Advice for my first horse, who is different than he was advertised.
In March this year I purchased my first horse, a 10 year old ottb gelding last raced in 2022.
Just a few months prior to purchasing him I had an accident with my previous lease horse, involving flying through a fence and a hefty vet bill. The confidence I once had was gone, so recognising this I was looking for an older, more established horse which I believed I had found.
In my conversation with the owner before purchasing him, she stated several times that she used him mostly for trail riding, that he was level headed and very calm in traffic. Had been to clinics, and was ready to start showing in dressage or jumping if I chose to. He was sold on the behalf of her from a seperate eventing home. When I test rode him, the eventer lady who was working him stated that he has not jumped before. Off the bat the owner had to essentially shove him in the float, and the start of the journey home was pretty rough. Upon getting home and letting him settle in over the month, i began to discover lots of behavioural problems. He can’t stand still at the tie up rail without pulling back and breaking free most times, terrified of fly spray and hoof oil. When I started trying to bring him out the gate onto the road, he would refuse to leave the gate. The furthest I’ve gotten him now after 7 months is about 100 metres down the road. Him and his paddock neighbour start calling out for eachother and getting all worked up, then every other horse on the property joins in. I’ve spent hours by the gate working on this and I’ve had hardly any success.
Before all this, I got him going in the arena first and he was good, aside from the fact that his knowledge is limited. He does not respond to leg or even know what it is, though I’ve managed to teach him on the ground now.
As taking him on the road didn’t go well, I tried to ride him around his own paddock instead. A very familiar environment. He spooked at a bird and just about took off, giving me a fright as well as himself so we didn’t try that again.
I’ve had some assistance from others with more experience and confidence, as I just don’t think i’m in the headspace with the confidence to teach him all this myself, with the fear of him getting loose and running onto the highway or something.
His training was also very on and off over the months because he had ulcers and botflies when I got him, then later on a hoof abscess.
In summary, I’m getting really discouraged with him. I feel that I was lied to by his owner. Unfortunately I’m a bit attached to him now, he’s a sweet boy. I’ve been teaching him cute tricks like a dog, since it’s one of the only things I’m not too scared to do 😂mostly when I’m with him we’re just sitting together, or I take him to graze on the property. I’m just unsure if he’s the right horse for me. I’m still interested in riding in the arena and getting back to jumping, but mostly I just want a trail riding buddy like he was advertised as. Should I send him to a breaker? Should I have a horse trainer come out and help him with his issues? Or will he just never be able to be the horse that I’m wanting him to be, and perhaps I should start looking for another.
Any thoughts, inputs and advice is greatly appreciated :)