Am I just being fussy?

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cazza2011

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I went to look at a horse to share yesterday. He's a lovely 15.2 boy - quiet and really sweet on the ground....but very nappy.
I was doing school movements in walk at the top of the field and he just locked eyes on 'mum' and cantered down towards her - I haven't cantered properly in about a year so it threw me entirely and I could not pull him up!
I am definetly a novice rider but I have a nice quiet walk and trot and I do know how to control a horse which was described as a 'schoolmaster'.
After schooling him for about 10 minutes - keeping myself to the top of the field away from mum. He did start listening to me more but not a lot. I couldn't do anything faster than a walk down the hill otherwise he was of!
Took him up the lane and did a tiny hack without owner - wouldn't get out of gate but with encouragement did get on with it just very reluctantly! Half way down the lane he spun round towards home but he did turn back around will little fuss. Going away from home was hard work - very sluggish walk and not paying any attention to me (granted we were on a path so he had lots of exciting things to look at :)!) but as soon as we turned back his walk was lovely and energetic but I had to work him with very short reins as I could feel him wanting to trot home!
Now all of this I can deal with - he is a lovely boy! But he is so forward going that only the slightest nudge of my legs will prompt him up a gait - as I am still learning I feel that this could be detrimental to my riding (steering is done with reins and seat - using legs is impossible).
But my main issue with him is that he doesn't stop! No matter what I try (squeezing hands, alternate pressure, one handed) he just doesn't listen! He sets his neck and stops when he wants to - I don't think that I'd feel safe with him hacking on my own as I don't think he'd listen to me at a road/crossing - we went out with my flatmate on the little hack FYI! He wears a flash so I assume he has a habit of avoiding the bit!

I really don't know what to do! He is a lovely boy - napping I can deal with as it is half heated tbh! But the fact that the majority of time he will not stop when asked makes me nervous. I think he has just got bad habits that no one has corrected - he doesn't have a bad bone in his body!

I don't know whether to ride him out again before making a decision to commit to riding him most days and paying for his shoes etc...
I don't want to put either of us in danger so I think it may be best to walk away.

Opinions would be really grateful! :)
 
hi, you say you are a novice rider - how long have you been riding and what experience have you had? Riding school ponies/horses, 1 lesson a week or more?

I think from the way you have described him he doesnt sound to be the schoolmaster type.

If you are unsure in anyway then walk away. If you cant pull him up/has no brakes then it could be an accident waiting to happen.

Did the owner ride him?if so what level is she at?

Good luck in your search - a true schoolmaster/push button pony is very hard to find as generally the genuine ones dont often go up or sale on the general market. Are you in a Riding club? xx
 
I don't think he sounds like the right horse for you and I think you know it. One will come along that is perfect so just keep your eyes and ears open. It's not worth taking a punt on him if you could allow him to develop worse habits and knock your confidence.

Where abouts are you located?
 
I think you need a few more lessons before you take on a share. riding school horses tend to be easier to ride because they have a lot more exercise than the average horse and the really naughty ones find another job. Wait until you are cantering confidently and jumping and you'll have a wider choice of shares.
Don't give up, you just need a little more time.:cool:
 
Perhaps you should ride a little longer before going into a share. It's a different kettle of fish when you have a horse outside of a riding school. Don't risk harming your confidence - have an instructor watch you and ask them for their honest opinion.
 
Use your gut feeling - by posting your doubts is your inner sense perhaps saying this is not the one. However, he could be taking the pee and with work and time, he probably would come good with you. Some horses I take to and they do me and some I just don't gel with.....I suppose like people really! LOL
 
I agree with all that has been said. He doesn't sound like a true novice school master and I am suprised the owner didn't say to you that you weren't suited. Also have a few more lessons especially with winter coming on, and think about it next year. From your brief comments about 'how to stop' I really think you need more practise with other horses in a safe environment.
 
cazza in your OP, you say going away from home he's very sluggish and it was only going towards home he started going forward. Was this where you felt you had no control or in the field he was being strong?

Personally, from what you've written here if you're going to be out on your own most days with this horse then i dont think he's the one for you.

You've ridden him once and you're unsure of him and your skills to cope with him already..and this is Day 1!
He could too easily shred the little confidence you have built up, he'll know it, will play up and his napping will get worse then the whole situation could rapidly go down hill.

i think you should look at some more horses and find something much quieter that you feel more confident on then, as others have suggested, find a good instructor and have regular lessons to keep your riding and confidence progressing.

good luck!
 
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cazza2011 said:
napping I can deal with as it is half heated tbh!
Click to expand...

also, i wouldnt call napping by spinning round on a main road 'half hearted' !!

seriously, this could be extremely dangerous with a very novice rider. i really think you need to walk away from this one.
 
Thanks for all your comments!
I had two ponies of my own and a horse when I was younger but I stopped riding at 14 due to school and medical problems! When I was 14 I was cantering, jumping & galloping really confidently! But at 19 I am out of practice - so working on everything up.
I am a confident rider and I know I have a good seat and quiet hands from many hours of private lessons at a very good school near me so I know I can handle most things that a horse throw at me...just not a horse that will not stop!
The owner is an AI (apparently) - she couldn't ride him cause of a back problem...hence the sharer! If she had said to me that she felt he was too much for me then I would not have minded in the slightest - I'm an experienced enough person working with horses for all of my life to understand how important it is for a owner to find the right sharer.
I'm based in Norwich at the moment for uni and am having lessons with the equestrian club but I really wanted a horse that I could hack out ;)

Thankyou everyone! I just don't feel in my guy that he's right for me. I do not expect a perfect horse in any sense of the word and only replied to his advert calling him a schoolmaster because I thought he'd be a lovely boy for me to hack.

I'm used to riding horses that are hard work where you really have to work to get them going but I don't think a horse that doesn't have brakes is safe for anyone!
 
if I was in your position I would concentrate on Uni and keep having lessons to build up your experience and abilities.

When you have finished Uni then perhaps you will be in a position to find something suitable for you.

Im sure this is not what you want to hear, but I dont think you have enough experience to be taking a horse on just yet.
 
Your just being honest! And I appreciate that! :)
In my heart I know this boy is not for me - I'd say he needs a much more experienced rider. Definetly not a schoolmaster as advertised! Aha!

Thankyou everyone :) xx
 
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