Advice please

[stormrider]

So today my horse Storm, who I've only had for 2 weeks, took off with me at a gallop down a hill on a main road. In the end I managed to stop him by running him towards a wall. He stopped suddenly and I fell off.
Just wonder if anyone had any tips if it happens again and there isn't a wall near by!

Keeping the horse is, quite bluntly, a terrible idea. You won't be able to afford another one for your DD to ride, and also, it's really not fair on the horse. To keep a young, energetic horse cooped up as a pet and unexercised properly is quite cruel.

How old is your DD? Can you explain to her that it's also about a home where the horse will be happy, and that's somewhere where there is a more experienced and older rider.

How old is your DD?

As someone who owns an OTT TB, I have to say they're definitely not a beginner horse. Mine is a lot older than yours (I've owned her a long time) and whilst I could trust a novice on her in the arena, I could never trust a novice on her out on a hack. Her "controls" are all backwards e.g., to go slower/stop you need to give her the reins (basically stopping contact), to go faster you hold tighter etc. etc. I also have to limit how many people we hack with, where i allow her to trot (trotting down hill is a big no no) and numerous other things and I'm an experienced rider. I've ex-event riders and hunters who will pick my other horses to go on a hack over my Tb girl due to how "quirky" she is. Add to that the fact that your daughter's horse is much, much younger and Imo it's a recipe for disaster (green on green makes black & blue).

I'd be looking to return him and looking for something a bit older and more suitable for your daughter. Something that's been there and done it, got some experience and miles behind it. A 5 year old is just a baby really and will need to continue with its schooling.

Five years is not a good age anyway because they do tend to go through a 'teen' phase and try it on, I know my cob did, he was dreadful. If you don't know how to deal with it you are going to end up with a monster on your hands.
Also although it's true that any horse can take off, some are more disposed towards it than others. My current horse is quite a feisty character so his default is to protest by leaping into the air and kicking out, rather than to flee. He's eleven now and has never actually tried to run off, even when frightened he will listen to me.

Cut your losses, too much can go wrong even with the right horse(injuries, illness, road accidents etc) to waste time on a horse who has shown they are unsuitable during the trial period.

I agree that a 5 year old failed racer is only suitable for a very experienced owner and rider, but for the future I would never trot downhill especially on a road. Any horse could panic and lose their balance in trot going downhill causing them to go forward more. Ok for more experienced riders, but two years of lessons is only enough to begin to balance yourself on a horse not to help the horse with their balance iyswim.

Have you considered shares/half loans/helping at stables for rides. This comes between lessons and ownership as you have a horse to yourself but don't have responsibility for saddle checks, teeth check etc

Loans and shares or working for rides is a brilliant way to learn... Riding horses outside of a riding school teaches riders soooo much and can prepare you much better for the realities of horse ownership. If you are anywhere near me (west midlands) I would be glad to help. Please stormrider... Please understand that this horse is not the one to teach you how to ride.... You need one that is neither too hardened to the aids like some riding school pones nor failed at something's that need retraining. Failed racers need expert re backing. Your special horse will find you one day and you need to learn the realities of riding outside of a riding school on a horse that will take good care of you.

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned but you say horse was vet checked just before you bought him? Don't ever trust a vetting that has been done before purchase. You should always use your own vet and don't use one recommended by the seller, there are some dodgy vets around.

Ex-racers generally need experienced riders. I've ridden for 35yrs hacked thousands of miles, jumped big hedges but until recently i hadn't ridden an ex-racer. The horse did just what your Storm did, I let him have his head and he just got faster and faster. I had a lot of difficulty stopping him and it was scary. Really not suitable as a first horse as others have said.

Not all horses do this, she will lose her confidence very quickly. And yes it's a really bad idea to keep him and not ride! You will have a very expensive and time consuming pet who could be around for another 25yrs. It's hard but you need to send this horse back. It would be such a shame for her to miss out on all the fun she could have if she gets the right one.

Thank you all for taking the time to post.
After tears this morning, she's realised it's the best thing to do.
We're in North Yorkshire if anyone has any good contacts?

Awww. It is hard when a dream turns into a nightmare...glad she has realised its for the best. Here's wishing she finds the horse...or pony ... To take her horsemanship to the next level. A good cob could be ideal so don't discount the "plainer" or smaller equines... They can also be cheaper to maintain than a tb lol.

How old is your dd? With 2 years riding school experience she shouldn't be riding alone, shes a beginner. Unless you are very experienced get a good couple more years lessons, and stable/horse management experience under your belt before you consider a pony. Could she help at a good riding school? Is hers good?

and no ponies till someone knows enough, unless you're prepared to pay for the sort of livery which will teach you.

