Help?

[fulham]

I have been riding for just 6 weeks and progressing slowly but surely. I am looking to buy my first horse so that I can progress on my own ride. I have come across a very quiet, polite and nice 6 year old 5/8 ID x 3/8 TB mare who was only broken in last November (albeit professionaly) - She is very good in traffic and fine in every way. Although I am worried that she has not seen enough of life and might therefore be a spooky horse??? Any thoughts / advice / comments much appreciated. I Guess what I'm asking is, can a horse that has only been broken since November be a suitable novice ride?

[Edited by fulham on 22nd Mar 2001 at 08:37 AM]

[KarlR]

Fulham,

I'm sure that this is not what you want to hear, but I'd have to say that this is not a good idea. I would have the strongest reservations for your safety and for the horses future with the very limited experience that you have.

Whilst this horse may appear to be stable, steady, and gently responsive, that will not always be the case. At 6 years old a horse, particularly one with some TB in it, can still be very unpredictable and needs an experienced rider to guide it through the next year or two.

I know that many people do buy horses immediately, but personally I'm very thankful that I waited a couple of years before buying my first horse. Not only did it allow me to buy a better horse, but it also gave me confidence to deal with the inevitable problems that arose.

I'd also point out that owning your own horse is a very different experience to that of riding a school horse. The difference in the horses workload and environment always mean in my experience that the horse is more fizzy and excitable than a similar school horse. Any school horse also has a range of different quality riders in any given week which helps to keep it schooled and any problems of nappiness are quickly deal with. At 6 years a horse is still very young and inexperienced, particularly if only just backed. You would have many problems ahead of you.

If you must buy a horse now, look for something much older, perhaps 12-15 years and of a more laid back breeding, perhaps a cob of some description? I would however recommend that you wait until you have some more experience before making such a major committment.

Finally, I would ask yourself why you want to buy now? Owning a horse is a lovely idea, but is very expensive to keep - much more so than you expect! The same money would allow you to have several lessons per week allowing you to progress faster and with the safety and advice of constant supervision.

[fulham]

Sound advice and taken on board, thank you. I suppose I should point out that I am already experienced in keeping horses. We have a 14hh pony (cob) that my daughter rides (and me on the odd occassion) but I still class myself as a real novice. The reason I want to buy now is because that I have 10 acres of land right behind me doing nothing! and some great hacking very close by. My job is so stressful and the horses relieves this 100%. I thought the answer re: the 6 year old would be that... She is so nice however. Everything I have been looking for bar the experience. There is another option... a 12 year old Dutch Warmblood from a riding school. Not as nice, but obviously more experienced. What are your thoughts on the Warmblood? Or how about 100% ID? Thanks again for your thoughts.

[Flo]

Hi Fulham

I would definately wait and not buy anything, in the meantime, if you must, find a very steady schoolmaster or mistress to loan. As well as finding a good horse, you need to find one that is suited to you - ie one that wants to do the same things that you do. I think it takes quite a long time of riding to realise what that is.

The 6 year old isn't a good idea, the reason that it is polite and well behaved is due not only to the professional schooling when it was broken, but almost certainly also due to having been schooled well on a regular basis since. Probably on a daily basis. As a beginner, you won't be in a position to do this - when you work with a youngster you have to be confident in what you're doing and be ready for the odd tantrum.

This probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but if you buy before you really know what you want longterm you will very likely run into problems.

[KarlR]

You're clearly more aware than I thought about the implications of costs and handling, but do bear in mind that the costs of the sort of horse that you are looking for are going to be much higher than the pony.

It is very difficult to say how the horses that you suggest would behave outside of a school environment. The amount of work that most school horses get is largely the reason that they are so placid. I know someone who bought a school horse which rapidly became uncontrollable. Eventually they sold it back to the school where the increased workload soon returned it to its previous good-natured self!

I think that Flo's advice is certainly another alternative if you really must buy now. At least that provides the option of a return if you cannot cope.

One final option is to insist upon a months trial (no less) or demand a cast-iron, written, money-back guarantee from the seller that you can return the horse you buy if it proves too much for you. I suspect that most sellers will be unwilling to offer this because they know that the character of the horse will change when you get it. However, without such a guarantee you may very well be left with a horse that you cannot ride and must be sold on at your expense, potentially at a loss.

[kelsey]

I have been taking lessons and riding for a couple of months (4 to 5 times a week) - although I did ride as a teenager - and am looking to buy a 3 or 4 year old. This is because the breed that I am interested in (Canadien horse) is quite rare and people don't want to part with the older ones. I specifically want this breed because of the calm temperament, versatility and soundness. They are also on the small side (15 to 16 hands) but are very well built (sort of like the old fashioned Morgans).

