Behavioural changes in newly bought horses, from the dealer's POV

[Pale Rider]

Having worked in a dealers yard I would say another point to add is that most people who work for a dealer will be fairly experienced - and will ride accordingly. As experienced riders will give a different 'feel' to a novice or less experienced rider, its sometimes difficult to identify what issues may crop up with a less experienced owner. We used to get horses in from Ireland and would push them faster than you generally would to see how they reacted and if they had any quirks but you can't make yourself ride like a novice and so may not get the same reaction. As the OP has pointed out, we often didn't have the benefit of the horses background either.

The issue is that although you can take a pretty good guess at how a horse may react with a novice, its difficult to identify what the longer term implications might be. A horse that is perfectly sane and sensible whilst at the dealers *may* develop some quirks when sold on to an owner who is possibly not that experienced. We never had any returned because they had turned into fire breathing dragons but we did go and visit a few who's owners were finding difficult - mostly they had become a bit bolshy or bargy or nappy. Rarely was the problem a large one and mostly it was caused by the new owner not setting the boundaries and allowing things to escalate.

Funnily enough, the one situation that sticks in my mind was a lady looking to buy for her daughter. Pony in question was an ideal PC/RC type, sane, sensible and ideal for the kid who wasn't that experienced. Kid tried him 2-3 times in the school, hacking, jumping and general handling. The lady in question then didn't buy him because he 'wasn't a 10k pound pony'!! Her child wouldn't have sat one side of a 10k pony and I dread to think of the consequences if they ever found one. The mad thing was that if we'd stuck a 10k price tag on the pony she'd have bought him without question!

I think this is an excellent appraisal of what happens to horses being sold on through dealers.

In most dealers yards the riders are, as previously mentioned, confident riders. The very nature of the work enhances this.

Horses ridden by confident capable riders don't appear to the onlooker as presenting any problem. Also, a horse moving onto a dealers yard where there is often a good routine, lots of horse movement, lots of new horses has an effect of supressing the horses personality to some extent.

The problem arises after the horse arrives at his new home and settles in, this can take a few weeks or an afternoon depending on the horse. If the new owner, rider is a little less confident than the horse is used too or requires, the horse soon starts making it's own decisions through lack of confidence and poor leadership of the new owner.

A horse that behaves well at the dealers can turn into a bolshi nightmare. This isn't anyones fault, the fact is you are buying an animal with emotions and opinions which change with his surroundings, routine and those he interacts with.

Horse buying from a yard or private sale can go wrong if the buyer cannot cope with the actual horse that turns up when he is settled in. Its not like buying something inanimate like a car or motorcyle with no opinions.

 

[ELAINE.69]

I must say that i agree there are far to many people buying horses when they relally should be going too riding schools and really learning how to ride 'and .care for horses ive been involved with all types sizes from circus to dealers not an expert but will always buy from a dealer

 

[Kelly1982]

Well said OP!! I was only thinking yesterday that there seem to be more and more posts lately about people having nightmare horses after a week!!!

Think the problem is people over estimate their abilities. Yes u might be a confident rider but that doesn't mean you are experiebced enough!!!

 

[MagicMelon]

It is a shame so many people buy horses and simply expect the horse to be a machine. Its bizarre! I feel bad for the horses at the end of the day, being moved about and labelled bad when they're not at all. I guess the only way to help cut down on this problem is to try and sell ONLY to experienced horsey people, although I know its difficult to be choosy about the home when you're a dealer.

At the end of the day horses react differently depending on the rider/owner - I sold one of mine a few years back who could be bolshy/testy on the ground, I had made this VERY clear but the woman said she could deal but I was so desperate to get him a good home that I allowed him out on a weeks trial first. Lets say he was back within 3 days!! The lady told me a list of all that he'd done to her (kicking, biting, snapping leadropes - she even had 3 bruises to show me etc.), NONE of which this horse had ever done with me! The horse was very clever and I think she must have showed she was scared of him so he just totally walked all over her (literally!). Funny thing is, this same horse ended up being sold to a 14yr old small girl who has happily had him since (he behaves with her as he did with me which was as good as it got I think but she copes fine as I did).