Are people too inexperienced before they buy........

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stormox

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There are a number of threads on this forum like 'My new horse is difficult' , 'My horse keeps throwing me off', 'I'm scared of my horse' , ''my poies a nightmare'....... etc etc.
I'm beginning to wonder if people are buying horses before theyv had enough experience, both riding and handling.
Do they ride the same horse week wfter week at a school, in a lesson in an arena then decide its the horse for them? Of course its not going to behave the same when it gets to your home,where instead of doing 3-4 hours a day, its ridden a couple of times a week.
Do riding schools praise people up -saying they can ride, when in fact theyv had very little do do with horses?
All I can say to people who want to have their own horse is GET OUT THERE AND GET EXPERIENCE first. Learn how to read horses, on the ground and on the horse, get as much handling and riding experience of many different horses and ponies as you can. Do not buy a horse just because your friends bought one, or youve had a few lessons and enjoyed sitting on a quiet one. Or youve read books and watched TV programs.
Get REAL experience with REAL animals!
 
Some people have no way in building up experience though.
Honestly I think common sense and a supportive livery yard and you're 99% of the way there! Obviously you need to have had at least riding lessons first.
 
I know someone who has bought a cob who didn't know what a flash was or realised nosebands came in different sizes.
She didn't know what a lunge line was or how to lunge.
No clue on medical conditions.
Feeds hay when he clearly has dust/hay allergy/COPD.
Saddle is a horrendous fit. I asked if she wanted to get it checked as I had fitter out other week. She says it looks fine and might consider buying a new saddle next year.
She tried to help take me 13.3hh LW pony up the road to the field and said he was too strong for her (he just throws his head around, typical inpatient 4yo!)
She's also just bought a shetland for her young daughter who's never ridden, and says that too, is strong.
These are just a few incidences off the top of my head.
I despair :(
 
I had a conversation like this with a friend the other week. Not horsey, but wants to get a pony for 10yo daughter who is having lessons. Told him to get her into some stable management lessons and him too. They're not local to me anymore so I can't help them. I can see it ending in tears!!

I'm looking at getting my own again, experienced rider and owner (if a touch rusty with owning!) and still having numerous 'what if' moments!!
 
I think a lot of it is people buying horses that are too much for them. Everyone seems to want the 16.2hh Wb x when actually they are a weekend happy hacker and the 15hh mongrel pony would be much easier.

I bought a project who was way too much for me! But I had experience and knew who to ask and where to seek help. As a result learnt a lot, have an amazing bond with my horse and a nice pony to ride.
 
I agree about riders at RS being led to believe they can ride fairly well, and huge culture shock when they venture further than that environment. However not everyone will manage to have the opportunity to gain the experience you feel is necessary and going in at the deep end may be the only option.

I also think its down to the individuals personality. Some new owners will think they know it all and wing it, then end up in a mess. Others will ensure they put themselves into a situation where they have support and be willing to listen and learn.
 
How can you categorically say toffee44 that a 'mongrel pony' would be better behaved? I wanted a chestnut as the first horse I owned. So out I went and bought a chestnut thoroughbred mare. Admittidly I had a fair amount of experience but I know far more ponies that are little gits!
 
I think people often think they can cope with a more demanding horse than they can when they first buy a horse. They get something for what they want to do rather than what they actually can do. I often feel that they would be better getting a large native pony or a cob for a year or two and then moving up but they get a competition horse or something with more energy and then get scared and the poor horse ends up never being ridden or never going outside the school.
 
Its definitely that, partly, but many amateur riders struggle at first before they have got used to a new horse or built a bond with it. But too many horse buyers seem to have no concept of working at something in order to improve, of learning, of taking the rough with the smooth. They seem to expect a horse to be like a machine, or a consumer good, and work straight away, and if its not perfect, then they launch into a tirade of bitter and righteous complaint.

Obviously, bad bucking and rearing are dangerous, but if its just a bit of napping in a new home, that's so often down to the rider - either lack of skill, experience or even simple lack of fitness. If you only ride once a week and then get a horse, you are unlikely to be fit or strong enough to cope easily with a nappy horse, but persevere and all that will improve in time.

