Ever had a horse you just didn't 'click' with for no apparent reason?

Nancykitt

Nancykitt

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I haven't owned many horses over the years. Snoopy (26) and AJ (16) were bought as 4 year olds and we still have both of them. Ozzy joined them in late June. I adore all three of them.
I also had a wonderful Connie - my 'heart horse' - for 13 years, but lost him to lami when he was 21. I loved that pony so much. I think about him every day.

We once bought a pony from a neighbour - mainly for my daughter to ride, but I rode him too. He was stunning to look at and had so many positives (only negative was that he wasn't great in traffic). Everyone admired him and said how gorgeous he was. We had plans for showing, dressage, hunting...
However, there was just something missing and none of us really 'clicked' with that pony. I still don't know what it was. Part of it could have been that the neighbour who sold him to us was very much on the scene at the time.
Other than that, I can't put my finger on it. Needless to say, it didn't work out as I wanted it to and he did end up going to a very good home.
I don't think of him in a negative way at all but it's as if there was something missing.

I actually feel bad writing this, but wondered if anyone else had been through a similar thing?
 
I have done the opposite, I have clicked with a pony that really isn't my usual sort. I usually love the gung-ho type that are up for anything, and instead I have ended up with a really anxious sort that is constantly worried. The first time I met him, I put my hand on his neck under his mane, and he turned round and looked at me, and that was it! Three years on and I am absolutely not doing what I thought I would be doing, but for some reason I am prepared to spend all my time nurturing his sensitive soul.
I have certainly ridden some horses that have left me cold. Perfectly good horses - just not for me!
 
I've only owned one, but I clicked with her before I owned her! I worked with a lot of different horses when I was doing regular hours at the sanctuary and there were a couple of big time yard favourites that I just... didn't get it? They were perfectly nice horses but I just never felt the spark everyone else seemed to!

A friend admitted that when I first got my pony she fully did not see what I saw in her. Thought she was just a bit dull with no personality 😂 but even when she was skinny and filthy and sad I saw a sparkle and loved her as soon as I met her. Funny enough when my friend got her pony I thought the exact same thing, didn't get it at all, I saw nothing but she thought and still thinks the sun shines out of him!
 
Tarragon said:
I have done the opposite, I have clicked with a pony that really isn't my usual sort. I usually love the gung-ho type that are up for anything, and instead I have ended up with a really anxious sort that is constantly worried. The first time I met him, I put my hand on his neck under his mane, and he turned round and looked at me, and that was it! Three years on and I am absolutely not doing what I thought I would be doing, but for some reason I am prepared to spend all my time nurturing his sensitive soul.
I have certainly ridden some horses that have left me cold. Perfectly good horses - just not for me!
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I’ve done that too!
I bought a little fat coloured cobby job as a project to play with and sell on. Totally not my normal type. But by god was he a cool little dude, I loved having him around. Had he been a hand bigger he might have ended up staying!
 
I havent owned one that I didnt click with , but went to try one when looking for my last one . On paper he was exactly what I wanted , and went well enough when I rode him , but he just didnt give me butterfiles , so I didint buy . I then went to see another and the minute I saw him , knew he was the one I wanted . He was only recently backed but I bought him anyway . He has been with me 25 yrs this year and stil gives me butterflies when I see him each day .
 
A farrier I once knew was telling us about a horse his wife was selling. She wasn't a dealer as such but would sometimes take on/train/sell showjumpers.

The horse in question was absolutely stunning, incredibly athletic and had been performing very well in competition. A lady said she'd like to view him as she'd starting doing some affiliated comps and felt ready to go up a gear. They had a discussion and agreed that the horse sounded perfect for her.
She drove for 5 hours to get to the yard. Apparently she was kitted out in high-end gear, all ready to ride - but after looking at the horse for around 15 minutes, she said 'I'm just not getting the feels.' She then got in her car and went home.
In a way I sort of admire her for being honest - but I can understand why the seller wasn't too pleased!
 
