HELP!!**warning - long**

[Tempi]

Hi guys

i need some advice and reassurance from you lovely lot as im feeling really down right now

As you all know i collected my new horse this morning. he loaded fine into the pink machine and was a little angel the whole way home and didnt sweat up or anything.

We put him in his stable which is a nice one as he can see all that is going on. his owner had told me he hasnt 'mingled' much with other horses and this became apparent - everytime another horse comes past he goes nuts. I know hes only just got here but it seems like hes just petrified of them. his owner also told me he was a bit unsure of other horses in the arena with him when hes schooling as hes never realy been with them and is always on his own at home.
I left him for the rest of the day to settle in and then was going to ride him tonight.

I tacked him up and he was fine, nice and calm and had settled down. I walked him round on the school for a good 15mins before i got on and he was a bit on his toes but that was it. I got on and he just went nuts, i didnt even have time to get my other foot in my stirrup - he bronked down the arena like a horse possessed and i had to bale out the side as i feared he was going to take the school fence. Baleing out of a 17'2 horse when youve got a bad back really isnt good.........my back is now b/ggered (think my disc has come back out of place again)..........

My first reaction was immediately that i want to send him back. but now ive been thinking about it and im not so sure - part of me thinks well when he gets used to all the other horses then he is goin to be fine, and obviously we've got to get used to each other. But the other part of me thinks what happens if he suddenly turns into rodeo horse out hacking, dumps me and p/sses off never to be seen again????

I like a challenge, but im not sure if i can cope with being dumped all the time from a 17'2 horse.......do i just send him back and look for another or do i pesevere? he really is the horse ive been looking for (apart from the rodeo act) and mayb if i take things slowly he will come right with me. I feel sorry for him as i think he is actually scared of whats going on around him at the new yard. But he wasnt cheap and if i cant get him to come right il never sell him for the money we paid for him............

HELP!!!!!!!!!

 

[Clodagh]

I'd send him back, if you can (was it a dealer? Or is he on trial?) But there are too many nice horses out there to hurt yourself with a dodgy one. They cost the same to run and the nice ones don't set out to hurt you. (Hopefully...don't look at my post lower down...)

 

[dieseldog]

I would be concerned that the owner has said he doesn't like mixing or riding with other horses - if he was on a big yard he should be used to it. When I first got my horse home he was also a pain to get on and I found lunging him for the first week before I did helped a lot.

I would phone the owner up ASAP to say what he's done, but if you like him in every other way I would give him a little time to settle in.

I also had a horse that was at the start a complete nightmare in collecting rings, but he improved quite quickly - I took him to a lot of group lessons where it didn't matter if he was a idiot - I used to lunge him for an hour before I put him on the lorry though.

Poor you - good luck tomoorow

 

[piaffe]

oh hun, (((hugs)))

IMHO, and its just mine, so might not count for much. Even though its early days, id be tempted to send him back

Purely because i have a bad back too and would never forgive myself if i REALLY did some damage.

But, then its early days, you only got him today. What was he like to try out? did you have a full vetting including bloods?

id say give him a few days, work him from the ground and then introuduce riding slowly, its a big thing, going to a new place, maybe its just a bit too much too quickly? I gave V a week and a bit to get used to the place before i started with him

ETD, id have been concerned that old owner said he was not good around other horses, not very good for competing, sounds like hes gonna need a lot of confidence building.

could you send him back if you wanted?

 

[Happy Bird]

Oh b*gger - bet you're feeling really disappointed !! I really feel for you.

If you have a trial period, I would persevere until the end of that...... has he been turned out with the others yet ?? Horses do take a long time to settle in, but I would certainly be wary especially if you paid a lot for him.

Buying a new horse is such a nightmare.

 

[Tempi]

hes not on trail and he wasnt from a dealer - i know she will take him back straight away tho if i asked her too......

