Looking at new pony.

P

pointerlady

New Member
Jul 4, 2010
404
0
0
sunny Suffolk
Fairly new here so don't post a lot but have already introduced myself. You may need a glass of wine for this so get comfortable and I'll begin. I am a 44 year old mother of two. 5ft 3" and 9.5 stone at my heaviest.

I had ponies over 20 years ago now, then boyfriends, husbands and children got in the way. I rode intermittantly for years then met the mother of my sons best mate. She had two horses and I was lucky enough to get some riding in once a week. I took weekly lessons and did a BHS stage 1 course to get familiar with looking after horses again. Then I started saving my pennies. Although I enjoy riding other peoples horse (it is cheaper) I wanted one of my own. Then the confidence thing hit in, or lack of. I doubted my ability to ride or look after a pony again. I read of all the things that could go wrong and changed my mind. But I could never let the pony thing go and continued to look at horse mart and horse quest etc. Finally got the courage earlier this year and found some grazing in the fields at the back of my house. Then lost the courage again. You get the picture. Looking at horse quest earlier this week I found a 13.2 section c that took my eye. On a brave moment I phoned and left a message. Well, I am now going to see the pony on Wednesday.:skip: Excited? - :bounce: you bet. The nerves have not yet kicked in. Just have to find a car now as mine died yesterday and is in the garage. Hmmm.

Am posting in the adults who ride ponies thread as well.
 
We all have nerves, even the most experienced owners and riders. I hope your little section C is all you dream of. I just got my dream pony and I am enjoying her even though my confidence comes and goes. Go for it you won't regret it. Just make sure you get a pony that can be all the things you want it to be. Enjoy and good luck :biggrin:
 
ooh, Where in Suffolk are you? I am on the border of Suffolk, currently

I have a 13.2hh sec C and he's brilliant! (mostly)

Like you I rode as a child/teen and have got back into horses in the last 5yrs. (I thought I had had all my children when I came back to ponies but have since had one more,oops)

How old are your children?
 
Hi, I am another who returned to horses after a long break, didn't so much as stroke one for over 20 years.

I now own 4 ponies.:eek:

Good luck with the viewing.:biggrin:
 
Well, no pics until later and I have downloaded them all.
Pony is lovely. Good confirmation, good ground manners. Saw it ridden and rode myself. Only walk and trot though. Bit fizzy but listened to vocal commands very well and only need light contact on reins. Overall impression was a positive one. Few not exactly worries but concerns was that she was unshod and was a bit footy. If you are trying to sell a pony surely you would get it shod so it can be viewed correctly?. She hasn't been ridden since March due to lack of time and all their other horsy committments. They didnt canter her which was why I didnt either. They did walk and trot on a short hack on grass but again no canter. It wasnt until I got back home that I thought it odd. But then again it could be a genuine overlook. I am away now until Sunday night and there are two other people looking at her. If she goes then it was not meant to be and if she is still for sell I will take a professional rider with me to put her through her paces. But she does seem a sweetheart and I felt very safe on her even though she was very keen. So update on Sunday when I come home again.
 
I'm glad it went well - fingers crossed it continues to do so!

Like you say there may be a number of reasons why they didn't canter - i.e it not having shoes or not being very fit, but I definitely wouldn't even think of buying until you have cantered her. I once had a pony on loan and just walked and trotted on my two test rides as I wasn't brave enough to do it then. I stupidly thought I'd work up to it once I got the pony home - but then when I finally did I quickly realised he was too strong to me and had a habit of bucking in canter! :redcarded:

We didn't last long together and I wish I'd saved mysef a lot of tears, worry and stress by being brave in the first place!!
 
You did very well for your first viewing:happy:came away had a good think about things and have a plan.

Let us know how you get on if you go for a second look.
 
