Trying not to panic.... Reassuring advice would be greatly appreciated!

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rose bud

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Hi,
I bought a new pony 3 weeks ago and he was perfect, didn't bat an eyelid at anything out hacking and good as gold!
When i rode him over the weekend he was stupid! Spooking at everything (cows sheep, tractors etc) and bucking in canter!
What has happened to him?
He lives out, has no hard feed (ive j ust started giving him hay) and was fine for the first 2 weeks of having him.
Could it be something to do with the time of year?
As i bought him from a 14 year old girl i suspect that he was ridden a lot but the old owners assured me he wasn't the sort of pony that needed a lot of work and im now worrying that i won't be able to give him enough over the winter.
Could it be his tack, back or teeth? (i am heavier than his previous owner) any advice gratefully received!
Thanks x
 
Sounds like he's feeling very well.

I'm assuming that his saddle has been fitted by a professional.

But it sounds to me as if the horse is just feeling well, trying you out a little, and has his feet well and truly under the table as it were.

What do you do when he 'misbehaves' and was he sold as good in traffic?
 
It was pretty windy over the weekend maybe that had something to do with it. How much work do you give him? and is just hacking on the same route? He could either be bored or not doing enough during the week or as above says just testing you. Do you hack out with another horse and if not could you try that to start with.

A teeth and saddle check is always a good idea with newbie especially if you do not know when they were done last before you got him. If you had him vetted did they comment on what condition his teeth were in the vet did on my mares vetting.
 
It is always wise to check back, teeth, tack etc, but from what it sounds like to me is that he is testing the boundaries! :rolleyes:

When we bought our 15hh, been there, done that, bomb proof etc, he tested us after the 3rd week. Started spinning around when mounting and generally pushing the boundaries and being a pain!

We had to be firm with him to let him know that he couldn't be naughty just because he was at a new home and getting perhaps a little spoilt :o Lots of firm voice aids and setting the boundaries, that's what you need!

Our lad is much better now, and understands what he can get away with. Every now and then he still pushes, but we just remind him that actually, it's not ok to be bolshy! Lots of groundwork!!!!

Good luck, don't give up, just be firm! He'll soon settle :)
 
I bought my horse at this time of year and he was exactly the same. I did alot of work on the ground and even lead him out to get him used to things with me. After a couple of weeks he was hacking out nicer and would listen to me when we met something scarey (usually a different coloured plant!).

I hope it all works out for you :)
 
amymay said:
Sounds like he's feeling very well.

I'm assuming that his saddle has been fitted by a professional.

But it sounds to me as if the horse is just feeling well, trying you out a little, and has his feet well and truly under the table as it were.

What do you do when he 'misbehaves' and was he sold as good in traffic?
Click to expand...

yes, he was sold as bombproof and good with all traffic, which he has been up to now.
I generally either ignore his stupidness of try to calm him down by talking to him, but always make him go in the direction i wanted to go, past the monsters!
He is still in the tack that came with him, although i am getting a saddle fitter out as i would like a new saddle fitted for me and him.
 
Daisy dancer said:
yes, he was sold as bombproof and good with all traffic, which he has been up to now.
I generally either ignore his stupidness of try to calm him down by talking to him, but always make him go in the direction i wanted to go, past the monsters!
He is still in the tack that came with him, although i am getting a saddle fitter out as i would like a new saddle fitted for me and him.
Click to expand...

Try a growl and tell him to 'get on with it' rather than talking to try and calm him down - as there's a difference between upset and naughty - and you describe naughty.

Yes, you must have the saddle checked.
 
BorgRae said:
It is always wise to check back, teeth, tack etc, but from what it sounds like to me is that he is testing the boundaries! :rolleyes:

When we bought our 15hh, been there, done that, bomb proof etc, he tested us after the 3rd week. Started spinning around when mounting and generally pushing the boundaries and being a pain!