 

[Weezy]

Gut instinct from me is to go with yours - back he goes

I dont care how hot blooded he is or if he is green or whatever, a horse should be socialised etc before it is sold on (spesh from a dealers) - you want to compete him - what is he going to be like in a collecting ring? I wouldnt be so concerned if he started playing up a bit once you were on, but broncing when you hadnt even got yourself in the plate is SO not on

 

[Tempi]

Thing is tho i can cope with horses being idiots - Bloss can be a total nightmare at times - what i cant cope with is him bronking down the arena.....i just keep asking myself how do i know hes not going to do the same when i take him out to compete somewhere? I cant go through being dumped everytime i go out.........The owner was on her own yard with only two other horses. he did go out for lessons at her friends and she 'said' he was fine then.........she seemed totally geniune and honest. i have told her whats happened and she has said she'l have him back. but she also said she thinks once he settles and gets used to me he'l be fine.

honestly im scared to lunge him, as i know hes going to be a nutter...........its not sounding good is it..............i guess il just see what hes lik in the morning.

 

[Tempi]

i know its totally not on too......and like youve said whats he going to be like in a dressage arena with horses coming at him from all directions??????

 

[vicijp]

I would send him straight back.
I have no idea what you paid but I can guess it isnt pennies. You could put the work in, improve him a lot and he may still not be worth what you paid. On the other hand, it may just be teething problems and he may be totally normal in a week or so.
At a low price id take a chance, but for proper money hed be straight back on the box for me.

 

[Madam_max]

Ahhh no!!! That is crap. I would see how he is for a fews days, if not he will have ot go back. Not worth hurting yourself, is it?

 

[LauraBR]

OMG your post has struck a cord with me... sounds SO like when I first got Fal. Exactly the same rodeo scenario- you might remember?

First time he did it to me (exactly the same- no time to get either of feet in stirrups) I blamed it on everything but him- settling in, slight change of tack, change in routine...

Spent a FORTUNE on vets, chiros, physios, pro schooling... was put in hospital by him on more than one occasion, crakced hip, knocked out cold for minutes...

Having been through what I went through I'd send him back- but then I'm maybe not the best person to ask and you may be much more experienced than me at dealing with horses with problems like this!

Good luck whatever you decide, really hope it works out for you both x

 

[Weezy]

I jst dont think it is worth the risk - you can never bail out off a 17-2hh safely HOWEVER good a rider you are

Vic makes a good point - for the money you should expect something worthy and what if you do put work in and he is no better - you will be stuck

I think, for the money you have (am guessing!) you can get something WAY saner for your money - to be worried about lunging sanity for me is enough to stick him back on the lorry

Just to give you an idea - Chico went APE when he arrived and realised he was staying - he was like a caged tiger and I was almost in tears as we couldnt even get his bandages off him, but once tacked up/prepared for lunging, he did the job he had been backed to do and didnt ever get scary

 

[Happy Horse]

I would say give it a couple of days. He has only just arrived on the yard and has not had a chance to aclimatise yet. A couple of days in the field getting used to other horses around him and his new surroundings may be what he needs. I wouldn't get on him straight away though I would definitely lunge him and any signs of bad behaviour send him back.

 

[Louby]

Its a difficult one isnt it. My heads saying send him back and the fact she said he hasnt mixed with other horses is a little odd. How was he when you tried him out? Was he kept on his own. Ive always left any new horse to settle in on the first day so maybe it was all a bit too much for him but then my friend got straight on hers.
My other friend has a young horse that is fine with its field mates but goes mad if another unknown horse goes past its stable and now weve started hacking her out, it is a problem. We have to keep her at the back for fear of her kicking and if we meet other horses we have to make sure shes safely out of the way. She is home bred and will never be sold but her dreams of competing have pretty much been shattered as she cant risk anyone elses horse in the collecting ring.
As someone else said, there are lots of good horses out there, I think (finally convinced myself now) that if you are up to it tomorrow I would see how he reacts with the other horses going past and maybe lunge him and if theres any doubt then send him back.
Good luck, I really hope you get it sorted and you arent too sore tomorrow.

 

[Tempi]

i know you guys are all so right and i know ive got to send him back..........i just feel so dissapionted as ive been looking forward to this for so long.........i dont even feel like i want another in fear that the same things is going to happen again when i get a different one home.........

