Has anyone ever made a mistake buying a horse?

[Greyhorses]

Hi everyone. Sorry this will be long.

Some years ago I bought an absoloutley gorgeous talented show cob. He knows his job inside and out and has won more ribbons than I can count. He had many many homes on his passport but I assumed that this was because he had been unlucky- now I know why! Nobody has kept him for more than 6 months since he was 4. he is now 9.

His behaviour is horrendous and I am starting to feel like I am not enjoying him any more but I feel too sad for him to pass him on again.

Basically he has a very strong panic button which means he can not be stabled,tied anywhere except one place or put in a horsebox without almost being flattened with sedation. This means I have stopped doing much competing, stopped taking him anywhere and don't want to compete him anymore. A behaviouralist said he was the worst she had seen, he has smashed stable doors clean off, put a hole in the side of a trailer and been stuck over the breast bars. He box walks, kicks, rears and eventually will climb out of a stable. When at events he is very difficult to handle and needs a team of people to help me as he is so hyped up. He flips if another horse comes near him while he is confined (either by a tie, stable or held) however is fine in the field. He is a nightmare in the lorry as he rocks it when rearing and stamping, he can not be travelled alone and needs a companion at all times (which I don't have any more hence the issues becoming worse!)

At home he is more relaxed, however he stomps/rears/kicks walls/spooks/snaps headcollars and is generally a thug. He has a number of issues I am too exhausted to fix! He has seen a number of professionals over the years and can only be handled by me or the most experienced groom at the yard. I have had lots of trouble on yards and he has even been thrown off one for persistent damage to property.

Riding at home he is sometimes very good and sometimes very horrible depending on his mood. He can sometimes buck which does not bother me but he has an annoying habit of spinning and pretending to gallop in the wrong direction of spooked, he is not scared he has just learnt this trick as it scares me and gets him out of working. He is strong and he knows it but I can generally cope. He is happiest in the field and would be over the moon if he was never ridden again, however I can't afford an expensive field ornament. He lives out at present with a few friends.

From some digging in his past I found he was kept confined while still entire in a stable until he was 4 and was used as a stallion hence where I think the provlems started. Various owners I have traced admitted they couldn't cope and sold him. One said he was very dangerous. He is definatley not a rig and was gelded after producing 7 foals at 4.

I am seriously debating selling him, I love the bones of him but realistically he is sucking all enjoyment out of it for me. I don't really want to ride as there's no point as I have nothing to aim for, I can't go anywhere and he is unpredictable in most respects. In the wrong hands I think he could be dangerous. I used to love to compete and happy hacking does not do it for me!

He has some good points. When he works well he tries his heart out, he loves attention and is very quiet and easy to do in the field plus he is a great show horse (if you can get him to the ring!) he would suit someone looking for a happy hacker to live on a very quiet yard with no other people he can hurt and a few small companions, it's not going to be that easy to find though!

Has anyone else ever bought the wrong horse? I wanted an all rounder to compete and have fun with and have ended up being stuck with him. Problem is I do love him and do not want to see him fall into the wrong hands- plus who would seriously take on a happy hacker who can't be stabled or boxed and who does not enjoy fuss or being ridden and who is only 9?

Not expecting a resoloution to this and I proberbly will end up keeping him and resenting him regardless but it's made me feel better to admit how I feel to someone!

The OP has said nothing to indicate this horse is a good hack, indeed she has implied that he is not. He horse has:

• problems in small spaces and could well be claustophobic from being kept in a stable for years. Having come across horses like that, they are extremely dangerous as they will go through you to get out.
• he is difficult to handle
• he can spook , spin and take off.

He is not what happy hackers want. Even as a field companion there are tones of other horses out there who can handled easily and will wait in the stable for the farrier so why would anyone take him on?

I think one has to be very realistic about the chances of finding a good new home for a horse for sale. A horse with so many problems is likely to attract the wrong kind of buyer, someone who will buy him off the OP for a pound, dope him up and sell him on for a profit.

Booboo sorry but she did say this:- he would suit someone looking for a happy hacker to live on a very quiet yard with no other people he can hurt and a few small companions, so yes, she did imply in her OP that if she was passing the horse on she would be looking for a hacking home. Therefore I thought she must have some reason for thinking he could be a hack.

Agree with the rest of what you say though.

Sorry I missed that bit.

I think your only sensible option is, to try and find him a suitable home, being completely honest about his issues, and if that can't be done PTS. It sounds like you have spent a lot of time and effort trying to help him, and have not succeeded, and that, on top of his history of being repeatedly passed on, makes me think that he is not going to change now.

If you are going to try and find a suitable home you could try www.projecthorses.com or horses4homes which is a charity I think run by Carl Hester

Hi everyone,

Apologies for delayed reply- I have read everyone's advice and appreciate it.

