recently purchased horse dangerous. "HOW DO I STAND?"

[Black_Horse_White]

And to add I lost because my advert said hacks out alone and in company and when the new owner took her out the day after having her she was napping to go back to the field. And she when asked when viewing if she wanted to hack out she refused saying she wasn't going to the roads anyway.

 

[TicTac]

I purchased my mare from a reputable dealer. watched her being ridden and jumped and then rode and jumped her myself. Also took her up the road with my daughter walking beside ( there was the mistake) Had her vetted and brought her home.

The first time I went to take her out for a hack she refused to leave the yard and chucked in some massive bucks, snatched and spun. That was 4 years ago. Now she is a happy horse who trusts and knows me and whilst she can still have her moments, she doesn't do that behaviour any more.

Some horses take time to settle and you have to go through quite a process to gain their trust and respect. You can either put some time and effort into this horse to see if you can help it through it's anxiety or get rid straight away.

I doubt that the old owners will take it back and probably knew what they were selling and have worded your receipt very carefully. Caveat Emptor I'm afraid. or in English " let the buyer beware!"

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

I'm with Grumpyoldmare here too. Poor horse. These are usually the ones I end up with for me or my husband. His last 2 have been nappy or "cold backed" dangerous monsters. They ended up being super horses.

Terri

 

[padderpaws]

Tic tac can you please tell me how you got your horse to eventually hack out with you (alone) I have just moved my horse to a new yard and he does not want to go it alone. He has not given any extreme behaviour but I would like to know how you got your result. Sorry OP for hijacking your post.

 

[rhino]

OP - is this your 2nd new horse in as many weeks?

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=525137
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=523714

 

[JanetGeorge]

I wont go into the what you should do with him but in answer to your question no you do not have any comeback, the receipt said sold as seen and that is exactly what you have done, the way it was worded carefully makes me think he is difficult and has history. Most people without some knowledge would be unlikely to write this in any receipt, many do not even think about doing one.

Even if you had evidence of previous behaviour , taking court action is not worth it, they are private individuals and a case like this is almost impossible to prove.

My thought exactly - although I DO wonder if these people are dealers. They sound just a bit 'cunning' to be private horse sellers. I would Google their 'phone numbers and see if you can find any ads for other horses.

Even if they ARE dealers, you might be on a hiding to nothing - they have to HAVE money to compensate you and a case could take 12 months or more to come to court. I WOULD have a talk to your local Trading Standards Office - you never know, these people MIGHT 'have form'!

 

[MrsB]

4 days - are you kidding me?!? Give him a chance! And no, you've got no come back at all. I bought my horse, Boris, from someone who seemed to be very nice, honest, blah blah, advertised him as an "ideal novice first horse"... couldn't be further from the truth.

I had my horse vetted, bloods done, rode him out etc. and he is completely different from what I rode when I tried him at the seller's yard. I have had Boris now for 6 weeks and he's settled in very well, but has been lame for the past 3 weeks... seems he may have quite a serious problem (which hopefully can be resolved), but I can't pass him on because a) I'm not a heartless person who doesn't care about this horse and wants rid and b) I'm not prepared to bull***** someone like I was. I'm willing to give my boy a chance and I know that can take up to a year for him to settle in fully.

And £1200? You get what you pay for. I paid £2700 and I had my fingers well and truly burned... the woman even said I could bring him back if I wasn't happy.... tried that, got absolutely bloody nowhere, she was full of cr@p.

And now my biggest worry is that we've found a microchip in him (wasn't stated on his very dodgy passport) and that he's been stolen, but I can't find that out until Monday. Although if this is the case then I have a decent case to take this woman to court.... whether I get my money back will be another matter. But, there is a horse who needs love, care and attention in the meantime and I'll do all I can for him, because it seems he had a crap life before he came to me!

