my new horse is acting crazy!

The lack of companionship is the problem i think. What a shame, poor horse
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I think you have taken on a lot with a TB mare, they can be quirky!
The main thing is that she has turn out, the correct diet and is safe (so that she won't hurt you)
Then you need to ask for help, find a professional.
I really hope it works out for you, let us know how you are getting on?
 
f_s okay im sorry too if i jumped at you back there... just kinda frustrated and wanted some advice..


I guess what im asking talking about all does sound a bit crazy! lol i have to laugh or id cry! she really is a lovely mare and i guess i had this tunnel vision it was gonna be all sweetness and riding down the moorlands over here.


it isnt like that at all! first thing this morning in fact i was leading her up the drive ( it backs onto the moorlands) and she pulled away from me so hard i lost the rope and she was off! running over the farmers feilds! it was only because she got trapped into a corner i managed to get her back! Im gonna make sure i keep a tight hold of her from now on!


Okay if i could ask something else... a few of you say buy another horse to keep her company... is that a wise idea? I can be honest and say, i am not 100% sure what im doing with the 1 let alone 2 !!!
 
diggerbez prob worth me ringing around a few places tomrrow then cos i think thats a good idea! ( goin onto a livery yard) the woman i bought her off didnt say id need another horse to keep this one company! if she had of....it might of made me think twice about buying her.
as it happens i have now so i need to fix this mess. what i think i need to be honst is a good trainer, somebody who can settle her down a bit! do you know any local ones at all or where to maybe find one?
 
If I was you I would move horse to local livery yard, where mare will have company and you will have more backup. I have had horses for years and I frequently ask for help/advice from fellow liveries.
 
I think that the OP was maybe right in that although you say she is a lovely mare, and she probably is, she may not be suitable for you at this particular time.

Are you still in contact with the person who sold her to you? Is it possible you could take her back there, either to get a refund, or, to keep her there so you have some support?

Other than changing her feed, and/or getting a companion, are there any professional people around that could help?

It's not easy having horses, we all struggle sometimes, and we are all learning all the time. I really hope you get some help, and keep asking the questions and posting updates
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amymay she isnt exactly on her own as such, okay she doesnt have other horses here but she can virtually see me in the window... and im outside with her ( i work from home quite lucky) so i do spend alot of time with her... so she shouldnt be that lonely surely? should she?


helen well i dont know how to answer that because i think most of you guys would class me as a real novice! when i was 15 i was given a gorgous arab x he was something like 16.3/4 named inky... it was meant to be a loan horse but the girl who owned him basically didnt care... i was left to my own devices with him, for over 6 months until she sold him...then when i left school i wanted to be a trainee riding instructor... ( says the one who cant handle his own horse) lol
that was at lassel house riding school near wigan... so i know the basics only ( riding wise) as far as the care of a horse i think im good enough. to care for the animal anyway. i just lack experiance i guess.
 
this is why i joined here just tonight! I thought i might meet some local folk who maybe have horses on livery yards near me maybe etc... just talkin about it is actually a big help beleive it or not.

Im not gonna throw in the towel just yet to be fair. and although she does try to get her own way im not scared of her as such! Im just kinda givin in to her demands cos shes new here and i am being soft... ( dont worry i aint gonna beat her or anything! lol) But i can show her whos boss!
 
If you are going to keep your mare at home, it is absolutely essential that she has company. You could get a loan companion for her. But please ask advice on here before you bring one home as there are many things to consider. I am sorry, but I agree with AMYMAY. I don't think this is the horse for you. I would seriously try to return her and look for a nice safe older cob or similar to hack out on. It will be very likely that you will without realising it ruin this horse for life and also give yourself major riding anxiety, which can take years to conquer. I am sorry to be so negative, but I really have seen how very similar synarios play out.
 
Horses are herd animals, they hate to be on their own, they will always get stressed without another horse in sight.

I think you are doing what you think is best within your experiance which is great, but now you have your own horse you will need loads of help.

Do you have enough room to have another livery there with you, maybe someone experianced that you could ride with and gather experiance from?
 
i do know some good trainers in your area but i think before you start with the ridden stuff you need to get your groundwork sorted and this is where a good livery yard with knowledgeable YO is worth its weight in gold.... and there will be horses there for your mare to socialise with- she does really need some horsey friends as well as you as that is what she would have in the wild (a herd!)
 
I seriously would URGE you to move your horse to a livery yard ASAP- please! It would be an absolute enormous help to both you and your horse, there will be plenty of horses around for your mare so she will be happy and there will be plenty of people around to give you a hand and advice if you need it. People give very good advice on here but unfortunately you cannot rely on that alone....or in case of an emergency etc. Would you know what to do if your horse became lame, had suspected laminitis/colic etc until the vet arrived?

I'm excited for you, as your first horse is always an exciting thing, but i cannot stress enough how much you need to move to a livery yard, you will both be so much happier. Please try and look for some in your area.

But good luck with horse, so jealous :-D keep us all posted.x
 
f_s i wont repeat what i think about the person who sold her to me ...it starts with B and ends in H ! she replied to texts the first few hours (after she dropped her off ) and then that was it... Nomore texts or phone calls... just left me to it basically.
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It does sound as though she knew what she was doing, and has left you with an unsuitable horse.

A good livery yard will help you immensely, there would be other people to ask and a good YO could help you out.

