Well is this going to be the weekend - on going horse searching saga

[Clare-22]

I have kept quite quiet on my horse horse adventures, I have to admit to getting slightly disheartened, every Friday I am bursting with anticipation and come Monday normally as flat as a pancake :rolleyes:

So here we are on a Friday and full of anticipation with 3 nice sounding horses to look at......

Horse 1 Saturday 10am. - 16.1hh 7yr chestnut TB, ex racehorse, bombproof hack, fantastic to handle, obviously needs schooling but quiet laid back boy. Reason for selling, just got new job which involves travelling, only had him a few months.

Horse 2 Saturday 3pm - 16.2hh ID x TB 11yr grey gelding. Been there and done it, snaffle mouth and real gentlemen, ticks all my boxes and loads more. I am sick with nerves that he will be sold before I get to see him :( Owned for a year, ad said reason for selling was lack of time, but the lady I spoke to said it was because the owner wanted to do higher level dressage than he was capable of.

Horse 3 Sunday 2pm - 16hh breeding unknown but possible TB x ID or WB 9yr dark bay gelding. I was called by the lady selling him in response to my wanted ad. They had advertised him but had no response and they think they have over priced him, which they have, he was on for £6500 :eek: He has done a bit of everything and is very genuine. I was due to see him last weekend but he came in from the field on Friday night with a puffy leg, which went down after 24hr and he was never lame. I did wonder if someone has responded to the ad and she wanted them to see him first as they were willing to pay the full price. Owned for 4 yrs his owner has gone back home to Australia.

So are you ready to join me on the rollercoaster :D

[Whatanejit]

Oh best of luck Clare! It really is a rollercoaster. We decided to try and ride along on a plateau for each visit after a while. Just looking at it as a weekend fo visiting some nice horses and having a few rides.

I know you have owned before but it is the vetting that is the most stressful part - especially as we had 2 failed ones.

Let us know how you get on.

Good vibes coming your way.:D :D

xx

[MadMumInKent]

Good luck, they all sound lovely. :) I especially like the sound of No. 2, but I think that's cos he reminds me of the horse I used to share.

[tbtess]

Horse searching is such a pain. You think you've found the right one, and then bang, something almost always happens. You will know when you have found the right one though. Here's wishing you the very best of luck. Keep us updated.

[ambatt]

What about the chestnut p-p'er??? He sounded luuuuuuuuuverly.

Tormenta's mum now thinks I should play safe and have my trio of brown 'uns.

[Libbyo]

Good luck and enjoy the hunting.

Libbyo :)

[domane]

Fingers crossed for you that one of them is the right one and I hope number two remains available for you!

Will you update us tomorrow on how you got on with the first two???

[Lucyad]

Ohhhh! They all sound nice! Looking forward to hearing how you get on!
Lucy xx

[Clare-22]

Will definately update :D So far so good, still have all three to see. Don't think I will be getting much sleep tonight :o

Chestnut PP'er is still on going, waiting for photos, if none of the others work out I have him in mind to see Monday.

Whatanejit - I can only imagine how shattering it must be to get as far as the vetting for it to go wrong, twice must have been awful. I am sure Cooper was pleased though :D

[RachelBraz]

Good luck! It can be such a drag horse searching, I too get all excited about Thursdays (Horse and Hound out), Fridays and the weekends, so far I have been looking for seven weeks and only had three to look at over six weekends! I had a list of about ten horses to call tonight, only one of which sounds ok! So good luck and I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on!

[Clare-22]

Quick report on horse no. 1. He was very sweet, needs a lot of work. We weren't able to see him ridden properly as both schools were being used by the riding school, even though he had booked them. The horse was ridden in a small lunging ring but it didn't tell us anything as it was so tight and he so unbalenced. I am going to see how horse 2 and 3 work out before deciding whether to go back and have a proper look. One thing bothered me though, I asked him how long he had owned him and he said January and Chester ran his last race in December, but I know as I checked his form that he last ran on the 3rd March, so he has lied to me about that, what else might he lie about :confused:

This is his ad

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/DisplayHorseDetail.asp?AdvertRef=HM61397G0

Very excited about seeing horse number 2 :D

[palmerlover52]

horse no.2 sounds lurrvveeellly. hope it all goes well and your not dissapointed!

[Rarah]

Good luck Clare - hope all goes to plan with No 2.

I'm viewing a grey gelding at 3.30 this afternoon too!

Sarah
x

[Kazzie]

Clare I'd forget about the racehorse. If he ran his last race in March its unlikely that he's a 'bombproof hack' as suggested in the ad. I would be very suspicious as the owner has obvious lied to you on a very important fact.

Wishing you all the best on your other two viewings. Hope you find your dream horse.

K x

[Whatanejit]

One thing bothered me though, I asked him how long he had owned him and he said January and Chester ran his last race in December, but I know as I checked his form that he last ran on the 3rd March, so he has lied to me about that, what else might he lie about


Liar, liar pants of fire - take it as a warning!:eek:

[Clare-22]

I don't think the grey gelding is for me either :( I loved him on sight but it all fell apart when he was ridden, I suppose there had to be a catch, such a lovely horse for only £3500. When I spoke to the lady on the phone she said he wasn't a dressage horse, which is fine I don't want to do anything more than prelim but what became apparant was he does not like to be schooled, he had his own way of going and didn't like to asked to work in any other way, I could work on him no problems there but he obviously hates schooling, I think a happy hacking home would be more suitable for him. I will try and put a vid clip on to explain what I mean. Oh yes and he was already tacked up when we got there, and we weren't late, I wonder if he has a back problem :confused: Please excuse the riding neiter of us have ridden for ages :o

Me riding

http://www.clipshack.com/Clip.aspx?key=7D5E7D4489B5D790

My friend asking a little more from him

http://www.clipshack.com/Clip.aspx?key=5236A1F7D697720A

[Whatanejit]

Mmmm. That is a shame Clare.

