Grumpy horse / 1st time owner

L

lhamm

Active Member
Joined
13 August 2010
Messages
47
Visit site
A friend is looking for her 1st horse and has just tried a lovely horse. He is super easy to ride and jump, good to hack alone / company. Lovely looking. Well schooled. Has done all activities, SJ, XC, Dressage. He really is a smasher, but he is a grump in the stable, he doesnt like you looking over the door at him, especially when he is eating. But out of the stable, he is absolutely fine. He actually isnt grumpy out of the stable, but he may nip/bite you if you keep bothering him in the stable.

Would you buy him if he ticked all the other boxes ? :o
 
Wouldn't bother me at all, some horses just like to have a leave me alone space. Assuming he's good out of it & routine doesn't dictate all grooming, tacking up etc must be done in a stable, then providing its nothing dangerous I don't see a problem.
 
Yes as long as your friend is confident around it - bearing in mind it is likely to get a bit worse for a while when it settles into a new home.. My horse is grumpy and doesn't like attention (although actual biting is a different issue, and not acceptable!). If you are able to do all normal jobs with the horse tied up and cope fine, then go for it. I find with my grump, if there is someone around her who flinches away and is scared, her behaviour gets worse, whereas ignoring her and making her move around for you etc means she backs down and grumpily accepts what you want her to do..
 
If I was a first time owner then no, I wouldn't.

Behaviour like nipping/biting and 'grumpiness' in the stable can quickly escalate if not dealt with properly by a novice. Horses can pick up on nervousness or inexperience and nipping/biting could turn into proper aggressive behaviour.

It may never not....but it could. It would depend on how experienced she is with horses on the ground.
 
Yes I would buy him, if he ticks all of the other boxes. She might just need a bit of support from her YO (where is she going to keep the horse?) re. how to deal with him in the stable so his behaviour doesn't escalate. My big horse can be VERY grumpy in the stable. Has been known to bite but only tried that once with me, never again. As long as you accept that it's just him, leave him alone while he's eating and don't let other people fuss with him while he has hay/feed, he's fine. In his case the easiest thing to do is just to laugh at him if he gets stroppy as this defuses the situation. I would think your friend will just have to work out (as I say, with support from a YO or instructor maybe if she doesn't feel 100% confident) how best to deal with it. I'd have thought just being sensible is enough... don't go in while he has feed and maybe tie him up while she puts up haynets, things like that. I just had to accept that my grumpy old man is just that. He is fab in every other way and it's only a minor irritation. He just likes his own space and can be the same in the field with the other horses if he wants to be left alone.
 
I'm like your friend, will (hopefully/eventually) be a first time horse owner looking for a been there done that all rounder. And I wouldn't buy him, do you know why? Because when I finally do get my horse I want to be able to stand at stare at him all day! And groom him for hours and generally make up for lost time being around horses. So for me it would be a no....I think its different if you get to be around horses all the time, perhaps the novelty wears off, or you don't have the time to just stand and stare. But that's what I'm jolly well going to do so would need a neddy that would put up with it! :o

Good luck with whatever you and your friend decide.

bodger
 
Bodger said:
I'm like your friend, will (hopefully/eventually) be a first time horse owner looking for a been there done that all rounder. And I wouldn't buy him, do you know why? Because when I finally do get my horse I want to be able to stand at stare at him all day! And groom him for hours and generally make up for lost time being around horses. So for me it would be a no....I think its different if you get to be around horses all the time, perhaps the novelty wears off, or you don't have the time to just stand and stare. But that's what I'm jolly well going to do so would need a neddy that would put up with it! :o

Good luck with whatever you and your friend decide.

bodger
Click to expand...

I totally agree. I love grooming my horse, cuddling him, and generally fussing over him. I would hate to have a horse that didn't enjoy this.

For me, having horses isn't just about the riding, it's about everything else that goes with it too.
 