The problem is that some people have no concept or perservering or working at something.
 
Elsiecat said:
^cobs are very strong horses. I don't understand that!
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They may be strong but they are normally less reactive and more forgiving of mistakes than a blood horse. I know there will be individuals that do not fit this pattern but in general a native type that can be ridden from the field will be less sharp than a blood horse that is stabled.
 
I completely agree!

After 5 years out of the saddle, I got myself a lovely 19 year old TB, superb schoolmaster, absolute gem of a horse! He's filled me with confidence and a year later iv now got myself a smaller but more forward going pony, who can be bolshy and strong but as I now have more experience and lots of confidence I don't feel overpowered by him.
However, if I had gotten myself the pony first before re-learning to ride/brush up on my stable duties/general horse care, ifd have been totally overpowered by said pony and probably put off riding.
People are sometimes more concerned with how the horse looks rather than get themselves something more suited to themselves (my TB looks his age which puts some people off)
A prime example is a girl I know, not a confident rider, who got herself this expensive huge lump of a horse, beatiful to look at but only 4 years old, newly broken and just a typical inexperienced young horse. He threw her when seeing something scary and she's now terrified of him, but he's excellent for one of the other more experienced girls at the stables.
Iv offered the girl the opportunity to ride my gem of a TB to get her confidence back, but as he's not fast and flashy, she's not interested and would instead prefer to quiver ontop of her enormous 4 year old.
So I believe some people believe they are better than they really are and also sometimes they only see the "glamourous" side of horseriding and choose this over a horse that may be older/bit scruffier/slower/more of a plod.

:)
 
Err to all those who believe novices should buy cobs or novices ahem!!
Either you have never handled a bargy opinionated cob or you have never tried to coax a native into your way of thinking! Both extremely strong, and opinionated types of horses....

However any horse is going to pose a problem to those who have very little knowledge. See in an ideal world you would start in a riding school, which covers both riding and stable management, then you would maybe have a go at sharing a horse, then perhaps loan (taking the on the full financial and time burden but being able to easily back out) then and only then should you think about buying and fully committing to whichever type of horse you would like, perhaps keeping it on a lovely supportive livery yard....

But really when does it work this....
 
Ways of getting experience - available to everyone (maybe not the experience you want to see, but its very helpful to see EVERYTHING YOU CAN)
1) attend sales- you'l see loading/unloading, all kinds of behaviour, buckers, rearers, unbroken, old nags, youngsters, good and bad handling, etc
2) attend shows - from heavy horses to miniture ponies.
3) offer to help local people with horses- loads of people need a hand now and again. And dont be too proud to shovel ***** - youl be doing plenty of it if you get your own.
4) before you buy- look at, and try plenty, dont just buy the first 'pretty one with a cute face'
5) weatch horses in fields- see their power, watch how physical they are with each other
6) ride everything you get a chance to
Just mainly go to places where horses are. Theres always something to learn.
 
^do you're condoning going and riding people's horses that are for sale just to gain experience!? You've clearly never had your time wasted!
 
No Im not- Im saying if you are thinking of buying make sure you get the one that suits you! dont just buy the first one!! Most people would rather have someone come and say 'sorry, hes not the one for me'than sell their horse to an unsuitable home.
 
Elsiecat said:
^cobs are very strong horses. I don't understand that!
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Ah, the myth of the placid cob strikes again :rolleyes:

Strong indeed :) My friend bought one as her first horse through being badly advised. Person who encouraged her to buy him now wants him gone from her yard and has shirked all responsibility for his purchase. The only problem is that he lacked any proper schooling and is young and friend could not ride well enough to deal with him. Result was same as many of the threads on here; very unhappy worried friend and a badly misjudged horse who was fast acquiring very bad habits and labelled as dangerous:(

Agree with OP in that people allow their hearts to rule their heads and are often also badly advised by those who should know better.
 
Yes! I would recommend everyone loans a horse first. I loaned 4 before buying my own. All well behaved but I learnt so much. Having a horse is such a huge responsibility and commitment, they r not toys!!!
 
