New horse testing boundaries!

[ziggypop]

So I bought my new 5 year old ISH gelding 3 weeks ago and he lives at my local riding stables. My instructor is very experienced and she helped me to choose the right horse that she felt was suitable for my ability. We were told he was a very easy horse in all ways. We bought him from a reputable local seller.

To handle on the ground he is great. He has no qualms being washed, groomed, tacked up, led etc. He wouldn’t stand still to mount and dismount at first or lift his feet to be picked but two weeks in we taught him to do this no problem. I don’t think he had much schooling prior to coming to me and mainly hunted in his old home.

80% of the time he is great to ride, eager and does as he’s told, but there have been occasions where he’s played up over the most simple tasks. Sometimes out on the road he’ll refuse to go past vehicles, only sometimes but when he does it’s a struggle to make him go past. He’ll either try and go backwards or throw a little buck and resist my encouragement to go forward. He even went up the hedge with me the other day when I was trying to get him to walk past the car. My riding instructor eventually got on him instead and I rode her horse and she gave him a tap and a big kick which eventually made him go past. Whereas when I hacked alone with him, I was too nervous to reprimand him and make him go past. I think because I don’t know him that well I worry in case I piss him off and he bolts off or hurts me.

He has also thrown in bucks and a rear when he’s played up in the school a few times. When my riding instructor is with me I have more confidence but when he does it when we are alone it does un nerve me.

I know it’s early days still, he’s young and he’s still getting used to me and his new home. My riding instructor is riding him every day nearly to teach him good habits and I also ride as well. I feel like I’m doing everything I can to support and get the best from him. My riding instructor reassures me that she thinks I can handle him.

I just hope these are habits we can teach him to not do and that he’ll eventually settle. I really don’t want these problems a year down the line! I just don’t know what’s normal and what isn’t at this stage.

 

[AmyMay]

Why did your instructor think this was the right horse for you?

 

[dixie]

This is very similar to my horse who I bought last year. Just turned 5, No schooling but lots of hunting.
Tested a few boundaries, didn’t like puddles, very lively out on his own - that sort of thing.
Unfortunately 5 is the Kevin stage too!

Is yours getting a break at all to process what you’re doing with him as you say your instructor is riding every day?

Its still very early days for you. 3 weeks is nothing and he’s had a big change of life. At his age I would suggest making things fun for him, don’t pressure him with too much school work and make sure you hack out with a nice safe companion to teach him good manners.

 

[ziggypop]

Why did your instructor think this was the right horse for you?

I’ve always ridden tb types and liked their forwardness. I wanted a horse I could start competing with as well. So when we went to view him, he rode well and ticked the boxes we were looking for.

 

[MagicMelon]

Is the horse young? I think complete push-button horses are pretty rare, but it sounds like you expect one? It sounds like you lack confidence which, if the horse is young, is a bit of a problem... I think most horses test new owners, its your job to act confident and just get on with it but at the same time, if the horse is bucking/rearing and napping then Im sorry but if it was a new horse for me then Id be more concerned as I think most straight forward horses dont do that, even when being testy. If I were you, Id only hack out in company (ensuring going in front quite often) for the time being and only riding in the school with others around to give you the confidence until you get to know each other, see how you go.

 

[ziggypop]

Is the horse young? I think complete push-button horses are pretty rare, but it sounds like you expect one? It sounds like you lack confidence which, if the horse is young, is a bit of a problem... I think most horses test new owners, its your job to act confident and just get on with it but at the same time, if the horse is bucking/rearing and napping then Im sorry but if it was a new horse for me then Id be more concerned as I think most straight forward horses dont do that, even when being testy. If I were you, Id only hack out in company (ensuring going in front quite often) for the time being and only riding in the school with others around to give you the confidence until you get to know each other, see how you go.

He’ll be 6 in May so yeah he’s young.
Yes you’re right when I have days when he’s playing up it does knock my confidence but then the next day we have a great day with no nonsense and then I’m left on a high.
Yes I’ve already said down the yard I’m only going to hack out in company for now. Last week he refused to go past somewhere when I was out by myself so I ended up going back the way we came which I’m sure wasn’t the best to just give in to what he wanted.

