I think I've been had :-(

Status
Not open for further replies.
Horses will change when they are moved in to a different environment and different rider.
I allow about 2 years for a horse to fully settle in to its new environment.
I would suggest that you keep your new horse off all processed feeds such as nuts and additives and just feed him soaked hay.
I would also initially for the first six month just excercise him at a walk and get him used to the area by riding him out with an experienced level headed horse.
Unfortunately it is very easy to blow a horses brain with two many changes when they move.
 
Firstly I think you sound like the perfect owner and you have one lucky horse! I keep my horses out 24/7 and never have any "fresh" moments so I do think the change in routine will have caused some of your problems. My rising 6yrs hombred RID mare has had 3 months off as I was bringing up a litter of pups so is just coming back into work. Last year we just hacked to get miles on the clock as Irish horses can be slow to mature as others have said. I'm just starting to have flatwork lessons on her as I feel she is now physically and mentally more able to cope with them. After her break she had reverted to factory setting which was napping and getting a bit argumentative with me, in other words testing the boundaries. These issues are being ironed out and I know she'll improve with time.

One thing I would suggest doing which I've found really useful with my horse is to keep a riding diary. It's amazing how I tend to think we haven't improved much until I look back over the previous weeks.

Best of luck with your horse, I hope things improve but if they don't please don't feel a failure if you have to sell him on to a more experienced home. Let's face it horses are expensive hobbies and there's no fun keeping a horse you are frightened to ride.
 
Well thanks again everyone for all your support. I can see light at the end of the tunnel and I'm looking forward to having 2 weeks off for Boris to rest, plus for my shoulder to heal as well! I always ride out with quiet and experienced horses/people... I'd never ride him out on my own either in the school or hacking out for another year or so... or until I feel he feels at home.

The physio said he was great to treat, that he was very inflamed and he dealt with her very well (she said for what she did, she was surprised she didn't get booted!) and she's given me a run-down of what treatment he'll have over the 2 weeks, under the supervision of my instructor/yard owner. She also thinks his lameness is linked to his back as he's over-compensating on one side.

So I am feeling much more positive and hope that once this is sorted, I can go back to basics with him and we can both learn from eachother, because deep down I know he is a good boy and he is on the whole good natured. And I know that once settled, he will be a lovely horse, he moves so nicely, it's like he floats when on the lunge!

I have one silly question though... what is OP?!? :o

And thanks again guys!
 
I wasn't there for the actual treatment, but explained all that had gone on to the physio with Boris - I work literally around the corner from the yard (30 seconds walk), but had to dash back. The YO was there and the physio rang me after, as well as the YO summarising his treatment.

I am very much looking forward to bringing him back into work very gently and like I said before, am in a much more positive frame of mind, knowing he did actually have an issue which was causing him pain.

I'm on a huge learning curve (I knew I would be and was prepared for that), but know I have the right help and support around me to get the best for me and Boris, and that includes you all :)

Will keep you all posted as to his/our progress!
 
I def think you need to just stick at it - 6 yo is still so very young and 16.3hh is a big horse. It takes a while for them to sort out where their legs are! She may well have done dressage on him - doesn't mean she did very well! Anyone can ter a competition and make it round an arena after all.

I think it's perfectly normal to have a crisis of confidence whey you buy a horse, especially your first horse as you ahve all these expectations and excitement and, in reality in can be a bit more hard work to start with. You definitely need to get to know each other, he needs to trust you and vice versa - he's had to cope with a fair bit of change, some horses can cope better than others and you have to adapt to how they react to their surroundings. Just try and always remain confident and firm and treat him asyou would expect a grown up horse to behave when it comes to handling - ok, he's young but it doesn't mean he can push his luck! Firm but fair is my motto - horses don't like people pussy footing around them, they need to know thsir handler is confident as they get confidence from that.

I hope things do improve, you will have to keep us all updated.
 
PeterNatt said:
Horses will change when they are moved in to a different environment and different rider.
I allow about 2 years for a horse to fully settle in to its new environment.
I would suggest that you keep your new horse off all processed feeds such as nuts and additives and just feed him soaked hay.
I would also initially for the first six month just excercise him at a walk and get him used to the area by riding him out with an experienced level headed horse.
Unfortunately it is very easy to blow a horses brain with two many changes when they move.
Click to expand...

Sorry, must disagree with this. When horses come to us from Ireland they get 24 hours to snooze in their boxes. Then I get on, walk trot and canter in the school, jump some showjumps, maybe a water tray. Then we go and jump a couple of XC jumps, height depending on age and ability.
Then I take them down the road, OMG BY THEMSELVES.

