Bought a horse from auction... Did I make a mistake?

[propspony]

@Palm Beach

Lunging is pretty silly - you just let the horse run around at the end of a line and hope he gets too tired to do anything wrong.

Ridiculousness like this is why I’ve stopped coming to these forums for the most part.

OP he could be a very nice little horse, who scooted in a spook when something unexpected startled him. It could also be that the saddle really doesn’t fit, or… it could be he was on some sort of “calming supplement” that is no longer working or… or… lol.

Do you have an experienced trainer that could watch him be longed and worked and offer their opinion on what they see? It really could be that he’s used to a heavier workload, and now with some “free time” he’s er… exploring some interpretive dance options. lol.

Do let us know what the vet says, and if you’re ok sharing his pedigree, I’d love to see it.

He sounds like he could be a good boy, don’t lose heart yet.

[findeight]

He might be fine and just got dumped because of his age and possibly could not take a heavy work schedule as a lesson type horse. Lesson programs being typical buyers for older, beginner safe horses many private buyers won’t touch due to the age.

Nice looking QH there, great color that’s really going to shine up…though he doesn’t look like he’s been seriously neglected. Which is a huge plus.

[2LaZ2race]

That’s what I’m hoping. The person who sold him had a few in the auction and I asked which would be best for a lesson program and she suggested him. I give like 2-3 lessons a week, nothing intense so he won’t have to work hard if he’s good !

He is in good weight, his feet aren’t good and have many rings, not like he foundered, but just maybe changes in his nutrition or stress. He’s getting really attached to me, I spend a lot of time just getting to know him. He’s not quite as ok with my husband.

[propspony]

Oh my gosh he’s adorable! He has a very kind face. I’m glad to hear that he’s settling in. Please keep us updated! I would love to hear how it goes from here on in.

[2LaZ2race]

@propspony

Oh my gosh he’s adorable! He has a very kind face. I’m glad to hear that he’s settling in. Please keep us updated! I would love to hear how it goes from here on in.

I will! Thank you for being so positive, I was really doubting myself for a while.

I’ve be riding for 25 years, owned for 16 and now have my own private farm. I’m not new to horses but I’m new to auctions. I’ve followed the local ones in my area closely, tried to learn the truths, the frequent players, etc. I’m in a position where even if he didn’t work out, I could provide him with a forever home and the vet care he needs.

He’s very different than my OTTBs, he stands SO STILL! Amazing ground manners. He was very slow to warm up to me and still hasn’t warmed up to many other people. My husband accidentally let him loose the other day , he was giving him hay and he tried to follow him out of the gate, got shocked by the electric and spooked and ran. He ran all the way to the next farm to see the cows, then to the Percheron farm near us. They got him into their field but couldn’t catch him, my husband went and couldn’t catch him, I pull up, get out, he sees me and walks right to me. It was a good feeling. I’m definitely “his person” as of now. He’s been wonderful for the farrier and vet so I’m pretty happy right now!

[findeight]

Carrots and scratches in just the right place from DH on a regular basis ought to get them besties within a few weeks.

Some of these horses weren’t exactly abused but are graduates of the school of hard knocks. They have moved around a lot and don’t know who to trust. That QH mind has them giving you the benefit of the doubt most of the time but they are going to be slow to warm up to people until they realize they are home. He’ll get over that suspicious streak.

Think you are learning the difference between that mindset and that of the typical TB types. Simply put you can do things with a QH most TBs just won’t put up with. More pragmatic then their more ambitious cousins. I’ve owned both.

[propspony]

hahaha! The standing still thing is amazing, isn’t it? I bred my TB mare to a QH, and I’m still amazed by how unflappable the baby is. Today we were really working on getting a forward canter and the barn owner waved us over. We basically hand galloped up, I sat back, dropped the reins, and she about did a sliding stop. She then stood there with one hind foot cocked and her eyes closed while the two of us talked. Afterwards, I picked up the reins, gave a kiss, and off we went again, no muss no fuss.

Things her mother never did in the 20 years I owned her, bless her little go-go TB heart.

I think with cookies and reinforcement that guys don’t always mean hard work, he’ll come around. Have you given him a barn name yet?

[SuzieQNutter]

Hee hee now you know what it is like to have a horse that has been taught to stand still, you can teach your tbs to stands still as well.

[Libby2563]

Meatball!!!

Happy to hear the positive update!

[Palm_Beach]

He’s so cute! Have fun.

[Rackonteur]

Handsome boy! I’m glad to hear he’s working out well. I wonder at what age he was gelded and if he was ever at stud.

[Bluey]

He seems to be a nice horse, would be interesting to follow up with his history, if you can thru the papers, maybe.

