Naughty horse...help!

Glad to hear he's going back.

Next time take your semi professional mother with you to try out your next potential horse 😉
 
Oh Nikole that's awful, but reading that your YO didn't think he was sound from day 1 makes me think you've had a lucky escape!

Can your mum and sister help with the new horse hunt? I'm sure with their combined experience they'll have some reliable connections that might know of something that fits the bill.
 
You've absolutely done the right thing, especially as your YO had doubts over his soundness too.

I wish you lots of luck and hope that you soon find the right horse for you, that you can enjoy and build your confidence with. :)
 
I'm sorry you have had to go through this but very pleased that you have decided to send him back. I was very suspicious that he had been kept in because she couldn't get the b****r in from the field.

If you haven't already sent the letter I would be tempted not to - it would have been cathartic for you to write it but the owner doesn't need to know how you feel.

Good luck in the hunt for your next horse.
 
Excellent news OP. I'm sure it was a hard decision for you but best for both you and horse in the long term. Well done.
 
I've been following and hoping that you'd find the courage to let him go. Sorry for my initial blunt response, but it summed up all my feelings in a sentence! Anyway, I'm relieved for you, and good luck in finding the right horse. I am sure you have learned a lot from this whole experience, so you're in a much better place from which to start looking now x
 
Landcruiser said:
I've been following and hoping that you'd find the courage to let him go. Sorry for my initial blunt response, but it summed up all my feelings in a sentence! Anyway, I'm relieved for you, and good luck in finding the right horse. I am sure you have learned a lot from this whole experience, so you're in a much better place from which to start looking now x
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Hi Landcruiser :)

that's ok, I know everyone was just trying to make me see sense. I have spent two days crying and really upset. my YO has recommended I leave him in the field where it's safer until he goes back to his owner. she's being a total b!t(h!! but everyone on the yard can see how upset I am and how hard I've tried but he is unmanageable.

my husband is taking me to clitheroe horse auction and my YO is coming too, I am not going with the intention of purchasing, just looking, but if she sees something worth getting she will tell me. I know this is a very very grey area but the price they go for I would happily send to a livery yard for breaking/schooling first if needs be.

I will keep everyone updated! x
 
nikolethompson said:
Hi Landcruiser :)

that's ok, I know everyone was just trying to make me see sense. I have spent two days crying and really upset. my YO has recommended I leave him in the field where it's safer until he goes back to his owner. she's being a total b!t(h!! but everyone on the yard can see how upset I am and how hard I've tried but he is unmanageable.

my husband is taking me to clitheroe horse auction and my YO is coming too, I am not going with the intention of purchasing, just looking, but if she sees something worth getting she will tell me. I know this is a very very grey area but the price they go for I would happily send to a livery yard for breaking/schooling first if needs be.

I will keep everyone updated! x
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I am so sorry that you have had such an awful experience OP, but I firmly believe you have done the right thing. Perhaps someone on here can help with recommendations of potential horses in your area. I certainly know of one that is just coming on the market, a really sweet mare that has been started professionally, has bags of potential and is just a darling. She belongs to a friend in Burscough (not sure if that is too far from you) my friend moved up there with her last year and is now selling her. If you want more info pm me.
 
nikolethompson said:
Hi Landcruiser :)

that's ok, I know everyone was just trying to make me see sense. I have spent two days crying and really upset. my YO has recommended I leave him in the field where it's safer until he goes back to his owner. she's being a total b!t(h!! but everyone on the yard can see how upset I am and how hard I've tried but he is unmanageable.

my husband is taking me to clitheroe horse auction and my YO is coming too, I am not going with the intention of purchasing, just looking, but if she sees something worth getting she will tell me. I know this is a very very grey area but the price they go for I would happily send to a livery yard for breaking/schooling first if needs be.