We had to be firm with him to let him know that he couldn't be naughty just because he was at a new home and getting perhaps a little spoilt :o Lots of firm voice aids and setting the boundaries, that's what you need!

Our lad is much better now, and understands what he can get away with. Every now and then he still pushes, but we just remind him that actually, it's not ok to be bolshy! Lots of groundwork!!!!

Good luck, don't give up, just be firm! He'll soon settle :)
Click to expand...

Thankyou!
That is quite reassuring to know that it isn't just me, seemed strange that he was so good for the first 3 weeks, i will try doing some groundwork with him too.
 
I would agree with the others, you have had the honeymoon now he is trying it on. :rolleyes:
They dont know what they can get away with unless they try.
Keep at it you will get back where you were
 
It's reassuring to see what people have posted in reply. I've had mixed experiences with a new horse.

A few years back I bought a youngster from a dealer but me and the horse didn't get on. I realise now it may have been because I didn't really give him proper time to settle or get into a new routine and, with more time and help, it might have been better. I sold him on after 4 weeks.

I bought an older bombproof confidence giver from a private sale and he was (and still is) brilliant. I knew much more about his history and what he'd done.

Slightly stupidly, I am thinking of getting another youngster from someone who hires out hunt horses, cough cough....I may be back on this forum again soon !!
 
Horses, generally, take their confidence from their rider (which is part of the reason that horses tend to go better when ridden by, for instance, an instructor or a professional). It is also why horses which have NEVER napped or reared will do so when sold on to a new home (so don't always assume you've been lied to when contacting former owners). It does sound like naughtiness, or trying it on, so make sure he learns that this is NOT the way to go.
 
Thankyou for the replies so far! It seems that most people think that he is being naughty and trying it on, so i will stick at it and hope it improves!
Its just dissapointing as he had been so good up until now, and no hint of spooking!
The first time that he was spooky was friday and he hadn't been ridden for 2 days before then, but thats not a long time is it?
He was better when i rode him out with company the next day but still had the odd moment, and we went for a 2 hour hack.
I'm worrying about not being able to ride him in the week (as i work full time) when the nights are too dark already!
 
ossy said:
It was pretty windy over the weekend maybe that had something to do with it. How much work do you give him? and is just hacking on the same route? He could either be bored or not doing enough during the week or as above says just testing you. Do you hack out with another horse and if not could you try that to start with.

A teeth and saddle check is always a good idea with newbie especially if you do not know when they were done last before you got him. If you had him vetted did they comment on what condition his teeth were in the vet did on my mares vetting.
Click to expand...

Hi,
I try to ride him twice in the week, which is getting difficult as i work full time and it is getting dark in the evenings :( and at the weekends.
We don't always go the same route when hacking and sometimes its alone, sometimes in company.
 
Don't panic yet. It really does sound like he has settled in and is now pushing the boundaries and seeing what he can get away with. They are just like children in that respect.

Keep on being firm, be confident and make sure that he always does what YOU want him to do, and not what HE wants to do, and before long you should get your bombproof boy back.
 
hi

sounds like me almost exactly a year ago! got my cob as perfect confidence giver, bombproof in traffic etc. etc. then a couple of weeks after i got him i tried to take him round woods on my own, on a very windy day. he was nervous, i got nervous, so he got more nervous, so i got more nervous... you can imagine how it went on. I was really upset as i thought he was a bombproof horse that was going to help my get my confidence back.

but i didnt give up. i kept doing things with him. hacking with company to begin with before trying on our own again. I cant say its been 100% smooth since but things have been better. i know if i stay calm then he stays calm. i have also learnt to trust him. even if he is tense he is not going to do anything to hurt me. but thats not something you can know when you first have a horse. you have to learn to trust the horse & the horse has to learn to trust you.

so keep going! horses like to test us. remember you are a new person, horse is in a new place. how is he going to know how things are without a bit of trial & error first?

