Hello New Here!!!

[Brunie]

Hi
I am an oldy getting back into riding.... :p
Need some advice on owning my own horse for me and my daughter to ride. Have found a good yard with really helpful and friendly staff, want to go for a good family horse/pony has anyone got any advice!! on which breed/type Sophie is going to be tall she is already up to my shoulders at twelve and I am 5ft, 4". Not sure on what hands to look for or where to start looking!!!

Any advice appreciated and if anyone is around my area(Worcestershire/Warwickshire borders please contact me:D .

[Guest]

I guess you had lessons etc when you were younger then??

Has your daughter had lessons.

If not then I would suggest that you both go and have some so you can refresh yourself and she can learn the basics.

Have you ever had hands on experience of owning/caring for horses?

You've done the right thing in finding a experienced and helpful yard to support you as it's unlikely to be a smooth process for a while whilst you get to grips with things.

The thing that most people will say is that you shouldn't buy one but if you have your heart and mind set on it then just make sure you go into it with your eyes open and always be prepared to listen to others and take advice.

[Imp]

:D Hi there and welcome to NR... it's lovely here and I'm sure you'll soon be a regular :p

I don't know about ponies for children so will leave it there at the welcome ;) Do keep us posted on your progress in searching for a pony though.

[Tizer]

Hello and welcome, this is a great site and you will get plenty of friendly advice.
Good Luck with your search

[Finchy]

Hi Brunie
I 'm new to this brilliant site, too - I have read the 'mature riders' threads for ages but only just become a member. I have a 10 year old daughter and we have one pony between us - I have ridden since I was a child but never had my own pony, and she had lessons from age 5 but only once a fortnight. I work in farming and when we moved to the farm I work on 3 years ago there was a stable available. We bought Rosie a year later. She is 13.3 and a welsh cross. She was only 4 when I got her which was great as I'd always wanted a youngster. She has come on brilliantly and we both have great fun with her. I am about 5ft 5 or 6 and weigh 9 3/4 stone, size 12. She carries me easily. My daughter is quite small and light and is growing into Rosie. At the moment perhaps it isn't ideal- pony still young and green and daughter not very experienced but give it a year or 2 and it will be perfect. I couldn't bear the thought of buying a smaller pony and then selling it - Rosie is for life. (There is only one stable and no room for another pony here)
Good luck!
Don't underestimate the time and commitment a pony or horse needs, nor the love, satisfaction and friendship you get back in return.

[NoviceNic]

Ditto whay Bobbin has said about having some lessons. Also why dont you ask the yard if there is anything suitable for you and your daughter to loan?? I would advise loaning your first horse and keeping at a livery yard with a helpful YO. First time can be very scary and initially quite challenging so it is always good to have lots of support and help. :)

[Brunie]

Thanks for all your replies.

Yes I have had lessons and I am refreshing and loving every minute. I am considering a loan/share. But finding one is another matter. Sophie is having lessons and doing well. I am getting experience from everyone with regards to every relevant angle, care, feed, vets, MUCKING OUT. and I am reading lots and lots. I have looked into this and some days think !"I can't do this:confused: ! then others I yearn for it. AM I GOING MAD IN MY OLD AGE.:eek: !!!(36 NEXT WEDNESDAY). ALL I WANT TO DO IS BE AT THE YARD AND LEARN.:D

I have changed my job so have much more time on my hands and have a good husband ;) ;)to help with everything else.... ironing washing kids.....
Thanks again will keep everything in mind..
Brunie

[Guest]

Well at leat your on the right path then hun.

Shares should be coming out of the woodwork now as winter is approaching and people can't afford to keep their horses on their own.

Keep looking in the local tack/feed shops and put the word out that you are looking. Also the freeads and admart are good places to look.

[Bay Mare]

Can't help re places as I'm not in your area but GOOD LUCK :)

I was as 'mad' as you obviously are :) I would spend all my weekends and days off at the yard mucking out, sweeping, grooming etc etc etc. Now I've got my own and I spend my days off at the yard .......

My story (if you've not seen it already) is HERE (http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88277).

All the best to you x

[Brunie]

WOW
You have certainly had some experiences and still carried on, well done!

Thanx again
Brunie

[Trace The Ace]

Hi Brunie

I am new here as well and the same age and as MAD as you about wanting to spend all my time in the yard. I have exactly the same anxieties as you also, some days I think I am bonkers for wanting to own a horse and then the other days yearning - both mad then ;)

Hope to chat more.

Tracy

[Guest]

I think we're all mad and anxious when we start out, then we become cynical like my good self.

