I must attract the nutters...? Met a ditch under a horse...

bexcy-bee

bexcy-bee

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So, went to see a horse tonight for the OH. GORGEOUS boy, sooo responsive. The girl rode him, he went lovely, behaved perfectly. So, I get on with rustle waterproof trousers, and he rears up as I stick my foot in the stirrup - bad point number 1!

He then chills out immediately, so I proceed to mount. He didnt put a foot wrong! There was no school to ride him in, so walked and trotted for a bit, then had a short canter. Didnt put a foot wrong! Got off, and got back on, didnt do anything naughty then, girl was genuinely shocked he misbehaved, or seemed to be anyway.

Asked to go out on a hack, and he napped going out - bad point number 2, so she led me out of gateway, then let go and then he was fine, through woods, past cars etc.

Got back to the yard, walked him past, no napping, then went to walk him past again, and I think he had just had enough! It was raining and getting late, and I think he just wanted his bed lol. So, he had a naughty few moments, reared up a bit, had a buck - bad point number 3, I told him no, kicked him on, and he fell down a ditch!!!!!

Oh my word! I have never had such a horrible sensation in my life! He fell down a bit, managed to get to a ledge, tried to pull himself up, fell down a bit more, this time crushing my leg. Let him go, LUCKILY the girl had safety stirrups on, or I dread to think what could have happened!!! So, he scrambled up, and trotted to the gate. I got myself up, trotted him up the road, no lameness etc.

Got him back into the field, and there was blood POURING down his leg! Left there as she had to go to the house to hose him down, and I wanted that sorted rather than discuss anything.

But he was a seriously nice horse excluding those facts! Falling down a ditch wasnt his fault, he just had a baby moment, and the tantrum backfired!!

So, am I mad in wanting to go for a second viewing in better weather?

bexcy-bee x
 
I'd be ware!
It's all well and good to say that he had a 'baby moment', but at the same time you were lucky to not get hurt. As you said yourself, if there wasn't safety stirrups there could have been a very different outcome :eek:

I was in a very similar situation when looking for a horse. I went to try a thoroughbred. The girl rode her, she spooked a bit but not too bad. I went to get up, mare freaked out and reared, owner said the horse was just not used to other people on her. Got up on her, rode her, all fine and dandy, hopped off. The girl went to get back up on her to show me her XC and the mare reared, fell over herself and then bolted through the arena fence. The mare was fine when I rode her, and I really enjoyed riding her, but I had to just draw the line and say no.

Accidents can happen far to often, and I know that it can happen to anyone, on any horse. But I think you have to just take all other feelings aside, in the one time you saw him he was most definitely a liability and in your post you highlighted several bad points. For your own safety, especially as the horse isn't for you, I wouldn't give him a second look.
 
oh jings!! what a fright you must have got :(

I dont think you are mad to go back. These things happen (especially if the horse is quite young) I would go back and try him and if he does anything else silly then i would walk away. He may have just been having an 'off' day! we all do!

ps. maybe wear a body protector if u go back? ;) good luck thoug, he seems to have left quite an impression on you ;)
 
wow! Hope your legs okay!

If hes young then i'd let him off and go see him again, he might have just been fed up and i know loads of horses that get stroppy in the rain, if he isnt that young id still go see him anyway, just to make sure.

Good Luck!
 
Falling down a ditch is accidental. The napping and rearing doesn't sound so good. Or the owner's surprise. It would have to be pretty cheap IMO - unless you don't like your OH!
 
Personally i wouldn't go back - but that's just because I wouldn't enjoy the horse. I like a challenge, but I also don't like getting hurt! However everyone's different and I think you should go on your gut instinct - if something is telling you to go and have another look, then go....you're under no obligation to say to want to buy him.
 
I've always been told (and I follow this school of thought too) that a horse who'll willingly go into a ditch in the name of a tantrum isn't worth touching. To me, it shows a total lack of self preservation and sanity and for a fairly novice person I'd be running in the other direction as soon as it went up when you got on.
 