Agree with Bodger and CobsGalore, some of the most magical time I spend with my lad is when we are just chilling together, wouldn't like a horse who made it feel like he didn't enjoy my company. Have also seen how things can escalate with grumpy horses and would be worried about a first timer having to cope with that. Good luck.
 
Absolutely - I would find that a ridculous reason not to buy a horse tbh...

I have one like that, doesn't enjoy being groomed or fussed over yet I have gained a fantastic bond with him, and the affection he does show me (and he does) is earned through his trust and confidence in me, not just because I feed him or 'cuddle' him. His stable is his space, not mine, and as grumpy as he can be his manners are still superb.

No horse is totally perfect and that would be bottom of my list of things to be put off by!
 
Scarlett said:
His stable is his space, not mine, and as grumpy as he can be his manners are still superb.
Click to expand...

But the horse that the OP mentions does not have superb manners - it bites!

To me, this is not acceptable behaviour, and is something that a first time owner may not deal with correctly - which could lead to aggressive behaviour.
 
We have an Arab that my daughter totally loves, hes a miserable git in the stable & he will take a chunk out of you given half a chance, though in the 18months weve had him hes only bitten once, but you really do need your wits about you handling him. Hes a lovely ride & could potentially tick all of someones boxes as well, however in novice hands i could imagine he would be pretty bad. So for me, if she isnt used to handling horses it would have to be a no.
This is my daughters back when he did have her the once, suffice to say we did have stern words with him afterwards.

2012-08-11-047.jpg
 
Just because he's a bit grumpy doesn't mean he won't stand to be groomed or fussed! My horse is grumpy when he is hungry - if you put a feed in, you put it in and walk away. He also gets stroppy when you tie up a haynet. He stamps his feet a bit, I laugh at him and ignore it (he knows better than to get in my space and be aggressive). If a novice was doing it, I'd suggest they take him out of the stable, tie up net then put him back in. Pretty simple.

I hunt him - he has to stand for hours to be clipped, groomed, plaited, mane pulled etc. He will happily stand for this, WITH a haynet. He just gets a bit stroppy when you first tie the net.

I really don't think it's a problem. the OP said the horse can get a bit grumpy when it has feed and is being bothered. Simply don't bother it. I wouldn't want someone fiddling around with my while I'm eating.
 
If it ticked all the boxes it would not put me off but there are a few things to consider, will the horse be kept somewhere that it will be left alone, a busy yard with people coming and going past its stable may make it worse even if they ignore him.
Is the buyer a sensible person who will stick to a routine doing everything outside so he can just be left in peace or will she be trying to make him change his ways, they often get worse with too much fussing.

I have a pony that is a grump when stabled, he is a gem once outside and very well mannered, he will only threaten in the stable and if left alone is fine, he has got much better by being ignored and I can now go in while he is eating to put a rug on if I need to.
 
I am a late-comer to horse riding/owning and bought my first horse 5 years ago aged 44 and quite nervous. My boy can be grumpy both in the stable and in the paddock especially when hungry. He has only nipped me once, got told off and sulked in his stable and has never done it again. He can very often be found glaring at you with his ears back but I just laugh at him! With firm handling and help and advice from others on the yard, I can do anything with him - groom, fuss, feed etc and although he will still look grumpy he is a dream to handle. I would say that if the OPs friend has a good support network I would go ahead and buy him.
 
I would buy, but get someone in to teach her about how to deal with ground manners, perhaps a natural horsemanship trainer.

I would also recommend that he is never fed treats over the stable door. I've been bitten by Bree in the past and so no treats rule is in place for her.

Paula
 
Depends what she wants the horse for. If she wants it to be pet that can be occasinally ridden, then no, he's prob not the right horse. He won't enjoy being pampered and prodded and there are plenty of horses who would love it.

But if she wants a good riding horse and is willing to accept that he's not going to be a HuggyBear (and is able and willing to keep on top of manners so it doesn't esculte) than he'd be absolutely fine.
 
Yes I would, my big lad is a grumpy toad with a feed, he swears loudly with the front and fires with intent at the back.The rest of the time hes great :)

If, however I was a nervous 1st time owner then no, because it could escalate into a dangerous situation.
 
