Got a new horse, but way greener than expected

[JazzyBoots]

Hey All,

So I got what I thought was my dream horse. Tried her a couple times, she worked beautifully at her barn, knowing she needed some minimal updates. Got her home and she’s a totally different horse. She’s confused with her aids, she’s throwing her shoulder out, not bending, her canter is now AWFUL, and transitions are bad now too. I don’t understand how everything seemed so good and now asking for a canter is the worst. I’m told she needs to be retrained but I never wanted to ‘train’ a horse given I haven’t ridden in a while due to kids (previously did eventing back in my teens). I’m torn, I love her and she’s safe and sane, but I can’t really enjoy her without going through a huge process. Her previous owner is going to come give me a bunch of tips and a lesson, but I’m fearing I’m not experienced enough to give her what she needs. I’ve had her a month now, I want to make it work, but I can’t spend 1000’s on re-training if that’s indeed the case. She also wasn’t a cheap horse and I fear if I did have to sell I would have to take a loss based on her current training level. So discouraged, she is my first horse and was so different when I tried her (even for my very experienced friend). I have a trainer coming to do an assessment of me and her together to see if the two of us could get up to speed or if she needs someone who is more experienced. Advice?

 

[Mary Poppins]

Did you get the horse vetted before you brought her? The first thing to do is to rule out a medical problem which may be causing her to act like this. If you didn't get her vetted, I would advise that you get a vet to come and give her a full MOT. Also get her tack checked and make sure her teeth are up to date. It is fairly common for sellers to give a difficult horse bute and/or exercise them so they are tired when potential new owners come to try. The rule of thumb is to not trust a word of what a potential seller tells you and always get your own independent vet and instructor to give an unbiased opinion. I don't mean to sound overly negative, but over the years we have had hundreds of threads from people who have been sold unsuitable horses. It's a horrible situation to find yourself in, but you really do need to throughly check out any horse before you buy it and it becomes your problem.

 

[Lollykay]

1. What @Mary Poppins said.

2. Horses always work better in their own barn.

3. I am glad you admitted you are too inexperienced to work thru the issues, which likely are not the horse’s issues but your lack of experience.

I am sorry but I‘ve been on horse forums since the very early days when they started out on MSN. Every single time I read something like this, it has almost always boiled down to being rider error but it’s always the horse who gets thrown under the bus.

3.1. once the horse is thoroughly checked for pain issues, saddle fit, farrier error, please try to fit some lessons for you and the horse together into your budget. Shoe string budgets and horses are never compatible - never

 

[Mary Poppins]

3.1. once the horse is thoroughly checked for pain issues, saddle fit, farrier error, please try to fit some lessons for you and the horse together into your budget. Shoe string budgets and horses are never compatible - never

Totally agree with this. Horses cost money and if you need to invest money into training both yourself and the horse, this is what needs to be done. All the most experienced riders still have lessons, it's not a sign of failure but a sign that you want the best for both yourself and the horse.

If the previous owner is genuine and sees you are struggling, she should do the right thing and take the horse back and admit she has sold to the wrong person. If she doesn't, I think that she saw you coming.

 

[JazzyBoots]

Did you get the horse vetted before you brought her? The first thing to do is to rule out a medical problem which may be causing her to act like this. If you didn't get her vetted, I would advise that you get a vet to come and give her a full MOT. Also get her tack checked and make sure her teeth are up to date. It is fairly common for sellers to give a difficult horse bute and/or exercise them so they are tired when potential new owners come to try. The rule of thumb is to not trust a word of what a potential seller tells you and always get your own independent vet and instructor to give an unbiased opinion. I don't mean to sound overly negative, but over the years we have had hundreds of threads from people who have been sold unsuitable horses. It's a horrible situation to find yourself in, but you really do need to throughly check out any horse before you buy it and it becomes your problem.

Thanks! Yes, I had her vetted (twice actually) with rads of her legs. All clean and green light both times. Her teeth and feet have been done as soon as I got her to the barn and also had her diet adjusted to a more suitable one for her. I had her ridden by others too to see if she would be a good fit, green light, but knowing she needed some muscle and whatnot.

 

[JazzyBoots]

1. What @Mary Poppins said.

2. Horses always work better in their own barn.

3. I am glad you admitted you are too inexperienced to work thru the issues, which likely are not the horse’s issues but your lack of experience.

I am sorry but I‘ve been on horse forums since the very early days when they started out on MSN. Every single time I read something like this, it has almost always boiled down to being rider error but it’s always the horse who gets thrown under the bus.