 

[AmyMay]

He’ll be 6 in May so yeah he’s young.
Yes you’re right when I have days when he’s playing up it does knock my confidence but then the next day we have a great day with no nonsense and then I’m left on a high.
Yes I’ve already said down the yard I’m only going to hack out in company for now. Last week he refused to go past somewhere when I was out by myself so I ended up going back the way we came which I’m sure wasn’t the best to just give in to what he wanted.

All of this is why I wondered why your instructor thought it was the right horse for you.

It sounds as if you need something older, better established and with more life experience.

 

[Caol Ila]

We underestimate the amount of upheaval a horse experiences when it goes to a new owner. Strange people, strange yard, new routines, new herd dynamics, etc. etc. A five-year old won't be established in its training anyway, so it'll be something of a knockback, and it will probably behave as if it's insecure and uncertain. Why should the horse hack out with you? Hacking alone is dangerous, and he has no reason to believe that you'll keep him safe.

I've had my horse for six months, and we are just starting to gingerly hack alone on known routes where I'm least likely to encounter problems like tractors, quad bikes, etc. If we ever get really stuck, I fully on intend on getting off and leading (see, because I've had him for six months, I am reasonably certain that he will follow a human on foot past most stuff) rather than having an argument. You have to be agile at all times, ready to ask for more, or ask for less, or change your plan in an instant. When my horse gets worried and plants, my OH or another horse will run ahead and "save" him. This is "giving him what he wants" -- not leading past a scary thing -- but I don't like seeing riding as being that antagonistic. I see it as acknowledging his concerns and doing something about it. You do it right, it develops their confidence. Now that he's a bit further on in his training, I generally ask for a couple steps of forward before his sacrificial foot soldier runs ahead. However, he has the odd moment where he completely freezes in fear, in which case it's better to send foot soldier ahead immediately. Those moments are slowly reducing as he slowly gains more trust in the rider.

But knowing when to push and when to back off comes from experience with youngsters and greenies

 

[Trinket12]

We underestimate the amount of upheaval a horse experiences when it goes to a new owner. Strange people, strange yard, new routines, new herd dynamics, etc. etc. A five-year old won't be established in its training anyway, so it'll be something of a knockback, and it will probably behave as if it's insecure and uncertain. Why should the horse hack out with you? Hacking alone is dangerous, and he has no reason to believe that you'll keep him safe.

I've had my horse for six months, and we are just starting to gingerly hack alone on known routes where I'm least likely to encounter problems like tractors, quad bikes, etc. If we ever get really stuck, I fully on intend on getting off and leading (see, because I've had him for six months, I am reasonably certain that he will follow a human on foot past most stuff) rather than having an argument. You have to be agile at all times, ready to ask for more, or ask for less, or change your plan in an instant. When my horse gets worried and plants, my OH or another horse will run ahead and "save" him. This is "giving him what he wants" -- not leading past a scary thing -- but I don't like seeing riding as being that antagonistic. I see it as acknowledging his concerns and doing something about it. You do it right, it develops their confidence. Now that he's a bit further on in his training, I generally ask for a couple steps of forward before his sacrificial foot soldier runs ahead. However, he has the odd moment where he completely freezes in fear, in which case it's better to send foot soldier ahead immediately. Those moments are slowly reducing as he slowly gains more trust in the rider.

But knowing when to push and when to back off comes from experience with youngsters and greenies

Even the older ones! When I got Sugar, and we went on the little track at the barn, when she didn't want to go she would start to moonwalk, my coach told me I had to keep pushing her leg on etc. etc. but I learnt that if I give her a minute to think about it and I don't overwhelm her then she calms down and we can go forward (this was when she first came, she trusts me now so we didn't have any of this when we changed barns). Think of it like this, you're on a high diving board, above a pool you've never seen, with some person behind you that you don't know, shouting "jump jump" would that encourage you or terrify you?

