New Horse update - not good!

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Pebbles

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Hi guys, thought it was time to let you know of my progress with Chance. Was unable to mount first day so phoned seller for advice as was a known issue they had been working on, then proceeded ok by walking her between stable wall and mounting block to stop her swinging quarters away and did this successfully and peacefully for first days of schooling and mooching round the farm getting used to each other. Were both very brave hacking out first time sunday as right outside yard just up the lane was a classic car/bike show which was incredibly noisy/busy with Harleys, tractors steam engines,etc etc, although both tense nothing untoward and we proceeded on a nice peaceful, if slightly forward hack and I returned very pleased with our progress. Day off Monday, lunge tues, still testing out, all good, tacked up to go in school weds eve and with daughter at her head as previously confidently put foot in stirrup, stared to swing leg over and whoosh!! She went up in air banging my nose on her neck and lunged forward and bolted out of yard catapulting me over her onto concrete the other side. End result, black eye, lumpy nose, 5 stitches in elbow and on crutches for at least a couple of weeks due to soft tissue damage and torn ligaments. Gutted! Mare recovered by her field in one peace seemingly unfazed? Sure this can be overcome with time and patience but not by me - as I am unable to even walk/drive for a while now and I don't want anyone else to get hurt I have decided to return her. There was no excuse for it and one is so vulnerable whilst mounting and perhaps it is a learnt behaviour which may recur at any time one would never feel totally confident. Due to the wonderful lady I bought her from this is not a problem and as was within first week not too hard a decision for me. Obviously hugely disappointing but after recent events beginning to wonder if someone somewhere is telling me something. All I know is I am too old for this type of challenge!!!!
 
Ouch! Sounds as if you have made exactly the right decision, and it is good that the seller is taking her back.

There are plenty of quiet horses out there, I hope you find the right one soon, once you've healed of course!
 
well done for making that tough decsion tho!

out of interest was she like that when you tried her? i know you mentioned it had been mentioned to you but was it as bad as that?
 
You are very lucky that the seller will have her back as you bought the horse knowing she was difficult to mount. To save you some bruises it may be best not to buy a horse with such issues next time, if you dont feel you can cope with it
 
I think both you and the seller made the right decision. and so gracious of the seller to taker her back! many would not have done.

So sorry it didn't work out with the mare. i hope you have a speedy recovery and good luck in your next horse hunt!
 
Thanks to those who understand and support. All I can say is there is there is a big difference between slighty awkward/nervy to mount, as she was when i tried her and unmountable as she has proven to be when she choses!! And yes shows what a genuine seller I have had the pleasure to deal with :-).
 
greymare said:
Thanks to those who understand and support. All I can say is there is there is a big difference between slighty awkward/nervy to mount, as she was when i tried her and unmountable as she has proven to be when she choses!! And yes shows what a genuine seller I have had the pleasure to deal with :-).
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Unfortunately any issues a horse has are likely to escalate in a new home because of being unsettled- new communication, surroundings, food, etc. Particularly something like being iffy to mount, which can be an insecurity/nervous issue. In the old home she would have trusted her rider more than in a new home with strange people. At least you found one of the very few genuine sellers out there who want the best for their horse.
 
Did you ever wonder why it was called Chance? Sorry, sound unsympathetic.....but names often do give an indication.....tell me who has ever purchased a horse called Carckers?
 
teddyt said:
Unfortunately any issues a horse has are likely to escalate in a new home because of being unsettled- new communication, surroundings, food, etc. Particularly something like being iffy to mount, which can be an insecurity/nervous issue. In the old home she would have trusted her rider more than in a new home with strange people. At least you found one of the very few genuine sellers out there who want the best for their horse.
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Hi yes I appreciate all those points but the mare was from a very reputable dealer which is precisely why I bought from her and the mare's history unknown so what appeared to be minor in fact could be a deep routed problem which I choose not to risk. I am sure hopefully with further daily retraining it will be overcome quickly but of course I am now not in a position to even look after her let alone tackle the issue so it will be better for the mare too to be taken back to re-school in this area and back into work without delay and then a happy home found for her again. It is sad for her more than me really as at least I understand what is going on!!
 
dressedkez said:
Did you ever wonder why it was called Chance? Sorry, sound unsympathetic.....but names often do give an indication.....tell me who has ever purchased a horse called Carckers?
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Ha ha ..... last laugh on me ..... I called her Last Chance as have had a long long wait to buy another horse after an enforced 9 year break due to divorce and was so grateful for the chance at last to have another after a lifetime of horse owning/working with and missing it soooo much!!!! She came over from Ireland without a name - maybe thats what I should have been suspicious of??? We live and learn - constantly in my case!!!
 
greymare said:
Ha ha ..... last laugh on me ..... I called her Last Chance as have had a long long wait to buy another horse after an enforced 9 year break due to divorce and was so grateful for the chance at last to have another after a lifetime of horse owning/working with and missing it soooo much!!!! She came over from Ireland without a name - maybe thats what I should have been suspicious of??? We live and learn - constantly in my case!!!
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That makes me feel terrible! Very sorry that she did not work out - hopefully when all bones etc. have recovered you might think again? There are some lovely horses out there - but next time call her / him Opportunity or Destiny, Happy or Thank-god!
Best wishes
XX
 
Oh dear, well nothing ventured nothing gained, you tried and failed but learnt something which is what most of us do :) best luck with your new horse if you get one x
 
Thanks guys, elsbells - yes did cross my mind!!! and dressedkez now worries, I am very philosophical (sp?) and everything happens for a reason - maybe I can find one called 'Happily Ever After' next time heh :-) xx
 
elsbells said:
Mmmmmmmm, I have heard that it's very bad luck to change a horses name;).