In 10 years of doing this I can count on one hand the number of horses that have said no to any of this, and can count on two fingers the number of horses that really, really meant it when they said no. The rest just responded to firm but fair riding.

If you start how you mean to go on, there is no reason at all why you should walk for six months (SIX MONTHS?).

This is not directed at the OP at all, as she quite clearly has cracked on and got on with it. Its just her horse has gone "from a youth hostel to the Ritz" and is enjoying all the facilities!
 
emmab13 said:
This is not directed at the OP at all, as she quite clearly has cracked on and got on with it. Its just her horse has gone "from a youth hostel to the Ritz" and is enjoying all the facilities!
Click to expand...
Thanks EmmaB, I know he'll take time to adjust and what he's got now is a huge difference to what he was used to - after he's been turned out for a couple of hours, he's back by the gate and wants to come in, he does seem very happy and relaxed in his box.

And Lady25T - totally agree with the firm/fair approach and have taken these steps already... I am a mum so understand that ethic completely!

My instructor/YO is helping me every step of the way (haven't said this before, but she's my OH's Aunt, with stunning horses of her own (competition & a stallion) and has run her own yard for years) and she's showing me what's normal behaviour, what's rude, what is good and bad manners and how to discipline and praise him. She estimates that it takes approx. a year for a horse to fully settle in, but she says the more time I spend with him the better and I love grooming him and he falls asleep when I do this which is lovely... so he must be relaxed enough to do that!

He will be a very spoiled and much loved boy, so here's hoping we can make it together!
 
I would use Boris's rest period to cut out all the hard feed, give ad lib hay and get as much turnout for him as you can. Once he gets 24 hr turnout I think you'll find he becomes a different horse! You can start gradually introducing hard feed if you feel he needs it.

My first thoughts on his behaviour were pain and/or feed related. It sounds as if you have very sensibly addressed the pain problem and his diet will be a work in progress.

You seem to be very well supported at your yard and with your sensible attitude I bet in 6 months time you will have a very different tale to tell us!
 
I agree with PETERNATT, time is a great thing, and time is what this horse needs, whether 2 years or 6 months, I was also taught that it takes 12 months for a horse and rider to bond, in other words to get use to each other, as the horse may have been taught aids and ridden oneway and the new owner/rider rides differently from what it has been use too.But time nowadays seems to be in short supply,everything has to be now!now! reminds me of the Queens song. I want it all and I want it now.I've had my young foal since Sept and he and I are still learning about each other,1 step forward and 3 steps back some days,but I know if handled properly that in the future if I every decided to sell him,he's going to make someone a very good horse,but I'm keeping him for me:)
 
Stroppy Mare said:
Brilliant. :) Can I also suggest you get your saddle checked by an unbiased person? Ie, not a person likely to tell you it fits cos you bought it off them, or that it doesn't 'but I have an excellent saddle which will suit at £1000' etc. If you want to use the sheepskin pad underneath - get the saddle checked with that underneath, if the saddle was fitted previously with nothing then it could be that the numnah is making the saddle too narrow and creating pressure points.
Click to expand...
I bought the saddle (GP) from one of the ladies at the yard (can't remember the make, but I know it's a decent one) after the saddler came and tried a few that we had at the yard which we tried on him and the saddler said that this was the best fitting one, so it was unbiased as we didn't buy it from him and he doesn't sell them anyway, he only fits them. I also had the sheepskin numnah plus a plain saddle cloth (high withers as Boris needs to build up muscle) and a seperate sheepskin pad and all were fine. Obivously not using all at once - just wanted to make that clear!!!

When he returns to work I will have the saddle checked again just to make sure it's still ok for him.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Echo Bravo said:
I agree with PETERNATT, time is a great thing, and time is what this horse needs, whether 2 years or 6 months, I was also taught that it takes 12 months for a horse and rider to bond, in other words to get use to each other, as the horse may have been taught aids and ridden oneway and the new owner/rider rides differently from what it has been use too.But time nowadays seems to be in short supply,everything has to be now!
Click to expand...

Yes and no. It does take twelve months for any horse and rider to really get to know one another and develop a strong relationship, but at the same time an awful lot of injuries can happen in twelve months if you chose to persevere with a horse that is too much for you. Plus most horses don't want or need fannying about with, they're just happy to get on with a job if they're well backed. It does sound in this case like its just a few teething problems and all will be fine, but if the OP is to have any hope of returning the horse should she need it, it would have to be now if the horse were, in fact, one of the unsuitable ones. She can't give the horse six to twelve months whilst being bucked off a few times then decide to return it. If you don't want to send it away OP just get a good professional to come to you for a few days on the run and help you put the horse through its paces a bit.
 