It boggles my mind sometimes with all the information there is around horses and how they learn, that people still think they're 'trying it on", they're not, they're communicating with you the best way they can. It's our job to try and figure it out, we expect a lot from horses it seems only fair that we give back too.

You have had your horse for 3 weeks, give him time, be consistent, firm and kind, small steps and tasks, build the trust on both sides.

 

[Winters100]

My personal experience is that one should be careful taking advice from trainer / instructors. I have one who I train with who is great, and I like him, but I am well aware of his limitations. He has on numerous occasions recommended horses to me, or tried to sell them to me himself, which would be totally unsuitable. Bottom line is that it would be much more profitable for him if I had horses that needed a lot of training, rather than the sane and sensible ones which I prefer.

While there are some sensible younger horses it is also true that in general they are less predictable than an older 'made' horse. Forgive me for saying that you sound rather inexperienced, so it is astonishing to me that an instructor recommended a 5 year old. However nice they can be when they are ridden by pros or experienced riders every day there is a reality that being ridden on a daily basis by a less experienced rider can cause them to forget their education. Think of it as the same as with children, a toddler may know that they have to use their pleases and thank-yous, but if not reminded they would forget to do so very quickly, whereas you would not expect a middle aged person to need reminding!

In your position I would be having a very hard think about whether I really wanted a young horse, and if I did not I would take steps to sell and replace him with a more predictable mount. I would also say that the cost of training and lessons can be enormous. Since I sold my super top level horse who needed to be in full time training and with me needing an instructor's help I have really noticed this. I now keep 3 lovely safe horses, all able to compete and with plenty of power when I need it, at a cost that is not much more than keeping 1 used to cost.

 

[Trinket12]

He’ll be 6 in May so yeah he’s young.
Yes you’re right when I have days when he’s playing up it does knock my confidence but then the next day we have a great day with no nonsense and then I’m left on a high.
Yes I’ve already said down the yard I’m only going to hack out in company for now. Last week he refused to go past somewhere when I was out by myself so I ended up going back the way we came which I’m sure wasn’t the best to just give in to what he wanted.

This is never not going to happen, horses “see” differently to us and their brains don’t process as we do. My mare once decided that a large pile of mud was the most terrifying thing ever on a track we walked around almost daily, cue dragon snorting, crab walking and just generally pent up. Yet when we got back to the barn there was a man up a giant yellow ladder with a drill and she didn’t even bat an eye.

My point being that you’re not “giving in to what he wants” but listening to what he’s telling you. You also have to be aware of your own anxiety, if you’re tensing up and getting nervous you’re just confirming to him that it’s something to be scared of.

It’s a partnership. There’s a podcast I like that has helped me a lot with my confidence called Hack your Mindset, and The Willing Equine is another I have found very helpful in terms of understanding how horses learn and perceive things.

 

[Caol Ila]

Learning to rock climb transformed my horsemanship. I’m not naturally confident at heights or calm and brave with exposure, so I had to slowly build confidence with gradual steps. I haven’t climbed in a while so I’ve lost it, but it took a while to be okay on exposed ground.

I remember doing a lead at a local quarry, and I was further above my last bit of gear than I wanted to be, but I had to make a tricky move before the next placement. I got stuck, dithering unhappily, and my climbing partner yelled unhelpfully from the ground, “Just grow some balls!!!” I did not find this useful. I finished the climb, but I didn’t come away from it happy about leading or my partner.

Your horse is on a scary lead, miles above his last cam. It feels that dangerous to them. Sometimes, they just need a top rope.

 

[eahotson]

Even the older ones! When I got Sugar, and we went on the little track at the barn, when she didn't want to go she would start to moonwalk, my coach told me I had to keep pushing her leg on etc. etc. but I learnt that if I give her a minute to think about it and I don't overwhelm her then she calms down and we can go forward (this was when she first came, she trusts me now so we didn't have any of this when we changed barns). Think of it like this, you're on a high diving board, above a pool you've never seen, with some person behind you that you don't know, shouting "jump jump" would that encourage you or terrify you?

It boggles my mind sometimes with all the information there is around horses and how they learn, that people still think they're 'trying it on", they're not, they're communicating with you the best way they can. It's our job to try and figure it out, we expect a lot from horses it seems only fair that we give back too.