 

[NeverSayNever]

thanks. yes made massive mistake not riding him out, I do know that.Ihave lunged him before riding, spent lots of time with him and have ridden out in company. fortunately I am able to ride straight into forest , no road work . Idread to think what would have happened if he had played up on the road.I suppose you do get what you pay for, but then owners should give honest descriptions because after all its peoples lives they are putting at risk.

i spent 4500 on a wee competition horse that was supposed to help me get my jumping confidence back and take me into BE. He was FAB to jump! No question of it! When i tried him (v professional dealers yard) I said he had to be good to hack alone and they said he was... however i made the mistake of not checking this for myself - i rode him round their extensive xc course with the dealer on foot. However he was a)familiar with it b)had someone on foot c)there were other horses going about. I didnt think about any of this, and assumed he would hack alone based on their word and the fact he was happy going out round the course. He DID however call a few times and I had a niggle about him being insecure but he was so perfect in every other way i quashed it.

got him home and discovered he would NOT hack alone. I contacted the dealer and long story short is I lost a lot of money and had no come back. They had a 2 week exchange period but 2 weeks isnt enough to know if its just settling in behaviour, although i wish id listened my gut and returned him. Instead I persevered all summer - he competed with me like a trooper, loads of xc & sj clears, but not once did we hack out without him rearing, spinning & backing up - severely! I dont have anyone to hack with so tried to work through it and not give up. Had loads of lessons, got someone out with me on foot, tried every trick in the book to sort out napping. i doubt i would ever have sorted it tbh as it seemed very ingrained behaviour but after several months when i found i was pregnant i had to stop riding him as he wasnt safe. I had no come back and lost a lot of money and had to get the dealer to sell him for me. I hasten to add the people who bought him, were made aware he was not suitable for solo hacking and i personally spoke to them about it.

 

[Flame_]

If it was a private sale, you stand "stuck with it" unless you give things a bit more time and the horse proves nothing like fit for purpose, then you could have grounds for a refund in court. If it was from a dealer, you may be entitled to an exchange or refund. I would go back to the old owners and inform them that you are having problems and would like their advice, and help if they aren't a million miles away. If they have mysteriously disappeared suspect your horse is a liability they are just glad to be rid of.

 

[McNally]

From an owners point of view....

2 weeks ago i put my horse on loan to a lovely girl who tried him see him several times and was happy with him- I explained he would be an idiot for the first couple of weeks til he settled. She didnt follow my advice on keeping him and as a result i have to pick him up next week after only 2.5 weeks.
He's rearing and dangerous, she cant even bring him in from the paddock forget about attempt to ride him. I knew he'd be stressy but i am stunned at this behavior. In the time ive had him Ive known him to be difficult but not dangerous.
Its funny how some horses change and find new homes/owners incredibly easy whilst others really struggle.
Could he just need time? I think the asking the owner to come and ride him may be a good idea. Hope it works out for you x

 

[Ollie's Mum]

thanks , I can see everyones point . all I need to know is "Do I have any come back?"

Did you say that you didn't ride him yourself? Yet you took a bill of sale that says you had a trial ride? I think you've shot yourself in the foot on that one!

 

[TicTac]

Tic tac can you please tell me how you got your horse to eventually hack out with you (alone) I have just moved my horse to a new yard and he does not want to go it alone. He has not given any extreme behaviour but I would like to know how you got your result. Sorry OP for hijacking your post.

One thing my mare has always been very good at is ground work. She will follow me like a dog as she is not a natural leader allthough she most certainly has her own opinions!!
I ' played ' with her alot in our manege. ie gave her obstacles to walk over and in between etc I found Kelly Marks' books extremely helpfull.

To start with padderpaws, I took her out for long walks in hand. I would lead her over all sorts of objects. Stop and let her graze or just stop her and make her stand. Then I would ride her out with another sensible horse and then just my husband on his bike. Now she's fine on her own. We are very lucky where we are as we have a net work of bridleways on the doorstep so there is very little roadwork involved. which helps a great deal.

The whole process took quite a long time but now she's so good in hand as well that if I dont fancy riding I can take her out in just a headcollar and she will bimble along quite happily.

 

[OakleyEarth]

Am I right un thinking that even with a private sale you have seven days to 'cancel' the sale, return the horse and have money back? When friends have sold horses in the past they have always gone along these lines- they don't spend the money til the horse has been gone seven days?

But would agree 4 days isn't very long- think the above about asking previous owner to come ride him is a good idea but if horse was infact naughty with her then probs unlikely she will :-/

 

[Shantara]

Please give him a chance. A new horse came to my yard and was a nightmare for weeks! We all tried hard to bond with him and eventually we won him over and he came to realise it wasn't bad being ridden by us.
I started being terrified of him, I ended up loving him and I trusted him so much I could have ridden him out tackless. (Of course I never did, but I could have)

I think he's just worried about his new home.

 

[sykokat]

OP- it seems clear due to the lack of posts from you that you dont really give a damn for this poor horse and just see pound signs. maybe you should have bought a bike??

 

[Jingleballs]

I'd say you have absolutely no come back I'm afraid. You had the opportunity to try the horse/hack it out and you didn't.

You could try contacting the seller but I don't think they are under any obligation to take the horse back.

I would agree with the others to give pony time to settle - new yard, new people, new herd, new feed and grazing quality I'd imagine - of course he's going to be insecure.

 

[JingleTingle]

OP - is this your 2nd new horse in as many weeks?

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=525137
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=523714

So after even less time than the 4 days, OP was selling him on because of her own back problems? Or is this another horse? Very confusing and if it is the same horse, well aren't you selling on with a bag full of lies yourself, claiming its your health and not stating that you cant cope with this 'dangerous' horse? Really have to say any minute sympathy I might have had has now gone out the window! Your just as bad as the people who sold to you aren't you??

From an owner's point of view , and some times in the past a seller, if you contacted me after just a few days with your complaints I would be regretting selling my horse to somebody so obviously inexperienced and totally inept at settling a new horse in. Maybe YOU weren't as honest as you could have been with the seller about your capabilities and what sort of horse would be suitable for you?

 

[PoppyAnderson]

a proper rear is something a horse has to establish and become confident doing.
horse?

I would have agreed had I not seen mine, who I've had since she was 2, who was a total dope on a rope, throw her toys out of the pram big time one day, totally out of the blue, when a friend rode her and tried to bully her. She reared vertical several times, did twisty bucks, deposited rider, tried to kick her teeth down her throat, then did several circuits of the field like red rum. She finally came to a stop next to me, stood vertical at me, boxed at me as if to say, don't do that to me again, then stood like a dope again. 3 years later, she's never done anything like it again.

 

[scrunchie]

So after even less time than the 4 days, OP was selling him on because of her own back problems? Or is this another horse? Very confusing and if it is the same horse, well aren't you selling on with a bag full of lies yourself, claiming its your health and not stating that you cant cope with this 'dangerous' horse? Really have to say any minute sympathy I might have had has now gone out the window! Your just as bad as the people who sold to you aren't you??

From an owner's point of view , and some times in the past a seller, if you contacted me after just a few days with your complaints I would be regretting selling my horse to somebody so obviously inexperienced and totally inept at settling a new horse in. Maybe YOU weren't as honest as you could have been with the seller about your capabilities and what sort of horse would be suitable for you?

Agree with this^

 

[ladyt25]

I would have agreed had I not seen mine, who I've had since she was 2, who was a total dope on a rope, throw her toys out of the pram big time one day, totally out of the blue, when a friend rode her and tried to bully her. She reared vertical several times, did twisty bucks, deposited rider, tried to kick her teeth down her throat, then did several circuits of the field like red rum. She finally came to a stop next to me, stood vertical at me, boxed at me as if to say, don't do that to me again, then stood like a dope again. 3 years later, she's never done anything like it again.

I do agree - some riders can frighten a horse enough to make them do this but i would say that the horse is possibly a more sensitive type? I could categorically say that neither my horse or even my neurotic pony would rear no matter what anyone tried. BUT - at the end of the day, they CAN do it as have seen them do it when playing in the field so I guess there is always the possibility a horse could be pushed to that extreme if put under the right (or wrong) sort of pressure.