You looked fine trotting him but that canter with your friend was odd. Even Cooper's canter is better than that and that is saying something.:eek:

You could be right about his back but I wouldn't be experienced enough to say.

Good luck for tomorrow.

xx

[palmerlover52]

woow funny canter. i think you'd be right about the happy hacking thing and bad luck
at least you won't have to try and keep that grey coat clean!

[Clare-22]

Wow did the video clips work, I have accomplished something today :D

Yes the canter was odd even with the lady that always rides him! I didn't feel I could get him together enough to even try canter :o The lady did say his canter needs work, which I thought was a bit odd for an 11yr old :eek:

I hope you had better luck Sarah :)

[katieB]

I can see what you mean about the grey, he's lovely looking but his hearts just not in the schooling is it? Its funny what he does with his head in canter too.

[Imp]

Lovely, lovely horse... you're quite right to walk away unless you want a schooling project. This is exactly what my pony does, she's green, badly schooled, she fights you and does the head thing when ridden :rolleyes: We've got our work cut out and we know it :eek:

[ambatt]

I think he has a low grade lameness, his head is nodding slightly through the canter, although bless him he is trying hard. He does not track up as well in the second video with your friend riding him, he is better in the first video. However, he is constantly resisting through his back, his tail is swishing all the time and he looks uncomfortable.

He canters on two tracks and finds it difficult to engage his back end. I suspect it is either a lameness or back issue. They have used a flash to tie his mouth down as I suspect he would resist even more in a cavesson. He is also very flat and he is not rounding through his back at all.

Poor boy, he seems an honest sort of lad and very kind, what a damn shame for such a handsome boy.

[Clare-22]

Poor boy that makes me want him even more :rolleyes: What did you think of the point to pointer I emailed, he is growing on me :)

[Rarah]

I hope you had better luck Sarah :)

Didn't even bother to ride him - he just didn't look right to me.

Going to another dealer this afternoon.

[ambatt]

Poor boy that makes me want him even more :rolleyes: What did you think of the point to pointer I emailed, he is growing on me :)

Have emailed you comments on the Point to pointer C, between us we are a huge pile of big girlie pants!

Lipi Lady has contacted me and Tormenta has not been sold.

Aaarghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Clare-22]

Why is nothing with horses simple :rolleyes:

Sorry it didn't go well Sarah, I think I am about 50-50 with horses I have looked at and ridden / not ridden.

Right I am off to see horse number 3 :)

This is him

http://www.horsequest.co.uk/images/BentonARApril.jpg

[domane]

Good luck.... third time lucky????? :)

[RachelBraz]

Ooh I like that one! Good luck!

[Clare-22]

Another no I am afraid. Nice horse, lady had failed to mention he had one huge knee, something he has always had and has never bothered him, but would have been nice if she had mentioned it :rolleyes: He was a nice chap but far too sharp for me, I didn't feel safe on him :o

I now have another horse to see tomorrow afternoon. He is 16.3hh 9yr old TB grey gelding, he was bought to do serious eventing but he is not bold enough XC, gets his legs in a muddle and scares himself. He sounds lovely but after today my confidence has been knocked a bit so a bit nervous about it.

[Rarah]

He sounds lovely but after today my confidence has been knocked a bit so a bit nervous about it.

Oh dear :( :( It's not as much fun as it might seem, this horse buying lark is it?

I had a major knock to my confidence yesterday whilst out viewing too.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that this is the one and will be looking out for your next update:)

[Clare-22]

We both had an eventful time by the sounds of it yesterday didn't we :rolleyes: We will get there eventually though :)

Not seeing the horse until 4pm so plenty of time to get worked up about it :o

[Clare-22]

Another no, couldn't put my finger on it but something I didn't like. Back to square one :rolleyes:

[ambatt]

You such huge big voluminous Knickers!;)

[chewitmonster]

Oh dear, but don't give up (although doesn't sound like you are) I'm sure you'll find something! I sympathise with you I really do! xxx

[eml]

I hate horse hunting, never seem to be the right one when you are looking and then like buses several all turn up.

Having bought something like 50 horses (no I am not mad just run RS :D ) just advise you that when you see the right one it will jump out that you desperately want to take them home. The few I have bought against my gut instinct have always given us problems. Our best ones I often just see and know they are right and trying them is virtually a formality.

[Whatanejit]

:( :(

Keep your chin up lovely - you'll get there.

xx

[Rarah]

Another no, couldn't put my finger on it but something I didn't like. Back to square one :rolleyes:

Aww dear - there's always next weekend. :o

Chin up girl!!

[Clare-22]

Hmmm this weekend not looking too good. I am waiting a call back about seeing a horse Saturday, I spoke to her earlier in the week and said I would call back near the time and arrange to see him, she hasn't returned my call. I have another horse to see Sunday but there were lots of people seeing him yesterday and today and the owner has already said first person to say yes gets him, which put me off a bit :rolleyes:

So all in the air at the moment. I am currently swapping emails with a lady about a lovely sounding grey, so keeping my fingers crossed there :)