Unsuitable Horse

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ChowChow

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After giving it some serious thought I don't think my new horse is the one for me. He is great to handle, schools well, hacks alone/company excellent in traffic, a great jumper and very good looking but......

He can nap when alone and if he wants to go his way I can't stop him (although he hasn't bucked or reared) he will spin around and canter off until he gets his own way. Has little experience at shows so gets excited and again spins around and will only do anything if following another horse.

He was great when I tried him but I am a novice rider and I need a confidence giver and I think he needs a rider who will give him confidence.

I'm only able to ride in company occasionally and he's not the sort of horse for just weekend riding. I have lost my confidence as I've already fallen off him twice and I can't face anymore battle of wills.

His previous owner thinks I should stick it out but I've actually stopped riding him. What should I do?
 
How long have you had him??

I would say, of course his previous owner wants you to stick with it....she sold him to you and doesnt want to take him back!!!!

If you arent finding him fun, and the opportunity is there to send him back, I would.......but thats me!
 
I've had him 2 months so probably too long to send him back although I haven't discussed this.

Definitely not having fun and I have had a few lessons but he's good as gold in the school. He will make a great competition horse for someone with experience.
 
Stassy I know how you feel - atleast you can admit you've overhorsed yourself. Can you get someone else to ride him (even pay) so that atleast he's working nicely when people come and view him and just sell him.....
 
if i were you, i'd sell him. parkranger's idea sounds like a good 1.
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Im so sorry to hear this. I have seen this so many times before and IMO it comes down to a confidence issue between you both. He is looking to you for leadership but due to your lack of confidence in the saddle - he has little confidence himself. Stick at it - do lots of groundwork with him in the stable and the school. There is no rush, all in your own time and, dont feel you have to prove anything to others by allowing them to put you under pressure.

Why not ask your trainer or a confident rider to hack him out alone a few times. When you feel confident enough to go out on your own, set a goal that you will only go to the end of the road/500 yards etc. Bite size achievements.

Do let us know what you decide to do, it would be a shame not to take on the challenge as you must have seen something good in him when you bought him.
 
hi, the same thing happened to me earlier this year, i had my gelding 2 months but he wasn't suitable, i sold him to a wonderful home, i was very honest about him as didn't want him to keep getting sold on, (you do get attatched). the people who bought him love him to bits and get on really well with him.
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, i have now got another horse who is cheeky but a lot more suitable
 
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Im so sorry to hear this. I have seen this so many times before and IMO it comes down to a confidence issue between you both. He is looking to you for leadership but due to your lack of confidence in the saddle - he has little confidence himself. Stick at it - do lots of groundwork with him in the stable and the school. There is no rush, all in your own time and, dont feel you have to prove anything to others by allowing them to put you under pressure.

Why not ask your trainer or a confident rider to hack him out alone a few times. When you feel confident enough to go out on your own, set a goal that you will only go to the end of the road/500 yards etc. Bite size achievements.

Do let us know what you decide to do, it would be a shame not to take on the challenge as you must have seen something good in him when you bought him.

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I saw a lovely quiet horse, which he was, one I could do hacking and local shows on.

His ground work is spot on I have no problems there, I can lead, lunge and long line anywhere and he does join up. In familiar surroundings he hacks alone fine, in unfamiliar surroundings you have to go where he wants. The hacking here is great I could do a different route everytime but at the moment he will only go as far as the end of the track and he knows its up to him after that. Shows and hacking to them are another matter!

I've asked his previous owner to come and hack him out.
 
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Where abouts are you up north? If you are close enough maybe could give you a hand?

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Thanks thats really nice of you but I'm a bit out your way in Tyne & Wear
 
It might be worth sending him away for a few weeks of schooling livery to have him sorted out so he gets used to being worked in strange environments? Depends on how much you want to keep him though. If you don't then send him away to be sold because you'll never manage to show him off to his best advantage if you're worried about riding him. Alternatively, part exchange him through a reputable dealer.
 
I know exactly how you feel. I have had a horse on loan for 8 or 9 months and have now made the decision to send him back as he's just not right for us. Its heartbreaking but if he's not the right one and you are losing your confidence its probably for the best.
 
