Hi all, I have just bought a Western trained Criollo - he was used as a ranch horse in Argentina, a show horse in Holland, and is now living with me.  I have had him 5 weeks and have been in hospital twice...he was sold to me as highly trained and responsive - and when I rode him in the school at the yard where I bought him he was.  However, now I have got him home, he has become unrideable! I know horses test out new owners but its getting dangerous.  I have been for a Western sesson and been taught the basics, but when I try to put them in to practice on him he responds for a few mins then gets headstrong and I loose all control!  Can anyone help?!!

What is he doing?
Rearing, bucking, both?

How are you dealing with him?

Are you doing any groundwork?

Whereabouts are you located.

Hi Bikina,

In my opinion you should take the horse back to the seller, It is obviously not suitable for the purpose you bought it for?

Take it back before it really hurts you. If the seller is reputable they will surely take him back and offer you another horse?

Good luck.

Cowboy.

Hello Bikina

A horse that was sold to you as 'highly trained and responsive' doesn't sound like the horse that you now have and that has caused you to be in hospital twice.

I agree with cowboy - speak to the seller. Did you get him from Holland? Funnily enough I have been looking at criollos too.

Hi and thank you for your replies.  He doesn't rear or buck (yet!) but does throw his head around and take control of the situation - and at the weekend, I went for a western lesson, then came home to put what I'd learned in to practice.  He was going fine for about 5 mins - then got bored and cantered off towards the gate (we were in an enclosed area, the gate is about 8ft tall and surrounded by chicken wire) - he went through the gate, I had to leap on to the wire to avoid being decapitated, and spent sat night in A & E -not fun.  He didn't run cos he was scared - he ran to get to the grass which is about 50 yards from the gate.  We live in London, and turnout is very limited - so I understand he wanted the grass.  But to not listen to instructions?!!  This is not the first time he has run off with me either.  I was riding him a couple of weeks ago and again he was going fine - past trains, buses, motorbikes, and didn't flinch.  The we turned in to another road and he cantered down a side road - I tried to stop him but he kept throwing his head around and jumping about and no matter what I did he would not stop.  It was only because I turned him in to someone's garden that he stopped and I got off.  A friend of mine also tried riding him and had the same problem.  Do you think I should send him back to the seller or persevere?  I was thinking of going on a Western course with him to see if we can work together. 

i'm afraid i would be paking his bags and sending him back to the seller, life is far too short. I d have seen far too many people try to persevere or give up due to animals which through no fault of the owner are unsuitable for them.
Good luck whatever you decide.

Michael