Looking for new horse for a new discipline

[horsetime]

Hi
I a looking to get a new horse for dressage.I have been in the hunter world a long time so I need help to find the right horse for this discipline.
I found one I really like on www.myequinesource.com
named "Titan"
But not sure what characteristics to look for.
Thanks

[bexj]

Sorry, you don't make it quite clear, do you have your own horse at the moment?

[jemma]

I dont know anything about confirmation but just wanted to say that he looks nice but $15000 seems alot ( £8000ish) 4 a nearly 16 yr old horse who didnt do anything until the age of twelve dont you think

[katefarmer]

I dont know anything about confirmation but just wanted to say that he looks nice but $15000 seems alot ( £8000ish) 4 a nearly 16 yr old horse who didnt do anything until the age of twelve dont you think

You read my thoughts Jemma! The words

"He was very inactive until the age of 12, so he is still quite fresh but green. He has three terrific, expressive gaits and shows a lot of talent for the collected movements."

worry me .... "fresh but green"??? what is he, a lettuce? :D Neither fresh nor green are really desirable qualities for a dressage horse - expecially a 16 or 17 year old one!! "expressive" gaits could mean anything and "talent for collected movements" means, presubably, that he's not doing them yet. Perhaps his gaits are too "expressive" to be easily collectable! :D

If you have that much money to spend, I think you could do better. If you are new to dressage (even though an experienced rider) you would do better with a "schoolmaster" who can help you along the way, not one that needs training. Another tip would be to look for one trained to one, maximum 2 levels above the level at which you intend to compete. The higher trained they are, the more they expect in terms of leadership and precision from the rider, and in many ways, the more difficult they are to ride. If you're starting in dressage, attitude and training will be more important than breeding.

My advice would be to keep looking! ;)

Kate
www.harmony-project.net

[jemma]

Glad someone agreed with me :D

id definetly keep looking too !! :p

[carrimclaren]

Oops, i just thought that they were just sneakily advertising that website.

So (bearing in mind i haven't looked at the site but am going on what everyone else describes it as) £8000 is far too much money. Mine only cost a 1/4 of that and she was 6 and had done more. For £8000 you should be able to get a decent 9 year old who can do dressage, show jumping and cross country and be pretty good at it. Or maybe that's just me being over positive :D

[Bay Mare]

Oops, i just thought that they were just sneakily advertising that website.

:)

I wouldn't pay £8k for a horse that was 'inactive' until the age of 12, he's hardly a schoolmaster.

I'd want to know WHY the horse was inactive before then for a start. I certainly wouldn't buy a 'fresh' and 'green' 16 year old for that kind of money. I have nothing at all against older horses but statistically you are more likely to have problems as they get older and this is a horse that is unproven.

Personally I would steer clear or pay a LOT less!