I bought a nice, bombproof, predictable horse. For 3 months I felt so safe on him, he was just gorgeous, kind, calm, predictable, lovely.
Then he fractured his leg. 6 weeks of box rest. Then I was supposed to walk him for 4 weeks. We managed 2 weeks of walking before he put me on the floor twice. So we trotted a bit after that. After he was back out in the field, he was much more sensible again.
Then spring happened, and he tanked off with me in the cornfield (he wanted a gallop, I said no, he did not respect my decision and did it anyway).
Then we had a hack where he had been in for a few days because he had mud fever, he used another horse as his brakes - flat out gallop (thought I was going to die) but he regained composure.
Then we had a solo hack out where we had (in no particular order), squealing, bronking, napping, front feet off the ground, spinning, spooking at land rovers, litter, fences, and general disobedience.
I’ve become a better rider so I can laugh it off now (and call him every name under the sun) but if it had happened within the first 3 months I’d have cried and been scared and vowed never ever to hack out ever again ever, and wondered what on Earth I had bought.
Instead I’m planning a hack tomorrow to have a gallop in the cornfield and maybe do a couple of the XC jumps in the woods.
Well done for staying on however you managed it!