Honestly, it's the hardest but best thing I have ever done with my life!!

[Little Dolphins]

Hi Brunie and welcome to the wrinklies' section ("speak for yerself", I hear everyone cry)!

IMHO I reckon raising kids is more anxious-making than the horsey thing, but that DOESNT mean I'm not constantly worriting about my horse/riding/ money/ time/ energy etc etc.

I reckon anything worth doing and which you care deeply about is going to be tough at times.

But the up side is the joy, and there's some of that every day. Can't be bad;)

Looking forward to hearing how you get on, Brunie:)

[vince42]

. AM I GOING MAD IN MY OLD AGE. !!!(36 NEXT WEDNESDAY). ALL I WANT TO DO IS BE AT THE YARD AND LEARN.


Riding horses has shown me the obsessive side of my personality:D - I find myself thinking about the last lesson, the next lesson, finding excuses to go to the yard --- **** is there a Horsey Anonymous I need to come out:eek:

I think you may have found the right place ;)

Vince

[Afellpony]

Hello and Welcome to this very friendly board. I h ope you will enjoy joining in with the banter and telling us about your horse/pony.
Elizabeth & Falcon

[rowdent]

Welcome! I am fairly new too... but I keep posting (it's a drug!) LOL.. a bit like horses.. I can really understand this obsession, I am returning to riding after a long break, 15 or so years, too.. and all I want to do also is BE with the horses..

I am just starting a share on a 14.2hh pony who is 24.. and doesn't look or behave a day over 10! I am 5.3 and not that skinny! LOL, and I ride her with no trouble.. A pony of around that height would (depending on the pony and how much your daughter grows) would be fine for you I would imagine..

Good luck with the search, I am sure you will find a suitable horse.. and as the others have said with the winter coming on, there will probably be more and more for share...

Oh and I agree with Little Dolphins, kids are WAY harder to bring up than horses, but horses are the next most demanding things you can have... but at least they don't leave lego all over the house! LOL..

Have fun...

[icegirl]

:) Hello - You are in almost exactly the same situation we were!! Myself and twelve year old daughter both looking for a horse to share - she had had some lessons and I took up riding again at a "mature" age. In the end, we both took up separate horse loans for one day a week each for just over a year and at the end of it, got ourselves an Icelandic horse. We have had him for six months now, he carries my weight easily - I do hacking and she does exciting things like cross country jumps. He seems to adjust his behaviour to whichever one of us is riding - understands that I am a bit of a coward and dont want things to be too thrilling!
One of the nice things is the people we have met along the way who have given help, time and advice.
We are also at a livery stable where she has access to riding other ponies which I think is quite important when you are younger as your experience gets that much wider.
I think it has brought us closer together - I hope you and your daughter have a lot of fun with whatever you decide to do.

[NoviceNic]

Sounds to me as all the preapration work is done. You just need to find a good first horse. Good Luck in your search. Dont rush things ask your RI for advise and take them with you for viewing potential loans. Your RI will have the best advise and knowledge of whether you are going to over horse yourself.

[cazrider]

hi Brunie, and welcome.:D

What an exciting time this will be for you. I bought my first horse for me and my two daughters then aged 12 and 10. He gave us the most fab five years. Lots of fresh air, falling off, worry, lack of money, lots of wonderful memories, and most of all fun.:D Oh, and the one thing i've missed is the unbelievable bond. Almost a bit like having your kids, everyone tells you how much you'll love them, but you don't believe it until it happens. It's a bit the same with a horse.

Oh, and watch out for the massively steep learning curve. I only realised all I didn't know once I'd actually bought Apache.;)

Best of luck.:)

[Alle]

Hi and welcome! Best of luck in finding a horse or pony for you and your daughter...sounds like you're on the right track. Maybe the YO could help you find a horse?

I jumped in and bought my first horse almost 3 years ago now, and it's been so rewarding. My yard has wonderful support, and I have learned so much from them all...couldn't have done it without them. And now, I've also been caring for an older school horse (Koko) who has been lame and out of work. There is just something wonderful about horses...I don't care that I don't get to ride this horse, I just want to help her feel more comfortable. She's already getting spoiled. :) And my own mare gets jealous, so I make sure she is out of sight when I take Koko out and groom her.

