Dream horse turned nightmare... help me!

[chazza44]

can i just start by apologising about my typing as my right hand is in plaster.

i have been riding since i was about 4 yo and at the tender age of 25 have (last week) got my own. i bought a gorgeous 5 yo andalucian from a well respected yard. he was an angel on tryouts and well schooled. he settled into his new yard really well and has been really settled. we did our first formal schooling session on sat and we made good progress by sunday he was working well and we had a good contact and was really settled. we cantered on the right rein perfectly - if a little lazy. then we did left - bit of an upwards transition sop trotted to rebalance and try again. as soon as i applied the canter aids my chilled horse went mental and fly bucked across the arena and i bailed before we hit the fence resulting in a nasty wrist fracture and coxcyx fracture. he immediately turned round with a look of 'what are you doing on the floor, oh gosh have i killed mum?!'
the yard arent keen to exercise him for me now and i am out of action until the new year at least. ive spoken to the dealer who would take him back.
i just dont know what to do. im a dr and am not allowed to be in any clinical areas for 6 weeks until my cast is off which is a massive blow to my training. we have had his back and tack checked and no problems there. we have it on film and he didnt spook and he isnt a spooky horse. no one can explain what happened apart from a sudden burst of energy.

I want some advice.. should i cut my losses and get rid and risk loosing a telented little chap with a lovely nature? should i stick with it and risk further injuries and loss of confidence? at the moment im really upset and not sure i can make a rational decision - my friends and family are all givng me different advice!

Thanks in advance

Charlotte

 

[Theocat]

I'd ask a professional to come and school a few times a week for a couple of weeks (making it clear why and what he did) and watch the sessions. Either he'll show it was a one off - and hopefully prove to the yard he's safe for them to exercise - or it will become apparent pretty quickly he needs to go back.

I would be absolutely honest with anyone that I was paying to ride him about why, and if you have it on video show them that as well.

 

[thatsmygirl]

Tbh if I was in your position I would take him back to the dealer and get a refund as the dealer is happy to do this.

Don't blame the yard for not wanting to exercise him and as you don't know him/had him long I wouldn't want to put a sharer or anybody for that matter at risk.

I would take your money back and re buy when your ready

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I'd ask a professional to come and school a few times a week for a couple of weeks (making it clear why and what he did) and watch the sessions. Either he'll show it was a one off - and hopefully prove to the yard he's safe for them to exercise - or it will become apparent pretty quickly he needs to go back.

I would be absolutely honest with anyone that I was paying to ride him about why, and if you have it on video show them that as well.

^^^This

If this is not an option, TBH I would probably take the dealer up on his offer, as you are in no position to determine, if it was a one off while you can't ride.

 

[chazza44]

i dont blame the yard at all. i would say the exact same thing if i was in their position. safety must come first!

 

[Bethie]

What is your riding experience prior to buying? Are you a new owner but really experienced rider used to bringing on young horses of an athletic nature without supervision, or a once a week riding school client? Makes a huge difference as to what options would be sensible for you to look at.

 

[Meandtheboys]

Charlotte - sorry for your injury but if you step back for a few minutes and reflect:

You are expecting an awful lot for 1 week especially for a young horse.........................I would give a horse at least a month before it fully settles and you start to see their 'true colours'.

Give him a chance..........you chose him because after a good trial he felt like the right horse - tbh he probably is!!

Once again give him a chance its not his fault..................sorry about the broken wrist but now you have 6 weeks to fully bond with him.

 

[chazza44]

i used to ride 3-4 times a week and would ride the new young riding school horses to get them used to the school. so it was with supervision but everyone felt i could go it alone. i can't claim to be the best rider in the world but i do have experience.

 

[Bethie]

In that case send him back to the dealer, sorry to be blunt but you aren't experienced enough to overcome normal young horse issues and the yard aren't backing you up. You will find a much more sensible, older, been there done it got the T shirt horse when you're back in good health next year. Hope your wrist heals well.

 

[putasocinit]

Sorry you fell off and got hurt, sadly that goes hand in hand with riding horses. It pains me the minute this 1200kg angel (all horse) acts like a horse and gets a bit naughty then that's it, it's got to be sold. Too many folks today buying horses without enough experience (riding and owning).

I agree with poster who said you were expecting a bit much so soon. Turn him out for the winter whilst you are injured and then start again if you haven't lost your nerve. Or ask the dealer to take him back and get a much older school master who will give you your confidence back.

Whatever you decide good luck.

 

[shortstuff99]

As you mention he is an Andalusian that could be some of your problem. Spanish horses can be anything but easy! They are very sensitive and can be easily unsettled by loss of balance etc and can really let you know! Was he imported from Spain or bred/trained in the UK as the advice would be different. I would ask a professional who has experience with PRE's to have a look.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Is he the first horse that you have owned?

