and I just can't decide how I feel about it. The boy is 15yrs old, unknown breed but native type (looke like an overgrown Dartmoor pony in his colouring to me but I am RUBBISH at breeds) 14.2hh. His advert didn't really say anything particularly amazing about him, just that was bought as a safe hack, have discovered he has a good jump, economical to keep, pretty. Good to clip, dentist, farrier. Hanging cheek snaffle, no martingale.
I called the advert as was fairly local. Lady explained that he's actually her friends horse. The owner bought him after a bad accident, to restore her confidence, which he did in the 4 months she rode him for. He was an ex PC pony and had been recommended him as a safe pony. When she tried him out, they asked the horses she hacked out with to canter off in front while she asked him to stop, which he was fine about.
After 4 months of having him she fell unexpectedly pregnant and didn't want to ride anymore so asked if she could keep him at this lady's small livery yard and get a loaner for him. The owner continued to pay all costs. Then, after having the baby she decided that her priorities had changed and she was no longer interested in riding, and didn't want to keep paying for Toby, so would she signed him over to this yard owner and asked her to find him a home.
The lady gave me the owners number and I had a great chat with her and she told me all sorts of brave things he'd done - how he didn't flinch when they were nearly in a road accident, or when a massive farm vehicle with tracks rather than wheels went passed them so close that it knocked her stirrups, how she'd once had to lead him through her house to put him in the field after riding, etc etc. Only ridden twice in company but was good both times. She did warn me though that he is forward going and that when she'd first got him, she'd been scared thinking he was about to take off - but that he never had. And she swore on her new babies life that he never would, he's just forward going.
So tried him today. Will be brief as I know I'm rambling! :redface: 10 year old rode him in school (who apparently is 'no rider' but Toby is so good). Dog shot out from under fence into school and spooked Toby. He cantered off, then was silly in that place every time round - involving lots of unintentional cantering. Then the older sister got on and jumped him. First time not great, then 2 good ones. Then I got on. Asked them to take jump down! I found him quite difficult to get him to go where I wanted him to go and he really wanted to go back to the gate where the other horse who was previously in the school, now was. Couldn't get him anywhere near corners, then he was still being silly about going down the other long side. I really couldn't get him to do anything I asked and when he kept napping to the gate I couldn't really stop him.
Then went out for a short hack (as was so embarrassed by my awful riding) with the other horse. And he was very good BUT they don't hack on the orads near them as v busy (so he hasn't seen traffic for a year) and they only go round the edges of 2 fields (so very short hack) plus they are only allowed to walk on it as the farmer doesn't want it churned up! Oh and he was forward going - not too bad on the way out but coming home I had to keep stopping for the 16hh horse to catch up -and this was only in walk!
So - do I go back again? But how can I see what he's like on the roads plus I need to know what he's like in trot and canter off road? I do believe they are honest people as the daughter was the groom for the big landowners round here (small world!). Today wasn't overly impressive but the phone call about how amazingly confidence giving he was, was so promising!! Soooo sorry this is soooooooooooooo long!!!
I called the advert as was fairly local. Lady explained that he's actually her friends horse. The owner bought him after a bad accident, to restore her confidence, which he did in the 4 months she rode him for. He was an ex PC pony and had been recommended him as a safe pony. When she tried him out, they asked the horses she hacked out with to canter off in front while she asked him to stop, which he was fine about.
After 4 months of having him she fell unexpectedly pregnant and didn't want to ride anymore so asked if she could keep him at this lady's small livery yard and get a loaner for him. The owner continued to pay all costs. Then, after having the baby she decided that her priorities had changed and she was no longer interested in riding, and didn't want to keep paying for Toby, so would she signed him over to this yard owner and asked her to find him a home.
The lady gave me the owners number and I had a great chat with her and she told me all sorts of brave things he'd done - how he didn't flinch when they were nearly in a road accident, or when a massive farm vehicle with tracks rather than wheels went passed them so close that it knocked her stirrups, how she'd once had to lead him through her house to put him in the field after riding, etc etc. Only ridden twice in company but was good both times. She did warn me though that he is forward going and that when she'd first got him, she'd been scared thinking he was about to take off - but that he never had. And she swore on her new babies life that he never would, he's just forward going.
So tried him today. Will be brief as I know I'm rambling! :redface: 10 year old rode him in school (who apparently is 'no rider' but Toby is so good). Dog shot out from under fence into school and spooked Toby. He cantered off, then was silly in that place every time round - involving lots of unintentional cantering. Then the older sister got on and jumped him. First time not great, then 2 good ones. Then I got on. Asked them to take jump down! I found him quite difficult to get him to go where I wanted him to go and he really wanted to go back to the gate where the other horse who was previously in the school, now was. Couldn't get him anywhere near corners, then he was still being silly about going down the other long side. I really couldn't get him to do anything I asked and when he kept napping to the gate I couldn't really stop him.
Then went out for a short hack (as was so embarrassed by my awful riding) with the other horse. And he was very good BUT they don't hack on the orads near them as v busy (so he hasn't seen traffic for a year) and they only go round the edges of 2 fields (so very short hack) plus they are only allowed to walk on it as the farmer doesn't want it churned up! Oh and he was forward going - not too bad on the way out but coming home I had to keep stopping for the 16hh horse to catch up -and this was only in walk!
So - do I go back again? But how can I see what he's like on the roads plus I need to know what he's like in trot and canter off road? I do believe they are honest people as the daughter was the groom for the big landowners round here (small world!). Today wasn't overly impressive but the phone call about how amazingly confidence giving he was, was so promising!! Soooo sorry this is soooooooooooooo long!!!