New horse- at what point do you stop being worried!

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poiuytrewq

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I've had him a month and he was I guess a slight risk as in he's older, cheaper more opinionated and greener than I should have gone for!
He's had a bit of a tough month to be fair, a bruised sole and cut leg (tiny but blew up and got sore) has held us back a lot.
I'm still currently worried something is wrong, that there was a real reason he was sold (as opposed to the perfectly plausible one the vendor gave!)
I've actually never owned a problem free horse which could be the issue here maybe but at what point would any hidden or possible issues have reared their ugly heads?!
Daughters pony failed a 5 stage on a flexion a year ago and I'm only just relaxing about it and accepting he wasn't buted to hide lameness etc!!!
 
How old is he? I'm sure he is fine!

I bought my mare at 16 and she carried on being ridden until she was 27, she'd still be ridden up until now, if I was light enough! shes now 30!

I can't say I've ever worried about a new horse, so can't really help with your worry timescale! but I'm sure he will be okay :)
 
I take the view that horses generally go wrong - and if they don't then it is a bonus!

You are obviously experienced - all you can do is expect the best and prepare for the worst :)
 
sorry this probably isn't any help, but when I bought my current horse (who is PERFECT!) nearly 2 years ago I had him on 4 weeks' trial and people were darkly telling me that there were drugs which could work for up to 6 weeks so I might still be caught out…

I really liked him by then and was a bit upset at this thought until my sister said, 'Well if that's happened find out what drug it is and keep giving it to him!'

Needless to say there were no drugs involved, he is perfect all by himself!

I think in an older horse, if there are physical issues you are going to find them out within the first couple of months. Unlike in a younger horse when the issue can develop after you get it (e.g. my 6 YO got arthritis aged 8).

So - you should be fine!! Good luck :)
 
Def agree with what's been said already. LJR I'm in your school of thought, although maybe I do in fact tend to expect the worst more often than not ! And I love your sister's response Tobiano.

In terms of fussing over and worrying about when things will go wrong, I confess I am 6 months down the line and I STILL have those moments. Mine is 5 so I'm forever expecting the Kevins. He has so far done little else but polish his halo. However, I have decided that this means when he does go Kevin, he'll go BIG ! Ever the optimist eh.

But on a more serious note, I reckon you'd notice something significant pretty early on and probably would have by now. So the rest is just cross your fingers, hope, and enjoy him at the moment. I do think you tend to get those settling in tweaks in the first few weeks, after that you've got a better idea of the horse you've bought. Have fun !
 
Haha love it keep him on the good stuff, I'd be inclined to get myself some too! 4 weeks into my new pony he had an absolute fit in the field bronking away, no neck strap which was due to being too lazy to get off and put it on after a friend tacked up. Broken wrist and I'm now out of cast so have owned the little sod for 9 weeks but guess we have had plenty of get to know you time if nothing else!!
 
MRSC1984 said:
Haha love it keep him on the good stuff, I'd be inclined to get myself some too! 4 weeks into my new pony he had an absolute fit in the field bronking away, no neck strap which was due to being too lazy to get off and put it on after a friend tacked up. Broken wrist and I'm now out of cast so have owned the little sod for 9 weeks but guess we have had plenty of get to know you time if nothing else!!
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Oh dear, that's not good. Yes, I suppose you have time on the ground to get to know him. My instructor finally told me get the neckstrap off after a few months. I still put it on for jumping though ! And I wear a BP when I'm hacking on my own. I reckon you truly get to know a horse after 12 months and you've seen them through every season, although some are quicker to get to know than others from past experience. New boy seems fairly straightforward from what I can gather, generally ruled by his stomach !
 
Thanks everyone! I do tend to worry about things overly!
Yes I would say I am an experienced horse owner and I think it almost makes it worse tbh as I know totally what can go wrong and what people can and will try to cover up!!!
Tobiano, your sisters response is absolutely brilliant :D Love it, she kind of has a point to be fair also.

A few years back I had a horse on a 6 month loan with view to buy. All was going well, a few little niggles which luckily prevented me from purchasing early as at one point i'd wanted to. On the last week he turned into a complete sod! He was bad tempered anyway which was not a problem. Until he attacked my daughter in the field and on the last day bronced on the roads like nothing I've ever seen forget about sat on (well tried to sit on!) This was a total shock and knocked my confidence at knowing and trusting a horse.

This new one is 18, I was expecting by that age a really easy laid back ride to accompany my daughter out hacking. He's not 100% that but like I say I really quite like him and he's well behaved on his terms (we are working on the rest!) Yesterday I let my daughter who's 15 hack him out with her friend riding her pony and saw them cantering up a stubble field together (which he probably shouldn't be doing just yet I know) it was a little steady canter and they both looked really happy.
 
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