What would you do?

[Sarah Sum1]

I have posted previously about the new horse i have bought recently (4 weeks ago) He was a nightmare to begin with, barging, biting, wouldn't be stabled (tried jumping out) wouldn't leave other horses, jumped out of field over a gate. He also naps and today he reared with me after deciding he didn't want to go where i wanted to go. I got him to go after a while. He isn't nasty with it, he just gets worried then it develops into panic. He has improved 90% in the stable and on the ground. He seems to have settled a lot. But the riding side seems to be getting worse. So much so that i dread riding him. isn't all the time but i have noticed i am praising him for walking round the school once coz usually he will do something, I.e nap or leap. I'm not scared but aprehensive to do much on him as he is so unpredicable. He is green, i paid way too much and am a bit gutted.
I got him for for me and my daughter to ride, daughter (15) novice, no way am i putting her on him.
Do i sell him back to dealer and be 100% honest about him and lose a lot of money and cut my losses, and buy a safer horse.
Or do i give him a chance, as it's only been a short while? trouble is i said to myself, if he ever rears, he's being sent back. Warranty ran out yesterday! (i bought him from a dealer)
He has been good and improved in other ways but it just seems i have a horse that cost me a fortune, costs me a fortune, and am not really enjoying it much. He was a ploddy type when i tried him out and is the complete opposite of that now.

 

[soph21]

What was he like when you tried him out? Did you trial him for a while?
I think some horses need a couple of days to settle and others need a couple of months, give him a few more weeks to settle

I hope it works out for you

 

[Meandtheboys]

curiosity.............which dealer did you buy the horse from and did you have a ful vetting with bloods etc

 

[Sarah Sum1]

He was a plod when i tried him, thing is the dealers had only had him 2 weeks before i got him, surely he would have been unsettled there too, but he seemed so quiet and sooooo calm. I appreciate he will need some time, just feel a bit down about it all at the mo

Thanks for the reply.

 

[JoBo]

Why as you asked ‘what would you do’, I will tell you just that. I would get rid, life is too short. I know 4 weeks isn’t long but there are loads of horses out there (genuine horses) that wouldn’t act like that. I can totally understand not wanting to put your 15 year old on it! If you can afford it, get rid, cut your losses and find something more suitable. Best of luck.

 

[Sarah Sum1]

I would Pm you the name of dealers. I had full 5 stage vetting with bloods. Vet wrote on vetting certificate "very calm temprement!"

 

[Ladylina83]

Why haven't you taken him back yet ?? I'm sure this is very hard for you but you need to swallow your pride. He isn't what you wanted and he isn't safe. I think I remember giving you some advice a few weeks ago on this - now my advice is cancel any plans you have today put him on the wagon and take him back ! The reason we have horses is for fun (Expensive fun at that) This does not sound like fun to me. Or you could always ask the dealer whatkind of dop he used when you tried him out and use that every day.

Your only other hope would be to send him away for schooling with someone who will not give him an inch. (more £££)

 

[Sarah Sum1]

[ QUOTE ]
Why haven't you taken him back yet ?? I'm sure this is very hard for you but you need to swallow your pride. He isn't what you wanted and he isn't safe. I think I remember giving you some advice a few weeks ago on this - now my advice is cancel any plans you have today put him on the wagon and take him back ! The reason we have horses is for fun (Expensive fun at that) This does not sound like fun to me. Or you could always ask the dealer whatkind of dop he used when you tried him out and use that every day.

Your only other hope would be to send him away for schooling with someone who will not give him an inch. (more £££)

[/ QUOTE ]

Trouble is the warranty has expired so i would have to sell him back to them and prob lose about £3000 and well it is a nasty thought. But your right, i'm not enjoying him at the moment. I also have people at the yard telling me to bear with him and he will settle in the end so on and so on, and it's just a bl))dy mess

 

[RuthnMeg]

Ok, alarm bells for me iam affraid. So, he was ploddy when you tried him? Was that just once or several times? What did you do when trying him, school and hack and have a jump? Was there a possibility of him being doped? (happens to many iam sure). Does this dealer have a good reputation? Did you get him vetted?
We all know that horses take a while to settle but as the saying goes - once a rearer always a rearer. He will always have this 'panicy streak' no matter how calm some moments are. Yes, he is only a baby - but lets face it, you can't continue to use that excuse. Many babies don't behave like this, so why should he?
Apart from sending him to be professionally schooled (if you are going to keep him) I would be sending him back. Its very sad, I normally am the type to work through problems but a past horse of mine was like this (on loan to me) and after 9 months we had hardly made any progress and i realised he was like it for good no matter what. There are better horses out there and a horse that you and your daughter can enjoy, whats the point of having horses otherwise?
Sadly for you, you have left the warranty slip and you maybe in for a big loss money wise - but safe happy riding has to take some priority.
Sorry. Hugs for you. Its not nice this kind of experience.