If he's not for you then he's not and you are sensible to consider making a change. I guess if the people will take him back that's fantastic but honestly, after 2 months and you doing quite a bit with him I could see why they would have no responsibility to do so. As you say, he doesn't seem to be "broken" in any way, he's just not fitting into your life. (There is no way of predicting how a horse - a living thing - will react to a new/different situation. You can't even say that for sure with PEOPLE. Why does anyone expect it?)

However . . . if you have to sell there is still the problem of being able to show the horse to people in order to send him off the best way possible. What you might try is a short term path which MIGHT change your mind about him or, at the very least, make the selling process a bit easier: Instead of sending him away, have someone come to you and ride him, not just to school him, but to help you adjust to each other. He might very well behave differently somewhere else but the question is can he be managed to live in YOUR world and work for YOU. It might be that some sort of regular schooling, some instruction for both of you, and a few tweaks to the program might indeed result in a horse you can enjoy. A good trainer should be able to assess the horse, assess you and your situation and tell you a) whether the horse might work for you in the end and how to go about getting that done or b) what to do now. If you do decide to replace the horse having someone you trust who knows you might also help the new process go more smoothly.

Worth a shot, anyway. Yes, it's an investment but at this point in the game a relatively minor one and it will at least safeguard the money you've put in so far.
 
If you truly feel he can become the horse you want if you persevere, then do. Get some lessons with a good instructor, perhaps have them help with the riding. But if you truly feel he's not the horse for you, sell him on while he still does the things he does well. If you try to carry on and haven't got the confidence to see it through, he might end up refusing to do anything at all, then you won't be able to sell him. He sounds like he's a decent horse providing you have lots of time and confidence to educate him, so someone will buy him I'm sure.
 
Hi Stassy. Two months isn't a hugely long time for him to have settled in and respect and trust you enough to hack out confidently, especially if each time, you choose a different route (you implied you could, not sure if you actually do). Can an instructor or someone very confident hacking, take him out alone for you and see what result they get, choosing the same route each time? You can build up the variety of routes over time, it's his trust you need to build, even if it is just half a mile down the lane and back, on your terms.

Well done you for admitting there's an issue and wanting to do what's best for the horse. I think a little time and some assitance might enable you to see whether he could be the horse for you long term. But don't put yourself at risk, only do what you are confident with until you can get a bit of expert advise.
 
Oh Stassy I feel for you. I cannot honestly give an opinion of the rights and wrongs of this horse but sometimes you just dont gel.

I bought the 'wrong' horse years ago she looked great and rode great when I tried her. We did not get on and shortly after I bought her she started rearing and napping which was obviuosly my fault as I was a novice. I broke my heart and my nerve with her and after 2 years sold her very cheap to someone who knew she napped and reared and knew it was so obviously my fault.

And what a surprise she still napped and reared. She worked very happily in walk trot canter and jumped but whenever she was asked to do antything she didnt want to she was back at it agin. (And to those of you 'experts' who will say she must have been in pain I spent a lot of money having everything checked back eyes teeth you name it). She was just a horse who needed a different job.

So if you want to have one more try thats fine especially if someone can help you but otherwise you and he need to part Company for good.
 
hi there

not sure if i can help but i have gone thro exactly the same thing. i bought a lovely mare last sept who i was told was a schoolmaster as my first horse for 15years and she wasnt by far. although sweet and loveable she was a little too much for me. it took many hours of tears and many pounds to realise it but i had to as i didnt have the time to do her justice. i found a sharer on here who came and rode herfor me a few times a week - i just paid petrol and now she has her on loan. she loves her and my horse is being used and loved.i had some lessons to get my confidence and riding ability back have saved and am buying something easier cheaper and its wonderful, hes not the best in the looks department or will ever be a superstar but its the best feeling to get out there and canter thro fields on a summers evening totally relaxed. i would say be brave you know its not right, get some help and then sort it out. HORSE OWNING SHOULD BE FUN, DONT FEEL BAD THAT YOU MADE A MISTAKE. good luck with whatever you decide.
 
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