Absolutely! Although I've never owned my own, where I currently ride I ride an average of 18 different horses a year. There are definitely those I've not really clicked with at all (perfectly good horses, but not for me), some that I'm fairly ambivalent about, some that I really like but I don't necessarily get the best out of, some that have grown on me over time, and then some that I've absolutely clicked with and feel at home on immediately. The latter definitely aren't always the ones I'd expect either.
 
There was a family on the livery yard who absolutely hated our young Snoopy. They said he was pig ugly, clumsy and nasty. But we loved him. (He wasn't actually nasty, just green and uneducated!)

I remember feeling personally offended that these people disliked our horse so much. Someone else on the yard quoted a line from a film (Hidalgo?):
"You can say what you like about me. But I won't have you talk about my horse like that."

It's funny how we do click with some 'unlikely' candidates!
 
I have hacked many RS horses over the years and there was one perfectly harmless black and white gelding whom I didnt get on with.
He was stockier than the horses I normally rode so maybe he didnt fit me as well and he was not like the ponies.
And he had a mind of his own. I could not steer him properly and he veered off the track. Mostly to the right and I assumed in search of food, though he never put his head down firmly like a determined grazer. Nor pulled the reins from my hands.
I rode him with an escort but he didnt relate to the other horse, nor to me.
And I guess it was my fault as I rode him only when my fav. was off work. Someone later told me that his feet had been sore and that was why he prefered to leave the track and have grass or bracken underfoot.
 
In contrast I think not every person is for every horse! My gelding who is usually very person oriented - best friend if you’ve got food. Will give anyone cuddles. Yet he just doesn’t really much bother with my sister, he all but rolls his eyes when he sees her “ oh her AGAIN” and it’s not for lack of trying with food etc and he’s never nasty or objectionable for her just disinterested in her.
Yet she has an excellent bond with the horses she volunteers with so it’s not her.
 
I grew up at a riding school owned by a formidable BHSI who was absolutely adamant you gave a horse 6 weeks after purchase and if you didn’t click you sold it. Which I thought was harsh and but actually when I purchased a mare I ended up absolutely loathing but giving her 6 months before admitting defeat. I wished I’d taken her advice and sold her long before.
 
Having only ever owned the one and having ridden lots of different sorts, some for years, some once or twice, there are plenty I haven't enjoyed riding and plenty I haven't really liked on the ground, and vice versa, but there was one horse that I just fitted physically so well, it was the centaur feeling. I have short funny legs and he was a light-framed Luso with a narrow ribcage, not too big, about 15.1, and it was just perfect. The saddle helped rather than hindered, my leg draped, I could apply aids like a whisper, oh it was glorious. I only got to ride him twice but I still remember it vividly.
 
Only one, enjoyed my time riding her and we definitely taught each other a lot, but when the time came that I had to sell one, the choice was obvious and neither of us were particularly upset about it. I still keep tabs on her mind, it's nice to see what she gets up to.
 
I had a mare on loan and just never really liked her much. I think I learned quite a bit riding her, she was a big TB, I just didn’t click.

The big warmblood I then loaned was fab, I really loved him. Sadly he was pts after a field accident. I tried a few after him, but none appealed.

Beau, obviously, was my heart horse/big dog. I trusted him utterly. He was very protective of me, very bonded to me, couldn’t have cared less about anyone else which could be an issue for catching in. Big shoes to fill if I ever consider another, but it took me a few weeks, maybe because I wasn’t over the warmblood and Beau was so different, 3 hands smaller (he grew, thank god!), a cob, the absolute opposite.
 
Burnttoast said:
Having only ever owned the one and having ridden lots of different sorts, some for years, some once or twice, there are plenty I haven't enjoyed riding and plenty I haven't really liked on the ground, and vice versa, but there was one horse that I just fitted physically so well, it was the centaur feeling. I have short funny legs and he was a light-framed Luso with a narrow ribcage, not too big, about 15.1, and it was just perfect. The saddle helped rather than hindered, my leg draped, I could apply aids like a whisper, oh it was glorious. I only got to ride him twice but I still remember it vividly.
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Realised I did the opposite of the brief rather, never mind!
 
I’ve had a couple of youngsters that I backed and brought on and just didn’t gel with them once ridden so sold them on.

