once or twice to check he is listening. I've tried confidently riding on past these things and my riding has improved generally. He also sometimes got carried away and went for canter or a very fast trot and I slowed him.
I was a little nervous as on Saturday he jumped a bit after a canter. Today he took fright against a runner and bolted the way we'd come. I held on, stopped him after a while with one rein but then the runner appeared again and he did it again. I ended up doing this 3 times and the runner just grinned, ran on and ignored me twice shouting to walk or stop. I think with hindsight the horse was either taking advantage as knows I am a novice, or needs a more confident rider as I am a nervous rider.

What I want to know is should a novice take on a loan horse if advertised as (suitable for) a novice horse? Can a novice hack safely (I can WTC and ridden supervised) on a suitable horse or should only more experienced riders hack out unsupervised? Have I been taken in, or just underestimated my experience? As an anxious person my confidence is shaken, I feel really stupid and I'm wondering if riding is for me as a horse could always bolt even if I was an advanced rider. I have got a lesson booked next week and just wondering if I should just give in as I am an anxious person, or if this is just a bad experience? It is clear I would need a lot more experience before doing this again. I am going to terminate the agreement. Can anyone advise?
 
I doubt the horse is a bolter because if that was the case you would not have been able to pull it up. Please don't use that term as it is very easy to ruin a horses reputation with saying things like that - trust me once you have said on a horse that is genuinely bolting, you will never confuse the two again.

But generally as regards the horse - if you are not happy then it's not for you and you are clear about your capabilities and wants. I would invest in some lessons because it will make everything so much nicer for you. Perhaps have some lessons on this horse? If he ticks most boxes?
 
I'm sure you know that horses aren't machines, the most placid horses can still spook and get ants in their pants occasionally. I personally don't feel you're ready at the moment to ride out unsupervised. Sure, keep this share going but ensure that you hack out with someone or with someone on foot for the next few months.

I don't think you've been duped by this horse, I'm fairly sure that it's a good sort as he's stopped after unscheduled canters, you've stayed on, he hasn't bucked you off and run for the hills.

The weather is changing, it's getting colder and many horses are feeling very fresh at the moment.
 
to be fair most horses will 'test' a new rider and it sound like this is whats happening. IMO you would be better continuing with lessons untill you get your confidence back as you are currently paying for something which is not helping you. If you really want to keep the loan then get yourself an instructor to come out to you to give you proper lessons to build your confidence but this would be more money.
 
Hi, this is strange as this post is almost the same as what i have been feeling.

I have a share and had a frightening ride at the weekend where the other girls went into gallop without asking me if i minded and mine took off. To say i was frightened is a complete understatement, i havent been back riding long from having a few years off from an accident. I dont know how i didnt faint there and then on the horse mid gallop!!

I too dont know wether riding is for me as the anxiety will always be there, I guess its just a case of always being prepared and not to panic, lessons will and can help. You have just got to think will you be happy without riding in your life? I was out of it for 4 years and all i could think about was riding again, i was even dreaming about them! Its such an enjoyable hobbie and it always will have its unfortunate bad days as they have their own mind and they will use it.

Also i would never feel completely happy on any horse out on my own, my mobile doesnt work everywhere and its always nicer with company.

Pm me if you want, we do sound in similar situations

X
 
I dont think you are ready for a loan by the sound of your post. I think you would be better going back and getting lessons in enclosed space/riding school and taking it from there.

Dont give up entirely though it sounds like you have already come so far it would be a shame to stop now. Maybe in a year once you have more confidence you could find another share which is more suitable to your needs x
 
flying solo said:
I dont think you are ready for a loan by the sound of your post. I think you would be better going back and getting lessons in enclosed space/riding school and taking it from there.

Dont give up entirely though it sounds like you have already come so far it would be a shame to stop now. Maybe in a year once you have more confidence you could find another share which is more suitable to your needs x
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Agree - or at least have some lesons on this horse. Some instructors may take you out on an intructional hack - ours used to go with my daughter on my bike when she was having a few teething prblems with a new horse.
 
Thanks for your replies. Very good advice. I doubt I can get an instructor out as the owner refuses to even let me take him in the school as doesn't get on well with it and can't bend. When I can I get someone to walk with me but tricky in working hours as today.

