Afraid of thier horses?!

[MerryMaker]

I now know a number of people who have gone out and brought themselves horses they are terrified of! Some are afraid to trot and canter, others are afraid even just to lead their horses out to the field and back in! Many of them have brought themselves flashy event horses or things to that effect, that are not necassarily bad horses but perhaps a bit sharp, and as a result they arent being ridden, and are then becoming more sharp. Anyone else been through this?

 

[CrazyMare]

Common occurance I'm afraid, and getting more common I think as RS's are under more H&S pressure. I know of a local RS where the 'advanced' ride are not allowed to jump over 18 inches. I do feel this leaves people thinking that they are a good rider, and adverts stating 'not novice ride' lead them to believe that they would cope. Lets face it we all know 'not novice ride' often means 'total utter lunatic'....!

 

[RedVendetta]

Loads of people at our yard buy horses that are way too much for them, on a whim, and ended up being over horsed! One girl bought a Grade B showjumper and she couldn't even ride! Luckily the horse was quiet enough for her to learn on, which I think is rare for a showjumper that has done so much. I think it happens quite often and people end up in bad situations through pure ignorance and naivety, nothing more, nothing less!

 

[Kenzo]

I think over the years people have not used the term 'not novice ride' correctly, which has now lead to people thinking that a horse advertised as 'not a novice ride' has this terrible stigma attached to it and that you'd have to take your brain out in order to ride it once you have taken down the red tape! it depends on what some people class as a novice ride I guess. If you are a well established and experienced rider than I would not overlook a horse that states not novice ride, I bought horse that was described as not novice ride, only because he was a little strong while jumping, apart from that he was a total pleasure to own and ride.

We once sold a pony as a novice ride, in deed very true the term but the new owners rang us back after a week and were very disappointed with their 'suitable for novice, childs pony' and wanted to return the mare back to us and have a full refund....why?.....it wasn't because she wasn't safe, snaffle mouth, well schooled, good/safe in heavy traffic, excellent temperament, patient etc etc.....no it was because the mare stood on this little girls foot...on purpose or so they thought! and that she obviously was not suitable for a novice and that we incorrectly described her in the advert!. Well obviously we did sympathise with the parent and asked their daughter was ok etc but this just goes to prove what your up against while selling horses....its crazy! I think buyes and sellers are stuck between a rock and hard place sometimes.

Its a shame that it has come to this, indeed there are so many good, talented, safe horses out their that only require a few of the following from a prospective buyer, 1) common sense (it amazes me how many people with horses lack in this!) 2) good equine knowledge and experience (there is no excuse these days with so many courses/exams available in stable management and handling horses, magazines, books, riding clubs and riding schools where you can gain hands on experience and of course the last no. 3) being a good rider.

If people buying horses do not have all those qualities then they shouldn't be purchasing a horse in the first place.... be it novice ride or not a novice ride!

 

[Geraldine]

I wouldn't say Bob is a novice ride - but he's not a total and utter lunatic!!! He needs a firm rider who won't let him get away with thinking he's in charge - he will take the p*ss if the rider lets him!! So not ideal for novices but def not a lunatic, he just pushes his luck a bit.

 

[Foxfolly]

The person that owned my horse did just that....

She bought him cos he looked the like a Badminton horse, even though she had no aspirations to do Badminton... was gradually more and more frightened of him, to the point where he has a really huge muscle on his neck where he has been ridden in a strong bit pinned down with nose tucked in and ridden with no leg....
She also bought another 2 horses at the same time ... just cos someone els on the yard had 3 horses so she had to keep up with her.... they were very expensive but she couldn't ride them well and ended up selling one for a lot less than she paid for him.
I actually ended up being give my chap by her as she didn' t want the hassle of selling him. (She was friends with a friend of mine)
I am sure if he had gone to a pro to start with he would have been on the start list for Badminton as he is so scopey and Brave... but instead he has been to a certain extent ruined by bad riding by a complete amature!!

