Help, new horse rearing, running off, can't stop!!

What others have said. I think it is a mixture of new yard and a saddle that probably doesn't fit. Have a read up of saddle fit whilst you are waiting for the saddler to come and don't ride her again until after it has been checked. There are some obvious signs that a saddle doesn't fit such as that it should sit horizontally on the back when viewed from the side. Imagine a rider sitting on it. Would the saddle tip them backwards or tilt them forwards? This will immediately tell you if the saddle is too narrow or wide, but other things such as bridging etc are harder to spot and need an expert.
 
sorry it sounds more to me that her needing time to settle and more like you have overhorsed yourself and she is now just testing you:( please dont take that as a criticism but you described when you tried her as struggling to sit to her canter and finding her difficult to stop - and that was in her own environment. Those things would have been red flags to me to either walk away or try her again maybe with an RI there who knows you to assess you both.
 
Are the previous owners far away? would they be prepared to come and watch you hack her out? Maybe even borrow her usual saddle to ride in? If theyd had her 3 years and know her well it would be obvious to them whether it was her usual behaviour or not. At 9, she should be well able to go to a different stables and behave herself straight away. I don't think 'settling in' is the issue with her. Maybe the saddle, but fairly unlikely unless its seriously digging in or something. I would definitely get in touch, in a friendly way, with her previous owners. Also, are you riding in her usual type of bit? Maybe shes used to something stronger.
 
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Saddle fit needs checking ASAP .
Feed only hay .
Contact the old owner and see if they will come and hack her out.
And I would look for a professional to come and hack her out until she's settled .
I don't think you started riding her too soon I do think it's possible you have not factored in when you tried her how much better you need to be able to cope when a horse in a strange place .
 
You should get the saddle, bridle, bit, back and teeth etc all checked.
Even if previous owner says its all been done.

Also, give the horse time to settle, new home and owner.
Take out in.company.
Get the ground work sorted, lunge, school, voice etc.
The feed should be changed, calm and condition does often do the opposite!

Also company wise, my tb didn't like the welsh a as a companion, he pretended he couldn't see him and acted like he was alone!

Don't push horse too soon.
 
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I agree with others in that I would either cut out hard feed completely or switch back to what she was on with previous owners. You haven't had her long so she may be stressed with her new surroundings, it can be quite unsettling for some horses.
I would also spend time getting to know her by spending time grooming her & until her saddle is checked I would be lunging her rather than riding.
If you are feeling nervous that will also be unsettling her because they pick up on your emotions.
I wouldn't give up on her yet and if I had sold her I would be happy to help new owner because I'd want horse to be happy.
 
The fact she came with a different saddle would immediately ring alarm bells for me. I wouldn't ride until the saddler has come out. If it's hurting her you don't want her to associate the new place with pain. If it's not a problem and does fit and she's just unsettled, a few days is nothing to have left her be.
 
Ok so had everything checked and it's fine vet has said she's had something happen to her before so she's very sour and she's underweight so to turn her out over winter, feed her up and start her again in spring. This is not the horse I was sold and have asked private vendor to return her but vendor has stated she hasn't settled in and that she won't take her back. Where do I stand? As I now have a horse that needs turning away over winter so I can't ride and I haven't got the time or money to start her again in spring :(
 
Tbh you sound over horsed to me. The way you found it difficult to stay balanced with her paces scares me slightly. What did you do to stop her when she galloped off?
 
Personally I find the whole allowing new horse to settle in thing a little odd. I mean when I take a horse out to a new competition venue I don't give him/her a couple weeks to settle in there! I of course expect the horse to be a little sharper and maybe have a bit of a paddy, but not to have a complete personality transplant.

First port of call get that saddle, her teeth and her back checked over just to rule out any pain. Have you got a school? Do a couple sessions lunging and then get a pro out to ride her out and see if she also does it with them. I suspect she's just testing the boundries, as many mare do ;)

I wouldn't just turn away because she's possibly had something happen to her in the past. If she was being ridden fine at her last place then there shouldn't be many reasons you can't ride her now.
 