 

[Becky101]

I gave my horse the benefit of the doubt when i should have sent her back, ended up having to sell her as a broodmare for a fraction of what she was bought for. I regret not sending her back the first day when she was rearing and spinning around on the end of a lunge line above my head. I thought with time and effort things would improve, ... they didn't!!

 

[eohippus]

If you are getting on well with the last owner, then make a deal with them, say you will keep him for a few weeks to let him settle, acclimatise and get used to being with more than two horses, BUT if you do not feel he is settling or is not improving then it will be better for him and you if he returned to the owner. Not only have you to consider yourself, but the horse and others around also have to be thought about, a big 17.2 out with others or bronking around the school with other could cause injuries both to himself, you and others.
It is a dilemma, but if he does not improve you will end up either seriously hurt or with ahorse you cannot do anything with unless he is on his own or in very quiet surroundings, not much fun there if you want to compete.
If she already new he could do this and he has been kept in a very quiet yard, she cannot possible know that he will settle enough to be safe, can she?
best regards
Dawn

 

[henryhorn]

We currently have a horse in to retrain as it panicks when it hears horses coming up behind it . Up to now we have hacked it, dealt with it's basic schooling etc and now we are ready to deal with the panicking when with other horses. My point being is someone is paying us to sort a similar problem to yours, so your new horse really shouldn't behave like this!
I can understand it being unsettled, but to explode and buck like stink shows a lack of training, and if it was expensive that shouldn't be the case.
Phone the owner, ask THEM to come and ride it at your yard and take it from there. If it behaves impeccably with them perhaps give it a chance of a week or two to settle, on the agreement that they take it back if it doesn't. If they won't ride it or help, send it back.
CCJ's new mare has settled in beautifully and that's a four year old only just over from Ireland, it's had to cope with a sale, a temporary yard before shipping, a boat then long box journey, then another new home before coming finally to us.
If their temperament is sound they cope, this horse of yours sounds a bit iffy to be honest..

 

[_jetset_]

Oh P_G... I can honestly say to you that I had a similar thing with Grace when she came, and thought, 'What the hell have I done!' She didn't settle in the field at all and spent the entire first day cantering up and down. She didn't even put her head down to graze once.

The second day she seemed much better (she had also never really mingled with others that much I don't think) and the third day better again. She does keep throwing things at me, like tonight she wouldn't be caught for 5 mins, just kept walking away but I know this is her way of trying me out!

She also went beserk when she was clipped today... so another thought of, "Bitten off more than I can chew" came to mind, but I have quickly put it away and decided to follow my gut instinct and get some help with her from my instructor.

I got on her on Monday (she's had 12 months off) and after walking around like an angel she then had a bronking fit, twice. I stayed on, but since have given her this week to settle in, just lunging her every day for 20-30 mins in side reins.

In my honest opinion, I would give him a bit longer to settle in before you get back on board, and although he might have a paddy being lunged, I think it would be good for him to blow off some steam.

Please honey, stick with him for a while! He is stunning, and everything was new. Grace was exactly the same...

 

[LauraBR]

Did anyone get back on him once he had you off? If so what was he like?

The more I think about it the more I think send her back. Unsettled horses don't just full on rodeo- spook YES, jog and leap about YES, bolt maybe- but rodeo? Not convinced.

 

[mandy4727]

Oh hun. Feel for you. Seen the picture and he is a stunning horse. But I would be very unsure about keeping him. I think a new horse I would understand a bit on his toes and a bit wary with other horses and in the school. And the owner had mentioned this so you were expecting it. But the broncing act was unnecessary from him. Unless he was plain scared. Perhaps try and lunge him tomorrow when there is no one else around the yard so he has no excuses and see how that is. Then after the lunging if you are brave enough to get back on then give that a try. If he did what he did today again. Then I would say sorry and back he goes. But really hope it all goes well for you. Fingers crossed and let us know

 

[_jetset_]

Did anyone ride him after?

 

[Judie]

Oh PG I am so sorry this has happend to you, I really am.

I think you have already answered your own question haven't you?

How many other people were in the school with you? I suspect not as many as there will be at the show next weekend, or the one after that........

