Would you consider buying this horse?

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Ellietotz

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I just tried tying him up next to the gate to brush him, my mare wandered off and he got so upset, wouldn't stand still, called and nipped if I got in the way. Same as he is with his other field mate. I'm starting to feel low that this isn't going to work. :(
 
Casey76

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Give him a chance to settle in. His world has been turned upside down. He needs to get used to a new space to live, a new owner and a new routine.

Be firm with your handling, but also be understanding. He is confused and upset. Especially if he has been with a gelding previously, and now he’s with a flirty mare.
 
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Casey76 said:
Give him a chance to settle in. His world has been turned upside down. He needs to get used to a new space to live, a new owner and a new routine.

Be firm with your handling, but also be understanding. He is confused and upset. Especially if he has been with a gelding previously, and now he’s with a flirty mare.
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I know, I just hope it works out.
I do try to be firm when he is acting up when tied up but he just tries nipping like he did before with his usual field mate being out and of course, I don't know his boundaries yet. My mare will retaliate with her legs if she is told off! I hope we can work through that in time and he will chill out when he realises his new girlfriend isn't going anywhere.

The riggy side of things, we will just have to see.
 
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J&S said:
Why not tie up the mare fairly close by so she can't disappear whilst you groom. He is bound to be a bit clingy to start with.
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Yes, I will probably move her somewhere where she can't wander off too far or something but I'm hoping that getting them both out every time I want to brush/tack up won't be a permanent thing.
 
TheresaW

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Ellietotz said:
Yes, I will probably move her somewhere where she can't wander off too far or something but I'm hoping that getting them both out every time I want to brush/tack up won't be a permanent thing.
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When AE’s Max moved in, Dolly turned on all her womanly charms! He was interested for a day at the most. Give them time.
 
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I think you're right to have concerns, he needs to fit in with your setup but it's brilliant you've got this time to see if he can.

I'm sure he will settle in so give him time but at the end of the day if it doesn't feel right it's not x
 
ycbm

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This behaviour doesn't sound as if it's new? Are you saying that he was the same before he moved to you, when his companion was a gelding?
.
 
scats

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Ellietotz said:
I just tried tying him up next to the gate to brush him, my mare wandered off and he got so upset, wouldn't stand still, called and nipped if I got in the way. Same as he is with his other field mate. I'm starting to feel low that this isn't going to work. :(
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Give him a chance... it rarely ever works out perfectly straight away. Be firm about what is acceptable/unacceptable behaviour and keep in mind that he might be a bit clingy for a while.
 
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ycbm said:
This behaviour doesn't sound as if it's new? Are you saying that he was the same before he moved to you, when his companion was a gelding?
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The riggy behaviour is new to me, he isn't like this with his usual gelding field mate who is the leader of the two of them. I have asked the owner if he has lived with mares before so waiting to hear back.

The rudeness when he is agitated when his field mate has gone isn't new but I am hoping this can be sorted.
 
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scats said:
Give him a chance... it rarely ever works out perfectly straight away. Be firm about what is acceptable/unacceptable behaviour and keep in mind that he might be a bit clingy for a while.
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I think my biggest concern is someone getting hurt and him running my mare down when she is in season or perhaps even mounting her which does really worry me with her issues, especially being a dainty 13.3hh and him a heavy 15.3hh chunk.
 
DizzyDoughnut

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Ellietotz said:
I think my biggest concern is someone getting hurt and him running my mare down when she is in season or perhaps even mounting her which does really worry me with her issues, especially being a dainty 13.3hh and him a heavy 15.3hh chunk.
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Mine lived with a shetland mare his whole life and others upto about 16hh, he is 13hh. When the Shetland first arrived he was 2 and still thought he was gods gift to women, he was an absolute idiot. But if he ever took it to far the mare would always tell him to get lost and he always did no matter how much he might have disagreed. Some mares encouraged him but as I said before he soon got bored of them and his belly took over!
 
Mrs. Jingle

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I don't think he is necessarily showing he is a rig (but do mention at vetting if you really think that might be a possibility) When my big chap arrived and was put in with my mare and two donkey geldings he strutted around the place arching his neck, pawing the ground, waving his todger at anyone who cared to notice...fortunately nobody took much notice lol!

In the early days if he really irritated my mare when she was in season she simply double barreled him until he accepted she is herd leader, not him, and to back off. All settled within a few weeks of everybody (particularly him!) adjusting to the new routine.
 
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As others have said, give him time. Mine's lived out with mares most of his life - only been in gelding herds since he's been with me. With the majority he is totally oblivious but every now and then he turned into a total pillock, bouncing about with everything on show. He tried to have a go just once. With a stroppy 13.2hh Highland mare. She decided he was far too much of a wally for her and wellied him. He's never tried since, just prances around at a safe distance to show them what they are missing.
 
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Mrs Jingle said:
I don't think he is necessarily showing he is a rig (but do mention at vetting if you really think that might be a possibility) When my big chap arrived and was put in with my mare and two donkey geldings he strutted around the place arching his neck, pawing the ground, waving his todger at anyone who cared to notice...fortunately nobody took much notice lol!

In the early days if he really irritated my mare when she was in season she simply double barreled him until he accepted she is herd leader, not him, and to back off. All settled within a few weeks of everybody (particularly him!) adjusting to the new routine.
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This is reassuring, thank you. My mare is definitely the dominant one and will double barrel him if he does something she isn't happy with so hopefully he doesn't push it or get angry!
I've just known a gelding to chase a mare in season, angrily, until he got her cornered and hurt her so it really worries me. There was no stopping him either.
 
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Ellietotz said:
Is it normal to get cold feet? Feeling super nervous about it all now!
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Oh yes! I had them (briefly) when I was offered my lad on loan and then there was even a fleeting 'oh sh*t' moment when he was given to me. It hits home what you are taking on and I think it's a good sign.

For me it reassured me that I had considered the options and thought of what I would need to make it work, as well as what to do if it didn't. But then I like to plan stuff. A lot.
 
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Caol Ila said:
I definitely got cold feet with my PRE. I was worried she would be too wild, too unhandled. Did not, however, expect her to be too pregnant.
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Ah I have been watching your thread closely waiting for pictures of the baby! A slight surprise but you aren't stuck, there are always options. :)
 
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Ellietotz

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I am so glad it isn't just me and this is normal then!
Plan B options would be to split or sell but I'm just hoping that it will go as planned. They are still hanging around with each other on either side of the fence today, clearly in love. Still not fussed on his other field mate, he has a girlfriend now so why would you? Other field mate is calling a bit but not running around upset luckily, just calling in between mouthfuls of grass!

Vetting is booked for 17th so at least that gives me this week to settle them next to each other and potentially put them in together for a few days before the purchase is finalised to really confirm that they should be okay together.

I am nervous though that they will just beat each other up but I am just thinking the worse!

I was planning on shutting off my single shelter if they are living together as I worry about them fighting in there. Do you think I should?
 
Mrs. Jingle

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Ellietotz said:
I was planning on shutting off my single shelter if they are living together as I worry about them fighting in there. Do you think I should?
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I would - well especially to start with, but I am not keen on field shelters for multi horses anyway, unless they are very generous with one side completely open for easy escape if anyone is likely to corner another one.
 
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