Suzy my cob mare nearly killed us both yesterday!!

Ted's mum

Ted's mum

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ok...Bought suzy a 6yr old welsh cob mare a month ago - was sold to me as good to hack in the heaviest of traffic alone/company etc etc etc (also says that in her advert)....now have only just got a saddle for her so havent ridden her in the month I have had her - so hacked her out yesterday - on main road which isnt massively busy but can be a fast road with lorries/tractors etc passing....took her round lanes first and she was good as gold with cars, bicycles etc going past her..didnt bat an eye in fact...so I decided to take her on main road - tractor coming one way lorry the other - she completely freaked!!:eek: reared, tryed to run backwards into said lorry and then bolted with me...can't believe I stayed on tbh :cool:
now I bought her off a dealer..so should be entitled to a refund as missold etc...may take a while as I did txt the lady I got her off and she was less than cooperative and said sold as seen bla bla bla....so would have to go to trading standards..but I actually do like said mare and dont really want to send her back but she was a lot of money for a horse that freaks in heavy traffic...regardless of her age...this is her only vice as far as I have seen anyway apart from being mareish but hey she is a mare.
anyway what would you do if u wanted a safe hack - how long would it take to get her used to big heavy vehicles? how would you go about it...obviously dont want to risk our lives in the process, thought maybe could walk her out in hand in heavy traffic, would that help if so how long would I generally have to do it for??
cookies and cream for all who got this far ;):)
 
Am I right in saying that you've had her a month but have only just started riding her?

If that is the case, maybe she has trust issues.
I have a 5 year old mare who the first time I rode out was so nervous that I got off and lead her home.
I was gutted as my last horse wouldn't hack alone and I was hoping this mare would.

Anyway, I spent time working with her on the ground and long reined her to the road and had her stand whilst traffic passed.
Now, she is great on the roads, I hack out without worry :).
 
she may have been fresh where she hasnt been ridden for a month.

Saying that my horse is great in traffic and he wouldnt react like that after having some time off.
 
To be honest suzy hasn't had much time to get used to you riding her before you took her out in traffic which is probably part of the reason she reacted how she did. Moving to a new yard and a new owner can be quite traumatic for horses and it can take a long while for them to settle.

If she was my horse I would spend some time doing ground work with her before starting to ride her in the school or nearby fields. The reason being that she needs time to get to know you and therefore learn to trust you. You will probably find that once she has settled with you she will be fine on the roads.

There is plenty of advice available regarding ground work or you could ask an instructor to help you.

To be honest it sounds like the dealer is going to try and back out of taking her back, so maybe in the meantime you could do some work with her. She may still be the horse you were looking for. Hope this helps, but I think a lot of us have had a similar experience with a new horse early on in our relationship with them.
 
Ted's mum said:
yes had her for a month and have just started riding her....
how long did that take you quirky? x
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I took 5 months but I could probably have hacked her out sooner than that.
Circumstances dictated my timetable really as the yard I was at was on a busy, fast country lane. Great for long lining her to and watching the traffic pass by, not so great for hacking alone up.

When I moved yard, I long lined her to the road once and then hacked her out alone after that. First hack, we had a milk tanker, quad bike and tractor pass us and she didn't bat an eyelid.
I felt vindicated that my long lining had been worth the effort :).
She is now better alone than in company. She seems to be braver on her own and takes the opportunity to hide behind the other horse if we are in company.
 
My fab in traffic mare had a few dodgy moments when I first got her (mainly with bikes). I rode with a safe companion for a while and it really helped. :)
 
To be honest I'd say you over faced her abit on her first time out with a new rider in a new area.;) Lesson learnt, next time stick to the quiet roads. Work on the trust and confidence then try the busier roads with a quiet chilled out horse as company. In the meantime work with her inhand, groom her to death and let her learn you are to be trusted even with the scarest things in the world coming at her. Well done for stay on though. :D
 
sarahebradshaw said:
To be honest suzy hasn't had much time to get used to you riding her before you took her out in traffic which is probably part of the reason she reacted how she did. Moving to a new yard and a new owner can be quite traumatic for horses and it can take a long while for them to settle.

If she was my horse I would spend some time doing ground work with her before starting to ride her in the school or nearby fields. The reason being that she needs time to get to know you and therefore learn to trust you. You will probably find that once she has settled with you she will be fine on the roads.

