New horse a mistake

[legaldancer]

I had a similar problem & ended up with the horse for 4 years, although he was on loan for a period of time. He could be quite unpredictable at times, but an angel at others. Although sporadic, he never did change & I sold him on eventually. He was given every chance.

The previous owner said it was me & that he had never been like that before. I wish you luck.

 

[WandaMare]

Have you changed his feeds or exercise levels? some feeds can make my horses spooky when they are not used to the extra energy

Agree with the comments about time to settle, mine was sold to me as suitable for novice, but was a handful for for first six months. Hopefully he will settle down soon.

 

[Mavis Cluttergusset]

QR - what's the horse like in general? Is he edgy and unsettled? It took my mare months to settle in, she still spooks at random things in the yard that have been there as long as she has. I didnt hack out alone to start with, I built her confidence up (and mine!) slowly; I think it's a bit much to expect even the most safe and steady horse to not look at things the first few times you ride it in new surroundings (Im assuming you had him 4 weeks, then got saddle then rode for the first time).

 

[Ranyhyn]

If the horse was advertised as suitable for a beginner (and it wasn't mentioned he needed constant work) I dont think 4 weeks off is a decent reason for spooking so much.

I can get on mine (and intend to) after his 4 week break and his behaviour is always exemplary.

Either the seller wasn't entirely honest or Im incredibly lucky - i think the former.

 

[fatpiggy]

Try looking at things from the horse's point of view. He was nicely settled for x number of years at his old home, knew what his routine was and was completely familiar with particular human faces and voices. Then out of the blue he doesn't recognise a damn thing, hasn't a clue where he is and everything is all over the place. Many horses get spooky when they are tense and upset. Imagine what it would be like if you were parachuted into a strange country! When I bought my mare I knew she was a nutter to ride so I spent the first 6 weeks finding out what she knew and working her entirely in hand. To start with she was totally compliant (shell shocked I think) but then as her confidence grew she started pushing the boundaries a bit and testing me. When I moved her 4 years ago to a new yard, having been on the old one for 8 years she was distraught. I even went to the extent of bringing down her old bed so that her stable at least felt familiar but she was on edge and spent half her day looking down the road towards her old "home". It was a good year before I felt that she had really settled in.

 

[Dotilas]

I'm trying to get this straight:

You tried a horse, bought it, brought it home, didn't ride it for 3 and a bit weeks, get on it for the first time in almost 4 weeks and you are surprised when the horse is not 100% being ridden for the first time in brand new surroundings and a saddle that is possibly not 100%, also new to the horse.

Horses react differently to different saddles - the reason you ride in them for the saddler is to check that the horse does not have an adverse reaction to the feel of that certain saddle on his back?

 

[Ranyhyn]

God forbid she ever takes it to a show then.

Jesus the horse should within reason (and if sold to a novice as a novice ride) do what its told and behave!! If a dog jumps out of a bush - spook = yes acceptable, if its just being spooky=no not acceptable.

 

[teddyt]

I havnt read all the replies but IMO 4 weeks is no time at all for a horse to settle in to a new environment, new person, new management, possibly different food/routine/communication.

If the horse hasnt been ridden for 4 weeks this would just add to the problem.

I would suggest getting into a good routine, including exercise, and get an instructor to help you so you dont feel alone. It is not always the sellers fault! You need to be patient and give the horse more time, whilst keeping yourself safe.

 

[competitiondiva]

I ask again how old is the horse? Is there any chance that the sellers may have genuinely gone on holiday???

 

[rockysmum]

[ QUOTE ]
God forbid she ever takes it to a show then.

Jesus the horse should within reason (and if sold to a novice as a novice ride) do what its told and behave!! If a dog jumps out of a bush - spook = yes acceptable, if its just being spooky=no not acceptable.

[/ QUOTE ]

Completely disagree, of my three the one which will move yards without caring is our youngster, but that is because she was brought from the continent, pushed around dealers and god knows what until we got her in a dreadful state and ill treated. I wouldn't let a novice even go in the stable with her though.