He can jump and jumps well but is very strong and forward. Likewise I have always managed to hack him well and his good points are that he is good in traffic and with most things but he is not a novice ride as he is strong and forward and can spook or buck when excited. He is 14hhs so not a tiny fell and would suit a strong adult who will not take any rubbish from him! He can be schooled and has done some basic dressage but he will evade work in any way he can!

He is however dangerous to handle in that if he is atabled he will come out of it no matter what is in his way. I wasn't aware claustrophobia was a thing in horses but It sounds very likley this is his problem sadly!

I'm sorry op, but please don't 'stick him in the sales' as pp suggested. unless you find an actual experienced behaviourist/trainer to sell him to, then I'm also of the opinion he should be put to sleep.

I have worked with and come across some very 'characterful' horses. But what you describe in your boy is a dangerous horse in the wrong hands could seriously injure someone.

As a pp has said just putting him out to field sounds great, but what happens when he needs a farrier or vet?

The fact he is still learning to use his size and strength to his advantage. That, he has learnt even with you, how to get out of school work. Whats to say he decides he doesn't want to be ridden as a happy hacker, gets bored of the same old routes out riding ?

It is a sad situation, and completely agree horses are not born bad or dangerous.
But unless you have the time energy and money to explore all possible rehabilitation options. PTS is the kindest and least dangerous thing to do.

Sorry started writing my post before school run, and now cross post

Thanks for your reply

I am the person who he behaves 'best' for if I dare say that. I can generally lead him and can manage to tack him up and ride by myself most of the time. However if something has changed (ie a horse on the yard is a big no no it has to be empty) then even I can't manage much.
I have had professionals handle him, including someone very experienced im with difficult horses and young stallions and she said he was very hard to do.
He will tie up on the yard as long as there is no other reason for him not to, but if he thinks something unusual is happening he will snap headcollars and bolt. He is tied up in two headcollars with a rope and a lunge line.
If the yard is quiet and he is chilled he will stand there no problem. He seems to have triggers that cause it but these are unavoidable things, for example other people or horses on the yard moving around. He can't cope if another horse is being turned out and leaving him yet he is fine alone in the field or in the yard. It seems to be an attention thing in this respect.

Stable wise both behaviouralists thought it was a case of he did not want to be in so he was making sure he was coming out, not necessarily a blind panic thing?
He can be tied or fed in a stable but the door has to be open or he starts to rear at the door. Same with the lorry.
If he anticipates something may happen he starts rearing/pawing before it even happens.

He is fine with the farrier as long as he is held by me.

Such a nightmare!

Poor you OP. I have just managed to get rid of DDs horse who turned out to be a huge mistake. I stressed and stressed about what to do with him as his behaviour had got worse and worse, but fortunately for me I sold him to someone who knew him and loved him for his oddness and they are very happy together.

Have you tried Horses4Homes? A website were you can rehome horses for no financial gain but where you can be completely honest about their issues. He might work as a companion?

He is however dangerous to handle in that if he is stabled he will come out of it no matter what is in his way.

I had one who was like this after being involved in a trailer accident. To put him away at night I had to tie him up in the stable, come out, bolt the door, then go in the next door stable and stand on a bucket to lean over the wall and remove his headcollar. He would just barge out otherwise and he was a lovely boy who would never hurt anyone on purpose, he was just so terrified. In the morning he was a sweating mess and had box-walked until his bedding was all up the sides. I couldn't bear to see it but the YO wouldn't let me leave him out.

I took him away from that yard and went to somewhere I was allowed to leave him out all the time and he went back to being his happy, friendly self (had to ride him there mind).
He was in his mid-twenties at that point so I just promised him he'd never be stabled or boxed again. If he'd been younger I might have tried to work on the problem once he'd chilled out and learned to trust me again.

I haven't yet made a bad decision, but realise that one day I will.
(Only bought 2 horses so far)
In all honesty I couldn't sell him, even with full disclosure......he sounds dangerous to handle, and if he badly hurt someone I could never live with myself. I think the difficulty with handling him rules him out as a companion.
I know, faced with it, it would be a decision that I would really struggle with, but standing back looking at your situation I would hope that I would have the strength to pts, if I was in your shoes. It would be heartbreaking, but for so many examples of his dangerous and seemingly, at some time - unpredictable behaviour, is a situation where someone could be seriously injured.

OP the more you describe his behaviour the more I believe you should PTS :( the issues you describe sound very similar to a horse on HHO that turned out to have a brain tumour...