 

[sophiebailey]

A close friends youngster did these to her repeatedly when she asked for canter. She tried everything and was at her wits end until she had a lesson with a new instructor who said quite simply that the reason she was taking off fly bucking was because she was being asked for canter when she was unbalanced, and she didn't know what to do.

She had a few lessons with new instructor, got the trot balanced on both reins and got her mare off her forehand before the transition and never looked back.

No expert but it sounds as thought maybe your youngster was struggling to find his balance on the left rein and got scared being asked to canter from an unbalanced trot?

Can you tell from the vid if he's on the fore or leaning when you asked for the transition?

Sorry to hear you got splatted would it be the worst thing if he had a few months off or if someone did ground work with him? (Lunging etc) ?

Hope you feel better soon xx

 

[chazza44]

he is indeed the first horse that i have owned. have done part shares prior to this to test the waters and check my commitment etc and that went really well. im just so gutted.

we was imported from spain and has done alot of schooling here too. he is quite sharp but very quick to learn. generally has a laid back/borderline lazy attitude to life im general. apart from that wee episode hasnt put a foot wrong.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

i used to ride 3-4 times a week and would ride the new young riding school horses to get them used to the school. so it was with supervision but everyone felt i could go it alone. i can't claim to be the best rider in the world but i do have experience.

In that case I have to agree with the advise given below

In that case send him back to the dealer, sorry to be blunt but you aren't experienced enough to overcome normal young horse issues and the yard aren't backing you up. You will find a much more sensible, older, been there done it got the T shirt horse when you're back in good health next year. Hope your wrist heals well.

A young Andalusian would not be an ideal 1st horse, especially at a yard where you are getting little back-up.

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear and I hope you heal quickly. xxx

 

[chazza44]

i appreciate the advice. part of the reason im finding it hard is because i want whats best for him as he is a talented little chap and i dont want to spoil him.

thank you

 

[piebaldsparkle]

he is quite sharp but very quick to learn.

The trouble is he will learn bad habits as quickly as good ones. Which is why they would not be a natural 1st choice for a 1st time owner (especially a young one).

 

[Meowy Catkin]

It is hard to say without seeing the horse and without knowing exactly how capable you are... but I'm leaning towards sending him back.

A recently imported, green PRE is an awful lot of horse for a first time owner.

It was commented on this forum on another thread earlier that PRE's should be thought of as hotbloods. Also that there are often issues with imported ones because of the differences between how horses are kept and treated over there when compared with here.

ETA. Has he been gelded? If yes - how long ago?

 

[WestCoast]

I did a similar thing to you - in that I bought a four year old friesian mare. I managed to get dumped a couple of months into owning her but thankfully landed on something that didn't break too easily (my head).

In my case I was already on schooling livery and they worked her while I was out of action and continue to school her for me. She also would have had an uncertain future of I had parted with her. So I made the decision to keep her at least until the spring when she will be 5 and have 6 months professional schooling. But it does mean that I am mostly riding in the school at present and taking a lot of lessons. But at the moment it's looking like I will be able to keep her as we're making good progress. Your horse sounds like he has more schooling than mine and is a year older so it will be easier.

So you could find a good schooling livery for him while you are out of action and then get some professional lessons once you are back. I wouldn't turn him away for weeks as it will make him less rideable. Although to be honest, since he has a good home to go back to, if it was me I'd probably send him back.

Think carefully about what it is you want to do with your horse next year, and whether he is the horse for you. Also are you someone who bounces back well from setbacks? Because there will be a few more along the way.

Also you do need to consider your career in this. I'm an AHP and they were reasonably good about it this time - but the NHS ironically aren't the most sympathetic employer when it comes to time off for illness.

Paula

 

[shortstuff99]

As he was imported you are best doing research on imported Spanish horses as they are ridden/trained/handled very differently then horses in the UK. I believe there are members on here who have experience with this (my Spanish was bred in the UK so sadly can't comment on imported ones!) the BAPSH Facebook page is also very useful.

 

[micki]

I think you was asking a bit much for a youngster to be settled in a week at a new home. As the dealer has offered your money back would they come and ride your horse at the yard you are at to make sure that the horse is still ok to ride?
If you still want to keep the horse then i would let him have some time off over winer while your wrist heals and then find a good instructor to help you bring him back into work correctly or find a good trainer and have him reschooled and then have some lessons on him so you learn how to ride him as he will be alot different to the riding school horses you have ridden.

 

[ds2107]

Charlotte, poor you! Hope you start feeling better soon :-/

It sounds like a baby horse being a baby to me. Having had youngsters in the past, they all did something similar at some point, and it would be pot luck if I managed to sit tight!
You have had him such a short time, maybe it was all just a bit too much too soon. If I were you I would ask someone (experienced) to do some
longreining with him. Take it slow, then once you are back riding I would have heaps of lessons. Having a young horse as your first is only going to work with help from someone very experienced.