 

[Charlie77]

I think I know more people like this than people who do get on & ride! I just don't understand why these people put them self's through it, surely horses are supposed to be fun? But they always want to stick with it until both horse & owner are totally un happy, It also never amazes me the excuses they make for not riding too - I have to paint the stable ect! give them there due though, most are almost brushed to death & live in the cleanest stables!!

 

[sam72431]

Its such a shame as horses that could do alot are held back, I've even heard of someone paying alot of money for a really good event horse just so he could look nice in her field! I seriously think there should be some sort of liscensing before you can buy a horse, and you get those which just dont know anything about horses, v scary! Also alot of people buy horses that are way to big for them just so they look good!

 

[Hollycat]

I agree that it is sad when people overhorse themselves and that it is quite common. However, I do not think that just becasue a horse is talented it should automatically be ridden by a professional, nor that amateur owners do such horses a dis-service by buying them.

My horse came to me a robot - he bit his chest in stress when tacked up if not on tight cross ties. He had never been hacked or turned out. He was competing at a very high level very young. He now gets hacked, turned out with other horses and almost puts his own tack on. If asked would he prefer a 'career' and 23 hrs a day in a box or a life as a horse, but not competing at a high level - what would he choose do you think? Yes, his schooling has suffered - you could say I have ruined him as he no longer competes and is not so well schooled. But he is happy so I don't think I am in the wrong. Many on this thread may disagree by the sounds of it, but horse and I are both very happy so too bad

 

[peanut]

I've seen a total novice purchase a flashy and extremely sharp showjumper which she was too terrified to ride and the horse ended up being labelled a nutter through no fault of it's own.

Sadly the horse all too often gets the blame in these situations.

 

[fattymare]

My girly used to event before she had an accident (before I owned her). Now all we do is hack. I hate schooling and probably should do more but as long as we are both happy and healthy, that's all that matters. But saying that, I am not a stylish rider and tend to just get on and bomb about. There is a girl at our yard that has a show pony and is so terrified of it, that she won't even canter in the school, let alone hack it out. It looks nice but has a terrible temperament. I know which one I would rather have.

 

[AnnaandStella]

I have the sweetest natured horse in the world who tries her wee heart out but I still get scared if she's not been ridden for more than a couple of days & make sure I lunge the socks off her first! Lol!

But I admit, I'm not nearly as scared of her as a lot of other owners I know are of their horsies. It's more like using my head in a sort of risk minimising way rather than deliberately getting on something so full of beans she won't be able to think straight!

 

[JoJo_]

I was sold a novice ride recently not that I am novice (neither would I say im really experienced) but I had spent a couple years out of riding and wanted a confidence giver at the same time my dream is to event pre-novice/novice so I bought a flashy dutch WB that was described as a confidence giver, novice ride, complete gentleman etc from a dealer. Sounded ideal and when I tried him he was great but when I got him home he was good to handle but to ride he bucked. I had two very experienced instructors ride him as I thought maybe I was being to soft on him but with one he threatened to rear and the other he did go vertical. I got my money back with a lot of persuasion though.

I'm sure there are some people who over estimate their riding cababilities but I think it is a responsibility to sell a horse to the right person and describe it accurately. Especially dealers. Some just dont assess the horses enough before they describe it as a novice ride.

 

[Janette]

I was scared of Star when I was given her. (but that is another story) She is not the horse I would have chosen for myself, but we have grown together. It's taken a lot of lessons for both of us, but we're happy together.

I tend to be 'aware' of other people's horses, esp after last year when another horse charged at a gate as Star was going though it, causing horse no.3 to think Star was attacking him as she leapt clear - so I got kicked in the chest and suffering broken ribs.

Horses are terribly unpredictable, but that is the nature of a horse. Perhaps this is what novice owners/riders need to recognise, as well as acknowledge their own weaknesses and strengths - honestly.

 

[zelli]

Yeah, but it gets me cheap horses

. Brought one recently where the inexperienced owners had been promised it was a perfect first horse, unfortunately it didnt work out, but turns out i brought what i thought at the time was a typical green thoroughbred, but as soon as i got on her at home, her true side came out and it turns out she is very very well schooled on the flat, just need to work on the lack of jumping talent now