Should I....

....sell Abby?

We are one of those green on green cases. 5 year old, from what I know had one month of training with a trainer before I bought her. Was a 'kids pony' good for beginners. I wasn't exprienced enough at the time to realise that just because someone says a horse is quiet doesn't really mean she is.

I have had 4 years riding experience at a riding school. We were taught how to groom, wash, lead, rug, tack up, ride ect....I have stopped going there for personal reasons and also don't have riding lessons, but a lady that keeps her horses next to the Abby's paddock was nice enough and gives me a few tips if she see's me out there riding.

I have owned Abby for around 5 months now, I had to give her a couple of days off of work because she had girth sores that were pretty bad. When those were all cleared up and we got tack that fit, I started to ride her again. I understood that she had a time off and was still getting used to me so I expected that she was going to play up, but when she did I lost all confidence in myself and ended up not riding her for a couple of months. My uncle helped me start her back up last month and we were going really well, but she was still misbehaving but nothing I could handle. I even had a small walk outside of the round yard and she listened to my leg cues to get off the track when a float was going past, she didnt spook either! Now all of a sudden she is misbehaving again.

I was thinking maybe me being inexpreinced and nervous was the reason she is playing up again. She has had her teeth floated, farrier is due (will be calling him up tomorrow), no pain, tack are good fitting. Should I wait and see if she still plays up when the farrier comes out? I just want a horse that I can enjoy riding and learn more.

Sorry for the novel!

Of course only you know what is right for you, but your last sentence summed it up for me. If you want a horse to enjoy and possibly learn from, than you aren't necessarily looking for a horse that you have to train to boot. There are many wonderful horses out there, and it's not unusual to go through a few before finding the right one.

Don't agonize if you need to sell this one and get one that suits your needs better. Good luck with it.

I'm with Walka, I went through some "way to much horse for me" horses before I got my Vida. I have learned way more from her than I will ever teach her. That's the way its suppose to be, especially for your first horse.
Give her your best, but if you feel you are in danger and she is not a safe horse for you and your going to end up hurt or worse, its time to look for a new horse.

Thankyou everyone. I guess I should have sat down and thought about it before I agreed to buy her, but we learn from our mistakes.

Its not a mistake its a learning experience

This reminds me of an old saying that my Grandad used all the time.
"There are 3 types of men in the world; those that learn by reading, those that learn by observation, and the rest of us just have to piss on that electric fence ourselves."

You had a lesson to learn from Abby and from the sound of it, you have learned that lesson well. I know that you care about her but I think it would probably be best to send her to someone that can bring out her full potential and find a horse for yourself that has more to teach than to learn. A first horse for a young or inexperienced rider should be one that has the mentality "Okay, I have been here and done this before. You just stick with me and I'll see us through this just fine." There are many horses in the world that are excellent teachers and although Abby has the potential to be a really nice horse, she isn't there yet. Like Walka said, your last sentence kinda summed it up for me too. If you don't enjoy riding, then soon it becomes a chore and there is no fun in that.

I love it! That quote made the household blackboard, SMR! THanks.

Thanks, I guess I answered my own question. I went out to see her yesterday and she is really behaving on ground just needs more work undersaddle. It's going to be really hard to sell her, but it's good for both of us!