There is plenty of advice available regarding ground work or you could ask an instructor to help you.

To be honest it sounds like the dealer is going to try and back out of taking her back, so maybe in the meantime you could do some work with her. She may still be the horse you were looking for. Hope this helps, but I think a lot of us have had a similar experience with a new horse early on in our relationship with them.
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This ^^^^^

Also what are you feeding her ? :)
I'm presuming tack and all is fitting her ok ?
Perhaps you could hack out with someone the next time ?


Col x
 
I have to say if my horse had had a month off and i then took him out on his own he would be a bit fresh and looking for a reason to have a bit of an explosion as well, but I agree it is probably a confidence issue there too.

as others have said I would go back to basics a bit and get some basic schooling and ground work done before taking her out, then I would stick to going out in company and the smaller roads where you might have more influence in slowing and stopping bigger vechicles. On the country lanes we hack round we sometimes meet big tractors/combine harvesters/milk tankers ect and we can generally get them to stop and allow us pass or dive into a safe hiding place.

With regards to the dealer, did your receipt say sold as seen on it, if so you wouldn't really have much come back, plus the fact you haven't ridden her for a month after buying her plays right into the dealers hand as she will just say she was fine when in work with her and you have no evidence to say she wasn't really.
 
If she was sold to you as bombproof then the your horse should be safe when ridden alone in the heavisest of traffic. Having said that if she has not been ridden for a month and her rider, environment and diet has changed then I would expect her to possibly be on her toes. You need to now ride her at least once a day and get used to each other. Take her on circular routes where possible so that she can get used to her new surroundings.
I would also suggest that you always wear Hi-Viz on yourself and your horse when hacking out and get some dog tags made up (one for your saddle and one for your bridle) with your contact details and that of your vet so that if you become seperated she can be identified. I would also suggest you get her freezemarked on her shoulder so that if she is stolen she can be identified. Also get your nice new saddle tackmarked with your postcode so that if stolen can be identified.
Also sign up for the BHS Road Safety course and exam as that will give you lots of training and skills for riding on the roads.
If you find that she does not calm down and you have got a copy of the original advert then if you bought her from a dealer (or even a private owner) you would be entitled to ask for a full refund as the horse is clearly not bombproof.
 
Persevere! You've only had Suzy a month, you hadn't been riding her so there was no sort of riding bond between you, and you were, as you describe it, alone.

Try to put what has happened to the back of your mind and, as everyone has suggested, start again. Do some quiet riding, in the school if you have one or in very quiet lanes, ride with a friend, and, if there is a friendly farmer nearby, ask if you could ride the mare into his stockyard to look at tractors etc. and maybe hear them when they're running. Even the most bombproof of horses can have a bad moment. If it's any consolation, I was bolted with down our village street by MY cob maare - a tractor with an empty sheep trailer had come up behind her, a builder turned on his cement mixer in a garden, and a herd of cattle being driven to fresh pasture came out of a side lane just level with us - we were gone, big time! And I've had her years....

Good luck, and keep going. I hope you find you've got a really nice cob when she settles.
 
Hi Tedsmum

I hope your OK, Must have been scary to say the least.

I dont really have many wise words, but wanted to share a story - I first got my cob Harry in Nov 2008...just before the snow set in...I managed to ride him twice in the school but the weather was soo bad I had to give him a month off until the snow cleared...that first time I rode him out was the first day back in the saddle after the snow, and he put in a similar performance... hes never ever ever put a foot wrong since, and turned out to be my safe, steady dream cob, he even did RDA on our old yard.

So guess what Im saying is dont write her off just yet? maybe you need to build up to things more slowly, build her trust in you and the rest can sometimes follow, of course there is a chnace that you have been missold on the mare, and if so you need to way up whether you can and are able to work with her to build her confidence hacking.

Hope all works out for the best and good luck x
 
Thanks all....will definately take on board all of your advice..she isn't nasty at all...but she did scare me yesterday...and yes maybe I have done it too soon...
 
To be honest, I have yet to meet a horse that would be safe hacking out alone, on busy roads, in a new environment, with a rider it doesn't know, after a month of not being ridden. And I have met a lot of horses.
 