Have postd on adults who ride ponies but will share again if you are interested.
Decided she was not for me. Went to see some more ponies. The ones I was interested in had been sold (why didn't the dealer say so?):furious: so I looked at two young ponies. The first was a jumping machine. I am not into jumping. I just wanted to ride around the school. Pony wanted to jump. ended up with me flying over the fence, hitting the pole and landing on my back and the ponio jumping the fence and me. Cue bruised shoulder and aching everything. So no go there then. The second one had only been broken in 5 months and just knew the basics. He was a really lovely laid back boy but I don't think I can bring a horse along, I just don't have the experience to do so. So still no pony.

On the confidence side, I feel of two minds again. Just as I was getting to the stage of yes a pony is for me, I fall off and doubt my abilities again. And I have only looked at three ponies. Inspiration anybody, rousing speech to get me out of my dip. Any stories that end on a happy note? as so many stories here are negative and filled with weeks of anguish, there must be someone out there with sucess stories? Pleassseee..:frown:
 
There are loads of us on here with success stories.

Firstly welcome to NR and sorry that the first pony was not for you and the second was a bit of a loop nut.

Once you get over your 'bump' and get on something nice you will be fine. I took a year out of horses when I got posted to lincoln from Gloucester and I start out fine with the break but I missed it. I started back at a hacking centre and enjoyed riding there horses for a bit but the hacking was not enough I missed it all.

I really believe that if you can bring up two children then having a horse is a breeze. You dont get the types of advise and support when you have kids that you do from a good yard or RI. (remember being at home with a crying babay and a toddler with no one around to help) thats rare in the horses world unless you keep them on your own. So I recommand a small yard for a bit just for the support side of life. (also means people to ride out with/walk in foot with you etc)

As for me when I cantered by boy on the first viewing he bucked me off. I still have him 18 months later and he is my pride and joy.
 
Hi- just wanted to send you some encouragement! Don't give up - that dealer was wrong not to tell you before that the suitable ponies had been sold- he/she was probably thinking once we get her here she'll feel pressured to ride and buy one of the less suitable ones.
There are lovely ponies/horses out there, and reputable dealers - just make sure you get them to describe the ponies fully before you set out. I bought my mare Bea from Lia at Safecobs.com. She was actually advertised on the sister site Hackinghorses.com, which is where Lia puts the horses/ponies which have various handling or riding issues, and they are cheaper to reflect that. I am absolutely thrilled with Bea, have had her for 8 months and have never been so soppy about a horse in my life :inlove:
Good luck with your search, don't feel rushed, it's not a race, and you will know when you've found the right one.
Also hope you recover quickly from your fall- ouch! - which was NO reflection of your ability to own a pony!
Emma
 
Thank you everyone for replying. Am looking at yet another pony tomorrow. Again looks and sounds lovely. But reserving judgement. Not in any hurry to buy a pony as I want him/her to be right for me. I just want a pony similiar to what I had before. Straightforward ride, (the occasional mild spook is acceptable), no hang ups, nice paces, good ground manners, willing friend

I will be keeping the pony in a field not in a yard but I do have three experienced horsewoman within 2 miles of me if needed. I've kept ponies before so I am not a complete novice horse owner. So saying it was 25 years ago so no doubt I have forgotton one or two things. :unsure:

.
 
well had a look at him and although he was fine he was spooking at everything. Didn't get the must have feeling with him, more of the if I must feeling. So no. I am so picky, Tell me that is not a fault. If I am going to spend a lot of money on something it must be right. Not necessarily perfect, :unsure:just perfect for me. Input would be welcome.
 
well done you for not taking the first pony that came along just so you have one. you are not picking and waiting for the right one is best.

Remember that when people go to view horses we are all looking for different things. for example i like spooky slightly loopy horses and if i went to see a nice safe horse i would walk away.

so dont give up i know people on here that have looked for months to find the one but when they do its great

keep looking
 
I think were quite right to walk away. I personally would be exhausted by a horse like that, I don't mind the odd spook, keeps you on your toes, but constant spooking would be unbearable.
Stay positive:smile:
 
newrider.com
Top Bottom