elliefiz
Well-Known Member
Tonight I went to try a horse for sale. He was a 7 yr old WB with great bloodlines and a lovely look about him. Lady who owns him is very honest and said she loves him but she is over horsed as he is 16.2 and she is quite tiny.
Fell in love on first sight ( as I usually tend to do!), he was really sweet in the stable and perfect to do with lovely manners on the ground.
Owner rode first- she rides him with little to no contact as she says he starts to throw his head about when she picks up the contact and she finds his ears in her face a little bit disconcerting. She walked and trotted him then asked if I wanted to get up. The minute I mounted and gathered my reins he ran backwards and I thought he was going to rear. She led him forward and I walked him round. He did not like the contact at all- I was being soft but persistent with my hands asking for some flexing but he wasn't having any of it and decided to throw a few bucks. Nothing major, they weren't vicious bucks but he really didn't like any sort of contact. I walked him round for about 10 minutes- he was quiet and relaxed with reins slack and being guided by my seat but every time I took up contact he got very agitated and started to buck. I tried to keep him distracted with circles and changing directon but he tensed right up every time I picked the reins up off his neck. I tried to trot him a few times and it was a disaster- more bucking and trying to canter off and I ended up losing all style and elegance and hauling him in the mouth to stop him. I felt embarrassed I'd had to do that- I've been working hard on my seat and hands and yet his behaviour led to my taking the hamster pose with the hands coming up in front of my chest which I hate! Ive always had horses that I could ride through their bad behaviour by riding them really forward but I couldn't do this with him at all- pushing Him on with my seat into the rein contact made him even worse.
The lovely lady who owned him was really apologetic she said that it defo wasn't normal behaviour for him- if he did that on her she would never sit on him! I do believe her as she was quite upset about it. She thinks he needs an owner with a very independent seat- I rode him for 30 mins and seeing as I couldn't even get a trot out of him I'm really questioning my riding skills this evening. He was well looked after- owner said his back and teeth are done regularly so I don't think he was in pain. I'm wondering if my riding is really that bad that I set him off?
So my question is- any ideas what I could have done different? He was in a loose ring snaffle with a drop nose- I'm not sure if a different combo might suit him better? Is this something training could overcome? I'm not considering buying him- I'm after an easy horse I can hack with my beginner OH on, not something I can't ride! But I am curious as to how other people would handle a horse like this- or are there horses out here that just will not accept any contact and there's nothing that can be done?!
Sorry for this being so long- info overload I know! Any suggestions or comments gratefully received! I would share my spicey edamame beans but my mini Pom seems to have eaten them-oops!
Fell in love on first sight ( as I usually tend to do!), he was really sweet in the stable and perfect to do with lovely manners on the ground.
Owner rode first- she rides him with little to no contact as she says he starts to throw his head about when she picks up the contact and she finds his ears in her face a little bit disconcerting. She walked and trotted him then asked if I wanted to get up. The minute I mounted and gathered my reins he ran backwards and I thought he was going to rear. She led him forward and I walked him round. He did not like the contact at all- I was being soft but persistent with my hands asking for some flexing but he wasn't having any of it and decided to throw a few bucks. Nothing major, they weren't vicious bucks but he really didn't like any sort of contact. I walked him round for about 10 minutes- he was quiet and relaxed with reins slack and being guided by my seat but every time I took up contact he got very agitated and started to buck. I tried to keep him distracted with circles and changing directon but he tensed right up every time I picked the reins up off his neck. I tried to trot him a few times and it was a disaster- more bucking and trying to canter off and I ended up losing all style and elegance and hauling him in the mouth to stop him. I felt embarrassed I'd had to do that- I've been working hard on my seat and hands and yet his behaviour led to my taking the hamster pose with the hands coming up in front of my chest which I hate! Ive always had horses that I could ride through their bad behaviour by riding them really forward but I couldn't do this with him at all- pushing Him on with my seat into the rein contact made him even worse.
The lovely lady who owned him was really apologetic she said that it defo wasn't normal behaviour for him- if he did that on her she would never sit on him! I do believe her as she was quite upset about it. She thinks he needs an owner with a very independent seat- I rode him for 30 mins and seeing as I couldn't even get a trot out of him I'm really questioning my riding skills this evening. He was well looked after- owner said his back and teeth are done regularly so I don't think he was in pain. I'm wondering if my riding is really that bad that I set him off?
So my question is- any ideas what I could have done different? He was in a loose ring snaffle with a drop nose- I'm not sure if a different combo might suit him better? Is this something training could overcome? I'm not considering buying him- I'm after an easy horse I can hack with my beginner OH on, not something I can't ride! But I am curious as to how other people would handle a horse like this- or are there horses out here that just will not accept any contact and there's nothing that can be done?!
Sorry for this being so long- info overload I know! Any suggestions or comments gratefully received! I would share my spicey edamame beans but my mini Pom seems to have eaten them-oops!