Can you explain what the term is if it is not bolting (I genuinely didn't know)? He cantered very fast in an uncontrolled way, ignoring me and eventually stopped from sharp tugs on one rein when the frightening thing was out of sight. To me a novice horse is one that is quite ploddy and needs pushing forwards-which is what I have ridden. Can a strong or faster horse still be a novice horse? The owner has said he is getting fitter and stronger and she had trouble pulling him up in canter the other week.

On every hack he is looking worried a few times when people or dogs pass but so far that has just been pricking up his ears and gathering himself ready to take off and I thought he was listening to me as I walked him past. Sometimes he'd try to take off after we got past and I'd pull him back before he did.
 
I think the problem if you are nervous is that this will transmit to the horse. Even the most sensible of horses will start to wonder where the monsters are if their rider is constantly anxious. So the horse gets more nervous, and then you get more nervous, and then there is a vicious circle.

I don't think the horse you are loaning sounds like a bad sort, but I think maybe the situation is wrong for you. There is a big difference between a novice rider and a rider who is both novice and nervous. Out hacking you may be more likely to feel anxious as there is more for the horse to spook at and more space if it decides to go a bit fast.

You may be better with a horse that you can ride in the school, and have a lot of lessons on so you have some help. It may be that going to a riding school with sensible horses would be better for you at the moment and they you could progress to a loan again when you have some more confidence.

Horse riding can be so rewarding, so I hope you manage to find a horse that suits you.
 
abc321 said:
Can you explain what the term is if it is not bolting (I genuinely didn't know)? He cantered very fast in an uncontrolled way, ignoring me and eventually stopped from sharp tugs on one rein when the frightening thing was out of sight. To me a novice horse is one that is quite ploddy and needs pushing forwards-which is what I have ridden. Can a strong or faster horse still be a novice horse? The owner has said he is getting fitter and stronger and she had trouble pulling him up in canter the other week.
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A true bolt is where the horse literally will not stop. They don't look where they are going and will have no concern for your or their safety. They will run and run and can run into walls or cars because they are in a blind panic.

The fact that you were able to pull this horse up (albeit after a little while) shows that it was not actually bolting with you. It sounds like he was just being a bit strong. My old horse used to do this as a test with any new rider to see if they were up to scratch! If you did pull him up and tell him not to be so stupid, he never ever did it again.

A faster horse can still be suitable for a novice depending on the situation - for example a jumping schoolmaster could still be quite fast but teach a novice an awful lot about jumping. On the other hand, my horse needs pushed on rather than held back most of the time but is certainly not a novice ride.
 
You will not be able to stop a bolter. If you can't pull him back, turn in a circle.

I think you would be better off having lessons. No horse is 100% - they are flight animals & cannot be expected to behave otherwise.
 
Bolter - truly terrifying when the horse is almost oblivious to you as a rider and in a complete blind panic. It will crash through or over anything to get away. Most horses will try it on, some will be strong and I suspect most of us have been run away with at some point and for a variety of reasons but you can always stop it albeit not at the tune you wanted!
 
abc321 said:
I'm a very anxious person (this is partly to do with a disability). When I was little I rode for a few years and started to jump small jumps. I have done some odd bits of stable care but not done regularly so not really experienced with it. I have tried to take up riding as an adult a number of times in lesson but have struggled due to finances and anxiety.
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Have you tried contacting your local Riding for the Disabled group? Not only would they be able to give lessons on sane sensible ponies, but they will also welcome you and give you guidance and experience on stable care.

See the website below for more information on groups near you

http://www.riding-for-disabled.org.uk/
 
It sounds like maybe the horse is testing a new rider, and also picking up on your nerves. To be honest, it doesn't sound like you have done too bad a job given your experience.

I think the owner is probably right to not let you school - she probably feels you are not experienced to school him and will be teaching him the wrong things in advertently. Maybe she will let you have a lesson with a reputable instructor on him?

I feel maybe you are not ready to be hacking this horse out alone, and the nicest quietest of horses can change for an inexperienced rider.

You say it is expensive - I would return to a riding school and alternate lessons with hacks. Good luck.
 
I agree with most things already said, particularly the post that said your nervousness/anxiety will transmit itself to the horse. They are very sensitive to emotions like anxiety and fear and will pick up on this very quickly.

The horse sounds like a nice type but to be honest, it seems to me that this is a bit too much, too soon. If I were you, I would be inclined to have some lessons at a good riding school which will help you build your core strength, refine your balance and aids and most importantly build your confidence. Even if a horse spooks or reacts to something, you are in a controlled environment where the instructors can tell you how to deal with the behaviour. A lot of riding centres offer hacking too - maybe have a few lessons and then have a few hacks.