Anyway, horses are very addictive. So is this site, as I think you'll find out. :)

[Brunie]

Hi ice girl
I am so impatient and frightened of making the wrong choice, although the YO said she will support e, I feel that I am being a bother to her as she is so busy all the time. I hate putting on people!!!
My daughter is so looking forward to spending time with me and a NEW HORSE.... I have two boys as well and they are looking forward to being with Dad it will do us all good, although i have warned my hubby(HE is SOOOO supportive ) that he will have to make tea, dinner etc as I won't being doing it all.!!! He is excited for me, and keeps showing me different horses..
Does anyone live near me, WORCESTERSHIRE... and do any of you met up!!! Would love to chat
Thanks for all you input Ithink I am looking for a COB... from 14 2 so Sophie can be confident and not too small for me. I have a little weight problem due to illness but hopefully in the next 6-8 weeks things will get better.

[jinglejoys]

What's all this horse talk!!
I'm older than you (a lot:) and started again about 6yrs ago after losing my nerve as a teanager riding from my parents smallholding at hopwood,down Pestalence lane to Seecham (Before that Bl**dy motorway)
I rode a hinney but now she is retired and I'm waiting for my Spanish Mule Malaga to be backed in the meantime I've returned to driving my little mule Blue (Who was broken to drive just outside redditch) in a saddlechariot.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/MalagaettheEMWevent.jpg

[icegirl]

Dont worry too much about making the wrong choice - just surround yourself with all the helpful people you can and take your time. I had sleepless nights over it all and as someone else said, you only realise what you DONT know once you actually start doing it. But the right horse will probably come along in the end.
My main difficulty really, was in getting a horse I felt safe with, which was forward going enough for my daughter to enjoy. I expect I am getting really boring about this but Icelandic horses are lovely!! And many on this board have found them very adaptable. Having said that - the horse which gave me my confidence back was an Irish cob which was great with adults and youngsters.
I am not anywhere near Worcester but I expect lots of other people on this board are.
Let us know how you get on.

[Brunie]

Thanks for the support. I'll look around, its taking a long time to find the right places to look.... Any advice on where to look. I have considered a cob but an icelandic sounds good I look out..
Thanks again

[jinglejoys]

Isn't there an Icelandic breeder near Malvern?The Malvern Autumn show is on at the end of the month (23/24) and there will be a few pony(and mule and donkey) breed stands there.
Stowe Fair is on the 26th October if you want to see cobs

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/jinglejoys/Stowe%20Fair/StoweMay06076.jpg

and Henley is always the first saturday of the month.
Does Yvonne Dealey still breed Welsh Cobs at "Kittenspool" out side redditch?

[Brunie]

Thanks jinglejoys
Will look into that...
Thanks

[summerguest]

Hi, I joined last month, and was wondering how old you have to be to be mature! I'm 40....not sure about the mature.

I sometimes wonder why I do all this horsey stuff at this age, but have been around horses since I was 7.Got my own at 18, and then started a collection...currently have 3 horses and a pony. Luckily I now keep them at home so much easier.

I have a 13 year old daughter who was adult size at 12, so when she outgrew her pony last year...started looking for a horse suitable for a child....
after being tanked off with by the cobs...ended up with a 15.3hh TBx mare!
not perfect...but very gentle..and she has done show jumping and pony club on her...

So my advice is keep an open mind about height and breed.....I searched for phrases such as ....suitable for novice or advanced.....kind / honest...perfect manners etc etc . If photographs available..checked the tack out...I only went to see horses in snaffles and cavesson nosebands!
Word of mouth is by far the best way of buying....and talk to everyone who knows the horse.

Good luck

[rubybayuk]

Hi there,

I am new to this board too!! I also share a pony with my daughter, she is a 13.2 Section C and is perfectly happy to carry my weight. I must say that ideally I would have something a tiny bit bigger - say 14/14.2, but she is a lovely pony and it certainly has brought us closer together (with my daughter that is!).

Good luck with your search,:)

[Brunie]

Well:eek:
Just when you think things are going to take LIGHT YEARS I have stubbled across a lady wanting to loan me her "OLD MARE". I contacted her about another horse that she had for sale, which had already been sold, then, she said that she had a yelding filly 1 year old for sale, which obviously isn@t right for us. I filled her in on what me and Sophie were looking for and as she live about 7 miles from me asked if she would keep her ears and eyes for anything suitable. She contacted me saying she would MAYBE loan me if I was interested, and give the horse back if she wasn;t suitable or I found a suitable horse for us. She is a BLACK 15'3 TB 15 years old. Have asked if I can move her to my Yard where I have a lot of support and help as I am still learning about everything. she said she would just have to check it out, I would be responsible for her food, worming, stabling etc, she would be responsible for vets and insurance and keeo hold of her papers.

Please give me your honest view, shall I go and have A LOOK and take my YO/RI.:confused: