Fall from new neddie!

[Echo24]

I've recently found a horse to share, an ex racer. He seemed lovely, extremely chilled out and well mannered to handle. Owner says he's been off work for two months due to box rest and she's been hacking him out only in walk and trot. When I tried him out, just did mostly walking to get him bending with the odd bit of trotting. I thought he seemed nice and willing and agreed to share him three days a week and help school him.

I noticed that he can be a bit grumpy with the saddle being on and sometimes hides at the back of the stable when the saddle comes out, which owner says is typical of him. Rode him and noticed he dips his back during trot. Didn't think too much of this as he has no top line and put it down to being unfit. However, I rode him on Friday night and this time was quite spooky in the school and when I asked for trot he tanked off with me, trying to get me off and managed to unseat me through the side door.

Mentioned this to the owner who said he was given the previous day off which could be why he was more on his toes. She had the saddler out the week before but I'm wondering if it's worth asking her to get his back checked as well? I'm getting the owner out to show me how she lunges him as I think he needs more schooling and building up his muscle. YO confessed that the horse is very green and done very little schooling, so that could explain his behaviour.

However, the last two horses I rode tried to buck me off, so I have to say my confidence is pretty frayed at the moment! I'm wondering if I'm way over my head with this horse and should consider looking for something more experienced and quieter? He is lovely to handle but this time last year with my last loan pony I was absolutely brimming with confidence, cantering out on hacks and I'm not even confident to trot this horse in the school! I'm thinking maybe I should take things slowly and just stick with walk until I build my confidence and build the horse's fitness back up.

 

[orionstar]

TBH sounds like there are underlying issues, and I would walk away. It is not typical for a horse to be scared of the saddle nor to dip his back in trot!

 

[madmav]

It is very hard to find the right horse to share, you have to get the right relationship going with horse, owner and yard. And even then, as the sharer you have no rights to insist on a back check or whatever situation might be.
From what you've said, I would say you would be better off looking for something steadier. Your nerve has been shaken. It needs building up with a less challenging situation. Very good luck. I know just how it feels.

 

[Echo24]

Thanks for your replies.

Madmav, you're right, as a sharer I don't think I have the right to suggest to the owner what she should do with her horse. Originally I've been looking to get my own horse for nearly a year but decided to go back to sharing to build my confidence until I find something suitable, but finding the right share is so hard! I think I was spoilt with my last loan, who was just right for me and only 5 mins down the road.

Thanks for your thoughts Orionstar. As I don't know the horse I don't know what's normal for him to do and perhaps my riding is a bit rusty as I haven't ridden for a month! Will have a chat with the owner on Monday.

 

[hayinamanger]

Hmmmmmm, I'd say there was more to this than meets the eye. Leave him to his owner and look for something more suitable before you get hurt and lose your confidence.

 

[Echo24]

Suspiciously the owner did not ride the horse before I tried him, which I naively put down to the fact she said she doesn't like schooling. She seems very genuine and honest though so didn't think anything of it. He is also 16.2, quite a big horse and I'm only 5ft and although I've ridden larger horses, I do feel more confident on something around 14hh.

It's only early days which is why I'm giving the horse the benefit of the doubt, as I'm sure he's also trying it on with a new rider.

 

[Tammytoo]

I would say this is a pain issue and he needs checking out. However, as he is not your horse it is not that straight forward. Most horses do these things because they are trying to get a message across either fear or pain or both. Until this can be sorted out I would not ride him again, at best your confidence will go completely and at worst you will be seriously injured.

Sadly, I think you should walk away and find something that is more in your comfort zone.

 

[Echo24]

Thanks Tammytoo. I'm conscious I might be doing something wrong, but I did notice when he tanked off with me and I sat deep to avoid losing my balance and fall off he seemed to get more wound up. I will have a chat with the owner on Monday and see how she feels. I certainly feel overhorsed!

 

[Cortez]

You say the last two horses you have ridden have tried to buck you off? Unless you are extremely unlucky in your choice of horses, I'd say that the problem may rather be with your seat and general approach. Can you get a good instructor to evaluate your riding and perhaps advise you in your choice of horses to ride.

 

[Echo24]

That does sound dreadful doesn't it! The last two horses that tried to buck me off were in a lesson. First horse would buck whenever I changed the rein and instructor suspected the saddle was pinching which was why he was bucking as it was very out of character for him. She had it rechecked and he had been fine since. Second horse threw a big tantrum because her stable mate was leaving the school without her and instructor explained that she had been ridden by quite a novicey rider who allowed her to get away with things, which explained why she behaved the way she did! When the instructor took said mare on, she used to buck to get her own way and the previous owner was too afraid to ride her. She had been going really well for me but I went on holiday and hadn't ridden her for a while. So unfortunately I've been very unlucky with the horses I'd been riding!

 

[hnmisty]

I would be tempted to smile and walk away, and go look for a nice steady Eddie who will help you get your confidence back. It only takes a second to lose confidence but a bloody long time to get it back, and you don't want to lose any more than you have! Trust me, I know!

And do you really want a horse who will throw you on the floor after ONE day of not being ridden? It's pretty easy to not ride a horse for a day...do you want to get on board the next day knowing that the odds are you'll end up on the ground sooner than planned? I've been on the hunt (and subject to vetting have found The One today ) and one of the questions I ask is "what are they like if they don't get ridden for a week or so?".

 

[Echo24]

You're right, when I was looking at buying a horse, it was important for me that a horse could be left for a couple of days and still be fine to get on. But I don't think I can afford to be quite so picky with horse shares.

I'm so pleased for you hnmisty! Fingers crossed all goes well with the vetting!

 

[Sallyfinn]

I agree that it sounds as though there is something going on here.
I too would guess back.
We have all taken on horses with issues or over horsed ourselves at some stage along the way, but do you need to keep doing it? If you had bought this horse you would be having everything checked and checked again and looking for help to sort out his issues. If you had shared him for a long time and there was suddenly a new issue you would do the same. This is not the case. This might be the start of a long and difficult road. I'm sorry to say it but it sounds as if there will probably be more falls to come. My advice would be to walk away, your confidence and future enjoyment of riding are easy to lose and sometimes impossible to get back.

 

[wyrdsister]

Walk away. I took on a share horse a few years ago and I'm still amazed I didn't drive her owner nuts by (gently) pointing out a whole bunch of things that needed sorting (teeth, saddle, back, feet...). It was worth it, since she's an absolute gem who'll turn a hoof to anything, and I now have her on full loan, but I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't a) known the horse for quite a while first and knew she *could* be sorted out and b) knew her owner well enough to know she wouldn't be offended or strangle me in frustration!

 

[Mrs Claus]

just walk away and give said ex racer back to owner do you like cobs?

 

[Echo24]

Thanks for you comments Sallyfinn and wyrdsister.

I think as I had planned on getting my own, I can't help but think what I would do if it was my own horse! I also don't want to annoy the owner by being pestering or god forbid make her feel like I'm telling her how to look after her own horse!

I got back on him yesterday after the owner lunged him and he was being very naughty when being lunged. Whenever she asked for trot he would rush forward, buck and have all four feet off the air, jumping and generally being silly! When I saw that, I have a feeling that is exactly what he did when I rode him. However, when I got on him he decided to spook and I felt my confidence has definitely been knocked. I didn't ask for a trot in case he would charge off with me and felt really down after riding him, which is a shame as it took me a year to build up the confidence to hack out by myself and canter on a hack.

I'm thinking of going back to riding lessons at a riding school but don't want instructors belittling me and pay an extortionate price just to walk around a school. I've seen a really good instructor that specialises in nervous riders but she only teaches with people who have their own horse.

I think I'll have to see if anymore suitable shares come up in the summer.

 

[Echo24]

Ah didn't see your message Mrs Claus! I do like cobs, the owner actually approached me when I placed an ad online looking for a share. She didn't mention he was an ex racer until I was onboard and had I known he was an ex racer probably would have said no as I don't think I have enough experience to handle him! When I've been looking to buy, I was looking for a native type.

I got an instructor to give me a lesson on him yesterday, who the owner recommended as she knows the horse really well. Turns out the instructor doesn't know anything about him except he had been raced! However, the lesson was going well, he was working in a beautiful outline and I was so shocked! That was until he decided to suddenly spook at the same hedge and hurtle off around the school. He would slow down to a trot and decide to run off again and I was clinging on for dear life hoping I didn't fall off again! Instructor managed to grab hold of him as he cantered past and stop him, but it as another heart in my mouth moment! Thankfully the instructor said my seat and aids were really good and quiet, as I was concerned I was triggering the running off. She felt he was very fresh and potentially with more work he will be better. I'm still concerned that if he reacted like that again and I didn't have anyone with me I would most certainly be out the side door.