I went to view a horse today, can I have some advice please

[NagNagN4g]

So, I went to view my first ever horse today (ridden nearly 30 years, had numerous loan horses just never my own).

Perfect in every way... height, colour, breed, price and location. He was a perfect gentleman on the ground, as his own said he was.

Got on and did some walking and trotting in a paddock, he’s forward going and a little bit strong (as he was advertised to be). But did lots of transitions and he listened nicely.

Thought I was ready to canter so went down to the bottom of the field to come back up again and disaster struck! I asked for canter, he put his head down, reared up slightly, went down again and as he went down I went over and fell off! His owner said he has never ever done that before, she was mortified and her immediate reaction made me believe it was completely out of the blue (I had a very knowledgeable friend with me as well).

She got straight on him, cantered around no problems. I got back on and trotted around then did a few steps of canter so I didn’t lose my nerve.

He hasn’t been in consistent work for months, this was the first time he’d been ridden properly in weeks.

So wise MNetters, what would you do? Suck it up as a ‘shit happens’ and get on with it and buy him (I fell for him the second I saw his ad), or leave it and find something else?

I feel like we could have a really good partnership, but in the back of my head I know he’s done that and wonder if he’d do it again. I do believe his owner when they said he’s never done it before. They’ve owned him 3 years.

Well done OP!

Are you planning on hacking him? It might be better to lunge him and then ride him in a safe, enclosed area until you know each other a bit better.

Yes planning on hacking him out with my friend.

Unfortunately we don’t have an enclosed area to ride in! When I rode him when I was trying him out, he completely relaxed when we were out hacking. When he was in the field and school he was quite tense, but as soon as we got out the gate on to the road his whole body relaxed. I think hacking is his ‘thing’. To get to the area I lunged him in he had to walk through a narrow passage way next to trailer that had a huge door swinging in the wind and banging around, a load of sheep on one side that were going mad at him and then some alpacas and pigs in the adjoining fields all going bonkers... he looked but didn’t hesitate or seemed phased at all. He then lunged beautifully in an open field. He has some bad habits and got a bit confused as I obviously do things different to what he’s been taught before, but he was a star.

I’ve got a school booked next week that we can hack to so looking forward to that as well.

Have a great time!

Thank you. He lunged perfectly again today, and no silly nonsense when I took his bridle off either. He was looking so much more relaxed today as well. The kids went a poo picked and he followed them around like a lamb .

I quite like him being on his own, when he’s in with the others it’ll be completely different. There’s two gate hoggers and you can’t get anything past them without someone distracting them or bringing them in as well. Not looking forward to that part of it!

I don’t know what your set up is like but if you can make a small pen with electric fencing just to the inside of the gate it helps a lot with other horses that are pushy. Keep the gate closed, get your horse in the pen and if the others are too close you can let your horse walk on on his own while you shoo the others away and close the pen gate.

That’s what we had at the old farm, it was really useful and if any did escape they couldn’t go far. But when we moved premises last year their current field didn’t get set up like that unfortunately. They’re due to be moving field when mine is out of his quarantine, so maybe when we get that ready I can request we do it like that. I forgot about it, it’s a great idea, thanks.

Great news, so glad he's home and settling down well. Do keep us updated on his progress?

I'm so glad you've found what sounds like a lovely pony

Thank you. Will definitely keep you updated on his progress!

And thank you all so much for your invaluable advice, I really do appreciate it