I will keep everyone updated! x
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I'm glad you've decided to send him back, get something you can enjoy straight away, you'll be much happier :)

Personally, I would look for a horse that you can try out multiple times before purchasing, make sure you go and try in the school, on the roads etc. If you want one for hacking alone then make sure it does hack alone! I would recommend getting it vetted too if I were you :)

Good luck in your search I hope you find something soon.
 
I'm really not sure I'd advise purchasing from an auction. As another poster has said you need to be able to try before you buy.
 
nikolethompson said:
I told her that I was getting a trainer in to help us and she's basically said he's never been bad and it's all my fault! I have been really upset (again) because this definitely is not the case!

She is claiming that he's never had any of these issues.
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I think certain horses know who to push and how far they can go though sadly. I had a horse who was "difficult" when he arrived to me as a 3yo, to handle he was a nightmare but I worked very hard on him and after a few months I finally earned his respect and he knew the boundaries. I then tried to sell him, offered him on a short trial as I TOLD the new person he'd likely test her. He was horrible to her! He did stuff with her I was mortified with (that he'd never done with me even at the beginning), he was pinning her against the wall, tanking off in hand, kicking out at her - I was truly horrified. I took him straight back, I was totally honest with the next person who turned out to be a 14yo girl. You know what, they got on like a house on fire. He just liked certain people, I think some horses are just like that. Sounds like you might have one, that OR the owner has simply been lying! The fact he was stabled permanently suggests she definately had issues getting him in... you've done the right thing OP. Life doesn't have to be so difficult. You only really appreciate how easy and fun horses can be when you have an easy horse!
 
amymay said:
I'm really not sure I'd advise purchasing from an auction. As another poster has said you need to be able to try before you buy.
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Agree with this and am seriously surprised your YO and experienced mother/sister are recommending going down this route, especially after the issues you've just had with the current horse.
 
I've avoided coming back to this thread because if I'm really, really honest I was worried you were going to keep the horse and I think you would have had your confidence knocked even more. I'm glad you've sent him back.

I'm not sure whereabouts you are in the country but if you've got a local facebook site (we have Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire riders groups) then list on there what you are looking for. There are often people who want someone to have a horse on loan or share a horse and go by word of mouth.

Good luck!
 
Antw23uk said:
As promised I will tell you about my night .... Went to the yard and when my horses saw the car they started coming over so by the time I got out of the car and onto my yard they were waiting for me. I left the gelding in the field and tied the mare up, picked her feet out, flicked the brush over her (she's rotten, why bother trying to clean her!) Then I put her bridle on and lunging equipment (I use the Equiami) and off we plodded to the middle paddock .. not usually where I lunge but hey, doesnt matter. We did twenty minutes of lovely walk to trot transitions on the lunge, both reins. Nice slow relaxed walk back to the yard past the gelding eyeing me suspiciously .....

Mare got a flick of the brush where her tack had been, her nose and eyes wiped with baby wipes (Im obsessed with clean nose and eyes) and head collar off, she made her way the few feet to the field by herself.

Gelding in, repeated process, so twenty minutes in a nice relaxed lunging session and he was done, both were fed, given a pat and left alone. Dog and I played ball whilst I poo picked and off I went home.

My evening was trouble free, both horses happy, me happy ... dog happy. That is how life with horses is supposed to be and if its not then you need to re think your game plan!
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So life with horses isn't supposed to be around fixing the electric fencing (again!), chasing the Ardennes around the field with the long grass in it (again!), and wondering when your horse is going to be sound enough to ride (again!)?