My other two are soft as muck and family pets but they are upset by moves and very likely to react as the OP's horse has.

 

[Flame_]

If the sellers were genuine, they should be answering your calls and offering to come and help you out. Assuming they're not a million miles away. Don't just accept things, but if you can get someone experienced to help in the meantime, you might get a better idea if this is just a teething problem or if its not suitable.

 

[Murphs_Mum]

Sorry about the problems you are having. However, first time being ridden in a new yard, in a new saddle, with a new mum and having been out of work for a month I would expect him to look at things? It does seem a little unfair that you are just going to give up after one ride, he may be your perfect horse underneath just feeling a little unsure of himself. I echo the other posts, get someone confident on him and get him hacked out with another horse to familiarise himself with the new surroundings. Also how often was he ridden in his previous home? A horse that is used to being ridden daily can change dramatically if left alone for a month.

I bought my horse (who is similar to how you described yours was sold to you) four years ago - he is an absolute superstar but on our first few hacks he stopped and looked at a couple of things, I just gave him a moment and then rode him firmly past and we never looked back. Maybe your lack of confidence is also affecting him?

Hope you work it out, my only concern is the fact you can't get hold of the previous owners.

 

[KatB]

[ QUOTE ]
God forbid she ever takes it to a show then.

Jesus the horse should within reason (and if sold to a novice as a novice ride) do what its told and behave!! If a dog jumps out of a bush - spook = yes acceptable, if its just being spooky=no not acceptable.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, I have to disagree. A seller can sell a horse who genuinely has never put a foot wrong with them. If it is moved somewhere completely different, and someone completely new clambers on after 4weeks of not being sat on, I would expect the horse to be tense and slightly lacking in confidence!! There are some horses that wouldnt care, but it is very difficult for sellers even if they are very genuine whether the horse they are selling is one of them, as the chances are the horse hasnt been in that situation with them?!

People forget horses are animals and not machines I think

 

[saddlesore]

Spooky means different things to different people though. When i got my horse at 4yo i rode him the day after he arrived and he behaved - but he wasn't what you could call relaxed! He moved around 3 months ago after i broke my ankle and they rode him a few hours after he arrived and again he 'behaved' but was certianly on his toes!

ETA: IMO he would have been much worse if he had been left for four weeks before being ridden. I'd still be trying to contact seller but maybe give the horse a chance!

 

[KatB]

saddlesore, the same with my 4yr old, who is quite a sharp little girl. She behaved, but if I had done something she didnt understand/like, I would have known about it!

Looking at something (or spooking) is very different ot misbehaving unless it involved being ridiculous, spinning, shooting sideways etc

 

[Ranyhyn]

Well I must be incredibly lucky then (who would've thought it?) as will the person who buys my horse be, because he knows his job and he sticks to it, wherever he is and whoever is on him.

 

[Kayfm]

As said previously, not returning the calls sounds weird to me. I purchased a beautiful cb x tb dressage mare who rode perfectly. Got her home and she is spooky, chucked me off twice, and has been lame vertually since purchase in March. To put it in a nut shell - I have been done.

Hope you get on ok and the horse settles. Try and do as much as you can with him to see if he settles ????

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
Not for an unconfident rider!! or new surroundings

[/ QUOTE ]

he was sold as suitable for a beginner...so yes, 4 weeks is plenty

 

[teddyt]

[ QUOTE ]
People forget horses are animals and not machines I think

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. My friend bought a cob a few years ago. As good as gold at the sellers yard, totally suitable for a novice. Que move to my friends yard and a few months of problems due to napping and other stuff. Its not because the horse was bad, nor the seller a liar. the horse was just unsettled after leaving its friends and what it was used to. my friend was patient and i helped her ride it for a few of weeks and the horse was soon back to the bombproof cob she had bought.