However, my coach (who I have known for quite a while)is helping me with this purchase. The horse will go for six months of training (while I continue to take lessons), and then will be used part time as a school horse for more experienced adult riders. I will ride other horses at the same time to get more experience.

Does anyone think that this is not a good idea for any reason? As I said, I really trust my coach and have done a lot of research on the breed (visiting farms, talking to other owners, etc).

Thanks!!!

[Maci]

Just to warn you incase you get stuck with a horse you don't want, you can always lease horses until you become more experienced in riding. Especially this horse you're considering- I would lease him first, for a few months to see how he is on a daily basis.

But since your a novice rider, it would be better to go with an older, calmer, more experienced horse, lease or buy. You learn much quicker on those types of horses because you don't nessessarily have to worry about spooking, etc.

Maci :)

[Showjumper]

A 6 year old Thoroughbred is definitely not the horse for you – I’ve been riding about 6/7 years and ride/look after a ten year old Thoroughbred, and he’s very placid and calm but on the rare occassions when he does spook, keeping on board and not losing control requires a lot of effort. A Cob would be good, but Warmbloods are generally nice, easy horses (but of course each horse is an individual!) Irish Draughts are stout, quiet, steady horses and are brilliant for novice riders, although they tend to be quite wide in the barrel! ;) As Flo and possibly others said, loaning is a cheaper alternative to buying, and it gives you a chance tosee if you can cope. If you do buy, have a six-to-eight week trial period to see how things go. Good luck. :D

[FRED]

Glad to have looked in,like many I ask myself,when is it best to get your own horse,brilliant advice guys,loved that
showjumper,could we have more.

[fulham]

Many thanks for all your replies and help everyone...

[floppy]

i also think as a first horse and having little riding experience a young newly trained horse is not a good move..but of course whatever you decide its your decision..however the only sugegstion i can give if you are going to buy a young green horse is to keep it somewhere where there are always people that can help you..ie people who know what they are doing, instructors etc..because the horse migh tbe wonderful at such a young age and you may thikn its the ebst horse you have ridden but after time with a less experienced rider/owner young horses can change incredibly and if something goes wrong while you are riding it an dyou get scared or cant handle the situtaion someone will be there to help out! i know alot of people who have always had a horse...but they have always been older horses around 10yrs old...and most of these people now want the challenege of a younger greener hrose and most of these people keep their young horses at a professional yard because alot can wrong and being their first young horse they dont know exactly what to do...I have ridden for 17yrs and never had my own horse and would like one..but when i buy one i knwo i will look for a horse that is aged between 8-12yrs old..and dont forget young horses need alot of training compared to the older more trained horse...and espeically if you want to go hacking...they are going to spook a alot of new thigns and surroundings and you need to be able to cope with this if you are riding out aloen adn with people!! So its best to keep your hrose somewhere where an experienced person can help you bring on a youngster! and naturally that will cost alot of money too!or just buya more mature easy going horse that maybe when your daughter is older and bigger can ride and then you will have more experience to out and buy a hrose with a bit of challenege!?

[Edited by floppy on 23rd Mar 2001 at 01:20 PM]

[Jaz]

Could you not ride your daughters 14hh Cob more often?untill you get more riding experiance. He may seem strange because of his short height but often a cob will seem bigger than it actualy is and you will get used to him. Cobs make wonderful first horses in my experience.

[floppy]

fulham, it also depends oon the horse..can you try the horse out for a while before buying it? see how you get along??
because the horse has been broken in a little later in life she/he may be more grown up and able to handle new things better...(note i said maybe...)i woud try the horse out..but i would also think of buying something a little more experienced to cope with a novice rider! what does your instructor think? the best thing is to ask your instructor to help you find a horse that she/he thinks is suitable for you and that you will able to cope!your instructor is going to be honest because he/she will know your riding capabilities and i think that is really the bets thing you can do! :)

[Allie]

I would just like to say that I think it is a bit unreasonable to expect a 6-8 week trial period, or even a month long one. Think about it from the seller's point of view - that is a month the horse is not in training, a month it is out of their control, a month they can't use to sell the horse, and after it is all over they have to take the horse back plus whatever vices you have given it (not saying you will) and start over from the beginning. An inexperienced rider on a green horse can do a lot of un-training in month. I think you will be lucky to get a two week trail, and you will propbably have to settle for one week.

I would think that the age of the horse (6) is not so much the problem as the fact that she was only started less than 6 months ago. A 6 year old horse has its personality pretty well formed by that point, she just doesn't have the experience. Since she has been started so recently she needs to be ridden consistently to keep her from forming bad habits. If you could buy this horse and still take lessons on her once or twice a week that would probablly be an acceptable arrangement. Barring that, you should probably either keep looking for a different horse or try to lease a more experienced one for the time being. It is really up to you. Depending on the horse's temperament, their are some horse you can buy green broke and they will turn out wonderfully, and their are others that need a year or two of competent training before they can really be considered "broken".