I would go for this option until you feel you can do this yourself, and perhaps get a companion for her when you take her back home again.
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I guess a livery yard is the best idea so far so i,ll contact a few tomrrow. see if there is any room etc this is turning into a really sad night for me tbh
 
Don't be sad, there will be help and support out there. I'm sure you'll find somewhere to help you, and then we can look forward to your posts on your successes
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f_s i wont repeat what i think about the person who sold her to me ...it starts with B and ends in H ! she replied to texts the first few hours (after she dropped her off ) and then that was it... Nomore texts or phone calls... just left me to it basically.
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Ok! I guess she isn't going back then! So I echo the other posters and urge you to move her to a livery yard with other horses and get some professional help to handle her. Please do it ASAP as this mare will probably not be able to sleep or rest properly due to not having a companion to watch out for her.
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Good luck! You sound like a very caring person and I know you want to do the right thing by this mare.
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Yeah, don't be sad, you will have loads of fun with your new horse, you will just need lots of help.

We want to be the first to know when you get sorted and you and your mare are happy together.

Wishing you loads of luck.

H xx
 
Keep your chin up hun. Once you get over this 'blip' and get the things right that your horse is relying on you to get right (ie, company, diet and management), you'll turn the corner.

I think a nice livery yard would be a good start for a while. You can both get to know each other and you will have other liveries to bounce ideas off. You'll be amazed at how much you can do with just the teeniest amount of help.

Don't be down. Just make a few phone calls in the morning, and I bet tomorrow evening will be a much better one. Chin up.
 
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Was the woman who sold her to you a dealer or was it a private sale?

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If she was a dealer, you could insist on returning the horse under the sale of goods act as it was not suitable for purpose. However if it was a private sale then you are stuck I'm afraid.
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I wouldn't necessarily say she's the wrong horse for you yet. She may well revert to the horse you tried out when she's in a routine and has a friend to keep her company.

If you don't fancy moving to a livery yard, can you afford/have room to keep another little pony for company? Just a shetland, or a retired little pony would be fine for her. Horses, being herd animals, will stress terribly when kept alone. Very few horses can adapt to being kept in that manner. The behaviour she's exhibiting may all stem from how she's feeling about the move.

She is, after all, an animal with feelings etc, not a machine. It will take her time to adjust....just as it's going to take you time to adjust.

I didn't start riding at all until I was 32 (I'm 37 now). I bought my first horse after 6 months, largely because I live on a farm and it seemed a good idea at the time!

I had no idea how to even tack up. I was quite foolish really, but it worked out for me. I didn't keep that horse, but I've had the one I ride now for almost 4 years. We go on farm rides, I hack alone/company, have lessons etc etc and have survived quite well on my own, not at a livery yard.

I do, however, have regular lessons (weekly) and haven't been shy at asking for help along the way. I read ALOT too and accept that I know very little.....but am always looking to broaden my knowledge.

It can work...so don't lose heart. You will probably laugh about this in a few months time.

Did you tell the woman you were planning on keeping the mare alone? I'm genuinely very surprised that she didn't express any concerns over that.
 
it was a pvt sale, it was an advert in the sun on line.

the woman basically said she bought her cos she felt sorry for her. and she hadnt really ridden her cos she was too heavy for the horse ( the woman was on the larger side) so i just beleived everything she said. the advert had a picture of her and the womans toddler was sat on her back! so i thought....she must be really laid back...


ive just got thinking also there is apparantley a livery yard over rivington( which is very close for me) also a farm that has cob types out in the feild... do you think maybe asking if i can put her put to graze in the day there and then bring her back to her stable here at night? it is do (able) as its within walking distance.
 
[ QUOTE ]
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Was the woman who sold her to you a dealer or was it a private sale?

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If she was a dealer, you could insist on returning the horse under the sale of goods act as it was not suitable for purpose. However if it was a private sale then you are stuck I'm afraid.
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No you are not. You can take the previous owner to the small claims court. Costs a couple of hundred pounds to bring the case to court. The horse still has to be fit for it's intended purpose. If you can prove the owner deliberately misled you, you would have a case.

Infact I think the OP would win.....largely because the judge in all likelihood wouldn't consider the fact that the OP might not be as experienced in either horse ownership or riding than the seller may have assumed.
 
A TB is not the ideal first horse as has already been said on this thread. I have had horses for 30 odd years and still find the TB's to be the trickiest of the lot
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I find it odd that a self confessed novice would buy an animal like this tbh

Adding to the complications, she has no companion and you have no support from other horse owners. I would recommend moving to a yard with expereienced help asap before you end up being seriously hurt. It is very worrying that after such a short space of time your mare has developed the matriach role over you. You have to put a stop to that NOW before she gets really out of hand.
 
patches thanks for that reply it really cheered me up
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thank u!

i think im alot like you was , and im keen to learn more. i just need the chance.

I,ll be honest, the idea of sending her to a livery yard is the worst situation for me, the entire idea was to have a horse here at home... the feild at the side of my house, the large garage for her stable... with a custom built stable door etc etc... she has everything she will need here. except i guess like many have said....company. and YES the woman i bought her off knew full well she would be living here alone.

but the last thing i want for her is to be unsettled and stressed out being alone. so it sounds like i need to find myself a little shetland type pony or cob.

so my next question is, could they share one stable? ( it is MASSIVE) or would that not work? or could the shetland live out? could they both live out?
 
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do you think maybe asking if i can put her put to graze in the day there and then bring her back to her stable here at night? it is do (able) as its within walking distance.

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Your mare will be happier out with the other horses, but when you bring her back on her own I expect she will fret, as you have already lost her once when you were leading her, I wouldn't say this would be a good idea, but she may be ok, you will just have to try,

I would think it would be easier to get her a compainion or move her to a livery yard?
 
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