Horse shopping update!

[Wobblydeb]

Well..... I've seen 2 so far, and got another couple to see this week (including one this evening).

The first was a very forward going 5yr old Connemara - I just needed a short ride to realise he was not for me! Rather green and keen.... :p

Yesterday's was a beautiful 16hh 9yr old bay MW who was great hacking out (on his own up a busy two lane road, met a dog that wanted to attack him - all fine! etc. etc.) lovely to handle and nice to ride. But.... he has an old injury that I think could mean problems with insurance etc. etc. Shame, he was exactly what I was looking for otherwise...

This evening I am off to see a 16.1hh 6yr old Irish gelding being sold by a riding school who has become sick of school work. Loves hacking apparently, and I think having a single rider, and less time in the school, could improve with the schooling. :)

And I've also arranged to see a 16.2hh 13yr old ISH mare with lots of competition experience including novice level dressage. She sounds like she might be "a bit TB" for me though.

All very exciting! :D

[eventerbabe]

sounds like you will be kept very busy then!

don't write off the 9 year old. If you really like him, speak to his owners and vet. Often (depending on the insurance company) you don't have to provide a vetting certificate if the horse is insured below a certain value (think with NFU it's about £5000).

have fun this evening :D

[Gill]

Lots going on for you then Deb. Lets hope the right one comes up soon.
I did ask our farrier when he was here at the weekend but he didn't know of anything suitable unfortunately.

[Skib]

All sounds good wobbly deb.
By the way get clear what they mean by being tired of school work. Ask, what are the symptoms. Bucking? Napping etc?

[Wobblydeb]

All sounds good wobbly deb.
By the way get clear what they mean by being tired of school work. Ask, what are the symptoms. Bucking? Napping etc?Hmmmm yeah I asked about that. She said "lazy" and that he had switched off. Said that he doesn't buck or anything like that. I'm going to ride him in the school anyway, so I should get a pretty good idea of what he is like. .....at least there's no way they can school him before I arrive to resolve the issue...! :p

[cazrider]

Good luck for this evening!:D Look forward to hearing... Are you going to hack him out? I would if I were you. What he's like in the school will be very different, and "loves" hacking could just be a euphemism for "hits grass and goes!"

What was the old injury on the otherwise lovely bay, by the way. Could it have been something minor that wouldn't necessarily matter? It seems such a shame as he sounds lovely.

Have fun.:D

[Imp]

So many to choose from! Take some pics tonight... just in case this is the one :D

I'll be tuned in later for your update hun ::p

[Wobblydeb]

Good luck for this evening!:D Look forward to hearing... Are you going to hack him out? I would if I were you. What he's like in the school will be very different, and "loves" hacking could just be a euphemism for "hits grass and goes!"

What was the old injury on the otherwise lovely bay, by the way. Could it have been something minor that wouldn't necessarily matter? It seems such a shame as he sounds lovely.

Have fun.:DLOL.... yep - I will ask to see him hacking out (possibly not with me on board!) if he is good for me in the school. :)

The old injury looked like an injury from wire to one hind leg just above the fetlock. No pain in it, but still lots of scar tissue and he was moving just slightly differently through each back leg. I hadn't noticed it until I spotted the injury and started really looking for any differences.

The other thing was that he was in a dutch gag accompanied by a running martingale. Looking at his neck, you could see that he had slightly more muscle on the underside - I'd guess he probably gets excited when jumping. He wasn't a problem in an open field on the flat or even travelling over grass out hacking....

[NoviceNic]

How has the one tonight gone?? He sounds nice but bit worried about his age and reason for sale.. :(

[cazrider]

and......... ? :D

[Wobblydeb]

and......... ? :DLOL.... :D

I absolutely believe his reason for sale. He was most unhappy about going in the school - didn't quite refuse to go into the school, but was moving v_e_r_y s_l_o_w_l_y.... :p He is at a large riding school, including RDA and the YO simply said that she had plenty of sizeable plods and he had been bought as a potential horse for the more advanced riders, but hasn't turned out to be right for the job. He was very hard to get going, and had a trot I would NEVER be able to sit!

He obviously had a good amount of ID in him, and I think was growing into the stubborn phase ;)

The YO saddled up another horse anyway, and we went out for a short hack. He picked up and looked much more cheerful, and got a little excited when I first asked for trot, squealed and gave me a bit of canter :D He was easy to bring back though.

He is not the horse for me. He is a BIG 16.1hh. Lots of bone and heavy on his feet. He seems to have that ID calm but stubborn personality, but I think he still has some maturing to do. I think it will be a while before he is a great solo hack....
The age, coupled to the schooling issues, and the size, all mean he is a "no".

Still puzzling over Sunday's 16hh bay. A vetting would tell me whether the old injury will cause a problem. How do I safely assess what he is like without the gag and martingale combination? :confused:

[cazrider]

Hmmm... interesting one. Have you asked the current owner why the gag/martingale combi given that he seems so sane?

[Imp]

Wobblydeb wrote: Still puzzling over Sunday's 16hh bay. A vetting would tell me whether the old injury will cause a problem. How do I safely assess what he is like without the gag and martingale combination?

I bought Megan with a running Martingale, left it off and soon realised she was too likely headbut her rider without it! Put it on and she doesn't even try to raise her head so she's not fighting it or anything. She's snaffle mouthed so I can't comment on the Dutch Gag, he sounds strong though. You could just ask why he's kitted out like that, I did and they said she flings her head up without it... which was true.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

gags and martingales are 'fasionable' is it possible he only has them on to 'look the part'?

[NoviceNic]

gags and martingales could mean when he has an issue with bolting. Raising his head and completely rendering the novice rider useless. Could also mean other reasons but just comparing it to why I put Captain in this combination last Summer for a short period. :o