Many clients who purchase a horse from us have little or no previous experience of owning such an animal so this is to help with avoiding pitfalls. Remember riding a horse is a partnership of which you make up 50% of the equation and this partnership requires time and correct training to establish.
Have you ever bought a product that has impressed you when demonstrated by someone proficient and used to handling it—and having bought it and got it home, are frustrated when you cannot produce the same results straight away? Riding and horsemanship are both an art and a skill—it takes time, training, patience, courage and practice to acquire. Buying paint and brushes and learning to be a proficient artist is a lot easier than buying a horse and learning to be a proficient rider—the horse is unpredictable and much harder to
We strongly recommend that inexperienced owners should initially keep a horse on a professionally run livery yard where there is experienced help to hand should the need arise. Problems that maybe minor can soon be ironed out with such help and back-up. Often such little problems with these animals in a new environment with a novice owner can and do arise. Lack of knowledge and the inability to overcome them can turn a minor problem into a major issue. This is how a good horse can be spoilt in a very short time.
A laid back cob can be described as quiet. Often a quiet horse tends to be a lazy horse. Lazy horses – just like people – usually need to be kicked into gear and if not, they choose to do nothing. Allow a lazy horse to decide what he wants to do once or twice and it can become a habit. If you are allowing such a horse a period to settle in and do as he likes or do not have the courage to take charge, the horse soon learns to call the shots. When this happens such a horse could choose to do nothing and that results in putting the brakes on – otherwise known as ‘nap’. I often us the analogy of likening horses to children. How long does it take for a classroom of children to suss out a new teacher – seconds! If you have authority and command respect then you probably have control. The first impressions to a horse are the most important – so start as you mean to go on. Don’t leave him for weeks to settle in with all his pals in the field. A horse has a strong herd instinct and getting used to doing nothing will make things all the more difficult to change when you want to go out for your first hack. Conversely, expecting an instant partnership from something treated like a machine in a strange environment is unfair and can also lead to problems. It takes a very short time to spoil or frighten a horse and a long time to straighten it out – and even then the memory still remains.
Furthermore, horses that are ridden and schooled by experienced riders are usually asked to WORK rather than just be ridden in whatever manner the horse chooses in the pace that is asked. Liken this situation to you taking your dog for a walk as opposed to a proper work-out with a trainer – your muscles will feel the difference. Horses that are just exercised can soon become different characters as they never really fully utilise their energy or their brain - then problems can start.
A laid back cob can be described as quiet. Often a quiet horse tends to be a lazy horse. Lazy horses – just like people – usually need to be kicked into gear and if not, they choose to do nothing. Allow a lazy horse to decide what he wants to do once or twice and it can become a habit. If you are allowing such a horse a period to settle in and do as he likes or do not have the courage to take charge, the horse soon learns to call the shots. When this happens such a horse could choose to do nothing and that results in putting the brakes on – otherwise known as ‘nap’. I often us the analogy of likening horses to children. How long does it take for a classroom of children to suss out a new teacher – seconds! If you have authority and command respect then you probably have control. The first impressions to a horse are the most important – so start as you mean to go on. Don’t leave him for weeks to settle in with all his pals in the field. A horse has a strong herd instinct and getting used to doing nothing will make things all the more difficult to change when you want to go out for your first hack. Conversely, expecting an instant partnership from something treated like a machine in a strange environment is unfair and can also lead to problems. It takes a very short time to spoil or frighten a horse and a long time to straighten it out – and even then the memory still remains.
Furthermore, horses that are ridden and schooled by experienced riders are usually asked to WORK rather than just be ridden in whatever manner the horse chooses in the pace that is asked. Liken this situation to you taking your dog for a walk as opposed to a proper work-
Common sense should prevail but we all know how uncommon that can be especially when taking advice from all sorts of ‘experts’ who are only trying to help. Remember a little knowledge can be dangerous. There are many people who have a sound and thorough knowledge of the type of horse that would suit you, but also know that the perfect horse has yet to be born (as has the perfect horseman!). These people have a practical and sensible approach and are the people you need to seek advice from. Make sure your advisor really is an ‘expert’ and really does understand your capabilities and requirements. You will hear many lifelong horsemen exasperate when hearing remarks given by some young newly qualified person with little practical experience and only a few years knowledge behind them. Some people have owned their own horse all their life but this may only amount to two or three different horses so their knowledge of the variety of temperament and management required can also be limited.
Consider whether the horse you try is being worked and kept in a similar way you will keep him. Horses kept at grass 24 hours will be different if kept mainly stabled and corn fed, especially so in the winter. Some yards have no access to winter turnout and this can totally change the character of a horse if they are not used to being confined for long hours in a stable, especially if exercising is also limited.
Other points to consider are what is the level of fitness of the horse. If he is straight ‘off the field’ and totally unfit – he may well become a keener ride when feeling fitter after the work you put into him. The same applies to his condition – if he is poor you maybe happy to feed him up and turn him into someone that blossoms but this may make his character blossom too! Consider the time of year and the weather. A horse tried on a hot summer’s day may not be the same horse to ride clipped out on a frosty and windy winter’s morning – especially if the weather and dark evenings has limited the amount of work you have been able to give him. Question whether the horse has ever been handled or ridden by a person similar in experience to you. If not he may react differently and unexpectedly and you will need to learn to be much more positive to
Other points to consider are what is the level of fitness of the horse. If he is straight ‘off the field’ and totally unfit – he may well become a keener ride when feeling fitter after the work you put into him. The same applies to his condition – if he is poor you maybe happy to feed him up and turn him into someone that blossoms but this may make his character blossom too! Consider the time of year and the weather. A horse tried on a hot summer’s day may not be the same horse to ride clipped out on a frosty and windy winter’s morning – especially if the weather and dark evenings has limited the amount of work you have been able to give him. Question whether the horse has ever been handled or ridden by a person similar in experience to you. If not he may react differently and unexpectedly and you will need to learn to be much more positive to
