New horse issues

[ILuvCowparsely]

So much for my new horse plans.

Arrived the Saturday, Monday took her into the school, found she didn't know what lunging words meant, so continually spoke them, and got sort of a response.

On the Friday took her into school again she spooked and knocked me sideways and another person back, spun round the lunge full pelt for 7-8 circuits.

left her doing nothing till the following Tuesday and saw mild lameness. Trainer came up the Wednesday and we saw she was a little more lame.

Vets been up last Friday and could not find any heat or pain.

This week trot up flexion test lame - xray showed nothing really. low nerve block and a little better, fetlock nerve block sound.

Cannot box rest ( Her behaviour when other horses go out ) So at moment sedative and magic seem to help her keep calmer turned out.

Don't know why I am posting, suppose just seeing if anyone else has any advice.
Vets don't know at this time.

 

[dixie]

Don’t panic yet.
I had anew horse last year. Rode him 4 times and he went lame.
Vet thought tendon but to rest. He came sound in a week and has been fine since.
He was unsettled in the stable at first and was banging the stable door and so I think he bruised himself.
He doesn’t lunge either and is 14 this year. Doesn’t seem to have been taught and either just walks or tears around at a rate of knots. Sounds like it could be similar ?
Otherwise he’s turned out great

 

[Melody Grey]

horses! I don’t know what you’ve bought or what for, but wondering whether she’s pulled something in the pelting round the school? Particularly could be a thing if a youngster/ something that’s been out of work for a while?

Fingers crossed it’s something simple and inexpensive.

Has there been ‘new horse’ trolleying round the field going on too?! ….particularly if you’ve had some good rainfall recently, could be slippy!

 

[Birker2020]

So much for my new horse plans.

Arrived the Saturday, Monday took her into the school, found she didn't know what lunging words meant, so continually spoke them, and got sort of a response.

On the Friday took her into school again she spooked and knocked me sideways and another person back, spun round the lunge full pelt for 7-8 circuits.

left her doing nothing till the following Tuesday and saw mild lameness. Trainer came up the Wednesday and we saw she was a little more lame.

Vets been up last Friday and could not find any heat or pain.

This week trot up flexion test lame - xray showed nothing really. low nerve block and a little better, fetlock nerve block sound.

Cannot box rest ( Her behaviour when other horses go out ) So at moment sedative and magic seem to help her keep calmer turned out.

Don't know why I am posting, suppose just seeing if anyone else has any advice.
Vets don't know at this time.

Aw rotten luck. So sorry, hopefully it's just a mild tweak or an abscess brewing. Was she resistant to hoof testers?

How old is she, what has she done before you had her?

Try not to get too despondent, easier said than done I know.

 

[nutjob]

The nerve block situation is similar to mine which had a sdft injury just above the hoof. It could be seen on ultrasound.

 

[SEL]

Hopefully just a tweak from whizzing around the school.

Keeping everything crossed it will fix with a bit of rest

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

she is 10

I think she is the wrong horse for me, I bought her with my heart not head. I think she will be too zoomie for me with my knee replacement she is a ISH when I really wanted a draught.
She is bigger than I wanted also. I paid £12.000. I think for I want she will get bored as used to being out show jumping and previous hunting. Had her since 9th September

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Aw rotten luck. So sorry, hopefully it's just a mild tweak or an abscess brewing. Was she resistant to hoof testers?

How old is she, what has she done before you had her?

Try not to get too despondent, easier said than done I know.

I have not ridden her since. Rode her on the trial and not ridden her as no tack, so had to cancel saddler due to her lunged on day 2- zoomie on lunge day 5 - notice being lame a week after day 11

day 16 saddler was booked and canceled, could not saddler earlier due to my other mare going for surgery the week before on vet call out day.

 

[TheMule]

she is 10

I think she is the wrong horse for me, I bought her with my heart not head. I think she will be too zoomie for me with my knee replacement she is a ISH when I really wanted a draught.
She is bigger than I wanted also. I paid £12.000. I think for I want she will get bored as used to being out show jumping and previous hunting. Had her since 9th September

Get her sound and get her on sales livery asap!

 

[Birker2020]

she is 10

I think she is the wrong horse for me, I bought her with my heart not head. I think she will be too zoomie for me with my knee replacement she is a ISH when I really wanted a draught.
She is bigger than I wanted also. I paid £12.000. I think for I want she will get bored as used to being out show jumping and previous hunting. Had her since 9th September

I wouldn't worry about her being bored if you don't jump her. That's a human thought, not an horses, I doubt they care.