You have had your horse for 3 weeks, give him time, be consistent, firm and kind, small steps and tasks, build the trust on both sides.

Love.

 

[Lois Lame]

We underestimate the amount of upheaval a horse experiences when it goes to a new owner. Strange people, strange yard, new routines, new herd dynamics, etc. etc. A five-year old won't be established in its training anyway, so it'll be something of a knockback, and it will probably behave as if it's insecure and uncertain. Why should the horse hack out with you? Hacking alone is dangerous, and he has no reason to believe that you'll keep him safe.

I've had my horse for six months, and we are just starting to gingerly hack alone on known routes where I'm least likely to encounter problems like tractors, quad bikes, etc. If we ever get really stuck, I fully on intend on getting off and leading (see, because I've had him for six months, I am reasonably certain that he will follow a human on foot past most stuff) rather than having an argument. You have to be agile at all times, ready to ask for more, or ask for less, or change your plan in an instant. When my horse gets worried and plants, my OH or another horse will run ahead and "save" him. This is "giving him what he wants" -- not leading past a scary thing -- but I don't like seeing riding as being that antagonistic. I see it as acknowledging his concerns and doing something about it. You do it right, it develops their confidence. Now that he's a bit further on in his training, I generally ask for a couple steps of forward before his sacrificial foot soldier runs ahead. However, he has the odd moment where he completely freezes in fear, in which case it's better to send foot soldier ahead immediately. Those moments are slowly reducing as he slowly gains more trust in the rider.

But knowing when to push and when to back off comes from experience with youngsters and greenies

I love this post.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Time, patience and confidence will improve the situation..I’m going to caution against having your instructor ride him every day whilst you are building a relationship as the fitter he becomes he may feel like “too much horse” for you when you get on. Better for instructor to teach you on him and then occasionally get on to help.

 

[Trouper]

Your instructor sounds rather "old school". You have a baby on your hands who has been really challenged by recent upheavals - remember your first day at school?!!! There is great advice from other posters here - have confidence in yourself to take things gently with him. I would also scale down the RI's riding of him if you can - he will be getting mixed messages if she continues to do things her way and you follow advice on here.
Take your time with him - it will pay dividends down the years.

 

[Merrymoles]

I am, if all goes to plan, getting an older horse in about a fortnight. Even though she is safe, calm and seems very laid back, I will be uprooting her from her owner, her home and everything she has known for the last three years.

So I plan to give her a fortnight to get to know her new routine and sights and sounds before I ask anything of her, other than possibly an in-hand walk to explore the school and the electric gates, so that I don't add to the stress of her move.

It sounds to me as though you are expecting a lot from a five-year-old very soon after a move and I would be tempted to back off a bit, reduce the work and let him process the experience in his own time. A month down the line, you might find he is back to the horse you tried.

 

[southerncomfort]

Some excellent posts above!

I have a rising 6 year old and I think if I rehomed him now he'd find it incredibly difficult and traumatic.

At this age they are very much like human teenagers trying to find out where they fit in the world. Sometimes they come across as cocky and arrogant but it can be masking some insecurities. Youngsters ask questions of us all the time and if we're not quick to answer they can lose confidence in themselves and the rider incredibly quickly.

Add in to this that (same as teenagers!) their friendships groups are very important to them and help them feel happy and secure.

So when a young horse is taken away from a rider that knows them well and is fair and answers questions quickly, and taken away from an established herd of friends with a known hierarchy you cam begin to see just how challenging it is for a young horse to change homes.

Basically your horse is feeling very insecure and vulnerable right now. I think with the right help he'll settle but you need to give him time to find his feet, and when you ride him you need to take the time to get to know him and understand how he was ridden previously to avoid crossed wires and confusion. ?

 

[lme]

I think being un-hurried is less pressure on everyone. Our new rising 5yo is pretty sensible, but when we got her in November, we just did 4-6 weeks with maybe 2-3 walk hacks a week , either in company or with someone on foot, went in the school once a week for around 20 min, had a canter in a big open field (we wanted to confirm she had brakes) and had one little jump, before giving her a holiday. She's now back in light work (mostly walking hacks on a hilly route) and has just started hacking alone.