That must have been really scary for you and glad you both got back safely. If it were me I would take her out with another horse that is good in traffic and get her used to her new surroundings. Maybe she was a bit over faced with the new surroundings and also feeling fresh if she had not been ridden for a month. Maybe it all got too much for her and therefore I would give her a chance before trying to return her to the dealer. Have you got a school you can ride in a few times before taking her out again so you can get to know and trust each other a bit more?
 
jsr said:
To be honest I'd say you over faced her abit on her first time out with a new rider in a new area.;) Lesson learnt, next time stick to the quiet roads. Work on the trust and confidence then try the busier roads with a quiet chilled out horse as company. In the meantime work with her inhand, groom her to death and let her learn you are to be trusted even with the scarest things in the world coming at her. Well done for stay on though. :D
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Totally second that. Think it was just a bit too much too soon. I am sure she will come right soon enough with some time spent on her, good luck :)
 
PeterNatt said:
If she was sold to you as bombproof then the your horse should be safe when ridden alone in the heavisest of traffic. Having said that if she has not been ridden for a month and her rider, environment and diet has changed then I would expect her to possibly be on her toes. You need to now ride her at least once a day and get used to each other. Take her on circular routes where possible so that she can get used to her new surroundings.
I would also suggest that you always wear Hi-Viz on yourself and your horse when hacking out and get some dog tags made up (one for your saddle and one for your bridle) with your contact details and that of your vet so that if you become seperated she can be identified. I would also suggest you get her freezemarked on her shoulder so that if she is stolen she can be identified. Also get your nice new saddle tackmarked with your postcode so that if stolen can be identified.
Also sign up for the BHS Road Safety course and exam as that will give you lots of training and skills for riding on the roads.
If you find that she does not calm down and you have got a copy of the original advert then if you bought her from a dealer (or even a private owner) you would be entitled to ask for a full refund as the horse is clearly not bombproof.
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I echo what PeterNatt says but if the horse was sold as bombproof then he/she should be. Have you got a warranty with the horse?
 
it took a over a year and a change of yards for my horse to trust me! dont let that put u off, lol!
same advice as everyone, lots of groundwrk and lettin her know your mum and shes safe with u =) try lots of ridin in school/off road before u go out or in heavy traffic, little and slow!
 
Well done for getting back to your yard safely.
If she was sold as bombproof or 'good to hack in the heaviest of traffic', then she should be just that who ever is riding her and wherever they are riding her. Although I'd certainly have given her a bit longer to get used to the area before taking onto a very busy road, if it wasn't necessary.
We bought a ClydeX mare and hacked her home, she did have a rider, a walker and an accompanying car but amongst other things, she was passed by about 40 cyclists whooping and hollering, an ambulance with blue lights flashing and a milk-tanker on a narrow road -twice. She didn't turn a hair.
She had been bought for me to get my confidence back on the road after a mad TBX more than dented it. She walked round the village while I literally shook on her back, again she just got on with her job and took absolutely no notice of anything that we passed. We have had other completely bombproof horses - they have all been drivers and if I was looking for another I would again be looking for a driver- they may have their drawbacks but you can rely on the good ones to be traffic and other hazard-proof and they will not spook into the traffic to avoid a wheelie-bin or leaf.
 
I would carry on with her and ride her out regularly. Sounds like after a month of not being ridden she was on her toes, and there was no horse-rider bond between you two.

I ride a hot headed mare who....if not ridden regularly...will rear and bolt on a main road at the sight of a lorry/tractor/bus etc. However when she is in proper work she will hack past anything on very busy roads and not even blink at the traffic...even a group of a hundred or so motor bikers, and a vintage tractor race we came across the other day!!!
 
Ted's mum said:
am going to give her a few more days to see how she goes...if not it will calling trading standards time...x
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As i said to you on FB, she was bought to do a job,and isn't doing it.... you have the original Ad, a receipt so, as she is a dealer, call her, tell her you want to return her with a full refund.
if she isn't forthcoming, send her a special delivery letter outlining your complaint, stating you have contacting TS and you give her 14 days to comply, if not, you'll be going to small claims.
 
Personally I think you must have suicidal tendencies!

I would never have left a new horse that long before getting on it's back and I certainly would not have used my first hack on her to test out whether she was good in heavy traffic.

