Horse on Trial very Aggressive with Other Horses....Deal Breaker?

I totally understand the time constraints you are under and that you really have to make the decision pretty quick. Still 3 weeks, in my mind anyway and from what i have been through with ours, is no real time at all for these sensitive types.

Are trials normal procedure out where you are? I am just thinking what would you be doing/thinking about doing had you just bought her and not had the trial? What is it you like/liked about her to take her on trial in the first place? Does she tick all the other boxes or not?

Believe me, hacking out with other horses calmly will come in time - it did with our very aggressive horse who, at first actually had a tendency to launch at and grab the neck or the horse he was hacking out with!! He was horrid!!!! My pony still cannot 'speak' to another strange horse (he still screams and kicks if he says 'hello' to his mates) but i can hack out with a strange horse - just have to be aware of his personal space issues. he used to never be able to even stand near another horse - I had real fun back in PC days reversing at high speed away from everyone else in a kicking squealing fit!!!

We understand him now though and know his social limits as it were. He still will get tense on a hack if other horses approach him or if you pass a field and other horses are at the fence or anything like that. He is 25 now!
 
Thing is there are plenty more horses out there that won't give you this headache, fair enough if she's perfect in every other way but if you are wanting to compete either showing or something else where you need to use a warm up arena then you are potentially going have problems if its just in her nature rather than hormonal/medical, if that is she doesnt improve in time, sometimes they do but in the short space of time you have left on trial then your not likely to find out just yet, times like this you need your head to rule not your heart, so try to think pratically. :)
 
Oh dear :(
I am in the same position and its no fun. Ive had my horse 8 yrs, he isnt evil, he just mithers others to death and was injured daily. Individual turnout in our area is unheard off with land at a premium however I fell very lucky and moved to a lovely private yard with a smaller herd. 2 yrs of bliss then he got a fractured leg so he was put on his own next to the others. All was well but Im in the situation now of potentailly having to move yards and Im at my wits end as theres no where that can cater for us. I cant just put him in a field full of horses, it wouldnt be fair on any of them, so if I was in your situation Im sorry to say if things dont settle down soon I would have to give her back. Sorry.
 
I'd send her back. You could find a horse just as good without such a big issue.

I suspect in time she will eventually settle, but I doubt anyone at your yard will give her the chance with their horse, and individual turnout isn't easy to find.
 
Oh goodness, well here goes..!! I personally think that if you had your own land, then you are able to accommodate this mare. If not, I wouldn't go for her. Too many problems when there are so many other horses out there. Hate to sound ruthless but you don't want to put yourself in an impossible position with a livery yard. Best of luck and remember, there are lots of horses out there!
 
What worries me the most TBH, is that if she goes back and the seller is not honest with buyers about what she is like, then she will end up killing another horse. I don't think it's her hormones as this behaviour happens in both mares and geldings. The fact is, she can never, ever be trusted to be turned out with another horse, EVER. Even on regumate. That is not too big a problem if you can always ensure individual turnout. We have one like that on our yard. An absolute sweetie with people, and even MOST of the time with other horses, but when he blows, he is, like your mare, relentless and I have no doubt that he would kill another horse. He once pinned a mare against the brick stable block wall where she was tethered and just booted and booted, his young owner was powerless to pull him away in his head collar. Luckily I saw it from across the courtyard and ran to intervene. But he is fine in his own paddock. People who have not witnessed his behaviour would never believe he was capable of it.

So, I would say, if you like her, and you can keep her separate, then buy her. But don't ever be lulled into a false sense of security or trust her to be turned out with others even on regumate as it isn't worth it.
 
Wagtail said:
What worries me the most TBH, is that if she goes back and the seller is not honest with buyers about what she is like, then she will end up killing another horse. I don't think it's her hormones as this behaviour happens in both mares and geldings. The fact is, she can never, ever be trusted to be turned out with another horse, EVER. Even on regumate. That is not too big a problem if you can always ensure individual turnout. We have one like that on our yard. An absolute sweetie with people, and even MOST of the time with other horses, but when he blows, he is, like your mare, relentless and I have no doubt that he would kill another horse. He once pinned a mare against the brick stable block wall where she was tethered and just booted and booted, his young owner was powerless to pull him away in his head collar. Luckily I saw it from across the courtyard and ran to intervene. But he is fine in his own paddock. People who have not witnessed his behaviour would never believe he was capable of it.

So, I would say, if you like her, and you can keep her separate, then buy her. But don't ever be lulled into a false sense of security trust her to be turned out with others even on regumate as it isn't worth it.
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Indeed she is relentless and the scariest thing today was this poor other mare was beaten to a pulp and sweating like mad and my mare was stood cool as a cucumber with nare a drop of sweat looking like Butter wouldn't melt
 
Well. Im normally the person saying to stick with it, but im sorry but this would be a deal breaker.
I honestly dont think this mare could ever be trusted with another horse... What if you hadnt been there to step in ?
Horses get fatal injuries playing with each other, let alone when they mean business.
With all due respect the other posters that have said they have horses simular, they have also said that they spend a very long time introducing new horses and working on the issue with their horse. You have already said that after your last boys health issues you want something easy, this mare isnt going to be that for you.
Send her back & find something you can hack out with your mates or ride in an arena with other horses.
Kx
 
Oh and, just to add - I am with KirstyL on this I guess as I am speaking from experience but from us having our own land and therefore being able to do what we want re introductions etc. If i was on a livery yard then it'd be a whole different matter and we would have really struggled as we did not know my pony's issues when we bought him.

it is a difficult one as someone mentioned re sending her back and that she could cause serious injury if the vendors weren't honest but, unfortunately this isn't your problem and, who knows, another person may well be able to manage the issue if they have control over their herd and have their own land.

Difficult one really - we did attempt to sell my pony at once stage (as I'd outgrown him) but our conscience meant we couldn't do it as we didn't want him being passed about again (he had been before we got him) as, like yours he is brilliant with people and very well mannered stable manners wise. You don't have this responsibility, it's not your horse so all you have to decide is is she good enough in other respects to make you want to keep her or do you know, in reality you could quite easily find another horse with the same abilities that isn't aggressive?
 
We have a mare that cannot stand other horses near her, infact shes so bad that she throws a hissy if a horse comes near her in the menage when being ridden. She just cannot stand to have other horses near her. But she is soppy and affectionate as a puppy to humans, she loves them and loves cuddles.

To be honest, if she wasnt showing aggression towards humans, i wouldnt be that bothered, as you can always do individual turnout, as long as she can see but not touch other horses she should be fine....?
If she is a perfect horse for you in every other way id have her!!!
My only concern would be whether she would turn this temperment towards you, if you dont think she would, as our mare wouldnt, it wouldnt be a question for me :)
 
To be honest this would be a deal breaker for me, if it is hormonal/medical it is a pre-existing condition so wont me covered by insurance so you could be in line for large vet bills. After 3 weeks you don't know her well enough to say if further down the line she might turn this aggresion on you or someone else.
 
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