was sold a rigg as a gelding !!

by **alfie62** on Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:33 am

We brought a 4yr old piebald cob x gelding from a "private seller" in Tolleshunt Darcy-Essex from your web-site. We did not have him vetted as he was sensible in and out of the stable,and when my daughter rode him she instantly liked him,and he went very well for her. Within 2 days of getting him home he turned into the pony from hell- biting - striking - trying to mount mares whilst out riding - he gave me both barrels in the stable and was totally unleadable (except in a chifney ) In a yard of mixed horses a total nightmare. This girl sold him to me for my 15yr old daughter as a potential pony club pony!! The riding side is progressing ok - but if you meet other horses out hacking he can be very scary and a real handful- PONY CLUB......I THINK NOT .....I have contaced her loads of times but funnily enough she denies all knowledge of this behaviour - i asked her when he was gelded as thought if it was recent it could account for his rampant behaviour - taking into account his age -change of homes etc.. Again she was totally unhelpful COULDNT EVEN REMEMBER WHO SHE BROUGHT HIM FROM !!!! We have had 2 blood tests done and he is a rigg with a very high testosterone level of 28,so is now going to royal vet college for surgery. He was so obviously doped when we tried him -as i cannot believe that a horse would have such a complete personality change over night. We are an experienced home luckily as i dread to think what could have happened had he gone to a novice owner. The girl we brought him from we have since seen advertising elsewhere as trade .Do you remove people from your website if they are totally ruthless-as she so obviously is.

by **Sasca** on Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:33 pm

So sorry for your experience.

Rig or not, entire or not that behaviour is not down to is bits (though they will defiantly cloud his judgement!) That is just really bad upbringing and discipline. A working/serving stallion is expected to behave far better then that. My stallion competes alongside mares and he may give a squeal every now and then but he never tries anything and remembers where i am! Same for any horse that has been treated right. \

I guess im saying that yes it was unacceptable to be sold a rigg and you should be furious but it sounds like this isn't all testosterone and you may have a hell of a job reminding who's boss. It sounds to me like he has been constantly hit and told off for his behaviour that he has now just switched off from it so a different approach may be needed (but not a light one either way)

Sorry again and i hope trading standards can help you reclaim something...

by **alfie62** on Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:47 am

I do agree with you as i think this pony has probably ran with a herd -covered mares etc-and has been top dog in the pecking order.having said that he is improving.He shows a lot more respect now than he did and we at last are seeing some personality come thru.He has to have the op as apparently ******* or testicular tissue inside the body are likely to become cancerous.

by **Sasca** on Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:56 am

Im glad he is improving well done! Maybe someone poking around in there will knock his ego a bit to hehe.

I had a mare that was very dominant and she is in for backing. She was lead mare and she fought and argued with me about everything, she over reacted to situations and showed off her bucking skills nicely!She had never been superseded by a human and saw them as beneath her.

I could have done a lot to dominate her that would have led to a lot of violence (which is how i feel your fella as been treated, and not exactly my cup of tea!) but instead i just chucked her out with my 18.2 gelding who is dominant in his field. He soon knocked her out the herd and she had to work her way back in but from a low rank. Ever since then she has been a puppy dog to train and i never had to raise my voice or anything to her. Finding a more dominant horse to knock yours down a peg or two may save you a lot of trouble.

If he is allready settling with you and getting in a routine then this bodes really well for you guys. He is young and still very trainable. Well done for giving him a chance and i hope you get on well together!

by **alfie62** on Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:24 am

Thanks for that its nice to have some moral support .He is turned out at mo amongst geldings but kept seperate-and they have lovely games across fence.My daughter adores him and we have just found out that he loves a massage -you can do anything to him while his being scratched.Today should get date for him to go in for his surgery.i did let the girl know who sold him to me but she is uninterested.i suggested to her it would be decent if she contributed towards the costs --HA HA .