I have made a mistake buying a horse. Similar to what you describe actually, late gelded, random triggers, non aggressive but highly dangerous lightening quick and reactive explosive behaviour.
I keep him out 24/7 with his small herd, have accepted he is a most beautiful herd-leader/field ornament and have him sedated for minimal farriery (unshod with amazing hooves on hard ground so mostly self-trimming) and the occasional need for transport (moving house vets etc).
This option wouldn't be for everyone..but whilst I'm sure there are probably(definitely!) people out there who could do more with him, this option gives him a purpose and a relatively stress free life. If I couldn't continue to keep him like this, i would PTS.
I can't count the nights I've lain awake worrying about him, but equally he is a really loving gentleman on the ground (provided I don't ask much of him or move too quick) and he has also given me so much joy just looking at him.
Sympathies OP, I get it.

Oh and similarly (and makes it worse) mine is also a superb example of his breed - my vet breeds his type to international winning standard and sighs over him every time she sees him....

I would imagine OP that 4 years stabled as a colt has blown his brains and he has decided that he is never going to be in again. Poor bugger. I suspect he was maybe difficult to handle anyway just by the way he was kept. And instead of either socialising him properly or having him cut as a yearling or 2 year old they have just kept him shut in.

I suspect it would be very difficult if not impossible to rehabilitate him. How long have you been on your current yard? Is he turned out 24/7? Is there any chance he could be out 24/7 all year?

Could you maybe trt those stable door mesh things that go across the front of the door so he doesn't feel as shut in? Practice stuff time and time again like another horse leaving him. Have his bloods checked particularly his magnesium levels. Brewers Yeast is supposed to be good for horses that panic or spook though I don't know the science behind why.

Definitely at least speak to one of the IH lot if you can. But no one would think any less of you if you chose pts. The only other thing I would consider is loaning him out to someone I trusted implicitly with the condition that he either comes back to you or is pts if they can no longer keep him.

Hugs. Its a very difficult situation to be in and you sound as though you have done your very best for him whatever you decide.

By the way OP, although my late-gelded boy (gelded at 6) is not a rig either, I found he responded really well to Global herbs Rig Calm....really chilled him out about a particular mare, despite having lived with them before with no probs ( running my gelding off and injuring him, mounting the mare - total riggishness ). And also found as he's out 24/7 a really good balancer (forage plus) ensures he's not short of anything vital like magnesium which can cause behavioural stuff if in short supply.
So have found some of these things worth a go.

You sound lovely yongnian. And I mean that in a good way not the usual MN way. I too get pleasure from simply looking at a horse.

Yong - you can get the active ingredient in rig calm as a tablet. Agnus castus. I use it when my mare first comes into 'season' - it isn't a genuine season as she is marbled but the change in hormones sends him off on one a bit. Means I can keep my 4 out as a little herd and they are no bother

Sounds a difficult situation.

It's not helpful now after you have had him for a few years, but if anyone ever tries to pass off a 14hh Fell as a show cob, they are spinning you a yarn to start with! Sounds as though you were completely mis-sold. Show cobs look like this (one of my old horses on this page ) and Fells look like this.

Greyhorses

Where are you? I can put you in touch with no other words to describe tgan 'horse whisperer'. This guy has 'fixed' one of the most dangerous horses I knew and he sounds worse than your boy! Please PM me if you are in the south west. X

Jeez sounds like a really tricky one. I would probably try one more time and then draw the line one way or the other. You'll look back and know you tried everything. I bought a horse that was too much for me and through pride and the emotional bond, I couldn't let him go. Five years later, after countless lessons and hoping he'd mature into a sensible sort, I finally let him go. I gave him to a girl who tried him after I gave her a totally honest (warts and all) assessment. She took him and it worked out pretty well. It was the best decision I ever made and I deeply regret the years I should have been having fun with my hobby. There are lots of honest types out there. I found my horse of a lifetime who has given me back my confidence. I've loved every minute of our six years together. It's like a man/partner. If they're not right for you you must find the courage to let them go, you won't regret it.

Has your vet given an opinion, maybe done had Romney tests etc?

Hormone not Romney

Thanks again everyone.
I am way up north location wise.

He has had a rig test and also a 5 stage vetting, no hormone issues found. Vet thought it was behavioural.

He does not care if the horse is a mare or gelding- either sets him off. I think it's more being 'left out' than actually the horse itself. For example, if another horse is getting attention/turned out/fed before him then he'll breaks loose.

I was told to just leave him to it so he learns that he can't get away with this, however he lifted the stable door from its hinges and bolted. He is that determined to get out he will double barrell and rear over doors. He is the same in the lorry and has to be restrained to get the partition on then have his head tied low so he can't rear over the bars.

I have not ridden him for a month as I have lost my confidence now but I saw him on Saturday and he was so happy and chilled in the field (because that's where he wants to be!) so it makes the decision harder!