CobsGalore said:
This is what he is like at the moment, but I would be concerned what his behaviour may be like if not handled properly.
Click to expand...

And if that concerns you then its a perfectly sensible reason not to buy it. It would be fine with proper handling, but would probably get worse if not handled well - thats what the buyer has to decide - is she confident to handle it properly.. There are many threads on here about nice horses turning difficult when not handled properly too..

Paulag said:
I would buy, but get someone in to teach her about how to deal with ground manners, perhaps a natural horsemanship trainer.


Paula
Click to expand...

Or you could just accept that some horses don't like people drooling all over them all the time and need their space.. and respect that. I have one grump that hates fuss, but works her butt off for me in every sense, and who I would trust to the end of the earth (thats the bond we have, we just have mutual respect, and don't fawn over each other!) I have another that is as soft as a kitten and will let you fuss him all day, yet if push came to shove, and there was a difficult situation/something scary, he would be the one to flatten me getting out of the way.. I trust the "less personable" one much more deep down! My mare will pull faces initially when someone looks over her door, then go back to eating. You find different ways of "special time" with them - this mare loves to listen to you, and will edge nearer and nearer if you stand there talking, until she is centimetres away from you. Yet if you were to go to touch her, she will go away again. You just have to find what each horse likes..

Same for people - some people love massages, I can't bear them, or facials, as I find them too close for comfort..
 
I had a horse who was a bit of a grump.

He can from someone who didnt handle him properly. However, once he settled down with me he was generally ok. He didn't like being poked and prodded, and didnt want to be fussed and cuddled. He was fantastic to bath/clip/groom. He didnt like small children standing outside his stable when they were taunting him and trying to get him to bite them.

When he was at a smaller yard, without people winding him up, he was a lot happier, although if someone was nervous around him, or wasnt used to horses, he would pick up on this and start pulling faces at them.

However it didnt put me off him, as he was a nice horse.
 
Well said honey. Mine isn't a grump by any means. Anyone can do anything with her, not only is she fine with it but she'll lower her head etc to make it easy. But, she isn't 'cuddly'. Doesn't put ears back, just moves out of the way of cuddles & pats. If tied up, just blanks people who pat her while passing or grooming. I get kisses & cuddles, but on her terms. It's just the way she is, she doesn't need an nh guru or her manners improving. She will let strangers stroke her head over doors etc but only while they are feeding her.
 
Paulag said:
I would buy, but get someone in to teach her about how to deal with ground manners, perhaps a natural horsemanship trainer.



Paula
Click to expand...

A horse being grumpy in the stable is not always showing bad manners, if good outside and just protective of "his" space when in a stable the last thing to do is to try and teach him better manners, if pushed this is when the grump can become sour and aggressive.
 
Sounds like my horse! We know each other so well now that i know when hes in a mood and i just ignore him. He comes for a fuss when he wants and he has become 100% better with me now. He can still be grumpy with other people though, i think its a trust issue to be honest i can now go in and sit with my horse whilst hes lying down quite happily. If shes got the time and patience i would go for it. My horse is definately a one person horse and the bond we have now is very strong.
 
Wouldnt put me off but it depends if it makes her nervous or not. I have one like it and if you piss arse around he will carry on and try to intimidate you. If you go in give him a smack on the chest he shuts his pie hole and goes back to stuffing his face.
 
It's really down to the temperament of your friend will she feel ok that she has not got a horse she can cuddle and 'love' and has she back up as a new owner if he's a bit difficult as they sort themselves out especially in the beginning.
The riding is the really important thing but there's more to owning a horse than the riding we have had lots of grumpy ones here but I have lots of horses ( well only four now) so there where always others who loved a fuss and a game.
Would I buy a grumpy horse for my OH if it was going to look after him out hunting yes without a second thought but do I think your friend will miss some of the fun of having her first horse yes I do.
Having said that two very grumpy horses I can think of became very sloppy after we had had them a while.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top