3.1. once the horse is thoroughly checked for pain issues, saddle fit, farrier error, please try to fit some lessons for you and the horse together into your budget. Shoe string budgets and horses are never compatible - never

So she’s been vetted, she had a saddle fitter in, teeth and feet all done under my vet/farrier. I’m not inexperienced per say, but I don’t have the same muscle I used to. My budget is definitely not shoe string, but I also don’t want to spend 1000’s in training if she’s not the right fit. I’ve had two very experienced riders/trainers on her and she acted the same way for them, but more attentive to them. She still seems confused in their aids and I’ve been told to restart her. I feel like I’ve followed all the steps, and adjusted everything, spent the money on a great saddle and fitter. Really it’s confusing. She didn’t seem to require a super experienced rider as she’s had beginners on her, she’s very honest and willing. But is totally different at my barn.

 

[JazzyBoots]

Totally agree with this. Horses cost money and if you need to invest money into training both yourself and the horse, this is what needs to be done. All the most experienced riders still have lessons, it's not a sign of failure but a sign that you want the best for both yourself and the horse.

If the previous owner is genuine and sees you are struggling, she should do the right thing and take the horse back and admit she has sold to the wrong person. If she doesn't, I think that she saw you coming.

Yes I planned to have lessons and have a coach and everything. I was just taking a few weeks to get to know her first. Either way, I have a professional set up to do an assessment of her and I together to see if it’s a bad fit. Her seller is coming to see us too to try and sort it out and see what’s happened/changed.

 

[JazzyBoots]

Yes I planned to have lessons and have a coach and everything. I was just taking a few weeks to get to know her first. Either way, I have a professional set up to do an assessment of her and I together to see if it’s a bad fit. Her seller is coming to see us too to try and sort it out and see what’s happened/changed.

I also had my coach and close friend ride her before I purchased.

 

[JazzyBoots]

Did you get the horse vetted before you brought her? The first thing to do is to rule out a medical problem which may be causing her to act like this. If you didn't get her vetted, I would advise that you get a vet to come and give her a full MOT. Also get her tack checked and make sure her teeth are up to date. It is fairly common for sellers to give a difficult horse bute and/or exercise them so they are tired when potential new owners come to try. The rule of thumb is to not trust a word of what a potential seller tells you and always get your own independent vet and instructor to give an unbiased opinion. I don't mean to sound overly negative, but over the years we have had hundreds of threads from people who have been sold unsuitable horses. It's a horrible situation to find yourself in, but you really do need to throughly check out any horse before you buy it and it becomes your problem.

Yes did all of that and had a saddle custom fitted before I rode her.

 

[carthorse]

1. What @Mary Poppins said.

2. Horses always work better in their own barn.

3. I am glad you admitted you are too inexperienced to work thru the issues, which likely are not the horse’s issues but your lack of experience.

I am sorry but I‘ve been on horse forums since the very early days when they started out on MSN. Every single time I read something like this, it has almost always boiled down to being rider error but it’s always the horse who gets thrown under the bus.

3.1. once the horse is thoroughly checked for pain issues, saddle fit, farrier error, please try to fit some lessons for you and the horse together into your budget. Shoe string budgets and horses are never compatible - never

All of this.

Also you've only had her a month, she's still setting in to a new home, new friends, new owner. Add to that you may not be the level of rider she's used to - no offence intended - so you aren't getting on a horse that has been setup for you, and you have a recipe for things to feel wrong.

See how the previous owner gets on with her, that will tell you a lot. Watch how she rides and aim to emulate that method since it works for this horse, and listen to her tips. I very much doubt the horse needs retraining, instead you need to learn how to ride her - the individual, not a text book or riding school horse - and that's likely to take time and some lessons, plus maybe some compromise and changes from you.

Only you can decide whether you keep her or sell her on. If she were mine I'd be giving it more time, spending a lot of time handling her, gaining her confidence with short quiet rides where things don't go wrong but I've owned horses for years and have always liked the more sensitive types. It may simply be this is the wrong horse for you, that you've overhorsed yourself, and if that's the case there's no shame in admitting it.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

First, let me say that I am so sorry this has happened, and that I hope you can work through it and end up with the dream horse you were hoping for.

Also, I agree with @carthorse . There's a bit pf a process of elimination going on here. She worked beautifully at her old home. See how she goes for her previous owner at your place. If it's the same as she goes for you, ie confused, well, then the problem is the new place. All horses take time to settle in - sometimes a LONG time! My boy who I bought 18 months ago didn't really relax and trust me for more than a year. He's still a monkey but hey, I love him.

If she goes well for her old owner at your place, then you can guess that the issue is that she doesn't understand what you're telling her. So you can either retrain her, or retrain you.

If she's a clever mare it might not be as hard as you fear to retrain her, especially as you have support.

Don't give up yet! Give her a chance!

 

[JazzyBoots]

All of this.

Also you've only had her a month, she's still setting in to a new home, new friends, new owner. Add to that you may not be the level of rider she's used to - no offence intended - so you aren't getting on a horse that has been setup for you, and you have a recipe for things to feel wrong.