******

Seriously considering trading them in for kittens. Kittens are cute and require a lot less poo-picking.
 
nikolethompson said:
Hi all :)

I have a horse on LWVTB and I have completely fallen for him

we have some issues that I need help ironing out, it's becoming unmanageable!

he is a 6 yo (just turned 6) cob gelding

His owner has had him from 5 months old but hasn't really done much with him, for example before I got him she hadn't turned him out in over 12 months for fear of him being bullied in the field. He never did any schooling and only ever hacked in company

I have had him for 6 weeks now, and although at first he was good, he is now starting to get very naughty.

firstly, when turned out he refuses to come in. He is good as gold to go over to, cuddle him and put his head collar on but he will not move his feet. If you try and move him he spins, pulls, jumps, plants his feet again and it can take over an hour to get him in with a large bucket of feed! He doesn't move at all unless you have food or treats. If you try and flick him with the rope or take a whip he's even worse and tries to cow kick. Its at the point now where I cannot get him in, he gets worse daily and my husband is now so frustrated with having to spend an hour an evening there to bring him in so I can attempt to ride!

Secondly, when tied up he is great, he paces a little and can try and push you out of the way but otherwise good. When you try to pick his feet he just slams them back down again. I persisted for 50 minutes last night before I half picked out one hoof then had to give up as I had to pick my son up from after school club. He was good in his last home at picking his feet so I haven't a clue how he's picked up this bad habit! no amount of being patient, treats or telling him off is working :( this has been going on sine I got him and it is getting worse. My husband eventually gets his feet done but he cant come with me daily!

Thirdly, riding... well... he refuses to let you on unless someone's stood there physically holding him still, between the mounting block and a fence. He has had his back and teeth checked and all ok and his tack checked. He's the spookiest cob I have ever known, he freaks out at birds flying in the sky as well as anything he sees, he's had me off twice now luckily he's just stood and waited with me but then it takes another half an hour and then me eventually going to get someone to hold him before I can get back on. I need any tips or ideas for this? We have been working on groundwork, just standing next to the mounting block, standing next to other things I can stand on, but as soon as I get close to stepping up he bolts backwards or forwards and has purposely knocked me off the mounting block (little ******). I cannot even hold the reigns in position as if I am about to get on without him moving out of the way. The more I persist the naughtier he gets.

Last but not least, he's impossible to lunge again without someone there, and he only manages a walk with someone on his other side holding him or he stops and runs at you. I have tried all sorts, running back at him, shouting at him, flicking the lunge, lunge whips everything. he just plants his feet in front of me and looks at me like I'm an idiot :D

He's so loving and a lovely horse to be around unless I am trying to do anything productive with him!

any advice/help much appreciated as I am coming to a dead end and I totally love him to death
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It sounds very interesting, I'd love to come and see if I can help depending on where you are, but for now the only advice I can give (since I've never seen him in person) is that keep in mind anything the horse does is because of you which doesn't mean your stupid or mean it just means you have to change to get a different result.
 
Lucy Barrow said:
It sounds very interesting, I'd love to come and see if I can help depending on where you are, but for now the only advice I can give (since I've never seen him in person) is that keep in mind anything the horse does is because of you which doesn't mean your stupid or mean it just means you have to change to get a different result.
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4 year old thread......
 
Interesting thread and comments.

I think you have made the right choice in sending the horse back. It appears it was historically "difficult" and off loaded onto you, someone who clearly has their heart in the right place but perhaps not the experience.

And why should you need to? You want a horse you can enjoy being with and riding. You don't necessarily gain experience from things going wrong. Many times experience is gained from getting things right, including finding the right horse for you and not trying to make up for serious mistakes other people have made with a horse!

I wish you every success with your next horse and hope you truly enjoy your time with it!
 
This isn't a naughty horse. Thus is a terrified and uneducated horse. He is a project and needs to be taken on by someone with experience of project horses.
Having said that, keeping a horse in a stable for 12 months without a veterinary reason is cruel and horrific - no wonder he doesn't want to come in.
 
SEL said:
So life with horses isn't supposed to be around fixing the electric fencing (again!), chasing the Ardennes around the field with the long grass in it (again!), and wondering when your horse is going to be sound enough to ride (again!)?

******

Seriously considering trading them in for kittens. Kittens are cute and require a lot less poo-picking.
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Ha! 4 years later and I'm living the same life ? Spent 30 mins caught in torrential rain trying to fix the destroyed fencing tonight!!!!
 
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