First horse @ 53

Oh how exciting! Good luck and let us know how you get on! What are you going to look at?
 
I had my first horse when I was 47, and he was certainly worth the wait. Hope the viewing goes well.
Anyone got any advice what to do if I buy this? I am buying through a local reputable dealer who was recommended by my riding school. This horse comes with no tack nothing at all. Can anyone recommend what I need to buy and what needs to be bought in which order. I have all riding equipment for myself and the only things i have for the horse is a grooming kit and an equine first aid kit. I have gold BHS rider insurance. Any tips would be appreciated.
 
I am looking at a 16hh 8 year old cob mare. Apparently she is suitable for a novice rider and not green or forward going at all. Fingers crossed its as advertised. They do a 30 day money back guarantee. I am going to go for full livery if she is suitable as I retire soon and will drop to diy when I finish work.
 
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You need a head collar asap. Im assuming you are buying to ride it. So you really need to book a saddle fitter. Dont buy a saddle off the internet and hope it fits, get one fitted properly by a fitter or you could get it very wrong and cause lots of harm. Most cases this means buying new these days, very few seem to have second hand ones. Find out what bridle the horse is normally ridden in and what bit.

You need to think about rugs, although some people with cobs dont bother rugging. I prefer a light weight rainsheet very minimum just keep clean and dry in wet weather. Maybe think about a fly sheet for warmer weather.

With horses you can always justify buying stuff for your horse. Before you know it youve spent a fortune.
 
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Find out what feed he has. The girl I bought my first from was wonderful - gave me a detailed list on everything about him so I knew about rugs, bit, feed - the lot.
 
Take an experienced person with you to the viewing and view at least twice, that’s totally normal practice ? ask the dealer what size headcollar you’ll need so you can get one before delivery. Try and get a saddle fitting booked for as soon after delivery as possible so you can crack on with riding to make the most of that 30 day guarantee, many saddlers you can be waiting 6 weeks for an appointment. As for rugs and boots etc that can generally wait until you have him home to measure up ?
 
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I bought my first horse at 50. I was a novice and he was in many ways unsuitable for a novice, though I kept him and loved him till he died last year. He also came with nothing at all. The first thing I bought him was a headcollar, then a bridle, and it took ages to get a saddle but it did fit!

I would say head collar, lead rope and hoof pick are the absolute essentials, everything else can wait a bit though you might want brushes if you are fussy. A hay net and a feed bucket are essentials too if the horse is used to a feed or you want to use feed to get to know her.

I echo everyone else's thoughts about taking an experienced person to the viewing. Ride the horse! Are you comfortable? Do you like the horse, the way she looks, the way she feels? Is she suitable for what you want? I was hoping to learn to jump and found when I got him home that Ziggy bolted at the sight of a coloured pole - not ideal! So if you want to hack her out, ride her out; if you want to do schooling, go in the school: if you want to take lessons, take your trainer! If I had taken my trainer I would never have bought Ziggy, and I would be a better rider, but I would have missed eight wonderful years with a pony I adored. So all in all I'm happy but I wouldn't recommend impulse buying a pony to anyone else ;)
 
:eek::eek::eek: I am going see a horse on Monday and possibly buy. I am feeling nervous and excited.... I have only waited 47 years for this since i was 6 years old.
I rode her today and she seems perfect. I have a 30 day return on her if she is not suitable. She gets vet checked on Monday and a strangles test a week today. All being well after that she will be delivered to the livery yard. I experienced my first spook when I was riding her due to a crazy horse in the field next to the arena but I managed to ride out of it without too much drama. She has a back like an armchair. Unfortunately she is too far away to have more rides on her. Fingers crossed all goes well ... I know I am going against all advice.
 
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Well, fingers crossed. I'm in no position to criticise, as I've done this - twice, and didn't regret it. Hope it all goes smoothly. Let us know how you get on.
 
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Get that saddle fitter booked now! It may b hard to get one out quickly at the moment since they're working under Covd rules, but explain the situation and hope they'll squeeze you in. If you let us know roughly what area you're in then maybe someone can recommend one - all fitters are not equal. And if I were you I'd also try to book a couple of lessons in case a pair of eyes on the ground pick up something you can't see or feel. I hope the vetting is booked and paid for by you with a vet of your choice, a vetting paid for by the dealer and done by his vet isn't worth the paper it's written on and gives you nothing if things go wrong - it's an old dealer trick yet so many fall for it. You said it's a local dealer, could you possibly squeeze in one more ride?

I hope everything goes well and you have her home soon :)
 
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Well, fingers crossed. I'm in no position to criticise, as I've done this - twice, and didn't regret it. Hope it all goes smoothly. Let us know how you get on.
I think we have at some point.
I had a list and my first horse ticked one box, I didn't regret it.
 
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Well, fingers crossed. I'm in no position to criticise, as I've done this - twice, and didn't regret it. Hope it all goes smoothly. Let us know how you get on.
I think we have at some point.
I had a list and my first horse ticked one box, I didn't regret it.

Oh yes, I'm guilty too, for all my sensible lists about the only two boxes Jim ticked were on my "not" list - he wasn't a grey or a mare. The rest sort of went out the window when I met him purely by chance and although I initially walked away I was soon back with a cheque. It was one heck of a learning curve, but if I could turn the clock back and decide again with the advantage of hindsight the only difference would be I'd have bought him on first sight and had an extra month with him.

I'd still recommend being sensible though!
 
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I saw mine by chance as well. My friend needed help over the weekend and she had one "visiting"
Friend said she's for sale, yeah but blah blah. She's semi retired, oooh I did a U turn ha ha. Three week trial while she was "visiting" and hacked her home to my place when I bought her.
 
I think it's always wise to be cautious, but you can't ever cover everything - and sometimes it works out despite it not being an ideal situation. I've been lucky with all of mine in a way - two weren't ideal but both very much loved and in the end learned from. I don't know how my next one will find me or how it will work out. It's a journey after all. I hope @westiedog it all goes really well for you and that you're posting updates on good times together :)
 
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