Has anyone had a new horse and NO issues?

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snowstormII

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It has just occurred to me that every horse I have owned caused me heartache and worry for the first 6-24 months, what with behavioural issues, saddle checks, back checks, worries about feeding etc. So has anyone ever had a new horse and absolutely gelled from the very first second of it getting to your yard, no settling in issues whatsoever? Maybe I am searching for something that is never going to happen...and a big part of having a new horse is the horse being unsettled at being ripped away from familiar to unfamiliar, and we ride differently from the person before, the water tastes horrid, don't like the new bucket my feed is coming in etc etc. Thoughts?
 
You could be so right! My old mare had the odd issue, but I had her for 25 years, cost me a fortune one way or another...but wouldn't have missed a moment, and still miss her badly after 7 years.:rolleyes:
 
Thinking back I have to say that the last 7 horses who have come to me have all settled straight away from 16.1hh TB to Welsh A s. maybe because they live out and are at home so a lot quieter. And maybe because the horses have been chosen because they are calm, family type horses rather than highly bred competition horses. Must be very unsettling for them all though.
 
I have bought 4in the last year and really they are all exactly what I expected. That's not to say they are perfect, but they are not problematic. Ffion particularly came off the lorry from Wales as if she had always lived here.
 
It depends on your expectations I think! I'd say my youngster has been foot perfect since she arrived, but thinking about it there are probably loads of things which would have stressed someone else out! But because I think everything she's done is entirely normal for a young horse in a new place, none of it has made me stress, more just think, ok, there's that one!
 
Nope Mysti bounced off the lorry, screamed at every horse in sight. Did cartwheels around the stable so I turned her out to let out some steam and she decided it would be clever to gallop from the bottom of the field. Pop the pretty high fence perfectly and prance onto the yard to introduce herself to all the other liveries. She got spasmodic colic a few weeks later, refused to drink or eat anything for a while and was generally a little nightmare!! Moved her to a new yard a couple of months back and she was perfectly fine ...? More sensible than the usually sensible mare!
 
I must admit that my foal has been better than I expected. He is a blank sheet and calm so far, so quite a refreshing change. Maybe this is the way to go for me.
 
My lovely boy who is now 13 this year has never been a problem since day one when I bought him as a three year old ride and drive (I use the term ride loosely).

Basically I slung a saddle on his back and rode him. Never a problem, yes from day one his enthusiasm for being out and about and getting from A to B as quickly as possible has never waned in his ten years with me, but its never bothered me, he is happy I am happy all is good.

Not to say I've had issues with other horses in my past, one was particularly bad worst purchase I ever made the relationship did not last long and was glad to see the back of it. My other three I have owned were great too I think I could consider myself rather lucky
 
LC was fine, other than some simply being young issues (was three and a half and less brought on than we'd believed).

Dizz was a twonk, but sort of expected that (stressy DWB). Saddle didn't fit. She went lame. Yada yada yada...

Tigs was a 18hh nightmare (she was 15hh really). But came good before losing her to a pre-existing problem (hind suspensories).

GM we had loaned, so knew just how speshul she was :cool:

LL was an absolute git, but a very loving one at times and he mellowed over the years, especially as he was retired for the last three years of the five that we had him :rolleyes:
 
They've all been absolutely fine whether small pony or ex-racehorse; but as previous poster said - it depends on your expectations.

If saddle fitting, back checks and feeding adjustments stress you then any new horse will be a stressful experience for you.
 
First ever pony was never a problem but maybe because I was a teenager and looked on his naughty behaviour as fun :)

Second one went lame with spavin after 6 months but came right with treatment and never looked back.

3rd one went lame after 6 weeks, spent £10k (half covered by insurance) figuring out what was wrong over 8 months before she was pts :(

4th one I didn't gel with and sold.

5th one was a broodmare and once foal was weaned I re-backed. Long story short the reason she was a broodie was that she had suspensory damage only the seller never thought to tell me. Mare now retired.

6th one is a dude who I love but a few issues with feet. Totally sortable tho and can't wait to get going.

These horses were all over a period of about 16yrs cos reading back it looks like I've bought a lot!
 
I think only one /16 or so we've had in the last 9 years have had any issues :confused: We're on a private very settled yard and put them straight out with one if they're used to that or the whole heard if they're likely to cope. The one with issues lost weight but otherwise was fine :)
 
I wouldn't really say any have had. I've had both projects & my own that have come with issues, either just typical youngster behavior or problems, but only what I expected when I got them.
 
Had it the other way around recently. Let my 5yo go on LWVTB, I love that pony but felt she was wasted with me. It was a huge decision & although I didnt expect problem thats why I wanted the LWVTB bit. She has settled in great in the 2 months they have had her, been to 2 dressage comps, the girl has had some lessons & basically it is all working fine. She went with her tack as I didnt want her to have any problems in that department. I love seeing her new person's FB statuses as it has reassured me no end how settled she is :)
Have had some new ones who take a wee while to settle but I expect that as I tend to take on foals and bring them on. Had 1 ex racer who took a while to settle and 1 3yo who never did.
When you think of it it is a huge upheaval taking them away from their pals and routine, just like people some cope better than others with change.
 