At the end of the day, we do this for fun and if it doesn't feel right or its making you nervous then I think you should address it.

Good luck anyway.
 
It must be so disappointing for you.

It does sound as though the horse is not right for you. He is taking charge of certain situations because he can pick up your anxiety. His idea of taking charge is to run away from an immediate "threat" and allow you to stop him when he feels far enough away. He obviously needs a more confident rider than you are at the moment.

You say the loan is expensive, so I think you are right to consider terminating it and spend your money on having lessons at a reputable riding centre where you can polish up your skills and regain your confidence. Rather than a group lesson I would go for one-to-one lessons at first so you have your instructors undivided attention.

Good luck!
 
Do you mind me asking how much you are paying for your share?
I may have got this all wrong, but it seems rather irresponsible of the owner to let a nervous novice out alone on her horse. And by her own admission she had problems stopping him herself. I'm wondering if she just wants the money and isn't too bothered who pays?
In an ideal world, wouldnt it be better you to have lessons on this horse? Really strange that the owner doesn't want you to school him 'because he cant bend', but she is happy for you to go out on your own on him. Surely if you were able to have some flatwork lessons, it would give you more confidence for hacking out?
All sounds a bit strange to me.
Hope this makes sense, my phone does strange things on H & H!
This isn't a critism of you or of nervous novices, as I am both, despite having had horses for 30 years! Just seems that the owner has some strange ideas.
Maybe this isn't the perfect horse and owner for you to share with. If not, have lessons whilst looking for something more suitable -everyone has to start somewhere.
Good luck and don't give up.
 
All horses will try it on. My cobblet had only recently been backed and when I eventually got on him he took off with me and I only had one foot in stirrup,couldnt stop him,eventually he went to the bushes,I lost my balance and fell off,didnt get back on.
He was then sent off to be proffesionally broken in.
If a horse wont stop aim for a fence.wall or something.

Sounds like your not quite ready for a share or loan. Maybe in a year or so.
 
The term 'novice' is an odd one as it means different things to different people, so 'suitable for a novice' can be a tricky description for a horse. Also, a horse's personality and reactions tend to change depending on who is riding them. Riding school horses are kept in the same environment, with the same friends around to make sure they are as little affected by the rider's nerves as possible. Hacking on its own is another matter, as the horse takes most of its confidence off its rider.

From what you say, I think you would be better off saving for some lessons at a good riding school before this horse gives you a bad scare. The things the owner is saying sound a bit weird too. Sensible horses are generally much more sensible in the school so that's where I would start with an unknown rider. 'Because it can't bend' is a weird, weird excuse! If the horse can't bend enough to go round a 20x40 arena, it has serious physical problems! Did I also get it right that the owner rides it in a STRONGER bit? That is also very weird, the more experienced the rider the more they should be able to control the horse, the less the need for a strong bit!
 
I think it does sound like going back to basics at a riding school etc might be the best option.
I'd also be having slight concerns about this horse being in a strong bit and the owner saying she struggled to pull him up.

When I bought hovis i was a nervous novice rider. I am a still a nervous novice rider 4 years later but i know my boy backwards and trust him. That said i wouldn't say hes suitable for a novice - he's strong out hacking, will spin and bugger off and pulls like the inter city express when hes excited. I'd let anyone (and i do mean anyone) get on him in the school as hes fab but out hacking hes very very strong. When hes fit he can be worse so if this horse is getting fitter is he getting stronger?

I think the owner is being a tad irresponsible to be honest. I wouldn't let you take Hovis out for the reasons above but I'd let you "school" all day long.
 
Hi abc321,
I could put you on my horse and you could happily hack her out along bridleways and roads and be very much in control. She would not give you any scares and would look after you.
It is very much down to the temprement of the horse. Some horses are completly laid back and even with the most nervous of riders on them they will behave beautifully.
However like all good things there are very few horses that are so safe but they do exist.
What I suspect you want is a nice horse to plod about on so my advice is to drop this loan as clearly this horse is not as laid back as you want and look for a more suitable horse that you can enjoy.
 
maisie2011 said:
Have you tried contacting your local Riding for the Disabled group? Not only would they be able to give lessons on sane sensible ponies, but they will also welcome you and give you guidance and experience on stable care.