And get a nice schoolmaster not a green ex racer for a beginner

We bought a lovely older chap as a first horse for DD. He was 15. Seen and done everything. I share him with her. He lives at the riding school came from a hippy riding school. Cost 1400€. Given me my confidence back. Everyone can ride him down to my 8 yo. He does little competitions.

This is what you need. A horse that knows more than you all. One that's nearer the end of its career.

I have to agree with 50Bales although it might be a lot for your DD to consider in one go.

Children also have more fun with horses in a riding school as there are other kids around for group hacks, little in-house competitions, fun days, and just someone to socialize with.

No, not a good idea, that will hold her back emotionally and financially plus this horse sounds like he needs plenty of use and exercise in a very experienced setting; he wouldn't flourish left in a field. She needn't feel bad, she did exactly the right thing by having him on trial and I'm sure has learned lots to help with choosing and enjoying future horses.

Dd is 14, has been riding for 5 years and is pretty competent but there's no way she'd be out hacking on busy roads by herself, even on the steadiest horse in the world.

She has two lessons a week and spends every Sunday at the stables helping out. As she's quite advanced she's often asked to help school the smaller ponies. In the school holidays all the helpers can go on a hack once a week. They have in-house jumping and dressage competitions and take teams to compete in external events. She also gets paid for helping (not a vast amount but at her last stables she helped out all day for nothing, not even a discount on lessons).

Before dd moved to this riding school we'd been considering getting her a pony of her own and while she would still love that the current arrangement works really well. Would something similar be possible at your dd's riding school?

Very sensible move, I have a (ridiculous) collection of OTT TBs, and even the quiet one is not want a novice on as they do have quirks.

It may be better if budget is limited to go for a loan, but out of interest what is your budget? I know someone in the north of England with a very quiet/behind the leg/safe confidence giving sort, who isn't pennies but is very sensibly priced and her novice niece is riding this mare and she takes excellent care of her.

Only just seen this and I'm another one glad you are sending the horse back. As everyone else has said, a 5 year old TB just out of training is a horse for a very experienced rider not a child who has had 2 years of lessons. And please don't think of keeping it just as a pet - it is a several hundred kilo animal with a body and brain designed for running very fast and doing a job. Keeping it as a pet will not fulfil it's emotional or physical requirements at all and you could well end up with a very difficult to handle, possibly even dangerous, animal.

Your daughter needs lessons atm - it IS possible to do this and combine horse ownership, but you need to have a plan and access to a decent instructor. My kids have never been to riding school, but I have over 35 years of experience under my belt, they have regular lessons with an instructor and are active Pony Club members for peer interaction. If you don't have an instructor and a riding peer group (and I believe a peer group is very important in giving children others their own age and ability to socialise with, group hacks, little competitions, etc as mentioned above) then a riding school is the best way forward.

If you go down the route of your own horse, please look for a sensible and steady older type, and don't go for something too big. You haven't said how old your daughter is but, for example, a 14 year old girl really doesn't need a 16hh horse! Something 14-15hh would be plenty big enough for her.

I wish I'd posted here earlier!
Anyway, Storm is going back this week and DD is okay with it now, she understands.

We've taken your advice, and talked to the other ladies at the yard.

We have found another stables. The manager is lovely and they have some horses available to loan with a view to buying after 6 months. There's also a school and the manager can give lessons or get people in. It's a bit more ££ but is a really lovely place. We didn't even know it existed before!
There are also lots of hacks in the country which don't involve going on any main roads.
When the owner gets back from holiday in a few weeks we'll go up again and have another look and try out some of the horses. She's got her eye on a well schooled Welsh cob

I'm glad in a way that this all happened, it's been a good lesson for us all.

Thanks again for the advice.

Something Cobby or Connemara sounds perfect for a first time novice owner, and a 6 month loan is an ideal way to check you really do have the right fit - that's great news. I'm sure Storm will go to a good home as it seems like the seller is a responsible type, so it's best for all of you.

That sounds much better! It really is lovely having a horse, but you need to be equipped with the knowledge and back up to get the most out of it. The everyday stuff like hacking and stable duties should be fun, not challenging. If you are confident with the stuff at home you can take horse ownership up a level to challenge yourself by starting to go to fun rides and small shows and moving on up from there. A well schooled Welsh cob is a much better option for this than a green thoroughbred.

That's great news! Storm is being very sensible well done her!

As a general point it is always worth vetting a horse before buying, even if you have loaned the horse before there is a lot that only becomes apparent in a vet examination. Also have a written down loan agreement to save heart ache and, for many people, vets fees insurance is a must to avoid nasty surprises (e.g. a colic operation, something that can happen to any horse at any time, will be 2-4k).

That sounds perfect. Look on the extra money as buying peace of mind and also learning and experience about horse care. Also if dd is old enough for you not to be there all the time she will be safe and supervised.

That sounds a much more sensible, safe option.
As previous poster has said still have the pony vetted by a completely independent vet before you purchase.