Can a horse be too quiet? How to get energy up!

[AmyP28]

I’m an adult rider who had a break from horses over Uni and am now looking to get my own again. Not a novice rider but certainly rusty technically! I have been to view a lovely horse who ticks a lot of my boxes but seems very quiet. He is rising 6 and can naturally be a little spooky hacking (I’m told) but trying him in the school he seems very quiet. He did everything asked of him but could fall off my leg very easily and didn’t seem that bothered about working - more happy to stand while we chatted! We got some jumps out and he definitely seemed more interested in that but didn’t get hot or over-excited. I’m looking to get back into some low level jumping and riding club activities and guess my question is, can I encourage energy in a horse like this if I want to go up the levels? I appreciate that as a rusty rider he will be fab as a confidence giver but how much can I do to get him going in future? Thanks!

 

[nagblagger]

I would try him on a hack and he may light up. If they find him spooky they may just ride him in the school so he could be bored or dehydrated/doped for quietness, or just a lovely calm boy.

 

[FlyingCircus]

I think it's much easier to pep up a lazier horse than it is to steady up a buzzy one.

Fast hacking, gallops, hunting etc

 

[teapot]

Sounds great to me, and falling off the leg is something that can be solved as a schooling issue

 

[Barklands]

Can definitely be solved with good schooling - I guess it just depends what you like to ride. I much prefer something that is hot to ride and can’t stand having to kick, my horses all have the cruise control installed

Did you watch current owner ride? So many people nag nigh on every stride with their legs these days without realising thus, horses are switched off - should be easy to solve with some correct schooling if that’s the case.

Also I hate to be that person but are you having a vetting? Being backwards can be a good indicator that something is wrong

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Were you the only to view that day? Maybe he’d shut down a bit if others had tried him over the last few days.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

That’s exactly the attitude I want from my horsey partner to be honest lol. Stand at peace and do what I ask when I ask without over excitement but I’m probably forty years older than you

 

[ycbm]

The combination of lazy and spooky to hack raises PSSM alarm bells in me. I'd want a PSSM1 test (hair roots, less than £40) and a good feel of the muscles myself and a vetting.

ETA but fitness and maturity can cure true laziness.
.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Buy the horse you need now, not the one you hope to want in a few years time!
I would ask to try this horse on a hack and if he perks up a bit, have a vetting.

 

[AmyP28]

Hi all, thanks so much for the responses, all really helpful.

For a bit more context, we know the owners and they’re local to us so we know they are just looking for a nice home as feel he is wasted with them and an older rider. When I say spooky out, the owner was just keen to stress that he’s young and not a plod, though bombproof in traffic etc!

He definitely wasn’t drugged as I’ve met him once previously and they haven’t advertised him yet so no other viewings, though he had been schooled a few times that week (after doing nothing for 6 months) so maybe tired?

I will be getting a vet to view him before buying but he passed a vetting only 18 months ago (funnily enough that vet picked up that he was quiet on the cert) with no findings, and as I’m not paying a huge amount for him I wasn’t going to do a stage 5 type.

I don’t think he has done much ‘fast’ work at all due to having an older rider recently so perhaps some fun rides, XC, gallops etc would really help, plus I’m hoping he will find his feet with jumping and will enjoy that. Thanks all!

 

[AmyP28]

Oops forgot to say, I did try him on a hack and we had a little look at some recycling bags but nothing major at all!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Does he need to be "hot and over excited" to jump at the level you are wanting now?
Can't he be efficient and calm? Sounds like he did all you asked him to?
Sounds absolutely perfect for low level jumping and riding club. Added bonus is you know the seller.
It's a personal decision but I 'd snatch their hand off*! He's the sort that would sell very well in a couple of years if you need something more competitive then.

*subject to vetting

 

[nutjob]

My horse was behind the leg and also leaning into your inside leg when I got him. My trainer has helped sort this out with various exercises and he was competing at elementary before being injured. I wouldn't take someone else's 18 month old vetting report to mean anything whatsoever. A low priced horse will cost just as much in vets fees and if you are not going to pts an unrideable one the cost of keeping a retired horse very soon far far out ways any purchase price.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Hi all, thanks so much for the responses, all really helpful.

For a bit more context, we know the owners and they’re local to us so we know they are just looking for a nice home as feel he is wasted with them and an older rider. When I say spooky out, the owner was just keen to stress that he’s young and not a plod, though bombproof in traffic etc!

He definitely wasn’t drugged as I’ve met him once previously and they haven’t advertised him yet so no other viewings, though he had been schooled a few times that week (after doing nothing for 6 months) so maybe tired?

I will be getting a vet to view him before buying but he passed a vetting only 18 months ago (funnily enough that vet picked up that he was quiet on the cert) with no findings, and as I’m not paying a huge amount for him I wasn’t going to do a stage 5 type.

I don’t think he has done much ‘fast’ work at all due to having an older rider recently so perhaps some fun rides, XC, gallops etc would really help, plus I’m hoping he will find his feet with jumping and will enjoy that. Thanks all!

I think if you know the horse, a vetting isn't so important, unless you are concerned about his soundness. The vet can only tell you what he sees on the day, after all.

 

[SOS]

Unless the money you are paying you are willing to lose I would always get a five stage vetting for a ridden horse that you want to progress beyond the level they are at now. Keeping a lame horse costs the same as a sound one. Unless you’re particularly experienced watching a horse move or assessing conformation the vet may well point out flaws that could impact a more active future.

Why hasn’t he done much for six months?

A vetting 18 months ago means very little, particularly in a horse that would still be maturing.

Now the negative side is over, temperament wise he sounds perfect. Most horses can be gee’d up with schooling, fitness and variety. And even if eventually he wasn’t enough horse for you, the steadier types are very sellable. As others have said, he sounds like the horse you need right now.

 

[Boughtabay]

Sounds like you like him enough to give it a try - he’ll help you find your feet again and if you still think he’s a bit too laid back come spring then he should have some added value from all the new things he’s done with you! I do think with a bit of fitness, feed & fun most horses can be perked up

 

[tda]

Quiet, sensible and also spooky does not normally come together.

I tried to gee up a sensible mare with oats, just as slow but with eyes on stalks

 

[Tiddlypom]

As you’re rusty, I suggest getting back riding at a good trekking centre or riding school to get your muscle memory back before landing yourself owning a horse that you might soon find boring.

Also some riders gel with some horses, and some don’t.

The horse in my avatar (owned by a reputable trekking centre) is a marmite horse, some riders find him lazy and boring, whereas for me he’s always keen and forward, and I adore him.

I don’t like the sound of lazy and spooky. My suspicion is some sort of discomfort. Could be as simple as saddle fit, or worse.

 

[sport horse]

Could he be anaemic? If so easily treated but he may not be the same horse when well! I bought one many years ago, through a dealer and imported, that was just as you describe this one. Was anaemic so we treated and he was unrideable afterwards! Guess he had been turned away and left to get a bit poor for a reason!

 

[Burnerbee]

I’d be inclined to acknowledge what this horse is telling you - he likes a quiet life, he doesn’t necessarily want to be cajoled or made to behave in a way that’s not his choice.

Edit to say: not suggesting you don’t check there’s a physical cause for his demeanour.

 

[Gloi]

Is it a lack of schooling where he has never learnt to go forward off the leg. Lazy and spooky does come across as very green to me. I think I would get a person who is used to riding young horses down with you and ask them to ride and get their honest opinion.