Lolo said:
I've always been told (and I follow this school of thought too) that a horse who'll willingly go into a ditch in the name of a tantrum isn't worth touching. To me, it shows a total lack of self preservation and sanity and for a fairly novice person I'd be running in the other direction as soon as it went up when you got on.
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To be fair, the ditch was completely obscured by spikey bushes, so I very much doubt he knew it was there. Was a good boy, didn't freak out or anything, just got out, and trotted off, happily was led around after that!

bexcy-bee x
 
I think that yes, if the horse was for you, go for a second viewing, but as it's for your (novice?) OH then i think i'd leave it ):
 
Lolo said:
I've always been told (and I follow this school of thought too) that a horse who'll willingly go into a ditch in the name of a tantrum isn't worth touching. To me, it shows a total lack of self preservation and sanity and for a fairly novice person I'd be running in the other direction as soon as it went up when you got on.
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ahem, yes. A horse that will willingly do it is dangerous, however it is very if it didn't see it/know it was there.

IIWY then I would maybe see something else before going back to see it to open your mind up more :)
 
I wouldn't go back, mine mini-reared and mini-bronced when I went to see her but she was as sure footed as a mountain lion. I don't like backing up and napping with no sense of self-preservation. That way accidents and vet bills lie.
 
The market is flooded with good horses as well as not so good ones. Some serious vices there, unless you and OH are looking for a cheap project I'd keep on with the search personally
 
Beccxy bee Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure u put up a vid of a grey horse u were trying a week or 2 ago?? If so u looked a pretty competent & quiet rider, I'm sure u know ur capabilities. Just remember to consider your mans before u set him off on a bucking bronco lol . Good luck x
 
When i sold my tb, i had a lady come and see him, she got on put him through is paces all fine hacked him all fine, she the decided that she wanted to give him a good canter on the field opposite, he had a major tantrum bolted and she fell off, but guess what? she brought him! he was just having an off day he had never bolted in all the years i had him, maybe the weather had something to do with it? x
 
If the weather was miserable and you had got on and ridden him the first time and then got off he probably thought he was done for the night, i would be reluctant to then go on a hack too if i was him. you said he was really good once out riding and with cars then i would definitely go see him again.
 
vroutledge said:
If the weather was miserable and you had got on and ridden him the first time and then got off he probably thought he was done for the night, i would be reluctant to then go on a hack too if i was him. you said he was really good once out riding and with cars then i would definitely go see him again.
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Exactly! Poor boy lol. I know getting on and off him would confuse him, but I wanted to see if him rearing up was a fluke, or what.

Think Im going to go and see a few more, and then if nothing comes along, go for a second viewing. Have text girl this morning, and we are both of the understanding that these things happen, so its ok there! lol.

bexcy-bee x
 
Just a quick update for anyone interested, I was meant to go for a 2nd viewing of the horse tonight. After the girl messing us around, not responding etc etc, she said on Monday all was ok for today. Last night, after me asking her to go somewhere so I could jump him, he suddenly has an infection in a cut, so tonight is cancelled!

Have decided after all that has happened, that this is not the horse for us! Have found a lovely gelding, who we will be loaning from a lady on our yard starting this weekend, who I have ridden already, competed etc, and OH has ridden him aswell. So, you shall recieve piccies of 'Spook' in a few days :D

(Yes, thats right, we're going to have a horse called Smoke, and a horse called Spook =/ )

Just to add, Smokey is working fantastically currently! Really bending and listening. Shall also annoy you all with some super dooper pics of him too xD

bexcy-bee x
 
bexcy-bee said:
Just a quick update for anyone interested, I was meant to go for a 2nd viewing of the horse tonight. After the girl messing us around, not responding etc etc, she said on Monday all was ok for today. Last night, after me asking her to go somewhere so I could jump him, he suddenly has an infection in a cut, so tonight is cancelled!

Have decided after all that has happened, that this is not the horse for us! Have found a lovely gelding, who we will be loaning from a lady on our yard starting this weekend, who I have ridden already, competed etc, and OH has ridden him aswell. So, you shall recieve piccies of 'Spook' in a few days :D

(Yes, thats right, we're going to have a horse called Smoke, and a horse called Spook =/ )

Just to add, Smokey is working fantastically currently! Really bending and listening. Shall also annoy you all with some super dooper pics of him too xD

bexcy-bee x
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brill news :D
 
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