My current mare I loved from the day I first sat on her.

My gelding it took me perhaps 12 months to really truly enjoy riding him. I always loved his personality on the ground but he’s tricky and physically exhausting to ride (sharp and strong) and it felt like a chore. I’m glad I stuck with him as I wouldn’t swap him for the world now, one day it just clicked and now getting on him feels like “home”.
 
I once tried a horse who didn’t gel with me. He went nicely for the dealer on the flat and over jumps. I got on and he wouldn’t move. I don’t think I’m the best rider ever but I’ve never failed to get a horse into walk before. He did nothing nasty - he just wouldn’t move. I only used my legs and voice, I wasn’t going to beat him. After a couple of minutes I had to laugh, give him a pat and say, he thinks I’m not for him.
 
Several who were absolutely lovely and enjoyable creatures. And I enjoyed riding them it just wasn’t what made me feel like I could breathe. I appreciated those horses and even thoroughly enjoyed handling them and riding them but they weren’t horses that I clicked with. On the flip side my resale project that I bought cause he was cheap and looked like he could be something that would pay for a nice upgrade horse for me turned into 14 years later. My mom reminded me I actually really disliked him the first couple months and for good reason. This creature had a dull personality and still somehow all of the audacity. Would bulldoze through you, launched me into the dirt and overall had been allowed to get away with murder. No physical issues could be found, just did not care about people unless they had food. After a couple months though he seemed to decide i was actually pretty fun and riding meant we got to do stuff and work that pony brain of his and every ride he was becoming more and more enjoyable both in the saddle and out. He was actually choosing to come over to me and hang out even if I had nothing and he turned into my heart horse. He still gets excited to see me put my helmet on and genuinely enjoys going riding
 
My husbands very accomplished horse tolerates me. She knows her job so delivers the winning tests for me at competitions but makes it clear to both myself and those around me that she considers me an idiot.

Closest I’ve ever seen a horse roll its eyes when approached in the field by me.

We don’t click but she is a true professional and delivers the goods despite this.
 
Abacus said:
I once tried a horse who didn’t gel with me. He went nicely for the dealer on the flat and over jumps. I got on and he wouldn’t move. I don’t think I’m the best rider ever but I’ve never failed to get a horse into walk before. He did nothing nasty - he just wouldn’t move. I only used my legs and voice, I wasn’t going to beat him. After a couple of minutes I had to laugh, give him a pat and say, he thinks I’m not for him.
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My friends big mare did this to me. I got on and she went into lead rein mode like she does for her mums human kids 😂 it was so funny. If she was posting in the thread about humans you just can't get on with I would be top of her list
 
My first pony was a lovely mare, anyone's ride. Or so I thought! The yard owner called me at work once to ask if a friend's daughter could borrow Dolly for a hack and because she was a poppet, I said yes. Only to get told when I got to the yard after work that she'd parked herself in a hedge and refused to move and had to be led home 🫣 Turns out she didn't click with that particular rider.
 
There's been a few horses I didn't click with over the years. A friends very beautiful and very talented TB, that I was over the moon to be offered a ride on once. And then just ... nothing... I didn't feel a thing riding her and didn't ask for a repeat. A horse I was given the ride of one summer. She taught me that I couldn't just settle for just any horse, I needed some kind of feeling between us. She was kind, but just felt so bland to me. I ended up backing her 5yo filly instead.
One riding school horse and I mutually detested each other. I didn't like riding her and she would grind her teeth upon seeing me. Despite this, we were always placed show jumping but I had to ask to stop riding her, we were making each other miserable. I think the main problem was that I rode her soon after selling my Hairy Champion, and I couldn't forgive her for not being him.
 
Had a Cleveland Bay x Arab on loan for a year, we always got on very very well. However, she and my sister really did not get along, and my sister refused to ride her after the first time. And a friend of my sister's (very accomplished rider) borrowed her for a hack, and got ditched within 20 minutes
Myself, I have enjoyed majority of the horses I have ridden, but just not clicking with are predominately geldings and the ponies my sister had over the years - we had very different tastes in horses!
 
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