I've uploaded a couple of piccies of Boris (I've got an album which I think you can all see), I'm due to take another one on Sunday, it'll be 4 weeks since I got him and already the changes are clearly noticeable!

picture.php

Hope this works!
 
Oh, MrsB he is lovely. What a stunner he's going to be once he's put condition and muscle on and has his summer coat. As I've said previously - don't rush him. He's big, immature and very lacking in condition. He'll be a different horse in 6 months with careful work and management.

Lucky, lucky lady!
 
Last edited:
Thanks Amymay. I just had a little cuddle with him, my office is right next to his field! I'll certainly be taking my time with him, if only to let my shoulder heal after I went flying off him the other day ;)
 
First - I have only read the first two pages of replies, so apologies if I'm being repetitive/irrelevant.

But . . . I found myself in a very similar position to you when we bought Kal - only he took 4 months to really start testing me. He was sold to us as a novice ride (he isn't), he was sold to us as professionally schooled (he wasn't - or if he was I'd like to know what he was schooled in!) . . . he was lean (hunting fit), weak and weedy looking. The woman who sold him to us, although a lovely person, knew I would be sharing him with my 13-year-old daughter.

He couldn't walk in a straight line, wouldn't take a contact, wasn't at all balanced, rushed in every pace, was bolshy/barge-y, wouldn't stand still when tied/would swing his quarters around and knock you over. He didn't stand still to be mounted, I couldn't mount with or carry a whip. He could be incredibly sharp in the school - he'd spook all the way across the arena, dropping his shoulder - in about a nanosecond. He couldn't canter left at all without going disunited behind. The kicker came when he span, reared and threatened to bolt with me on a road!!!

Some of his issues were just stress at being in a new place, some were how he'd been ridden/schooled before and some were him testing his new, and rather novice-y, owners.

I won't lie - at one point I was terrified of riding him - and he wasn't much fun to handle either.

However, with alot of help and support, we are now a true partnership. I had to learn to "man up" and give him firm boundaries both on the ground and when on board. I completely reassessed his feed (molasses sends him right round the twist) - I'd prefer he had as much fibre as possible with supplements and/or balancers than lots of high protein, high sugar feed.

Two years on we are hacking out in company with no issues, he is a delight to ride in the school . . . I ride in spurs and carry a schooling whip with no bother. He trusts me and I have learned to trust him. He knows what I expect from him. Yes, he is still quirky and sharp . . . but he is so much more settled - and I honestly wouldn't swap him now.

Kali has always been a sweet horse with a huuuuge personality - that hasn't gone away . . . but he's now much more respectful and I actually enjoy riding him (as opposed to cacking myself regularly!).

Get some help . . . take things slow. Four weeks isn't a long time. By all means get the bloods run . . . definitely reassess and adjust his feed . . . do lots of groundwork with him to establish trust/boundaries. Don't let him get away with ANYthing - but be kind and fair. At 6 he's still young - especially for a big boy. The bucking would worry me . . . I'd definitely get either a vet or a physio to check that out . . . make sure it isn't physical before you assume it's naughtiness (I've always been very glad that Kal doesn't buck under saddle, so I don't envy you).

Good luck!

P
 
Thanks PolarS - the bucking is down to pain, the physio disgnosed a sore spot on his back yesterday and he's now having treatment for that plus 2 weeks off to recouperate.

I said previously that although the woman who I bought him off said he did regular work, I don't think he did and then I come along doing a little bit everday and I think it was too much for him at once.

Still, things are looking up and I'm a lot more positive than I was this time yesterday, plus I can't believe how many replies and views I've had to this - thanks so much everyone!
 
Everyone has already said it but it might be worth mentioning again that some horses do heat up on supposedly non heating feed.

Arnie is apparently extremely intolerant of sugar. Even too many carrots (as in half a dozen)can send him over the edge (but try telling his granny that!). Most feed balancers, any form of beet pulp (including all the unmollased versions) and even things like fast fibre can send him loopy.

Sadly, it took me a lot of years to realise this. I now avoid any form of mollasses (and your nuts are almost definately going to include mollasses - they use them to bind them) and feed magnesium routinely partly as a calmer and partly for his feet. At this time of year when the grass is starting to come through and is low in magnesium I up the amount.

Now that I have all that sussed, I have my dream boy!

6 is also a funny age for big horses. They can get a bit cocky and stroppy just because they are growing up and dont quite know what to do with themselves :D

It really doesnt sound as though you've been "had" as such. I would almost be more inclined to put the blame on your experienced friend who came with you. A big, underweight, living out 6 year old is always going to ring alarm bells as far as "suitable for a novice" goes. Boris is adorable and he looks like a big, gentle giant. I really hope it works out well for both of you. Hopefully all you will need is a wee rethink of the management aspect and get his back sorted.