May I ask why you deviated so much from what you felt you were looking for? Was it hard trying to find your ideal? I know how frustrating it is trying to find something suitable.

I'm sure that it's nothing serious and I'd give yourself a timescale when she's sound to get used to her, it's still very early days. Maybe get some professional help with a pro rider or have some one to one lessons to gain your confidence. Horses don't always replicate the craziness they can show on the lunge. If she's really not for you sales livery can help.

Presumably you got her vetted? Did she pass without an issue?

 

[lme]

What do you want to do with her? I'm not sure horses get bored in the same way as we do, especially if they have turn out with friends. My ISH (TIH x WB) can be a bit enthusiastic if lunged. She's bred to hunt / jump but with me she mostly hacks round the lanes. As far as I can see she is very happy with her life. My last couple of hacking horses were SJ bred WBs but adapted wonderfully to a more low key life.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Get her sound and get her on sales livery asap!

That is my plan ty thought I was alone thinking.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I wouldn't worry about her being bored if you don't jump her. That's a human thought, not an horses, I doubt they care.

May I ask why you deviated so much from what you felt you were looking for? Was it hard trying to find your ideal? I know how frustrating it is trying to find something suitable.

I'm sure that it's nothing serious and I'd give yourself a timescale when she's sound to get used to her, it's still very early days. Maybe get some professional help with a pro rider or have some one to one lessons to gain your confidence. Horses don't always replicate the craziness they can show on the lunge. If she's really not for you sales livery can help.

Presumably you got her vetted? Did she pass without an issue?

I think it was because everything that ticked all the boxes got sold. Should have stuck to my guns.

 

[spookypony]

Also consider that perhaps, she hasn't settled from the move yet. I moved yards last year, and a year later, my mare was still acting has though she had no idea what lunge commands were, and going loop-de-loop around the school. Another yard move, and she suddenly understands (lungeing) English again. I agree that it's a good idea to get a trusted instructor in for a second look/a bit of support.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

What do you want to do with her? I'm not sure horses get bored in the same way as we do, especially if they have turn out with friends. My ISH (TIH x WB) can be a bit enthusiastic if lunged. She's bred to hunt / jump but with me she mostly hacks round the lanes. As far as I can see she is very happy with her life. My last couple of hacking horses were SJ bred WBs but adapted wonderfully to a more low key life.

I think because all the issues I have had, mare slipped on the road 3 times ( because of carless driving), fractured shoulder, broken humerus, boys tendon sheath, mares check ligament etc, over the years I have had months not riding/years my ID mares breathing and my confidence is not what it used to be. I find this mare too forward which i thought would be ok as it was in the past but since TRK I have to be so careful, our hacking is not brilliant anymore ( can't say in the open) but you cannot canter much so many rides are walk and trot. So I rushed into this.

Just want to get her sound then sell her. She is a zoomie horse one thing was a nono on my list but only found that out here.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I am sorry, that's so disappointing for you. I hope you can quickly get her sound and sell her on. Better now than further down the line. If she isn't giving you the right vibe then life is too short, I hope it all works out for you and for her.

 

[Bellaboo18]

First, get her sound, you can't do anything before that but then have a good think, just because she's zoomed around on the lunge doesn't mean she's going to be zoomie while ridden.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

The zooming could be just on the lunge and could be because she's in a new environment, so not quite so relaxed and comfortable. There are some horses that are pretty wild on the lunge but fine to sit on. So who knows, and I'm not sure that you're up to finding out.

If you have this many doubts and nerves already, I agree with getting her sound and putting her on sales livery. The only other alternative I could see is working closely with a trainer. Where the trainer rides her and you ride her under supervision and instruction of the trainer. That can help with confidence and sorting things out, but if you're not up to that, then that's fair and it's reasonable to sell.

I'm sorry that your purchase turned out this way, but I do praise you for trying to sort her soundness issue.

 

[dougpeg]

It's really early days to be throwing in the towel. She's only just arrived. Mare's in my experience can be more sensitive to change. The lameness is a blow, hopefully she's just tweaked herself running around.

 

[sportsmansB]

I had one who can be fairly zoomie on the lunge but doesn't do it under saddle, I think for her at a earlier stage in life lunge zooming was used to get energy out of her and for a long time she thought that was what lunging was 'for'.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I wouldn't worry about her being bored if you don't jump her. That's a human thought, not an horses, I doubt they care.