Every horsey person has to have their first horse at some point. I've ridden since I was 5 (had a gap when I was at uni) but didn't buy my own until I was 31. I had loaned/shared several horses and worked (voluntarily) at a riding school for years before.

Obviously people need to be able to ride and have had some experience of looking after a horse/pony - most riding schools do stable management lessons. Then I think it is a case of making sure that you buy a suitable horse/pony for your first one. And making sure you have a good support network - maybe full livery at first and lessons with a good instructor.

When I was looking I didn't consider anything under 7, but I am amazed how many inexperience people/families go for 4/5 year olds!

I bought an 8YO 16.1hh ISH who had evented and hunted. Sounds quite a lot for a first horse but she is actually easier than many riding school horses I have ridden! Non-spooky and sensible, but very forward. Had her for nearly a year and a half and we haven't hit any problems (touch wood :D). She will be able to do all the riding club stuff I want to do, and if I decide to do affiliated anything, she will be capable of that too. I was very lucky to find her!
 
I think Health and Safety put a stop to the way it used to be. You'd decided horses were for you and spend every weekend minute at the stables slogging your guts out looking after the horses, cleaning tack etc etc, for a free hours hack. These days they charge for it and call it own a pony day
 
Rhodders said:
I think Health and Safety put a stop to the way it used to be. You'd decided horses were for you and spend every weekend minute at the stables slogging your guts out looking after the horses, cleaning tack etc etc, for a free hours hack. These days they charge for it and call it own a pony day
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H&S has a lot to answer for.

Riders learning at RS are wrapped up in cotton wool.
 
After getting back into horses after a break. I had regular private lessons and was loaning a horse for 18months ish. I felt ready for my own as I could not do all I wanted with my loan horse. I unfortunately did not buy a suitable first horse. Hindsight is a great thing and when I am ready to buy again I will go about it very differently .
I am lucky to have very good friends with horses whom I spend lots of time with. I am always asking my knowledgeable friend questions ( she has 6 for me to learn from ) and I get taught lots about handling and general horsemanship :)
 
I think it's not that easy actually gettingexperience.
At the moment I'm having three lessons a week at riding schools but still don't get much experience in handling.
I've applied for stable management courses and bhs horse owners but both have been cancelled because of a lack of numbers :(
 
Neddy is my first proper horse, but I was lucky in the fact I knew him for 5 or 6 years before I got him, so his behaviour was no surprise. I've had him for nearly 4 months and I'm just starting to feel a bit more comfortable with everything.

Don't knock RS to first time owners though, we don't all need ploddy cobs!
To be fair though, the cobs at my yard are much worse than Neddy. Strong, arrogant, opinionated!
 
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poppet said:
H&S has a lot to answer for.

Riders learning at RS are wrapped up in cotton wool.
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The riding school where I have the occasional lesson now certainly don't wrap us in cotton wool. The horses are not plods either although they are well trained.


I had lessons as a child then had a 20 year gap while I had my family. Decided to get back into horses and instead of going back and having lessons I went for a share horse. Gave up the share when I bought myself a just weaned filly foal. Also now have a 15hh TBx mare and the foal is now 4 years old and I backed her myself last year.

Can honestly say it has all been a steep learning curve but I wouldn't change any of it :D
 
I don't know. I'm in two minds about this. Back in my day people just bought ponies and they learned through trial and error. I don't remember dead ponies and or crippled for life because there was no saddle fitter. I did NOT have my own pony so I worked at riding stables all day when not in school for free rides. Health and safety was non existent really. You got hurt you learned. Lots of times we were unsupervised. We had lessons too of course but we did lots of on our own trial and error too. There were no bad ponies and horses. There were horses that were a challenge. To ride effectively you had to become a better rider. We didn't have cobs. Mixed ponies with lots of blood and TB's crossed with ponies and TB's. Even the girls that had their own ponies still rode others. To be honest it was a great environment to grow up in.