Horses are not machines - certainly not ones that have recently changed hands, are fresh and are not riding school nags.

Give her some time, be patient and go out with someone else if you can next time.

I certainly do not think you have a case for the trading standards after one month and perhaps a call to the dealer first might help.

Good luck
 
Sounds like a very scary experience and I am really glad you were both unhurt, but to be honest I think you have been a bit unwise. You have bought a relatively young horse, left it unridden for a month and then taken her on a busy road - however bombproof she might be, she is still a horse and not a bicycle!

In a sense you need to take it a lot easier, but also do a lot more. Get her into a routine where she is ridden every day, go out with another steady horse and gently introduce her to new experiences, i.e. to start off keep to quiet hacks, avoid traffic, don't let her bomb off in a huge field, don't take her out with a really naughty horse, etc., get an instructor and have some lessons so you can both get used to each other. Give her a couple of weeks of careful work and then start asking her to do more demanding things. If she gives you problems then, fair enough she's not the horse for you, but at the moment I feel a bit sorry for the seller having to take her back.
 
mcnaughty said:
Personally I think you must have suicidal tendencies!

I would never have left a new horse that long before getting on it's back and I certainly would not have used my first hack on her to test out whether she was good in heavy traffic.

Horses are not machines - certainly not ones that have recently changed hands, are fresh and are not riding school nags.

Give her some time, be patient and go out with someone else if you can next time.

I certainly do not think you have a case for the trading standards after one month and perhaps a call to the dealer first might help.

Good luck
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I have to agree :)

I once knew a riding school horse that was safe as houses , was rode every day out hacking etc etc , A lady bought him after having one lesson on him, She brought him home and and he was left out in the field for several monthes, She then decided to tack him up and take him out on a hack, He shyed at everything in sight, and even threw a little buck .

Give her more time OP, have a few lessons, take a quieter route with another horse and most of all, get to know the horse and let the horse get to know you :)

Good luck .
 
I hate to say it but i would be concerned.
Yes she has had a month off so may be a little on her toes....but that is quite an extreme reaction to a horse that is "bombproof" in traffic.
Personally i would think that an acceptable reaction for a horse that hasnt been ridden for a month and in a new area but is *bombproof* would be for a spook, or to fidget NOT to rear and run backwards nearly into said vehicle. I would be cautious next time and ride out with company and see how she is.

My mare had two years off out in the field and didnt see any vehicles at all.....the second ride we did when she came back into work we had to pass tractors and silage trailers, forragers, and a lorry all in narrow spaces. She didnt flinch.....that is what i would expect from a horse that is good in traffic. And she had moved to a new yard two days before.
 
skychick said:
I hate to say it but i would be concerned.
Yes she has had a month off so may be a little on her toes....but that is quite an extreme reaction to a horse that is "bombproof" in traffic.
Personally i would think that an acceptable reaction for a horse that hasnt been ridden for a month and in a new area but is *bombproof* would be for a spook, or to fidget NOT to rear and run backwards nearly into said vehicle. I would be cautious next time and ride out with company and see how she is.

My mare had two years off out in the field and didnt see any vehicles at all.....the second ride we did when she came back into work we had to pass tractors and silage trailers, forragers, and a lorry all in narrow spaces. She didnt flinch.....that is what i would expect from a horse that is good in traffic. And she had moved to a new yard two days before.
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I agree!! x
 
mcnaughty said:
Personally I think you must have suicidal tendencies!

I would never have left a new horse that long before getting on it's back and I certainly would not have used my first hack on her to test out whether she was good in heavy traffic.

Horses are not machines - certainly not ones that have recently changed hands, are fresh and are not riding school nags.

Give her some time, be patient and go out with someone else if you can next time.

I certainly do not think you have a case for the trading standards after one month and perhaps a call to the dealer first might help.

Good luck
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Ditto this!!
Give the horse some time, I think you seriously over faced her after a month off. A horse is not a machine.
 
no I know horses aren't machines, but a month is not a long time and she has been taken for walks up the lanes in that time...and if she was sold as bombproof or should I say good with heaviest of traffic and suitable for a novice rider then she bl00dy well should be...thats what I payed for thats what I wanted... god knows what would have happened if I put a novice on her...drastic consequences I would think...
 
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