See how the previous owner gets on with her, that will tell you a lot. Watch how she rides and aim to emulate that method since it works for this horse, and listen to her tips. I very much doubt the horse needs retraining, instead you need to learn how to ride her - the individual, not a text book or riding school horse - and that's likely to take time and some lessons, plus maybe some compromise and changes from you.

Only you can decide whether you keep her or sell her on. If she were mine I'd be giving it more time, spending a lot of time handling her, gaining her confidence with short quiet rides where things don't go wrong but I've owned horses for years and have always liked the more sensitive types. It may simply be this is the wrong horse for you, that you've overhorsed yourself, and if that's the case there's no shame in admitting it.

Thank you! She’s very sane and quiet and sweet. She just doesn’t seem to have the buttons she did at the other barn. She’s not a bad horse by any means, I just don’t know why even very experienced riders are having difficulty getting her to even bend or pick up a proper canter. It’s odd to me, that’s all. But I agreed, I will give it more time and work with our dressage coach (already set up) and see what her assessment is. She’s not ‘too much horse’ but everyone I’ve had assess her said she’s confused with all her aids. Which confuses me…a whole lot of confusion. I have multiple professionals working with me, it’s just all the conflicting advice is disheartening and confusing

 

[JazzyBoots]

First, let me say that I am so sorry this has happened, and that I hope you can work through it and end up with the dream horse you were hoping for.

Also, I agree with @carthorse . There's a bit pf a process of elimination going on here. She worked beautifully at her old home. See how she goes for her previous owner at your place. If it's the same as she goes for you, ie confused, well, then the problem is the new place. All horses take time to settle in - sometimes a LONG time! My boy who I bought 18 months ago didn't really relax and trust me for more than a year. He's still a monkey but hey, I love him.

If she goes well for her old owner at your place, then you can guess that the issue is that she doesn't understand what you're telling her. So you can either retrain her, or retrain you.

If she's a clever mare it might not be as hard as you fear to retrain her, especially as you have support.

Don't give up yet! Give her a chance!

Thank you!! She’s very smart and learns quickly! I find she aims to please. She needs some muscle so perhaps I’m asking too much. Her previous owner didn’t ride with much of a contact so she’s fighting that, I’ve eased off. One day at a time, I mean I absolutely love her, it’s just hard when professionals are telling you multiple and conflicting things! Good point on the time to settle, it is all very new and she is still establishing herd order.

 

[carthorse]

By multiple professionals do you mean different riders and trainers? If so then this may well be adding to your problems - everyone is asking slightly differently and taking a different approach, the poor mare is going to be totally confused. Pick one trainer and work with them, or better yet if the old owner is local ask her for lessons since you liked how she went with her. No-one but you and, at a push, the trainer to ride her. Keep things as simple as you can for her, and that includes consistent aids and what's expected in response to them.

 

[JazzyBoots]

By multiple professionals do you mean different riders and trainers? If so then this may well be adding to your problems - everyone is asking slightly differently and taking a different approach, the poor mare is going to be totally confused. Pick one trainer and work with them, or better yet if the old owner is local ask her for lessons since you liked how she went with her. No-one but you and, at a push, the trainer to ride her. Keep things as simple as you can for her, and that includes consistent aids and what's expected in response to them.

This is actually very helpful and something I was thinking yesterday too, maybe it’s just too much, and yes very confusing! It will just be me and one other riding her (very experienced rider) going forward. But she has had three different riders on her, mostly just me though.

 

[newforest]

Hi
Sorry to read she's not as you expected, but from what you have said you have changed how you are riding her and therefore she will be confused.

"The owner didn't ride with much contact" "
" She's had beginners on"

But everyone that's got on board are all expecting her to carry herself, to bend, and work into a contact. I suspect she's on the forehand and doesn't know to pick up the contact, if owner rode without it. Hence she's going to fight, if you are giving her something to fight against.

Rewind, and ride with a light contact and see how you get on. Being an experienced rider means feeling what is underneath you and although I don't think she needs retraining, she's more green than advertised maybe.
You have had just four weeks so just stick to you riding and one coach.

 

[Jessey]

All good advice above, the only thing I’d add is maybe have your new saddle double checked by someone else. Chances are it’s fine but occasionally even those highly recommended get it wrong or the horse doesn’t like what should be perfect. A saddle issue could account for not wanting to bend or pick up a nice canter etc. it may come across as confused by aids but is actually her politely saying she’s not happy.

 

[JazzyBoots]

All good advice above, the only thing I’d add is maybe have your new saddle double checked by someone else. Chances are it’s fine but occasionally even those highly recommended get it wrong or the horse doesn’t like what should be perfect. A saddle issue could account for not wanting to bend or pick up a nice canter etc. it may come across as confused by aids but is actually her politely saying she’s not happy.

Good idea. The fitter is coming back in a week or so anyways to check how things are settling and re-flock if needed.