See the website below for more information on groups near you

http://www.riding-for-disabled.org.uk/
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I have, I am waiting on an answer on adjustments for lessons. It is an invisible disability and not really physical but I do get worked up over things/miscommunicate in social situations. The individual lesson I have booked is at a good reputable stable that also does RDA.
 
No disrespect OP but it sounds as if your anxiety issues are getting in the way of horsemanship. I dont think you are ready to have a loan horse. I would stick to riding lessons for the time being at least/ 2 or 3 times a week maybe half an hour at a time.
 
I think you need to stick to supervised rides at a proper establishment.
They will have suitable horse and lots if time to help you.
You could also have stable management lessons and learn how to care for them.

Don't give up.horses just yet.
The loan horse is not suitable and you need to gain more experience to help with the nerves.
 
I spoke to the owner and she said this was napping but that he had not done this with her. She said he was just taking the mick and not to let him get away with it before wheeling round and cantering. The thing is, in a riding school how would you learn this as the horses tend to be slow, comfortable, well behaved and wouldn't tend to do this?

She is going to ride him alone to see what he does as he is fitter, and says her or a friend could ride with me to build up confidence again and I will think about whether to keep it up (not riding alone) with riding lessons.
I have learnt an awful lot from these posts, really helpful and supportive. :)
 
Confidence is a tricky thing - easy to lose and hard to build up.

What you need is to set things up so that you are almost guaranteed (as much as is possible with horses) for everything to go well. You need to decide whether it would be easier to achieve this on a riding scool horse or with your loan horse. You may need to have someone come with you on hacks. I would ask the owner again about going in the school but with an instructor, maybe the owner could watch or teach you herself?
 
I think from the sounds of things this setup is not ideal and that you would benefit either from more lessons in a riding school as well as instructor led hacks or from sharing / part loaning a horse at a yard where there would be a lot of support and people to hack out with so you would not be forced to go out on your own (which it sounds like you are maybe not quite ready to be doing at the moment due to your confidence) as well the opportunity to have lessons on your share horse which would improve your confidence riding them. Another thing you could try that may help reduce your nerves slightly is taking "rescue remedy" before hacking. I know a few people who swear by it!
 
I've given up the loan, feeling quite sad as will miss him :(
I may have to text and ask if I can visit occasionally for a cuddle or to help out :rolleyes:
I have booked a couple of lessons at different schools, my old one, and one that has hacking available and is cheaper :D

I rode out today with the owner and another horse/rider but was still nervous of him reacting to people/animals passing, and I think I should go with the advice of having lessons for a few months or a year or so to build up more confidence and experience so that it is a progression and not a big challenge in one go.
 
Hi, sorry to hear tht but prob for the best!, iam sure she would be happy for you to visit and help out. :-)
Ps sorry i havent replied to your pm, my phone doesnt let me and wont have a computer until monday now! Just so you no
Im not ignorin you :) X
 
OP it sounds like you've done the right thing in giving up the loan as it sounds like you need to gain a lot more experience in coping with a horse on your own basically. This is not a criticism, its just that we all need to start somewhere and with horses it is so easy to bite off more than one can chew, we've all done it.

What you need now is to re-build your confidence: so I'd be inclined to go to an instructor and yard you trust and ask them to help you. It might be that you need, very gently, to be pushed a bit into maybe riding across open country on a good honest horse that is schooled and obedient and which you are confident that you can apply the brakes to, then from there, with your instructor, you might look perhaps at riding different horses which may be a bit more challenging, but all in good time.

Really, to take on a loan horse, even a "plod" was maybe a bit ambitious for where you are at; even the quietest "dope on a rope" will take advantage if they think they can get away with something, that's just the way horses are.

Some riding stables offer a "loan" or "lease" of horses, a bit like a timeshare. The way it works at the stables I know is that you would say take on a horse for maybe four days a week, or "half" a week, and you'd be responsible for looking after that horse, mucking out, care, etc., and included in the cost would be a set number of lessons/hacks (or you can offer to work at the yard instead of payment by ££) I think); and you'd have the benefit of a "loan" horse without any of the strings attached PLUS would have the advantage of always being in a supervised atmosphere with someone there to ask and/or take over if you couldn't cope.

I'd be inclined to ask around to see if there's any stables in your area that do this; I know of two here in the South West that do it; personally I think its a brilliant idea - pity it wasn't thought of when I was a kid!!
 
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