thought I had found the perfect horse....

Serephin

Serephin

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I have been looking for a confidence giving horse to help me with my nervousness. I found a lovely boy, very laid back, nicely schooled, had hunted (which is what I want to get back into eventually) done sponsored rides. the lot. A little too laid back really in that I had to wear spurs to get him going forward (on the owner's recommendation) - anyhow - went back to see him again and hacked out on the roads and he spooked big time, three times in the space of 20 mins at a van, a car and then a lorry (which kindly stopped when he saw the horse freak out) - someone now has loads of hoofprints all over their immaculate front lawn. The owner came out with the comment 'he's never done that before' but I am inclined to think that yes, he has. Would it put you off the horse? I plan to do a lot of hacking on my own and we have a busy road near us that would need crossing - I am really disappointed as I was so happy with everything else.

this horse hunting is a nightmare!
 
I tried one horse that I liked and it spooked at a flag blowing gently in the wind. I immediately jumped off and refused to get on again. It's not worth risking your life for! Traffic proof or at least vaguely sensible is a must. The one I went on to buy was a bit of a scaredy cat on his own but only in that he would just stop if he got scared; he wouldnt do anything stupid he was fab with other horses.
 
If you lack confidence, walk away. From your post, it sounds as if the spooks today worried you so that isn't what you need. Plenty more horses out there without the spooks or need for spurs!
 
If you don't like the spooking, and the fact you are thinkning twice then I'd walk away. There will be something out there. Having said that, one of mine is a delight to hack in the summer and a spooky mess in the winter - the fact I am currently nursing a broken hand testament to that.

Yet I'd sell her as 'good to hack' overall but not a novice ride. Only you can decide as am sure you have.
 
He doesnt sound like the "confidence giving horse" you are looking for - trust your instict.
I am also STILL looking for my fun but safe confidence giver, but after about 6 months I still havent found him, but I know he is out there somewhere and will be worth waiting for!
Good luck.
grin.gif
 
No it wouldnt put me off.... but then Im not nervous like you. I would walk away as now you know it can spook you'll never trust him 100%, which is what you need in a confidence giver!
 
thanks everyone for your replies - the lady I took with me is very knowledgable and she said she didn't like the way it reacted on the roads - she thought it was fab up until that point, as did I - my own TB is better on the roads TBH and he can be spooky.

I am so disappointed.

The quest continues......
 
Wallk away. If he is spooking at cars (not to mention the van and the lorry) on his "home patch", he is obviously not traffic proof and if you want a confidence giving horse that can hack out in traffic on his own, then this one is not for you. If you were to go ahead, you will always be waiting for him to spook at traffic which in turn will make him more spooky. The roads are dangerous enough with a traffic proof horse, let alone one that isn't. There will be a horse out there for you, you just have to keep looking.
 
If you want a horse as a hack and to build you confidence then a spooky horse is not going to do the job. I looked for ages for my horse at the right price. I kissed a lot of frogs before I found my prince. He's out there just be patient. Do you know I gave up looking eventually, stopped searching websites all over the countryside and all horse publications and found him about 20 miles away.
I also think there can be sone doubt about horse whenever you by one after all they are expensive to buy and KEEP!!!!
 
No - there are loads of horses out there at the moment, I know of a few people finding it hard to sell super horses. No need to buy one with spooky issues......
 
No leave him Its easy to get carried away and think that the problem will get better but if you are already feeling nervous a spooky horse is not the answer. Remember horse riding is meant to be fun ! I rode a sharp youngster for a while and riding turned into an effort instead of enjoyment
 
You're obviously worrying about this one's spooking, so walk away.
I was looking for 10 months til i found my perfect horse. I went to see some shockers too! I saw one 5 year old ISH mare which i really liked. She seemed unflappable and jumped beautifully over about 3ft first time. I went back a week later to try her again and she seemed like a different horse. She was majorly spooky, to the extent of leaping in the air, and stopped about every 3 strides out on a walk down the road to look at things. And she refused a 1ft crosspole 3 times. I walked away! If they're like that at their home, what will they be like at a new place?!
 
I think you should go with your initial gut feeling and leave this one..... its amazing how many owners say He/She has never done that before!!! a sentence I have heard on many occasions!
 
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