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Posted : 4/14/2010 3:04:40 AM

Hi,
This is my first post on this forum, so forgive any miss spelled words on my part. Well i recently bought a new 4 year old APHA mare named Aria, She started off like an angel, but soon enough problems where on the rise. She was a "Senior project" what ever that means, so post to be a good horse well trained with good manners, she was a pretty nice looking mare, with great manners in the round pen, and okay manners in hand. The girl i got her from said she worked with her almost everyday. Insuring me that the horse was a sane horse who didn't spook at anything and stood like a stone. After getting her home i found that this wasn't the case at all. She cow kicked if you even looked at her hind end, she reared at me and struck out, within the first 3 months she attacked me about 5 times. She was okay with everyone but me, she would walk up to my dad, and my neighbor and love up on then, but as soon as i walked into the indoor arena she would charge at me, teeth bared. Well we finally came to a semi understanding, and are starting to bond a little bit, but when it comes to being under saddle, its like she freezes up, her brain stops working and she won't function. She dosn't turn right, she flys backwards and rears all the time. She is flighty and very afraid of my carrot stick, horrorfied of whips, and anytime you raise your arms to quickly she goes crazy. I soon found out that she hadn't ever been out of the girls round pen, and never been given a bath.

Really i was wondering if anyone has any advice for me. Its a little frustraiting for me as a horse back rider, who expected a nice "Senior Project" who could actily be ridden on trails with friends. If anyone has any ideas, i really could use some help!
-Aridark

TanyaC97

Posted : 4/14/2010 2:37:08 PM

Simply stated you have two choices------ Get rid of her and get something you are happy with. OR Start back with the basics with her and treat her almost as a wild unbroke horse.

I am sure that is not much help, but it sounds like you were lied too and tricked.

wundahoss

Posted : 4/27/2010 6:56:11 AM

Agree pretty much with Tanya, but only having your few words to go on, I would give the seller benefit of doubt, as I don't think it's necessarily the case you were lied to, or intentionally tricked. Might be the case that the horse was indeed great with the owner, as you have indicated. But perhaps the girl didn't appreciate your level of experience or confidence and how this would effect the horse, for starters. Or perhaps she *thought* she was great, & she didn't appreciate all the factors involved either.

It certainly sounds like if you want to keep her, or give her a proper go at least, you need to find a *good* trainer/instructor to work with. Seems like this horse has your number & has worked out how to train you at least! ';-)'

Otherwise, sell this horse to an experienced home(or perhaps the original owner wants her back) and get the trainer to help you find an appropriate horse for your experience.

The other consideration is that horses are creatures of habit, naturally nervous in strange environments & situations & don't generalise well. They need to be desensitised to, and trained in a variety of different environments in order for them to learn calmness & cues generally. It is to be expected that most horses will be more or less reactive in new environs, with new people, etc, until they've settled in & learned to trust them. It's unclear whether your horse is reacting mainly from nervousness, but it appears that far from trusting you to be her leader, she is taking charge of the situation with you.

TanyaC97

Posted : 4/27/2010 1:31:28 PM

True Wunda--- I was probably a little harsh. My opinion of people in general selling horses right now is a VERY jaded. Thanks for pointing it out to me.