RebeccaB1609
New User
Hey there, I'm new to this forum but have read some really good advice on here so hoping you may be able to give me some too.
After riding on and off for years and always wanting my own horse but being scared of the commitment, my ability to go it alone etc I finally decided to try a sharer before committing fully. I found a TBX gelding locally described as a gentle giant and it all seemed perfect so after a couple of conversations I went to meet him yesterday.
He was happy enough to be stroked and I took time to introduce myself etc before we started to tack him up at which point he became really fidgety. Unfortunately someone had messed about with his bridal so it no longer fitted over his head and as he was a big boy and both myself and his owner are reasonably short it was a bit of challenge getting him into it. His owner seemed reluctant to take hold of him and I didn't feel it was my role to do so. Anyway after that his saddle was easy and there were no other issues.
I mounted and we went in to the school. We walked a few laps and changed the reign etc which was fine although he seemed very distracted and I had to keep turning his head in to try and keep him focused. After a few laps we progressed to a trot which was fine for a bit but then he majorly spooked. To the point I nearly came off. We stopped, I steddied myself and spoke to him calmly before trying to walk on. But after that it was just no good he wouldn't settle and kept swinging out or heading back to the gate where his owner was standing. not knowing the horse well and not receiving any advice from the owner I didn't want to be too firm with him and push him back into a trot. Eventually his owner came in and led him around the arena and seemed a bit better. On the way back to the Stables the owner commented to one of the stable hands how he was really playing up and she'd never seen this behaviour before to which the stable hand commented that one of the other hands had ridden him the week before and said he was really spooky. At which point the owner stated that he hadn't been ridden for a little while.
I know horses spook, the one I ride regularly is a real sensitive boy but I trust him completely. I also know that on a first ride trust hasn't been built on either side so I don't want to rule him out straight away but I am concerned. In her own words the owner mother's him and so I wonder whether he has developed some bad habits and a bit of a dependency or whether something more sinister has happened and she is no longer riding him because of it and hoping some one more experienced can calm him down. Whilst not a novice I wouldn't class myself as an experienced rider either and have neither the desire nor the skills to re break a horse or deal with any behavioural issues. We've left it I'll go back next week and spend longer with him before taking him out again but I wonder whether I should ask to take any experience trainer with me to get their opinion?
After riding on and off for years and always wanting my own horse but being scared of the commitment, my ability to go it alone etc I finally decided to try a sharer before committing fully. I found a TBX gelding locally described as a gentle giant and it all seemed perfect so after a couple of conversations I went to meet him yesterday.
He was happy enough to be stroked and I took time to introduce myself etc before we started to tack him up at which point he became really fidgety. Unfortunately someone had messed about with his bridal so it no longer fitted over his head and as he was a big boy and both myself and his owner are reasonably short it was a bit of challenge getting him into it. His owner seemed reluctant to take hold of him and I didn't feel it was my role to do so. Anyway after that his saddle was easy and there were no other issues.
I mounted and we went in to the school. We walked a few laps and changed the reign etc which was fine although he seemed very distracted and I had to keep turning his head in to try and keep him focused. After a few laps we progressed to a trot which was fine for a bit but then he majorly spooked. To the point I nearly came off. We stopped, I steddied myself and spoke to him calmly before trying to walk on. But after that it was just no good he wouldn't settle and kept swinging out or heading back to the gate where his owner was standing. not knowing the horse well and not receiving any advice from the owner I didn't want to be too firm with him and push him back into a trot. Eventually his owner came in and led him around the arena and seemed a bit better. On the way back to the Stables the owner commented to one of the stable hands how he was really playing up and she'd never seen this behaviour before to which the stable hand commented that one of the other hands had ridden him the week before and said he was really spooky. At which point the owner stated that he hadn't been ridden for a little while.
I know horses spook, the one I ride regularly is a real sensitive boy but I trust him completely. I also know that on a first ride trust hasn't been built on either side so I don't want to rule him out straight away but I am concerned. In her own words the owner mother's him and so I wonder whether he has developed some bad habits and a bit of a dependency or whether something more sinister has happened and she is no longer riding him because of it and hoping some one more experienced can calm him down. Whilst not a novice I wouldn't class myself as an experienced rider either and have neither the desire nor the skills to re break a horse or deal with any behavioural issues. We've left it I'll go back next week and spend longer with him before taking him out again but I wonder whether I should ask to take any experience trainer with me to get their opinion?