But then my friend was realistic and didnt expect a machine. She had bought a well trained, nice horse but didnt expect it to behave the same when she moved it and knew once it had settled in she would be the same horse she bought. And she had help.

Yes, some horses are unfazed by moving but many are. You just have to appreciate horse behaviour a bit more when they are unsettled. i can ride my thoroughreds after 4 months off (let alone 4 weeks) and i know they would be fine but i wouldnt warrant them to be the same in a strange yard with a totally differnt owner/management/environment.

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
My horse was sold as a saint, and was ridden the day after he arrived. And guess what? He was a saint. Bareback and by a rider who hadn't ridden in months (and he hadn't been ridden much either!) And when he finds his new home he will go to people who'll be advised to get on and go - a horse who knows his job should be able to cope.

4 weeks I think is enough to settle for a steady hacker like that.

[/ QUOTE ]

exactly...i'd be contacting trading standards ...and get it returned.

 

[Hippona]

[ QUOTE ]
On the other side, a horse that has always been a complete saint, after moving yards/routines/owners etc may just be feeling a little bit unsure and scared about life!!

Get someone to hack out with you to start, or someone more confident to hack him on his own, and I bethe will be fine in a couple of weeks of regular work.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree....although if you are not very confident he will be taking that from you also.....

 

[Spudlet]

QR - I agree that it sounds as if he needs more time to settle. The whole situation is new to him, so he's unlikely to be as happy and confident as he was in his old home yet.

Is there perhaps someone more confident and/or experienced that could ride him in a bit for you, until he gets used to his new surroundings and saddle? You sound as though you have had bad experiences and so may be understandably tense, which will also contribute to him being less than confident.

As others have said they are not machines, they do not react the same every time.... with more time you may find you have a little star on your hands.

 

[Flame_]

[ QUOTE ]
. Advertised as perfect gentleman, safe confidence giver, suitable for all members of family or beginner.

[/ QUOTE ]
A bit different to a 4 year old eventer. The safe beginners horses that have come on our yard have been exactly that, from day one.

 

[MontyandZoom]

When he spooked when you tried him........what did the seller say? Did they give you the impression that this is normal behaviour or did they say that it was unusual?

Was there anyone with you when you tried him?

 

[Ranyhyn]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
. Advertised as perfect gentleman, safe confidence giver, suitable for all members of family or beginner.

[/ QUOTE ]
A bit different to a 4 year old eventer. The safe beginners horses that have come on our yard have been exactly that, from day one.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bang on by my standards.

 

[saddlesore]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, some horses are unfazed by moving but many are.

[/ QUOTE ]

^^^^^^ This.

 

[Ranyhyn]

No-one is saying its wrong but why on earth didn't the seller communicate this to the buyer..?

I know my horses which ones could be ridden straight away and which needed time, the ones that needed time wouldnt be sold as bombproof to a novice owner/rider.

 

[KatB]

I'm not comparing the behaviour to a 4yr old eventer, but agreethat probably wasnt relevant.

However, a horse is a horse. Even a perfect horse in its own home, with its rider that it knows and trusts can become a bit unsure if moved away from what it is used to. It doesnt mean they've been done, just purely it had never been put in that situation before. I just think its unfair to right a horse/seller off as dodgy from one ride in 4weeks!

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
If the horse was advertised as suitable for a beginner (and it wasn't mentioned he needed constant work) I dont think 4 weeks off is a decent reason for spooking so much.

I can get on mine (and intend to) after his 4 week break and his behaviour is always exemplary.

Either the seller wasn't entirely honest or Im incredibly lucky - i think the former.

[/ QUOTE ]

agreed...

i really cant see why folk are making excuses for this horse...

the OP bought what she thought/was sold as a good animal for a novice..it clearly isnt..

she should be able to return it..end of.

it doesnt really matter if its been ridden once, twice or 100 times..it isnt fit for purpose

 

[KatB]

Kitsune, how would the seller know?!