 

[eggs]

He is only young and if he has been hunting it is very likely that he hasn't done much, if any, hacking on his own. Do you know if he was previously ridden by a woman or a man? Only hack out in company and don't worry about taking a lead past a scary object whilst you get to know each other properly. I had a horse that was very spooky and sometimes the only way to get past something on a hack was for me to get off and lead him past the object - this was many years ago when the perceived wisdom was to never get off but to sit there and battle it out.

 

[MagicMelon]

OP, we all (I think!) have confidence wobbles sometimes. Im always a bit wary of a new horse simply because you dont know how theyll react. Im confident with everything except hacking, I'll event / show jump etc. but going for a gentle walk down the road worries me. Seems so silly but thats how these things go. I have a "new" horse who Ive had for about 5 months now but still the horse feels new as I find it takes at least 6 months - 1 year to get to know them. I still have not hacked out on my own yet. I boxed her to a friends the other day to hack out with her which I'll continue to do until Im confident enough to go out on our own. I dont want to put ourselves in an unhappy situation until I have all the knowledge of how she ticks, to deal with it. Dont do anything you dont want to, if you're not ready to hack out on your own then dont feel any pressure to do so. If you dont even want to hack full stop then dont, just ride in the school. I didnt hack for about 5 years after some dreadful incidents on the road.

 

[SheriffTruman]

We underestimate the amount of upheaval a horse experiences when it goes to a new owner. Strange people, strange yard, new routines, new herd dynamics, etc. etc. A five-year old won't be established in its training anyway, so it'll be something of a knockback, and it will probably behave as if it's insecure and uncertain. Why should the horse hack out with you? Hacking alone is dangerous, and he has no reason to believe that you'll keep him safe.

I've had my horse for six months, and we are just starting to gingerly hack alone on known routes where I'm least likely to encounter problems like tractors, quad bikes, etc. If we ever get really stuck, I fully on intend on getting off and leading (see, because I've had him for six months, I am reasonably certain that he will follow a human on foot past most stuff) rather than having an argument. You have to be agile at all times, ready to ask for more, or ask for less, or change your plan in an instant. When my horse gets worried and plants, my OH or another horse will run ahead and "save" him. This is "giving him what he wants" -- not leading past a scary thing -- but I don't like seeing riding as being that antagonistic. I see it as acknowledging his concerns and doing something about it. You do it right, it develops their confidence. Now that he's a bit further on in his training, I generally ask for a couple steps of forward before his sacrificial foot soldier runs ahead. However, he has the odd moment where he completely freezes in fear, in which case it's better to send foot soldier ahead immediately. Those moments are slowly reducing as he slowly gains more trust in the rider.

But knowing when to push and when to back off comes from experience with youngsters and greenies

Great post. This is how being a horse works. It is not 'testing' - I believe that is far too much a human concept. If pain is ruled out, horses act up if they are being afraid (being a prey animal) or don't understand. Or if they are not being kept under the right circumstances for a horse, meaning among others in a herd with plenty of turnout.

ETA: lots of excellent advise from other posters as well. Give him time, and protect your own confidence (by seeking all the help you need. We all need help from time to time!).

 

[Birker2020]

I am, if all goes to plan, getting an older horse in about a fortnight. Even though she is safe, calm and seems very laid back, I will be uprooting her from her owner, her home and everything she has known for the last three years.

So I plan to give her a fortnight to get to know her new routine and sights and sounds before I ask anything of her, other than possibly an in-hand walk to explore the school and the electric gates, so that I don't add to the stress of her move.

It sounds to me as though you are expecting a lot from a five-year-old very soon after a move and I would be tempted to back off a bit, reduce the work and let him process the experience in his own time. A month down the line, you might find he is back to the horse you tried.

This is the opposite of what I've done with my horses. I've literally had them arrive the one day and then ridden them the next, the one I went on a hour and a half hack the next day on my own. The same one competing within a fortnight and the others literally within the month. I like to start as I mean to go on.