On 30th of this month i will have had mine for 1 year. apart from a few episodes its been amazing. that'll be you in one year
 
do you keep him in a different routine to what he was used to with his previous owner? Were they on a yard and did he get turnout with a herd? How much company does he have now? I ask because my horse came from a busy yard with lots and lots of horses and although prone to napping, rarely did as he always had company. I keep my horses at home and there is just him and a companion pony so he was quite unsettled and began napping and misbehaving.
 
sally87 said:
hi

sounds like me almost exactly a year ago! got my cob as perfect confidence giver, bombproof in traffic etc. etc. then a couple of weeks after i got him i tried to take him round woods on my own, on a very windy day. he was nervous, i got nervous, so he got more nervous, so i got more nervous... you can imagine how it went on. I was really upset as i thought he was a bombproof horse that was going to help my get my confidence back.

but i didnt give up. i kept doing things with him. hacking with company to begin with before trying on our own again. I cant say its been 100% smooth since but things have been better. i know if i stay calm then he stays calm. i have also learnt to trust him. even if he is tense he is not going to do anything to hurt me. but thats not something you can know when you first have a horse. you have to learn to trust the horse & the horse has to learn to trust you.

so keep going! horses like to test us. remember you are a new person, horse is in a new place. how is he going to know how things are without a bit of trial & error first?

On 30th of this month i will have had mine for 1 year. apart from a few episodes its been amazing. that'll be you in one year
Click to expand...

Thankyou for your message! That is very reassuring to know, i feel better knowing that someone has had the same experience. Congratulations on your first year! X
 
NeverSayNever said:
do you keep him in a different routine to what he was used to with his previous owner? Were they on a yard and did he get turnout with a herd? How much company does he have now? I ask because my horse came from a busy yard with lots and lots of horses and although prone to napping, rarely did as he always had company. I keep my horses at home and there is just him and a companion pony so he was quite unsettled and began napping and misbehaving.
Click to expand...

Hi,
I think that i keep him in a slightly different routine than his last owner did. He was in a field with a companion in his last home and he's at a livery now, in a paddock on his own although there are lots of horses in the fields next to him that he can see over the fence.
He seems very settled though in the field.
Do you think this could be having an effect on him when out riding?
 
NeverSayNever said:
do you keep him in a different routine to what he was used to with his previous owner? Were they on a yard and did he get turnout with a herd? How much company does he have now? I ask because my horse came from a busy yard with lots and lots of horses and although prone to napping, rarely did as he always had company. I keep my horses at home and there is just him and a companion pony so he was quite unsettled and began napping and misbehaving.
Click to expand...

It was completely the opposite for mine. he had been at his last owner's house with just 2 other horses & they all had individual turnout. i keep him on a livery yard with lots of other horses & he is turned out with several others. but it was a big change for him, as it was for yours. yours probably just needs time to adjust to the change & im sure he will with time.
 
Daisy dancer said:
Hi,
I think that i keep him in a slightly different routine than his last owner did. He was in a field with a companion in his last home and he's at a livery now, in a paddock on his own although there are lots of horses in the fields next to him that he can see over the fence.
He seems very settled though in the field.
Do you think this could be having an effect on him when out riding?
Click to expand...

if he's out on his own he might be feeling insecure which would account for the spooking, i also found mine spooked as a form of napping. Also, is there any chance anyone else at the yard is feeding him? Whats the grass like? of course it might just be after 3 weeks he is just testing you out im afraid.
 
NeverSayNever said:
if he's out on his own he might be feeling insecure which would account for the spooking, i also found mine spooked as a form of napping. Also, is there any chance anyone else at the yard is feeding him? Whats the grass like? of course it might just be after 3 weeks he is just testing you out im afraid.
Click to expand...

There is very little grass at the moment and i have just started feeding him hay, although i think the grass had a bit of a growth spurt during that hot weather and i took the fence away from a section of the paddock that had been fenced off to let it dry out (didn't seem to be a lot of grass there though) and that was the week before last.
I really don't think anyone else is feeding him though.
Maybe i should try company?
 