 

[E_Lister]

If it is from a dealers shouldn't there be a 3 month warranty?

(If this is incorrect please don't quote me, your best bet would be to ask a solicitor, I'm sure there are a few on here)

 

[CBFan]

If you have trouble with the dealer accepting him back and giving you your money back, I'd get the blood sample taken at the vetting tested as there is something really not adding up here. If the dealer had only had him 2 weeks and this horse was genuinely the type to be unsettled with a change of yards etc, it wouldve been behaving like this when you tried it. I would suspect this horse was doped when you tried it it you could take action against the dealer for missrepresentation..

 

[Sarah Sum1]

I know you are prob right

I have shed many a tear since buying him and it surely shouldn't be that way. I have put a new post up asking about sending him away for schooling. I like that idea but not sure if thats because i won't have to deal with him for a while

OH LORDY!!!!! I will lose so much money, i feel such a fool!!. People at the yard seem to think he will settle, but i don't like the fact he has now reared with me! He is insecure and i worry that will just come out in all sorts of ways. I would never let daughter hack him alone so whats the point

P.s If anyone wants to come with me to try out a new horse, please feel free. My judgement is poo

 

[Ladylina83]

[ QUOTE ]

Trouble is the warranty has expired so i would have to sell him back to them and prob lose about £3000 and well it is a nasty thought. But your right, i'm not enjoying him at the moment. I also have people at the yard telling me to bear with him and he will settle in the end so on and so on, and it's just a bl))dy mess

[/ QUOTE ]

I know what you are saying - but my Ipod broke 2 days after its warranty ran out and Apple swapped it for me - It was unlikely that my ipod could hurt me or my daughter!
It doesn't sound like it is in your character to go in all guns blazing which I commend you for as I wish I could bite my tounge some times- however the words Trading and standards come to mind. You simply havent got what you paid for. If you went and paid a fiver for a chocolate cake and when you got it home there was actually cabbage in the box you would take it back and thats just for a fiver.

You must know in your gut feeling about this - its ok for other people to say it will settle in its not their horse. It is hard to comment as an outsider (If I was in this situation I the only person i would listen to would be my mum, if your mum isn't around then get your daughter to ask you the question and answer it as her mum)

I don't need to tell you that rearing is bad !!

 

[Sarah Sum1]

The thing is, i feel utterly stupid because i did conatct the dealers when he was playing up before and they gave me an extension on the warranty. I emailed then about 3 days ago saying he was being ok and i would keep him. He hadn't reared before today and i had people telling me that he would prob stop napping once settled. I just feel such a fool. I think i will conatct them and see if they will buy him back from me. He is a nice horse, just think he has issues that need a constant firm, experienced hand and my daughter (or me really) isn't that way. Thanks for the advice, my daughters safety is my main concern, so bye bye horsey

 

[R.A.H]

I would ring the dealer now, actually I think I would have rang him/her a few weeks ago. Hope it all works out for you.

 

[R.A.H]

[ QUOTE ]
I would ring the dealer now, actually I think I would have rang him/her a few weeks ago. Hope it all works out for you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry I must have posted at the same time!

 

[Ranyhyn]

I'd sell him. Give an open honest advert, you will yes, probably lose money but 4 weeks is a pretty good time to start settling and rearing for me is a no-no. Carry on like that and you might lose a lot more.
((hugs))

 

[Rudey]

Take it back!!!

I was sat on a youngster for my friend in July. It reared that big it couldn't keep its balance, fell over backwards ontop of me, as it tried to get off me, sat on me again.

It smashed my talus into 4 pieces, and snapped my fibula which broke through my skin. I have had two operations, and 17 weeks onwards, I am no where near walking!

I wouldn't wish my injuries on anyone.... but looking at the bigger picture, it could have been alot worse. You know it rears, don't let this happen to you!!

It's not just about the pain factor, or the fact that this injury is going to have an effect on me physically and mentally forever, but it has effected my OH, family and friends! And my two horses that I can't look after myself!! Not to mention, financially! I am unable to work. I am nearly a grand down a month. From personal experience....

Rearers are DEFINITELY NOT worth it!!!!!

 

[Ranyhyn]

[ QUOTE ]


Rearers are DEFINITELY NOT worth it!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Echo this!!!

 

[Pixxie]

again echo what Lauracross said, one of my friends at college was riding out on roads and her horse reared and went over on her on the road, she broke her spine in 3 places and few weeks (a year on) her back her back went into spasm as a result of the damage leaving her unable to walk for days sit or stand for long periods of time and she had to wait 2 weeks until she could go to a physio and doctor etc because she couldnt be in a car

rearers are most definitely not worth it

 

[ester]

I would phone the dealer and see what they say, until you speak to them you don't know where you stand.