May I ask why you deviated so much from what you felt you were looking for? Was it hard trying to find your ideal? I know how frustrating it is trying to find something suitable.

I'm sure that it's nothing serious and I'd give yourself a timescale when she's sound to get used to her, it's still very early days. Maybe get some professional help with a pro rider or have some one to one lessons to gain your confidence. Horses don't always replicate the craziness they can show on the lunge. If she's really not for you sales livery can help.

Presumably you got her vetted? Did she pass without an issue?

yes she had a few comments on the 5 *, previous owner not on passport, lots of things I didn't do when viewing or wasn't shown.

 

[dorsetladette]

I'm sorry your disappointed in your purchase this early in. But it sounds like your pretty sure she's not right for you. As others have suggested I'd be looking for a good sales livery yard while she's coming sound and get her a spot booked.

From how you describe the spook and pushing you over I think she needs some ground work dealing with personal space and respect. You can do this while she's recovering as it's everyday things that you would do with her anyway (bringing in and out of field etc.).

The zoomies on the lunge wouldn't worry me to much - some horses are taught that the lunge is to get rid of energy so she probably doesn't know any different. In the breaking process I've seen horses chased round to tire them out before a rider gets on board so they learn that's what it's for. My nervous nelly came like that. It took a while to teach him to slow down and listen then when he came back from the pro for backing he was doing the zoomies again. I'm now in the process of teaching him to slow down and listen again.

PS - I'm shocked a £12k horse didn't come with any tack! is this normal these days?

 

[nutjob]

PS - I'm shocked a £12k horse didn't come with any tack! is this normal these days?

Yes, I looked at something like 10-12 horses which were all £10k + most were at dealers, sales livery or were recently backed 4 yo still with owner/breeder and ridden by a pro. Without exception everything I viewed was ridden in a one saddle for all on the yard arrangement. On sales livery it may have been that the actual owner had a suitable saddle that could have been negotiated if I had gone ahead but no sign of this at viewing.

 

[Polos Mum]

There's lots of things to consider / try - how is her lifestyle now vs. before (not just ridden but feed, turnout (time / company / amount of grass) etc. etc.

BUT
If you had niggles before and are second guessing yourself then it might be a slippery slope and making a decision to change your mind sooner rather than later may well be right.

Once she's sound perhaps speak to the seller and see if they had a list of disappointed people who didn't get to try / buy her - save starting from scratch.

Confidence is a very fragile thing and if you're not sure - she will probably know that.

 

[dorsetladette]

Yes, I looked at something like 10-12 horses which were all £10k + most were at dealers, sales livery or were recently backed 4 yo still with owner/breeder and ridden by a pro. Without exception everything I viewed was ridden in a one saddle for all on the yard arrangement. On sales livery it may have been that the actual owner had a suitable saddle that could have been negotiated if I had gone ahead but no sign of this at viewing.

I am so far out of the horse buying game. The last ready made horse I bought was dear old Bert. He was 9yrs old, done a bit of everything 14.2 welsh D for my daughter. He came with a full wardrobe and tack for £3500 in 2012. I think his tack and wardrobe were probably about £1500 worth. We still use some of the rugs he came with and the bridle is hung pride of place in the tack room. Guess I'll be sticking with my 'homemade' ponies!

 

[Birker2020]

First, get her sound, you can't do anything before that but then have a good think, just because she's zoomed around on the lunge doesn't mean she's going to be zoomie while ridden.

That's exactly what I think and sia. Plenty do the 'wall of death' on the lunge!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine can be complete idiots on the lunge but don't do it under saddle

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Vet called today for update. I said still lame, they sent xray away to specialist and said nothing bony. Said they wanted to do MRI, £ 1500. They have just sent me a bill for the first consultation and xrays £ 1400. I can't keep paying this out, with all the other expenses I have had. I want to just keep on sedaline and boots and calmer and just keep her quiet in the field in the day time. Not safe to keep her in, vets said you can't keep her on sedaline and turnout as it won't heal.

Well excuse me my other mare kept 2ml of

Domosedan​

gel for 6 months + when she was on box rest.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I'd just turn her out. I'm surprised you've gone down the X-ray route so quickly.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I'd just turn her out. I'm surprised you've gone down the X-ray route so quickly.

I have been turning her out, wasn't me it was the vets decision to xray