I don't think there's a right way or a wrong way to be honest. You have to do what you are comfortable with.

This is why I was so frustrated and disappointed with my new horse. We started off in the school, venturing on a hack in company, and riding over the far field well away from everything else, walk, trotting and cantering around fences and everything was going great and I was really pleased with him and my newly fitted borrowed saddle and then we had the saddle issue where it started hurting him and it escalating to the point where he nearly threw me off coupled with the accident that caused him to hurt his already formed SI issue. Damn frustrating. But until then I felt super confident and happy.

I actually think its better when you have a new horse as you can do what you want to do because you don't feel unsafe with them as you don't know what they are capable of doing. Its only when you know they can throw in a buck or a rear (fortunately mine were relatively good) that it gets you worried and you start doubting your confidence. Now my horse has tried to throw me it will always be top of my mind when he gets his new saddle and I start riding again.

I hope your horse works out and I hope the OP's horse works out good too.

 

[Bernster]

Lots of ways to approach new horse, new home, but for me I tend to be quite cautious and slow. Whether it’s when I got Finn as a green 5yo or Bertie as an established 12yo (or others that I’ve owned previously). I give them time to settle, get used to the new routine, get tack fitted, build up gradually with schooling and hacking, and review and assess at each stage to check they are coping ok.

 

[Caol Ila]

I was on board Foinavon the second day he was at the yard. I don't not ride. I think it's good to get them into a routine straightaway. However, I had zero expectations that he would be exactly as he was at his previous home, where he'd lived for three years. And obviously there was faff with making sure the tack fitted.

 

[Birker2020]

I was on board Foinavon the second day he was at the yard. I don't not ride. I think it's good to get them into a routine straightaway. However, I had zero expectations that he would be exactly as he was at his previous home, where he'd lived for three years. And obviously there was faff with making sure the tack fitted.

Its weird but none of the other five ever reacted to my tack the way new boy has. I always put getting them freezemarked over getting them saddles.

Mine were all from dealers, this one I have now was my first horse from a private home.

 

[Merrymoles]

This is the opposite of what I've done with my horses. I've literally had them arrive the one day and then ridden them the next, the one I went on a hour and a half hack the next day on my own. The same one competing within a fortnight and the others literally within the month. I like to start as I mean to go on.

Good for you. However, so much depends on the individual horse and the OP's horse sounds to me like he's shouting that he's unsettled and unsure, hence the suggestion of taking a step back.

I was the fifth owner of my last horse in about 18 months and, although he was ten, he was obviously very unsettled with all the moving around. I had to move him three months after buying him and he was like a cat on hot bricks for a few weeks. I then had to move again seven months later and he went to a yard where he already knew all the people and most of the horses and settled very quickly. If my new one is who I think she is, I'm sure I could hop on board as she came off the trailer but I'm a patient sort so don't feel the need to.

 

[Peglo]

I’ve had my 6 year old for 9 months now. She’s been super but the other weekend she freaked over some miniature shetlands. It’s the only time she’s really reacted and I was more than happy to jump off and walk beside her to get her past them. (We had a companion with us too) I don’t know why she was so upset by them but if she needed me to get off, I would much rather that than end up her falling on the road. But maybe I’m too soft, I just want to go and have a nice time with her.

I agree with above posts. Take as much time as he needs and give him confidence. Enjoy getting to know each other.

 

[Caol Ila]

That’s not a new horse issue. Horses are just funny. When my previous yard got a couple mini Shetlands, everything lost its mind until they got used to them. It’s like they were saying, “I don’t know what happened to that horse, but I don’t want it to happen to me.”

 

[Chianti]

Have you tried walking him out in hand? Horses get a lot of confidence from having you on the ground next to them. Give him lots of praise when he goes past scary things. Also make sure he has at least one day a week off. He needs time just to chill in the field and you can use the time to get to know him by grooming him or grazing him in had somewhere where there's nice grass. It takes ages to build a relationship with a horse - for them to realise that you are their person.