I dont know what to do!

I don't mean this to sound horrible but I have a horse that was branded evil because he was with the wrong people twice! First time the woman was much the same as you and paying someone to go in the field and see to him on a daily basis because she was so frightened of him.

We took him on and with plenty of work he was fine. Although where I was at the time couldn't give him the turnout he required and so there was still that bit of spark about him.

The second lot of people that had him took him home, gave him very restricted turnout and expected him to behave being ridden at weekends only. He then bolted one day and a girl fell off him and was air lifted to hospital!!

I have had him back 5 years now and he is out 24/7 and ridden most days and is currently teaching a lady to ride who has serious health issues and is taking a massive risk being on a horse.

My advice to you is approach someone you trust would be able to work with the mare and out her on a sales livery somewhere.

If she works well for your YO it just sounds as though you're not the right person for the mare, sorry I don't mean that to sound harsh. Rather than there actually being a problem with her.

I will bet that in the right situation with the right owner she is the sweetheart you tried that day. Unless doped which you would hope the vet would have noticed signs of.

Mares are prone to pair bonding and stressing if they cannot see their pair, or even another horse.

I don't like individual turnout and it sounds as though neither does your mare it's not a natural way for a horse to live.

Personally either turn her out with some company and let her settle, 3 months isn't very long at all. Or send her on sales livery. To me it doesn't sound as though she is a troublesome horse just one that needs more than she is getting currently both from her leisure time and her working time.
 
If your thinking of PTS take dealer up in his offer to swap..??

As he said he will just do that anyway and sell to knacker man

Which by the way I can bet my life on it he won't, he will spend a few weeks schooling her and sell her on, as to be honest she does not sound that bad, just a typical highly strung TB .

So just return her to the seller the sooner the better , he will nip the behaviour in the bud as she just needs a confident handler.
 
I think pts is a little extreme, although appreciate it is a horrible situation to be in.....a lot of us on here no doubt have been in a similiar situation, myself included.

It just sounds like the wrong horse for you, with its behaviour detiorating with the less that is done with it. I bought a horse last spring that 'on paper' was the perfect horse for me - however for whatever reason it turned out not to be described, but was lucky enough to get some professional help with its schooling, and then selling it on. At least then you could move on and find something more suitable.

Mine came from a private sale so was a classic case of 'buyer beware'. However as you have bought from a dealer you should seek legal advice, either from the BHS if you are gold member, or the CAB. I am not too clued up on these things but thought you had more recourse if bought from a dealer if you can prove the horse is not described.

If I was you I would firstly be getting legal advice, then demanding a refund and the dealer coming to collect it. Sadly I doubt their threats of dog food will come to fruition, as suspect they well try to sell it on again, but there is always the possibility it might go to a more suitable home.

Ex racers are notorious for being flighty and stressy, and can suffer from separation anxiety as are used to doing everything in company, be it travelleing or on the gallops. I had 2 here on livery a few winters ago and although they had very sweet natures, just handling them on a day to day basis was taking your life into your own hands! Equally they never had enough excercise as the owner worked full time - and they didn't appreciate being turned out for more than a couple of hours a day so were in a real catch 22 situation.

Good luck and hope you get the situation sorted and at least you have a YO to help with the day to day handling.
 
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MerrySherryRider said:
I can't see any problem with the mare other than she's on the wrong yard and has a new owner who needs support.

Move her to a yard with full livery and a yard owner who understands the behaviour of a worried, genuine horse.
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I agree with this.

The mare need confident and consistent handling and riding.
Her management needd to be changes as she obviously isnt happy.

Other that that there is probably nothing physically wrong with her.
(OP said all usual check have been done)

Try schooling livery.
Then have lessons with this person or sell her on in the spring once she's sorted.
 
Hi, really feel for you! Just wanted to say that environment and company (or lack of it) can affect a horse massively. My horse is an ex racer and for the first year I kept him on a large livery yard with daily turnout in company and he was extremely relaxed. I moved him to another yard when my child changed schools which seemed idyllic - just 4 other horses, very good routine, daily turnout and lovely YO living on site. He never settled, and really became quite dangerous and explosive, being handled and ridden and have to say, it was the most miserable time. WHen my child went to high school 17 months later, I moved my horse back to the original yard, and from the minute he arrived, he returned to being the lovely calm relaxed horse he had been before. If only he could have told me how unhappy he was! He would be extremely miserable and stressy without company in the field, but with company he is happy to be out all day as long as there's plenty to eat.
Do try to get yours some company and do assess if the yard is right for you and your horse. I think it's a real positive that she is well behaved when being ridden. Best of luck :)
 
Op - please seek some help from an experienced trainer. I have a a skittish mare who needs assertive but kind handling. She can be very tricky and sometimes when leading her I feel like I am fliying a kite as she will buck and rear. She is also hateful in the stable and very grumpy - so I just leave her be and don't pander to her door banging. I would say it will take time to form a bond with your new mare. Keep a consistent routine - get some handling and riding help so you act confidently around her and take charge. She will then respect you and take your lead. Get a rope halter to give you some pressure and release control, but importantly someone to show you how to use it. Good luck OP - I am sure with the correct help you will be a smiling owner again.
 
Jaycee said:
You say you've contacted some ex-racehorse charities, so I presume she is an ex-racer? how long has she been out of racing? Jogging is not unusal in an ex-racer as they don't receive much by the way of schooling.
Race-horses spend their entire career living by a strict routine that they know by clockwork. When I took on mine, he had been out of racing for a few years, but just the change of surroundings was enough to unsettle him, like yours he became a nightmare so much so that he put my OH in hospital twice by being such an a**e!
I was at the point of giving up with him as I wasn't comfortable handling/riding him but decided to keep trying, so found a brilliant trainer (Monty Roberts trained) who not only bought about a complete turn around for my horse but for me too as she taught to always 'think outside the box'. I soon learnt how to figure out why he was behaving the way he was. It may have been something that was implanted in him during his career, once I'd figured that out, I could adapt to the situation using the trainers advice and help and gradually he improved no end. He would still have the odd silly moment or two, but I can say hand on heart he was never dangerous again. Definately the more exercise he had the better it was for his sanity and that would include at least one or two good gallops a week - OK so they might have been uphill (for our sanity!) he was clocked at 37mph on one particular steep hill!
You say she is better when ridden, so it may be worthwhile investing some time and money in finding a good trainer that would help you both.
I do hope you managed to get her sorted one way or another it's a rubbish situation to be in.
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I'd second the Monty Roberts/Intelligent Horsemanship people, they are really good, where abouts are you in the country?
 
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