riding school horse (just want to get off my chest, no obligations to read)

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Raych

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Hey
Well i was thinking about buying this riding school horse
went on holiday for two weeks, came back and enquired about the horse, she is for sale and in my opinion; too expensive.
anyway i got on her, and she was a completley changed horse, she was flybucking, plunging, rushing and just generally unhappy and frustrated.

After finishing the lesson i told my instructor 'i thought about buying her but had changed my mind.' after that lesson. my instructor told me that the riding school were bringing her on too fast and she was being overused, and told me to take her tack off and she would tell the YM that she was to have a holiday. so now she is.

She is only 6 and is used practically every hour on the hour as she was so sweet, but now she's had enough and has been taught the wrong things and tbh i think she's just fed up of having people take advantage of her.

I really did like her and i kind of want to rescue her, but she really isnt for me now.
Im just so confused as she was SO lovely, and i feel like she needs to be 'saved' from being ruined.

:(
 
Thing is, i know she's not beyond help. But i have never owned a horse, although i am looking. i just feel like she is too sweet to be in a riding school and its obviously making an impression on her. she's priced wayyyyyy to high for her state atm even with the markets atm
 
This happens all the time :( Theres a 3yr at a RS i no of and it is sooo sweet but is far to young and inexperenced to be teaching people how to ride when it bearly knows how to jump a x pole!! Said horse was out 3 hrs in a row the other week and just lay down in the middle of the last lesson, instructor said colic then changed mind and said girth was to tight!!! It deffo wasnt colic tbh i think she was just too tired :(
 
NicoleS, are you serious? A riding school is using a 3 year old horse for 3 hours in a row?! Are they BHS registered? I would be reporting them if they are, and not returning to them either way. Disgusting.

OP- It sounds like she is a genuinely sweet horse being pushed too hard, and with a decent instructor she could be special. I agree with making them an offer, with an emphasis how much work she will need to correct her recent behaviour.

ETS: just seen you are in NI, don't know if they have the BHS scheme there (i know, i'm stupid) but i would be avoiding that establishment and perhaps if there is a basic liscencing scheme reporting them to the council etc?
 
NicoleS_007 said:
This happens all the time :( Theres a 3yr at a RS i no of and it is sooo sweet but is far to young and inexperenced to be teaching people how to ride when it bearly knows how to jump a x pole!! Said horse was out 3 hrs in a row the other week and just lay down in the middle of the last lesson, instructor said colic then changed mind and said girth was to tight!!! It deffo wasnt colic tbh i think she was just too tired :(
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Talk to the Licensing Authority for your RS - horses have to be aged over 4.
 
Ah, maybe its just a blip. Definetly worth re trying her after her holiday.

Have to say the riding school I work at just don't have many youngsters for this very reason, they just don't think its worthwhile because they personally wouldn't use them. They have 1 or 2 but they are being schooled and are rarely ridden by anyone except instructors or exceptionally good clients.

Also all there horses have a max 2hr a day limit, with 2 days off a week as well. Sometimes they do a bit more but overall a nice life :)
 
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If she was good then she can come good again with time and patience. It does sound like she needs rescuing, i often ride ponies that have been over used and over jumped, its nice for them to just have a relaxing life for a while, with time she should be what she was, good luck with your decision!!
 
I know its hard when you see a horse that has become unhappy in her work. I would advise not to purchase as if you have not owned a horse before you want something without any baggage as your first. The riding school will quickly realise the horse will not work for them and either adjust its workload, which its sounds as if they have, and school or she will be sold on and that is tough but with the cost of keeping horses you dont want to get stuck with something that may have an underlying problem. I know its hard but dont go there.
 
Thank you all.
I am going to continue riding her, but i am looking for another horse. If i do not fall for anything else then i may consider her again. i was having doubts beforehand about buying her for a few reasons (previosu posts will explain). I am an experienced rider, but only 15 (riding 7 years) so may not have enough experience to teach her all she needs and i do not want to ruin her myself by not knowing what to do. i would hate to feel responsible for ruining such a lovely pony.

I hope the riding school realise she needs to be bought on slower, my instructor is a senior instructor at the stables so hopefully things will be done. if not, i will probably have words with the yard manager about her.
 
Yep she was broke last year and used since. I would say said horse would be near 4 now, hasnt been turned away or anything! They used to have a bunch of 3/4yr olds a couple of years back in lessons, there still there but older and some have lameness issues!! A RI told me the youngest you could have in lessons was 6??
 
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