I would be concerned and ask the vet to check him for Cushings, being older and with a rather prominent neck crest.
That could be part of his inconsistent behavior, he may not feel that good some days, some times and could possibly be a reason he was sold if he was becoming inconsistently off from it.

Easy to manage if that is what it is, in the right barn, but a nuisance for a very busy barn that is short handed.
Just one more to check, may not be any to that at all.

[cloudy18]

@findeight

Carrots and scratches in just the right place from DH on a regular basis ought to get them besties within a few weeks.

Some of these horses weren’t exactly abused but are graduates of the school of hard knocks. They have moved around a lot and don’t know who to trust. That QH mind has them giving you the benefit of the doubt most of the time but they are going to be slow to warm up to people until they realize they are home. He’ll get over that suspicious streak.

Think you are learning the difference between that mindset and that of the typical TB types. Simply put you can do things with a QH most TBs just won’t put up with. More pragmatic then their more ambitious cousins. I’ve owned both.

Agree. I recently went through horse shopping hell, but one thing I noticed was that those that have been through that school of hard knocks and used by a lot of people tend to be less trusting and slower to warm up to people.

I’m glad he’s working out well for you. Apparently his quirks under saddle in the beginning were just him needing time to settle in. It’s interesting to get an idea of how different horses can be when brought along in different disciplines, and differ from breed to breed, isn’t it?

[2LaZ2race]

@Bluey

He seems to be a nice horse, would be interesting to follow up with his history, if you can thru the papers, maybe.

I would be concerned and ask the vet to check him for Cushings, being older and with a rather prominent neck crest.
That could be part of his inconsistent behavior, he may not feel that good some days, some times and could possibly be a reason he was sold if he was becoming inconsistently off from it.

Easy to manage if that is what it is, in the right barn, but a nuisance for a very busy barn that is short handed.
Just one more to check, may not be any to that at all.

At this point besides the cresty neck he’s not showing any symptoms. He hasn’t had a single behavior issue since my original post and a lot of his quirks (being head shy, hard to catch, reactive) have gone away. He really likes having field buddies and that calmed him a LOT. He’s actually the perfect companion for my show horse because he’s very submissive and let’s my Showhorse boss him around.

I have his papers and have talked to AQHA so we’re trying to figure out his life story ! The other night for the first time I was hanging out in the field (that’s what happens when you’re a teacher on summer break and live at the farm) and he actually approached me and wanted rubs. I took advantage and gave him a full body rub down with lots of kisses. Lol

[Bluey]

@2LaZ2race

At this point besides the cresty neck he’s not showing any symptoms. He hasn’t had a single behavior issue since my original post and a lot of his quirks (being head shy, hard to catch, reactive) have gone away. He really likes having field buddies and that calmed him a LOT. He’s actually the perfect companion for my show horse because he’s very submissive and let’s my Showhorse boss him around.

I have his papers and have talked to AQHA so we’re trying to figure out his life story ! The other night for the first time I was hanging out in the field (that’s what happens when you’re a teacher on summer break and live at the farm) and he actually approached me and wanted rubs. I took advantage and gave him a full body rub down with lots of kisses. Lol

Sounds like everything is fine then, lucky for both of you.
A very nice horse that ended up with a nice person that will take good care of him.

[BLBSTBLS]

sometimes you get lucky at auctions, I recently went to an auction for no real reason, and ended up seeing a chesnut gelding ( who I thought was a mare at first bc of his sweet face), came up to the fence and just wanted me to rub his face. He was fat healthy, but I couldn’t find the person who had sent him to the auction. So I bid on him and ended up buying him. He loaded up after about 10 minutes and although he was nervous he seemed to somewhat trust me. Once he was home it took him a couple day but he wouldn’t let anyone come near him except me. I tacked him up, come to find out he ground ties, which comes in handy! He is super sensitive to leg, but he was trained as a ranch/work horse. I do have the name of the ranch that he came from on his coggins papers, so I am going to call and see if I can get any back ground info. I hauled him to a barrel speed show, just to take him somewhere and ride him, He seems to somewhat recognize the barrel pattern and games which was fun. He did throw one little hissy fit inside the ring when he had to leave his buddies to go into the ring - but after 20 minutes of trotting and loping he hasn’t done it again. and he is by far the best trail horse I have to ride. He was very head shy when I first got him but he is getting better. He is still unsure of the wash rack but will stand happily in the grass to get hosed off. I am assuming he was sent to the auction because the owners needed to down size their herd. He is only 7 years old and although I don’t have papers on him his teeth tell the same story.

Hope you have fun with your auction find I am enjoying mine Hes a diamond in the rough

[IndysMom]

What a handsome boy! It sounds like he’s worked out. I love the “double digit” ones. Mine is 13 and it’s his best year yet!