Hope your repaired very soon and that you find a lovely safe horse with a name:D
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Done it loads over the years and fine......Just look at some of the changes we made, and wonder why?
Lucifer became Tomas
Romeo became Cornflake
Dressedforsuccess - became Kez
Jimmy became Tonto bacame Fly (Jim, 13.2 HH chestnut pony) cost £130 (at 2 years), Tonto sold for £350 (broken at 3 years) Fly sells +£1K everytime he changes hands in PC now - last went for £5K....)
Etc.....I used to change the name of everything I purchased, but after 100+ began to run out of names, so unless they are hopeless as in the case of Lucifer....tend to stick with them!
 
dressedkez said:
Done it loads over the years and fine......Just look at some of the changes we made, and wonder why?
Lucifer became Tomas
Romeo became Cornflake
Dressedforsuccess - became Kez
Jimmy became Tonto bacame Fly (Jim, 13.2 HH chestnut pony) cost £130 (at 2 years), Tonto sold for £350 (broken at 3 years) Fly sells +£1K everytime he changes hands in PC now - last went for £5K....)
Etc.....I used to change the name of everything I purchased, but after 100+ began to run out of names, so unless they are hopeless as in the case of Lucifer....tend to stick with them!
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Interesting - Lucifer def a name that would stop me buying!!!!!!
 
Oh no!!! So sorry it didn't work out :( :(. Your really not having much luck finding a horse are you :(. Don't give up the right one is out there.

It sounds like you did the right thing giving her back. It does seem a very extreme reaction and one that I wouldn't like to deal with!! Hurting yourself so badly in the first week doesn't exactly bode well. Even my baby tb wouldn't do that, he didn't know how to stand to be mounted when I first got him and would try and walk off. It only took a couple of days to teach him though and he stands like a rock now. I would be worried about kissing spines or something horrid if a horse did that.

Is the dealer going to keep an eye out for another for you? I hope you find one before the summer is over! I will keep my ears open in case I hear of anything. Don't give up!!! X
 
firewell said:
Oh no!!! So sorry it didn't work out :( :(. Your really not having much luck finding a horse are you :(. Don't give up the right one is out there.

It sounds like you did the right thing giving her back. It does seem a very extreme reaction and one that I wouldn't like to deal with!! Hurting yourself so badly in the first week doesn't exactly bode well. Even my baby tb wouldn't do that, he didn't know how to stand to be mounted when I first got him and would try and walk off. It only took a couple of days to teach him though and he stands like a rock now. I would be worried about kissing spines or something horrid if a horse did that.

Is the dealer going to keep an eye out for another for you? I hope you find one before the summer is over! I will keep my ears open in case I hear of anything. Don't give up!!! X
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Thank you Firewell, I will try not to - and I know only too well how much you understand my frustration - and you end up feeling useless and jinxed for a while!! Yes I will def keep dealer looking for me. I am glad you agree with my decision and as you point out many horses do not understand at first, particularly irish ones or ex racers, but once they have understood and it does not take long as you found and I thought I had too, to then do something so extreme makes one suspect other more serious issues. As you can imagine I did have THE most thorough vetting one could get, almost 20 stage the number of queries I raised!! but who knows what might be underlying (I have a couple of doubts in my mind of nervy type things I found whilst riding but that is not for on here and of no consequence now but I will mention to dealer in case it helps get the mare right/checked going forwards). More soon hopefully. xx
 
Oh no! I was so looking forward to reading your posts about how well everything was going!

Glad you've been able to be sensible about it though, and not just continue to fight a battle that you haven't got time for.

Hope you recover quickly xx
 
Awww I was waiting to see the pics you promised us! Not good news but glad to hear dealer took her back.

I fell off Cooper (was Bertie from Southgate if you remember) on friday 13th while out hacking! Silly boy did a major spook at a tiny little sign for walkers and bolted off. Up till then he hadnt put a foot wrong so i'll forgive him and now know that signs are his spooky thing!

Out of curiousity what was your mare called at Southgate? I'm sure they will manage to work through her mounting issue with her. Plus they seem to have new horses in almost every week so wont be long till they find you something more suitable. Go with one who doesnt have any known issues if you can!
 
That's rotten luck. I think you made the right decision in sending her back as life's too short to be risking your wellbeing on a dangerous one. There will be someone out there for her, and in time you will find your perfect partner too. A couple of friends of mine had similar experiences this year, and now they've found the right horses for them, they can look back at their ill-fated purchases and heave a sigh of relief that they didn't try to perservere, knowing full well it would have ended in tears. They weren't as fortunate as you and had to resell theirs themselves, as the original sellers wanted nothing to do with them though. Hope you're quickly on the mend, and best of luck with your future ned!
 
mytwofriends said:
That's rotten luck. I think you made the right decision in sending her back as life's too short to be risking your wellbeing on a dangerous one. There will be someone out there for her, and in time you will find your perfect partner too. A couple of friends of mine had similar experiences this year, and now they've found the right horses for them, they can look back at their ill-fated purchases and heave a sigh of relief that they didn't try to perservere, knowing full well it would have ended in tears. They weren't as fortunate as you and had to resell theirs themselves, as the original sellers wanted nothing to do with them though. Hope you're quickly on the mend, and best of luck with your future ned!
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Thank you hun, this all makes me feel much better about my decision and yes I am extremely lucky with my seller but that is why I chose her, she is the best :-)
 
so sorry to read this, and I hope you recover very soon. The right horse is out there, just waiting to be found - maybe this dealer will find a good one for you. sm x
 
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