Allie

[Silvia]

Where I live it is common practise to get the horse for a trial period - if you are not buying from a dealer. I would never settle for less than a month - you need time to find out if the horse's character suits you. I just took a horse on loan with the option to buy - so I can get to know the horse before I decide. All I had to do was to sign permission for the owner to see the horse anytime she wants. That way she can make sure he is not treated badly.

[floppy]

they do that here in germany too

[Mossy]

I don't know your details but my hubbie rides our Highland quite happily. Moss is 14.2 and built like a brick outhouse - sorry Moss no insult meant. I am with the others. I am not sure of the wisdom of a youngster for somebody of your riding experience, esp a TB. They are the prima donnas of the horse world, lovely but inclined to be difficult and are easily spoilt. They can also be prone to every knock and ailment going. My Welsh/Tb is a right prima donna, hates mud, every knock on her legs is a major evolution - to her at least. I love her dearly but TBs are definitely not for the fainthearted and definitely not for the riding novice.
Try an experienced loan until you are sure of the direction you want to go in. Buying the wrong horse is expensive and heartbreaking. Sorry if I am not saying what you want to hear.

[Showjumper]

I wish Jake hated the mud – he finds it necessary to try and leap into every puddle we pass on our hacks – even if it’s nowhere near us – he’ll speed up and rush towards it in case it evaporates before he can coat himself in the slimy substance! :( And as for being delicate – he’s a thug!!! In the nicest possible sense.

[floppy]

my friends horse is amud mosnter..she comes in from the feidl and all you can really se eof her is her eyez

[fulham]

Well, I took everyone's advice on board. But nonetheless I decided to travel the 300 mile round trip to see the horse in question, mainly because from what I was told on the phone, and from the photos sent, this mare was everything I could wish for. I knew deep down that it would not be right, but I went for the experience anyway! I arrived to find what I had expected only better. This horse was an absolute stunner (and I mean top notch) - I asked the owner if I could see her ride first and I knew from the moment she tried to mount this thing that I'd wasted my time. Fresh and bouncing around all over the place! (What a waste of time I thought) Anyway, cut a long story short, I did end up riding this thing and it spooked twice on the way to the field. I was pleased with myself as after only a very short time of riding I had already learnt enough to kick here on past the spook and give here something else to think about. So I kept her under control twice which was pleasing, although I wasn't particularly comfortable about being up there, all 16.3 of her. Anyway, we get to the field and have a little trot around. Confidence starts to build a little more, although even as a novice I can feel that there's no way this horse is right for me. All of a sudden she throws a massive spook, kicks, bucks yet I still manage to stay on (I was sooo pleased with myself) but the second buck and bounce sent me threw the air landing safely on a cow pat! Horse runs off and the whole thing becomes a bit of a farce. And this I was assured was a horse suitable for a NOVICE! Just shows you to what lengths some people will lie. Anyway, I have decided that I shall wait a while longer, get some more miles under my belt and wait for a suitable 16(ish) cobby type, around 10 years. Thought I'd let you all know the outcome! Thanks again everyone.

[floppy]

your first learning experience about buying a horse...well good luck in the future and i hope you find yourself a wonderful friend!

[Mossy]

I can understand your annoyance. We've all been there and done that. I was offered a loan horse a while back. Sounded nice, child at college, the usual reasons. Deeper qustioning revealed that this paragon of virtue would only stop with a double bridle, took off when on long lines and the subtext was please take this thug off my hands for six months and re-educate him! I did not get as far as a visit. I will think about most things but severe traffic problems and bolters are a total no no in my book! [No menage and Dartmoor is no place for a bolt]

Connie picks her way through deep mud when asked to walk through it but rolling in it - call me hippopotamus! I called her the other day. Her face was clean!!! The rest was caked on mud and wet!

[Allie]

maybe its just an American thing to not do long trial periods. I personally would not think of letting one of mine go for a month trial, and I wouldn't think of asking for it either. I guess our society is just more distrustful in general than across the pond.

I'm glad you had the wisdom to say no to the horse when it was obviously not right for you. In the long run you'll be better off, and congrats for staying on!

Allie

[Wally]

Well done you for staying on as long as you did! I get so cross whaen folk mis describe a horse, someones life could be at risk.

I only met one easy to do TB he was such an unlikely chap as he was a race horse, he used to come to us for a break from racing and was a perfect gent and so calm about everything. But he was out of the ordinary.