Daisy dancer said:
Hi,
I think that i keep him in a slightly different routine than his last owner did. He was in a field with a companion in his last home and he's at a livery now, in a paddock on his own although there are lots of horses in the fields next to him that he can see over the fence.
He seems very settled though in the field.
Do you think this could be having an effect on him when out riding?
Click to expand...

Yes, It would be a huge culture shock, much busier, new people, different routine, but if it is this that is causing the problems then neddy should chill out and get used to it with time, I always used to use a calmer supplement with ebony if I moved yards she was a nightmare in the old days. Do a full mot on him and just keep things regular and relaxed for him. I am sure it will come right for you.
 
Cortez said:
Horses, generally, take their confidence from their rider (which is part of the reason that horses tend to go better when ridden by, for instance, an instructor or a professional). It is also why horses which have NEVER napped or reared will do so when sold on to a new home (so don't always assume you've been lied to when contacting former owners). It does sound like naughtiness, or trying it on, so make sure he learns that this is NOT the way to go.
Click to expand...

This ^

I bought my boy 6 months ago and he was always so well behaved - never really spooked, took all new situations in his stride and seemed unflappable. Just over a week ago I had a fall from him and my confidence is shaken. Since then he has been a lot more spooky in the school and is a bit silly on the walk in from the field. I am sure he is getting it from me as I have lost a bit of my confidence. I am trying to be assertive and not shy away from doing all the things I have always done with him in the hope we will build up to where we were again.

I would say, act confident even if you don't feel it, and give it a little more time so you can both get to know each other properly. Good Luck
 
queenbee said:
Yes, It would be a huge culture shock, much busier, new people, different routine, but if it is this that is causing the problems then neddy should chill out and get used to it with time, I always used to use a calmer supplement with ebony if I moved yards she was a nightmare in the old days. Do a full mot on him and just keep things regular and relaxed for him. I am sure it will come right for you.
Click to expand...

Thankyou for your reply!
I was considering trying a calmer on him, is there one that you would reccommend that has worked for you?
 
You have only had him for 3 weeks which is absolutely no time at all. He is in a new home with different sights, smells, friends, routines and of course a different rider. Of course he will behave differently. Give both of yourselves a chance to bond and become established in a new routine. Horses are not machines. You need to allow about two years to get to know each other and trust each other. Handle, him, groom him, hack him out as much as you can and you will both bond and have lots of fun together. (My advice is don't let anyone else ride him either).
 
Thankyou to everyone for your replies so far!
I have an update and would be gratefull for more opinions please....
I don't know if i mentioned but my pony is unshod, the people that i bought him off said that they had never had him shod (not sure how much road work they did with him) and i had his feet trimmed the week before last by my farrier who said he had tough little feet (he's an exmoor) and to see how he went.
When we rode out on saturday (in company) he was fine, although towards the end of the ride (2 hours) he started pulling towards the grass verges to walk on, so i assumed he may be getting a little foot sore and let him.
I rode him out this morning (only for half an hour as i was running late) and when we set off he was fine. We turned down a side road and he started pulling me onto the verges again and not wanting to walk on the road.
We carried on for a bit like this on the verge and then had to turn and head for home and he suddenly decided that it was fine to walk on the road and steamed towards home! Although he did head back to the verge further down the road.
So i guess what i'm asking is, could his feet be sore and causing this behavour or is he just being nappy and trying it on?
 
Do you know what OP - I'd stop over analising and just enjoy.

If you feel he needs shoes - put them on.

If he's sound without - leave them off.
 
I've not read any of the other replies so sorry if this has already been said, but to me it is obvious. You bought him and brought him home a couple of weeks ago in the really hot still weather. Now it's blowing a gale. All our horses are on their toes.
 
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