I'm sure we committed thousands of sins. But the ponies did lots of work and stayed fit. They had few problems. Nobody bred better back then either. In fact probably worse. I'm glad now I never owned my own pony because I had to ride all sorts and then I went to the track.

What I see today are the following. You have a horse or pony and you never ride anything else. It's all about magic bonds and excuses. People have no idea how to feed for what horses are doing. Have no idea about fitness. I mean we used to feed coffee cans of sweet mix. But the ponies worked so it just didn't cause issues. The excuses now are silly. Everything effects horses. People either get a horse too fit or not fit enough. Buying a youngster is very rewarding but sometimes they lifestyle they're kept in means they start having issues. Both physical and mental. So no a first horse doesn't have to be a cob but something that has done all you want to do and is ready to do all you want. It just seems to be there's a huge gap anymore. You either get lessons week after week in which you hit a point that no improvement will come or you buy your own horse and ride nothing else. Neither of which makes riders I'm afraid. But health and safety has made it impossible to do any of the "crazy" stuff anymore. And not only that if you did people would accuse you of abuse.

I think a lot of horses would be left without homes if novices didn't buy. And WE ALL started somewhere. If we had Internet back then threads would be: Here's us jumping park benches. Fell and hit my head without helmet. What what we taught Dobbin. Whoops, won't do that again! They wouldn't be about laminitis ( never saw a horse with it til I moved here), matchy matchy, what can I feed, saddle fitter coming out, my vet and chiro don't agree. And on and on.

Sorry so long. Just people want perfection and think you need to know everything before you buy. I'm still learning people. You never stop if that's what you want. You will never know it all.

Terri
 
I should also note intense farming has changed grazing somewhat too. And that hasn't helped along with all the feed out there either. If horses didn't get sweet mix we fed whole corn cobs (yup) or COB, corn/oats/barley mixed with a slug of molasses. Again, pony or horse wasn't crazy, you needed to learn to ride better. That's what we got told. Imagine that nowadays being told you need to learn to ride better. Someone would probably get sued for some stress disorder and how their life had been ruined because their feelings got hurt.

Terri
 
This is a good thread. I think this is the case nowdays.
I know at least 4 total begginers who are going horse shopping over easter. They dont have a clue. Im not trying to sound nasty but I think you need a lot of experience before even considering your own horse. Even part loaning is a huge step up from riding at a riding school.
I do appreciate that some people may not have the opeertunities to practice stable chores and other general aspects of managing a horse. From being a child I read hundreds of horsey books that my parents bought me (cheaper than a real horse) and would practice plaiting and leading my rocking horse! :)
I was very lucky in that I had a neighbour who let me help her with her horses. Stable chores were drilled into me, along with facts about medical aspect of caring for a horse. I had 4 years of this before even getting a loan pony. Even then I was terrified I was going to do something wrong!
Sadly there are many horses out there at the moment that have been ruined by inexperienced riders and owners who think that the answer is to sell the horse on with the excuse that they dont have time for the horse or pony any longer :(
 
YES! I was!
When I was younger I had riding lessons weekly and then in my early to late teens I helped out at my local trekking centre for rides. There I practically had my own pony but we didn't really learn an awful lot about horse care as such. Only a few of the horses were on any kind of hard feed and they all were natives that lived out 24/7 unrugged and happy. I have only vauge memories of the farrier visits although the horses feet were fine (from what I remember anyway) and we basically spent our days taking treks out or having fun rides ourselves or messing about in the school. I think I learned a lot from my ridiculously large pony magazine collection and was always doing the horse care quizzes!

After a 10 year break from horses and only being back at it for 2 years I got my horse. I probably shouldn't have bought Loki because even though I had some basic knowlege behind me I wasn't too up on things like what to do if things go wrong ridden wise or what to do if things went slightly worng health wise (if things go really wrong health wise get the vet! ;)). I had a lot of help, a lot of riding lessons and I'm still learning!

However I think there are a lot of unscrupulous characters who "prey" (for want of a better word) on people who have even less experience than I did (and some buyers who seem to be totally unaware of their lack of knowlege!) encouraging them to buy and offering them all sorts of help - that often IME doesn't materialise :(
 
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