I know it's really disappointing PG but this is your opportunity to buy a horse that will take you to the place of your dreams, please don't get too attached to a horse that isn't going to take you there, not through lack of potential I'm sure but if his confidence isn't (and may never be) there, you arent' going to make it.

If you send him back, she will either spend time educating him and finding his level of confidence or make the next owner aware of his lack of confidence, which sadly is showing itself in a very unsafe manner.

Please think long and hard as to why you would want to keep a horse that shows such a lack in confidence for the job you want him for - The Nationals, music playing, tents blowing ...need I go on.

There will be another horse for you PG, please don't let this little (alright Big) chap hold you back matey, he will go back to a lovely owner and be back in his comfort zone.

 

[cariadssogreat]

I would send him back - too many issues too soon. Doesn't seen right to me.

 

[Tia]

He's scared.

Pure and simple. It isn't through lack of training or bad manners, he is just a very worried little horse.

Personally I would call the old owner and let her know what has happened. I would keep him at the yard you are on for a few more days and take him out to lunge - a round pen would be best where you don't actually have to go in with him. Wait till he settles a little and then go in and see what he knows on the end of a lunge rein.

I took one of my little guys to an alien environment into a herd of cattle; horse had never put a foot wrong in the couple of years I had him. I had brought him on very slowly and he was just perfect. His new owner had asked me to take him to work with the cattle to see how he handled it. Long story but shortened - I took him there but I was late and didn't have time to play around and give him time to get used to the cattle, so I had to push him straight into the middle of the herd. One cow became a challenge and scared the living bejesus out of him and he decided to head for the stars - taking me along with him!! Anyway the long and the short of it was that I took him back into the herd but took my time and hey presto he was perfect again. Now this little horse of mine completely trusted me - your horse doesn't know you - no wonder he is concerned.

Give him a bit of a breather and see if he comes good - but put a time limit on it as you must know that he WILL calm down as if you are planning to compete him or hunt him you have to trust him not to pull a fast one with you.......if you can't be convinced of this then you have no option but to send him back.

Good luck and so sorry - try to remember though that every single one of us who buys horses who appear to be totally fantastic at their previous home, get them back and find wrinkles somewhere within the first few days - this really isn't abnormal in my experience.

 

[Salcey]

I really feel for you - what a shame
My gut reaction is the same as many above, I would send him back while you can. However unsettled a horse is in a new surrounding there is no excuse for that kind of behaviour. I once bought a 4yo that I should have sent back but I thought I'd give him a chance of settling in, with hindsight it was the wrong decsion he ended up busting my dads knee cap.

 

[Tierra]

Id be inclined to give him a few days, albeit warn the previous owner that there are issues at the mo.

As the above poster said, he's a very worried man and I seem to remember he wasnt very old either?

You did like the horse a lot.. he's been introduced to a new owner, new environment and horses all in one go and thats an awful lot of change. See how he goes over the next few days. It would be terrible to send him back immediatly if a few days of settling is all he needs. I agree you have to be realistic and you need to make sure he is the horse for you, but I dont see what difference a couple of days will make, particularly if you warn the old owner in advance. Is she close by? Is there any chance she could come and take a look at whats going on?

Id get him on the lunge and go from there but for sure, if it turns out that you're feeling too scared to get on him then send him back.

 

[Pidge]

Really feel for you as I know how excited from your posts you were at getting him. I would go with your gut instinct on this one, everyone has a different opinion and lots of advice but at the end of the day it is a horse for you to ride and enjoy and do what you bought it for. If you don't feel safe or are not sure then trust me a 17.2 is a lot of horse, I had one myself, and when they bronc with you it is so not nice and a bl**dy long way down. Only you can make the decision to keep him or not. It may be best to write down the good and bad things to help put things into perspective. For example if you want to compete and he hasn't been exposed to many other horses then that could be a problem. Really not an easy decision to make I don't envy you, just remember there are lots and lots of horses out there, if you don't get the right one to start with then there is the one for you out there somewhere. thinking of you.

 

[JACQSZOO]

I would call the owner, explain the situation and get her down pdq and see what hes like with her on. If hes a prat send him back there and then. If it goes well I would give him 2 weeks - if there is no improvement in that time he goes back.