I don't believe I'm over horsed at all. The vet has advised she's underweight and my friend has ridden her who is a pro eventer and she was exactly the same with him, she's 9 and I think being in a new environment shouldn't cause her to turn into a rearer or a bolter. She's had saddle, teeth, vet and chyropractor check her incase she did something in box on the way down and she fine no concerns there. I struggled to sit for 5 mins until I found my way due to only riding my fat slow cob for the last few years. Both the vet and other friends who are fantastic horse people have seen me ride her and don't think I'm overhorsed at all. The question was behind where I stand at sending her back as I really don't want a horse that needs starting again.
 
Chesnutnutter said:
I don't believe I'm over horsed at all. The vet has advised she's underweight and my friend has ridden her who is a pro eventer and she was exactly the same with him, she's 9 and I think being in a new environment shouldn't cause her to turn into a rearer or a bolter. She's had saddle, teeth, vet and chyropractor check her incase she did something in box on the way down and she fine no concerns there. I struggled to sit for 5 mins until I found my way due to only riding my fat slow cob for the last few years. Both the vet and other friends who are fantastic horse people have seen me ride her and don't think I'm overhorsed at all. The question was behind where I stand at sending her back as I really don't want a horse that needs starting again.
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Sorry, whichever way you look at it you're overhorsed.

Good luck.
 
How would I be overhorsed when even the most experienced riders are having the same effect with her. I would class over horsed as a novice buying an ex racehorse. I have had horses all my life. I have turned horses from retiring racing into brilliant horses so I would class myself as an experienced rider even though I've been out of the showjumping scene for a few years I've still always kept horses
 
Chesnutnutter said:
How would I be overhorsed when even the most experienced riders are having the same effect with her.
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The fact that you cant ride the horse means you are overhorsed. The fact that experienced riders are having the same issues simply reinforce this.

It's not a criticism - merely an observation.
 
I agree totally with above post- the mare is 9, presumably rising 10. I would expect my 4/5 yr old to go to a show or go to a friends house to hack out, with little bother. I think the maximum a horse needs to 'settle in' would be a couple of days. And even if they aren't settled, and are a bit uptight, they should still behave- especially at that age.
Turning away seems a stupid idea- the mare isnnt going to be any different when you get her in, and she's more likely to put weight on in a stable with food and exercise than turned away over winter. What did the vet mean 'she's had something happen to her' ?? did he mean physical, or mental? either way,he has told you there is nothing wrong with the mare. I cant see any point at all in turning her away.
 
This is what you say in your first post "At first I struggled to stop her in the school but once I got used to the bouncyness it was abit easier. We had a canter and she was good a little difficult to stop but stoppable."

Firstly. WHY did you buy her, and secondly, because you cannot ride her, she is not the horse for you.

I would look at selling on asap, and getting something else.
 
amymay said:
The fact that you cant ride the horse means you are overhorsed. The fact that experienced riders are having the same issues simply reinforce this.

It's not a criticism - merely an observation.
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This. You had trouble riding her when you tried her, why did you ever buy her? She is so underweight the vet feels she needs time off before you can work her, didn't this come up at the vetting? She's 9 but needs re-starting, wasn't this apparent when you tried her (especially if you are an experienced rider)? What did your instructor advise you before you bought her?
 
If you have had horses all your life it begs the question why you didn't notice she was underweight yourself?

sorry I don't see how a vendor can be responsible if someone buys a horse that is beyond their capabilities. Equally it is not the horse's fault if she is bought by someone who cannot cope with her.

This is a horse, not a machine. She needs time to settle in, to gain confidence in your riding ability. You dont need to convince people on here that you are not overhorsed. The person you need to convince is your horse.
 
Booboos said:
This. You had trouble riding her when you tried her, why did you ever buy her? She is so underweight the vet feels she needs time off before you can work her, didn't this come up at the vetting? She's 9 but needs re-starting, wasn't this apparent when you tried her (especially if you are an experienced rider)? What did your instructor advise you before you bought her?
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Totally with Booboos on this one. Really not sure why you bought a horse you struggled to ride/stop when viewing and again wonder why her being underweight didn't come up at the vetting if she is now so underweight she needs to be turned away? Very confused by this thread OP.
 
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