As others have said its all about expectations. I expect to have to sort (and worry) about saddle fitting, feeding ec with a new horse. Part and parcel of getting to know them.

I've had a few without what I would consider problems, but thinking of the last 3, saddle fitting was an absolute ball ache but that was just part of it and given the shape of horse, to be expected!
 
I never had a problem with my boy for the first 3 years, then he turned into "kevin" for a couple and has now settled back down,have had no problems with him at all.
Yards have been my only issue, haven't really settled as always had problems (first yard I was at was heaven but 2 years down the line and things started going missing and it was costing me a firtune to replace) so I had to go. And ever since then its just been move after move after that :(
 
i always buy project horses so i cant expect miracles.. but what i like about that , is i no its not going to be easy so anything really is a bonus!

If i bought a 10k schoolmaster and he wasnt what i expected, i wouldnt be best pleased, but horses will be horses lol

My horse , he has issues from his past (got broken in wrong) and i know that, and i know his rountine. I also understand that hes not being naughty , its just the way he is.

Like others have said, its expectations.. but dont expect too much from your horse straight away, let him settle in as it will be completly different for him... 6months-1 year later you;ll have a much better/calmer horse.

xx
 
I think its probably the case that people post about problems because that's what they need help with? So we hear far more about the people and horses who struggle a bit to settle and adjust whilst the easy ones arrive un noticed?
I wouldn't say ive ever had a real problem with a new horse but ive had big problems develop later on. Horses ive bought have been pretty much what ive expected
 
Never had problems. I always let the horse settle in quietly, don't allow lots of visitors. Feed regime will stay exactly the same to begin with. Plenty of turn out when the yard is quiet and then gradually ramp up work and do all the checks. I have never ever tried to do it all once and every new horse I have ever had, from mature or complete baby has been completely fine. It's the ones who get fussed over and everything massively changed who don't see to be able to cope! And people who make massive changes and then can't understand why the horse becomes ill mannered. Even the work routine stays exactly the same until I change it to what I want.
 
Bankara pure bred Arab has been an absolute gem from the moment i bought her.
Jasmine welsh section D is lovely but can be strong in hand,sometimes tanks off,and she is not suitable for nervous or novice riders.She can be stressy in the paddock with a tendency to field walk if she feels worried.Lovely in every other respect,and my daughter used to win lots of showing and best rider classes on her.She is fab in the arena,so easy and willing.
Stan WB is a lovely big boy but he has a habit of tanking off to the paddock on occasions.Needs a lot of riding but a fantastic show jumper.Now has coffin joint problems so just tends to hack nowadays.
Finlay,beautiful Irish sport horse who we bought last august and who just wants to please.No quirks or issues.Hacks alone and in company and showing great promise SJ,dressage and x country.Very uncomplicated and seems exceptionally bombproof.
 
Yes, bought two straight from their breeder (Arab & PBA) both completely unspoilt :) I then mostly had horses I bred for about 15 years so they were OK. I then bought a pity buy and sheesh, you wonder how horses get in such a mess :( he is OK now though :)
 
I'm the opposite, I took mine on when he was described by everyone at the yard he was at as 'dangerous', he weaved constantly, reared as soon as he set foot in the school, couldn't hack on his own, couldn't hack at the back even in a group of 2! etc etc.

I was pleasently supprised how quickly he turned around when I ignored some of his silly nonscence, cut all his hard feed and turned him out with some friends 24/7.
He's now much better than I ever could have imagined/ hoped for - and I'm no expert by any means.
 
Yes, my beloved Ed.

However all problems are relative to the person experiencing them, sometimes it can seem huge to one person, while another person coasts through without noticing!
 
One jumped off the lorry and was a nighmare ever since she arrived! My other one who was only 3 was a joy settled in within a day and rode her the next day and she had only been backed for 2 weeks.
 
Boolavogue - that is so true about one man's problem is another man's blessing!

I was just feeling glum about an annoying failure yesterday to get my mare out hacking. She got so wound up ('heard a mini digger but can't see it therefore I must get the hell away from it at any cost, Oh God are YOU still hanging on to my reins, GET OFF ME!). I couldn't even get on or lead very safely so had to turn back and admit defeat. I've had her 2 1/2 years. Just wanted horses to be fun as they cost so much in time and money (and heartache!), but thankfully, today's effort was much better. I actually rode and she was sane! Piggin' horses!
 
I had one that walked in as if he'd lived there all his life. Even accepted by the very dominant herd leader too. Hasn't put a hoof wrong to date. I had the full gamut of checks too, just to be on the safe side, teeth, tack and back and he scored 100% there too. :)
 
I've never really had any problems with new horses coming and settling in. I've not had any come and then reveal previous damage. I'm most happy with any I've purchased even when they've arrived and haven't been quite as the seller described (height, weight etc) but weight is an easy-fix. I've had a couple of competition horses taken a few days to settle into an outside 24/7 'routine' but they all do in the end and I just go with it. I take everyone at their own pace and I don't rush them. If they need a few weeks to settle before doing anything with them then that's fine by me. If they're ready to get started the day they arrive, that's fine by me too. I buy a fair amount of horses unseen and then have them shipped upwards of a thousand miles to me and I've never been disappointed in any :)
 
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