Good luck!

 

[I love my Spanish horse]

Dont mean to sound patronising but is this your first experience of owning a spanish horse? If so i think therin lies your mistake unfortunatly, you can have all the experience of riding other horses in the world but until youve ridden and know the breed very well id say they really arent suitable as a first horse due to there sharpness. Ive had 2 and been very lucky neither of them did what yours has done, they have however shown that hot side that all andalusians have and unfortunatly if you do end up with a sharp one (which yours may or may not be, its impossible to say after a week) then it is best left to someone with a lot of experience and first hand knowledge of the breed.
You could persevere, in the hope that he's just fresh but then youve got to think how much fresher is he going to be after your recovered seeng as noone else is willing to ride him. Id be sorely tempted to send him back to the dealer tbh given that you dont have the backup support you realy need, esp now your injured. And if you really do want another have some lessons on a schoolmaster to get a feel of them and go for something much older, been there done that type, certainly not a youngster thats freshly imported. Problem is things are so different for them out there especially the stallions, and being such an intelligant breed they pick up bad habits twice as quicly as anything else and once they get a sniff of grass and allowed to get away with a bit more, before you know it your dream horse has completely dissapered.
If you do decide to stick with him it would be a very good idea to send him to a specialist spanish horse yard (theres plenty around and i can give you some numbers if youd like) They wont be cheap as it will obviously be schooling livery and may not be that close to your home, but imo thats the best thing for him whilst your injured and they can sus out whether he will ever be suitable for you and what you want to do with him.

 

[Cortez]

Oh dear; another "dreamhorse gone bad" story. Sorry, but this is SO common with the first time Spanish horse buyer. These are NOT first horses, no matter what you've been told. The average English rider is not going to get on well with the super-sensitive, super reactive PRE, especially one who's been trained in Spain with very classical, well trained riders. Firstly, this IS NOT the horse's fault (although I get the impression you know that), nor is it the dealer's, who has given you every opportunity to try this horse out. The simple fact is that most Spanish horses have simply never experienced the feeling of an out of balance rider. Poor you, I hope your injuries heal well. Please find a trainer experienced with Iberian horses: they are NOT the same as the average horse.

 

[patch1234]

I wouldnt make the decision for a couple of weeks as you may be suffering from a severe loss of confidence due to this accident. If you had had this horse for a couple of years you would have probably seen it as one of those things, which it may well be, especially as he hasnt been with you for long so is settling in.

My friend has the same breed of horse as you and it was very tricky as a youngster as they are incredibly sharp and intelligent and they do get upset if ridden in a different way to what they are used to. However she did get help and now the relationship is great.

In the end you need to decide if this horse is something you really want or if perhaps a different type of horse is more suitable for you.

Falling off happens to the best of us im afraid and its never nice.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

The simple fact is that most Spanish horses have simply never experienced the feeling of an out of balance rider

That's quite an eye-opening thought.

 

[Cortez]

That's quite an eye-opening thought.

Yes, and one I have to contend with every day as I try to rehab an extremely traumatised Spanish horse who was sold to a very beginner rider in the UK from a very well respected Spanish dressage yard. He is the most challenging horse I've ever ridden as I cannot ride badly or out of balance, EVER. Poor horse, and poor former rider (but not poor me as I have to up my game every day).

 

[chazza44]

you are so right. spanish horses are amazing.
i am just so sad that i dont think i deserve this little guy. my dressage horse is out there somewhere... i hope. i just cant risk too many more injuries as time off work and loosing function of my right had would be catastrophic for my job. my own silly fault though :-(

 

[Cortez]

I am so sorry you have been hurt. But PLEASE, anyone contemplating taking on ownership of THE MOST AMAZING horse in the world, please, please do your research before owning one. Speak to breeders, take some lessons from trainers experienced with Iberian horses, even go to Spain or Portugal and learn how to ride these horses. These are Ferraris, not Minis. I feel so sorry for the people who have their dreams shattered, and the poor horses (sorry, but I have had a collection of PRE horses which have all needed rescuing from bad situations over the years). Nine of them so far (and there are only 27 Spanish horses in Ireland!)

 

[DuckToller]

How brave are you? Brave enough to post the video on here for us all to critique (and not laugh, we promise!).

Just wondering if we could spot the trigger - was it you out of balance, was it him panicking because he had been asked to do something and he wasn't sure what (different aids perhaps, or a stronger aid which he wasn't used to, leg in a different place etc).

It takes a horse a long time to settle in a new yard, and to be relaxed in a new school, so I would expect problems with any horse, and it sounds like the break was just an unfortunate result of what could have been a gentle fall, rather than because he had gone ballistic.

So hard to say without seeing you and him together, but 5 is such a baby, bless him. Is there a good instructor that would come and ride him for you for a few weeks? How long do you have to send him back?