Good luck with him :D
 
A big, underweight, living out 6 year old is always going to ring alarm bells as far as "suitable for a novice" goes.
Click to expand...

I would 100% agree with you on this.

I do think that the OP may have been let down by her advisers - and should probably have been told that this was possibly not the horse for her, under those conditions.

However, I think they may actually just get on fine. I have everything crossed for a brilliant outcome and wonderful success story.

I'm actually rather jealous, as Boris is just my type!
 
The previous owner didn't tell me he lived out until a week after I'd had him... she wasn't straight up with me by any means... and the person who came with me told her exactly what I was looking for and the woman agreed to everything and said that Boris was the perfect match!

There could be a number of reasons why she kept him skinny, my initial instincts are that she did this to keep him under control and my second one is that maybe she couldn't afford to feed him properly - she had about another 5 horses (not for sale, Boris was the only one she was selling).

Anyhoo, he's now my responsibility and I'm going to do the best I can for him and me with a realistic view of if it doesn't work out, then I'd rather give him away to an experienced and loving home whilst being honest about him, instead of selling him for as much as I can to whoever will buy him - that's just not me...
 
He is gorgeous, good luck with him, can't wait to see some updated pictures showing how he has improved. He'll look fab with a bit more muscle and his summer coat. :)
 
MrsB said:
I've uploaded a couple of piccies of Boris (I've got an album which I think you can all see), I'm due to take another one on Sunday, it'll be 4 weeks since I got him and already the changes are clearly noticeable!

picture.php

Hope this works!
Click to expand...

Awwwwwwwwww, he has a very nice eye, looks so sweet. I think you really do have your Ideal horse. Horse ownership is NEVER straight forward. It is messy, tiring heart breaking and exhilarating and fills y our heart all at the same time.

He looks lovely, and with some muscle and all groomed and proud I bet he looks AMAZING! (Plus he is chestnut, I love chestnuts .....never met a bad one!)
 
I have been thru the same as this. Bought a 5 year old ISH who is 16.3h and boy could could he buck!! I lost my confidence and almost sold him. So glad I didn't. He is 8 now and I would never part with him. He did not fully mature until last year I would say. He may do the odd buck now but nothing like he used to. I think he just found certain things hard. I have also found I have to keep him fit. I gave him a lot of last summer off and the bucking was bad again. As soon as he is fit and muscles are all in the right place, it stops. Good luck :)
 
Some good advice on here for you. It took my horse about 3-4 months to settle properly. Through it all I though I had a loon but sounds like you certainly have your hands full there.

Give him a fair amount of time and see how he turns out as he really is stunning ;)

Make sure you have a good instructor to help you.

Maybe try him living out? I know it took the edge off my horse completely and a change of feed helped too.

Good luck!
 
Wow, I posted a few pages back about his feed and letting him settle in.

Just seen the photos. He has a good look about him and if you take your time, give him time, let him mature, take things slowly and carefully, I reckon you're going to have an absolute beaut of a horse there. Don't think in terms of 2 weeks or 2 months, but say 2 years. Two years from now, if you've kept him, you'll look back over the journey you've had, and although it may have been an eventful one, I reckon you'll be really glad you've kept him and will have a lovely bond with him and be able to do what you want to do with him by then too. Good luck!
 
he looks like a lovely chap "he is going to be big on filling out !!" cant wait to see the pics in a few weeks after he has started to benefit from the tlc and good grass coming through.

Not suprised he has been a bit awkward as bless him he has no muscle, couple of weeks off you are giving him and bringing him back in slowly and I bet you will have a totally different happy, horse.

Good for you for sticking with it and asking advice, he is a lucky boy !
 
MrsB said:
and the person who came with me told her exactly what I was looking for and the woman agreed to everything and said that Boris was the perfect match!
Click to expand...

When I'm viewing horses I personally tell the seller nothing, or very little about what I'm looking for as it leads them to saying what you want to hear. It's better off letting the sellers mouth run away with them and pick through what has been said.

You've had great advice so no point in anyone saying any more but would like to query you saying his passport saying he was born in 2005 and you questioning him being sold as a 6 year old. Well if he was born in 2005, to 2011 would make him 6 and he'd be rising 7 later this year, so unless there's something else that's dodgy on the passport, it's likely it's his and correct.

He looks like he'll be a nice stamp of a horse once he's filled out and muscled up and you sound like you're going to give him the very best chance of succeeding :) I really hope it works out for you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top