 

[TakeAChance]

I had an experience exactly like this about 10 years ago, but the horse just needed time to settle. Moving her to a new yard when I bought her blew her mind and shook her confidence. Lots of people wrote her off as being dangerous and unrideable, but with time she gained trust in me and the nappy, dangerous behaviour disappeared.
Your horse needs time to adjust to his new surroundings and to gain trust in you.

Don't just send him on his way, you don't have a leg to stand on regarding getting your money back so you may as well give him a chance. You obviously liked him or you wouldn't have bought him in the first place so why not give him the benefit of the doubt?

 

[TicTac]

More like dangerous owner than dangerous horse. I smell a Troll...........

 

[rhino]

More like dangerous owner than dangerous horse. I smell a Troll...........

Hmm, inflammatory comments about racing, and it is the Easter holidays

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I do agree - some riders can frighten a horse enough to make them do this but i would say that the horse is possibly a more sensitive type? I could categorically say that neither my horse or even my neurotic pony would rear no matter what anyone tried. BUT - at the end of the day, they CAN do it as have seen them do it when playing in the field so I guess there is always the possibility a horse could be pushed to that extreme if put under the right (or wrong) sort of pressure.

I categorically thought mine wouldn't rear. My friend, who rode her, wouldhave said the same. The 'bullying' wasn't extreme either - rider just said, you will trot in a straight line across this field! Mare just took exception to the pressure. Anyway, I'm hijacking the thread, so will pipe down!

 

[Arizahn]

Hippo was mental when I first got her home, but tbh at £500 and sold as seen, I sort of expected to have to put work in...
I didn't get on her back for three months, as I was working on establishing trust and respect. I had to teach her that her hooves were to be picked out every day, for starters, and that prancing about like an idiot whilst tied up was unacceptable. We also taught her to lunge properly, without running in. We still have issues with the hose, but she's fine with bucket and sponge type washing. You can jump up and down, wave your arms around, talk in a high pitched squeaky voice, hug her, drop things near her, rattle plastic bags, and no problem.
I refuse to get on when she's in season, but that's because I'm not able to stay on at full canter on tight bends And besides, I figure she deserves that week off. She still gets lunged, so she is being worked.
Give your horse a chance. Maybe he's never hacked out without someone walking alongside...maybe his previous owner was epileptic and had to be escorted, like I do? Who knows - but four days is no time at all. Give it six months. If it doesn't work then sell him to someone with the ability to manage him...and be honest about why you are selling.

 

[Tiffany]

You've only had him a few days so he could just be unsettled. Until you get to know him and vice versa can you ride out with at least one other person or have someone walk with you.

Not sure how you stand with previous owners bearing in mind you saw him ridden out and he was quiet.

Was he vetted, have you changed his feed or routine?

 

[bluewhippet]

Give him a chance! He's only been with you for 4 days and thats no time at all!! Some horses settle in straight away and some take some considerable time. When they move home and change owners, they do wonder whats going to happen to them and can take some time trusting new people. I have had my boy a week short of a year and only just started to 'get to know' him. He has done all sorts of things that I know he didnt do before as I know the girl that had him before me but he is coming on a treat. Just glad I stuck with him as hes one of the most lovable and eager to please horses I know. You need to give him a lot more time

Very much the same here. Have had a lot of issue through the year with my boy, but he is now such a safe, sweet, fun ride. The horse I was told I was buying and tried out at his previous home. In fact he is much better than that horse now.

 

[Carefreegirl]

Deffo a big fat troll - started a thread ranting about racing being cruel blah blah blah a few weeks ago. On phone so can't go back to find post. One sad little girl.....

 

[Kelly1982]

PoppyAnderson same thing with my mare!! Never reared in her life (had her 6 years). Asked her to go over a pole on the floor after some time off and she went vertical with me!! Even had to step back to steady herself. Got her over pole in the end and she has never done it since!!!! Also had her from being broken so I know she has never been pushed hard enough to teach her this

 

[Carefreegirl]

Just found it - rhino can you do the link pretty pls ?
The thread is 'ex racehorses' and it was 11th feb this year.....