New horse - keep or return to dealer?

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Jellicle42

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I bought a horse three weeks ago as a mother daughter share. It’s not gone great, culminating in falling off her twice last week. She’s much more tense and spooky than when we tried her. My daughter is scared of her and doesn’t want to handle her or ride her. Should we send her back or is this standard teething troubles?
 
It's quite normal for a horse to behave differently in a new environment, regime and with different handlers to when it was tried so there is a chance that with experienced support, you'll overcome these settling in problems and end up with the horse of your dreams, but if your daughter is too scared to even handle the horse, then there's little point in keeping it.

Did you see/try/vet the horse before buying? What does your instructor/yard manager/other experienced professional think? Do you like the horse and think you can get it to a good point where your daughter could then resume her involvement? If it goes back, would your daughter still want a different horse or has this experience put her off completely?
 
Lots of excellent questions. Yes tried the horse twice, 5 stage vetting, spoke to two previous owners. Yard manager thinks we should send her back. Her point is that we could work and it could come right but it’s not what we wanted to buy - I was looking for something straightforward and confidence giving.

I am in two minds because I did really like the horse and I think the yard routine isn’t working for her (very little turn out at present). If I had an option to turn her out for a few weeks I think she’d be better. But a) I don’t have that option and b) maybe she wouldn’t be better but I wouldn’t be able to return her.
 
Even my most placid pony got sparky when she didn't get enough turnout so I think your situation re: turnout is probably exacerbating the issue, especially as it sounds like you did everything right and have probably bought a good horse. How long will it be before you can resume proper amounts of turnout at your yard? If ages, are there no other yards nearby that would allow your horse to go out and let the high jinks out in the field? Unfortunately if your situation dictates no turnout over winter, you'll likely have the same issues with any other horse too.
 
I have one here who would cope with limited turnout and another who gets wired even stabled overnight. Some horses just can't cope (& nor should they!) so unless you have other livery options nearby to test out I'd return.

This does just sound like an unsettled horse though rather than "mis-sold"
 
Jellicle42 said:
Lots of excellent questions. Yes tried the horse twice, 5 stage vetting, spoke to two previous owners. Yard manager thinks we should send her back. Her point is that we could work and it could come right but it’s not what we wanted to buy - I was looking for something straightforward and confidence giving.
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I think you have answered your own question :)

no one on here has seen the horse (and much of it may be settling in/yard/accommodation and much of that can be sorted but it takes time and adaptation and may take several months. ) however if your YO is experienced and you trust their judgment then I would return her. They are best placed to give an opinion.
 
I think you probably have a lovely horse in the wrong environment. Some horses cope ok with limited turnout. Most do not. Many do ok if you can give the 2 hours a day of exercise that was once specified for a stabled horse - or at least walker in morning and hour of riding in the afternoon.

So you have a horse who just moved home, is being kept in more than ideal and novice owners who cannot reassure. No one’s fault, just the wrong mix of circumstances. I would send back for everyone’s best interests and be very specific about needing a horse who can cope with very little turnout next time.
 
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If you think that the situation with the current horse is irretrievable, then yes, go for a return if you can.

However, even the most straightforward and confidence-giving horse might well struggle to adapt to a new environment with very limited turnout.
So, if you do decide to return the horse, I personally wouldn't be looking at getting another until there are opportunities for turnout.
 
If you have stopped liking the horse then send back to the dealer but the truth is that most horses need time to get used to new circumstances and it can take months to settle. I don’t know how experienced you and your daughter are but owning any horse will bring awkward times when you question if you have done the right thing. It might be worth testing the bloods taken at the vetting just in case but if it’s passed the 5 stage vetting and you do like it I would make sure it has no hard feed, just forage and exercise daily, in hand or ridden, maybe employ a good trainer to work with you, your daughter and horse.
 
I echo everyone’s thoughts in that we all feel a bit sorry for the horse who has not really been given a chance. New everything and limited turnout, not sure many people would cope with that, let alone a horse.
I recently bought a ‘school mistress’ and for the first 2 weeks only did in hand ground work with her (which I have studied) so she could gain some trust in me before I rode her …. and she has 24/7 turnout with company.
Two months in and she is a less anxious happier horse.
 
As above really, but be prepared that any new horse you buy and move to a new yard with new people, routines etc would be unsettled for some months so you have to be ready for some, hopefully temporary, changes in behaviour. I also second the views expressed above that you should ideally try and find a yard with all year round turnout. Keeping a large animal in a small box for hours on end is not going to acceptable to many horses, nor should it be.
 
I don’t know your level of competency, the age of the horse etc etc.

So, based on the info given, what I would suggest is to cut out all hard feed , lunge/long rein twice a day and work it hard. Lead out in hand to graze (on grass verges with bridle if necessary) at every opportunity. Spend time grooming, trying to build a relationship but be very black and white re acceptable and unacceptable behaviours. Reassess the situation in ten days.

In the meantime invest in a magnesium calmer, run any bloods that may have been taken at the vetting and open communication channels with the dealer, expressing concerns. Also, get a fbhs to come and do an assessment of you, your daughter and the horse. Take it from there.

Longer term, if you decide to stay the course, find a more suitable yard!
 
you need to send the horse back and not get another one until you have space on a yard with turnout IMO

poor horse is being blamed for this when its cooped up all day and likely not even given a proper work out when it does come out the stable.

if there is not turnout available they need to come out the stable twice a day every day, once for a good hard workout and once for a lunge or loose school and a hand graze at a MINIMUM.
 
I would also say send the pony back, but I do think this highlights that particularly if you intend to stay at this yard, this may not be the right time to buy as others have said before me. I have only bought 2 horses of our own and loaned a few but on arrival have always just turned the horse out solo (in sight of or next to others) for a day or 2 to decompress after travel and the change before getting horse in to handle and/or ride. I bought one in June and the other in October when they were still all out 24/7. If i was to buy over the winter on a restricted turnout yard I'd be making doubly sure that the horse was used to being stabled for long periods of time and wasn't a complete nutter as a result.
 
I too think this is a settling and environmental issue.

How old is your daughter? What has happened for her to fall off?

It sounds very plausible that a new pony, with minimal turnout, who doesn't know or trust their new owners could have some moments that could result in a fall.

What is yours/your daughters experience?

I think you either need to send pony back for its own mental and physical wellbeing or look for suitable livery. No or minimal turnout (unless in extreme weather/illness) should be a hard no when looking.
 
A lot of horses I know are on their toes at the moment with spring grass coming through so I would say it's probably a mix of that if your horse is having a bit of fresh grass and being in so much. Even the most relax horses are like it but it's completely up to you. If your gut instinct is saying it's not right then send back.
 
Honestly I’d be reconsidering the yard set up! Can you look elsewhere once you have returned the horse?

We’ve had our mare for 2 years and ended up at a yard with next to no turnout or very limited (once or twice a week at best for a couple of hours). The difference in the pony was considerable!!! She’s very laid back and generally unphased by anything but this blew her brains…became tricky to handle and ride and very unlike her. Horses are all different but many will not cope with that routine. We’ve moved again and she’s out every day again and is back to the chilled out easy going mare she was before we moved there!
 
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