Re him being quiet at the dealers, I would imagine that he had a strict routine and was ridden quite a lot by experienced riders which I think can make a big difference to their behaviour.

 

[ldlp111]

if you had a vetting done i would get bloods tested for dope etc and demand they take the horse back with full refund, especially if it was sold as mother daughter share, quiet ride etc definetely not what you've got there.

my horse is spooky and sharp but so far hasn't reared or done anything like that, but i still wouldnt describe her as mother daughter share. took her up on hills other day second time and she didnt get half as excited as my 14yr old cob who's been loads of times

i have a perfectly good horse for mother daughter share but unfortunately he's older (15) and has slight arthritis so gets overlooked

 

[charlie76]

You are within your right to return the horse is bought from a dealer and not as described. Do you still have the original advert? The warranty is irrelevant.

 

[Rudey]

I have just put a post on showing the after effects of that horse rearing over on top of me.... have a look...

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/5002453/an/0/page/0#5002453

(hopefully it will show up)

xx

 

[ladyt25]

Your options are to keep him and get a professional to help you which may or may not work OR take him back to the dealer! I think, although a horse can take a while to settle, I think after 4 weeks you should be able to ride a horse without worrying how he's going to be today.

If you want an enjoyable, fun horse then it sounds like he is not for you and sometimes it is best to cut your losses and admit it's not working. My sister's youngster had confidence issues when we got him (as a 4 yo) and he would do similar, small rears though and spinning round BUT it was genuine confidence issues and he is a nice 'person' who generally wants to please. he has basically stopped doing this now so he did grow out of it. However, if you've lost your confidence with this horse it doesn't sound like he is likely to improve as he will pick up on the fact you are not confident and it ends up a vicious circle.

I would take him back, even if you do lose a bit of money. If the dealer's any good though (it sounds like it if they have extended your warranty already) they won't want to tarnish their good name. The horse and you may just not be a 'match' some horses just don't click with certain riders so don't feel guilty, you and him may just not be meant for each other!

Get yourself a nice horse you can trust and you and your daughter can enjoy!! I would offer to come with you - love horse shopping - but you're too far away. If horses are going to misbehave they seem to do it when I get on ( mum used to use me as 'stunt rider' when we looked for horses for my sister - obviously my mum can't love me as much!! lol)

 

[PeterNatt]

Firstly as you bought from a dealer and the horse has proved not to be as described you can ask for all your money back. If the dealer does not co-operate you simply take him to the small claims court and not only ask for a full refund but all the costs involved in keeping the horse.

The fact that the vet has stated quiet on the vetting certificate will help you. I would also have the blood tested to see if the horse was doped.

 

[kerilli]

ring the dealer and tell him/her what happened today. say that you have given the horse lots of chances but he is getting worse, you daren't put your daughter on him, you are getting worried about riding him. he is not the horse you tried or you wanted. tell the truth, without emotion, if at all possible.
a decent dealer will want to protect their reputation, a few days either way on the warranty makes no difference.
get bloods tested first if necessary, if there is any trace of dope in them then you have a hugely strong case.
in the meantime, you could ask an experienced rider to sit on him (if you haven't already) and see how he is... he might just be taking the mickey perhaps?
hope it works out well for you.

 

[merlinsquest]

Can a vet tell from bloods if a horse was deprived of water for any length of time prior to the vetting.

Dehydration can make a horse appear calm and ploddy, but I dont know if it can be detected in blood tests

I would also send the horse far far away

 

[Sarah Sum1]

[ QUOTE ]
Take it back!!!

I was sat on a youngster for my friend in July. It reared that big it couldn't keep its balance, fell over backwards ontop of me, as it tried to get off me, sat on me again.

It smashed my talus into 4 pieces, and snapped my fibula which broke through my skin. I have had two operations, and 17 weeks onwards, I am no where near walking!

I wouldn't wish my injuries on anyone.... but looking at the bigger picture, it could have been alot worse. You know it rears, don't let this happen to you!!

It's not just about the pain factor, or the fact that this injury is going to have an effect on me physically and mentally forever, but it has effected my OH, family and friends! And my two horses that I can't look after myself!! Not to mention, financially! I am unable to work. I am nearly a grand down a month. From personal experience....

Rearers are DEFINITELY NOT worth it!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

OMG i'm so sorry to read this!!! I hope you are getting better and i hope your sitaution improves!!

I have spoken to the dealer and they have offered to take him back, so i am lucky in that respect. I would never have put my daughter on him, and he just isn't reliable.

 

[zero]

Ehco what Kerrilli says. Speak to the dealer. All the dealers I know want to protect their reputation. (it tajes a lot longer to get a good rep than it does for to get a bad one.) Most dealers I know would take the horse back and try and find you another one. Id be very supprised if you get money back but Im sure theyll have other horses that might be suitable.