Hi everyone,
I've been to see a horse today that I came across because of the advert copying business. He belongs to a 73 year old lady who is looking to sell for financial reasons.
I went to see him knowing he was 16hh and according to the owner met the needs of my wanted advert. He's quite local (about an hour away) but lady isn't allowed strangers on the yard so trailered him to a friend's yard to allow me to see him. She's only owned him for a year but turns out the lady who's yard it was was his previous owner and had owned him for 8 years prior.
Anyhow, that aside I'm having some difficulty. After my nightmare buying a bad-mannered and loopy Section D, I have spent a lot of time persuading myself not to rush into a decision. I also persuaded myself not to do anything I didn't feel comfortable with but to ask to see these things instead.
Both ladies rode him, demonstrated walk, trot and canter in the school, walk trot and canter in a field and then riding on a road. He seemed great in all areas. He's definitely a diamond of a find as he looks very similarly to my friends horse who she has shown to national level (not something for me but...).
Anyway, I got on and he was wearing a jumping saddle which didn't really help as my bum was too fat for it and I felt perched in the air. He also had no main or any sort of neck strap which was fine but was also something where I thought, if he takes off what will I grab? (He didn't but I want to put you in my frame of mind).
So...I rode him in walk and trot, he was very responsive but I felt like I was being bounced about a lot in the saddle (he also canters very big and both ladies stood for canter for that reason). He had good brakes in the school and was straight off the leg but I felt more forward than what I was used to - though the owner, who seemed a very experienced rider, said he was a right plod. She said 'if you don't think he's ploddy enough, I'd give up...'.
The other thing is hes a section D again. Only known 2 of these previously and, I'm sorry section D owners they were both a bit bonkers and certainly not nervous novice rides...
He had lovely manners and was really calm. Lifted all his feet no problem and stood beautifully at the mounting block - I mean whenever asked he absolutely stood like a rock which gave me some confidence with him.
I feel too nervous about it all to know how I really feel but my main concerns are:
- section D again and bad experience linked to these
- could be a bit forward for me? Was interjecting little bursts of speed sometimes but very easy to stop.
- felt a lot bouncy (could have been saddle) and bigger movements than I'm used to
- was not the ploddy cob I'd imagined but could be something so much better - but is this how you overhorse yourself?
- only other silly thing is, despite being the same size as my current RS horse, I did feel quite high up.
What I can't decide is have I pep talked myself so much about not going in with my heart that I've not allowed myself to really feel anything or is this a gut instinct? I know you can't answer that really but any thoughts and advice in terms of the details would be good.
I've been to see a horse today that I came across because of the advert copying business. He belongs to a 73 year old lady who is looking to sell for financial reasons.
I went to see him knowing he was 16hh and according to the owner met the needs of my wanted advert. He's quite local (about an hour away) but lady isn't allowed strangers on the yard so trailered him to a friend's yard to allow me to see him. She's only owned him for a year but turns out the lady who's yard it was was his previous owner and had owned him for 8 years prior.
Anyhow, that aside I'm having some difficulty. After my nightmare buying a bad-mannered and loopy Section D, I have spent a lot of time persuading myself not to rush into a decision. I also persuaded myself not to do anything I didn't feel comfortable with but to ask to see these things instead.
Both ladies rode him, demonstrated walk, trot and canter in the school, walk trot and canter in a field and then riding on a road. He seemed great in all areas. He's definitely a diamond of a find as he looks very similarly to my friends horse who she has shown to national level (not something for me but...).
Anyway, I got on and he was wearing a jumping saddle which didn't really help as my bum was too fat for it and I felt perched in the air. He also had no main or any sort of neck strap which was fine but was also something where I thought, if he takes off what will I grab? (He didn't but I want to put you in my frame of mind).
So...I rode him in walk and trot, he was very responsive but I felt like I was being bounced about a lot in the saddle (he also canters very big and both ladies stood for canter for that reason). He had good brakes in the school and was straight off the leg but I felt more forward than what I was used to - though the owner, who seemed a very experienced rider, said he was a right plod. She said 'if you don't think he's ploddy enough, I'd give up...'.
The other thing is hes a section D again. Only known 2 of these previously and, I'm sorry section D owners they were both a bit bonkers and certainly not nervous novice rides...
He had lovely manners and was really calm. Lifted all his feet no problem and stood beautifully at the mounting block - I mean whenever asked he absolutely stood like a rock which gave me some confidence with him.
I feel too nervous about it all to know how I really feel but my main concerns are:
- section D again and bad experience linked to these
- could be a bit forward for me? Was interjecting little bursts of speed sometimes but very easy to stop.
- felt a lot bouncy (could have been saddle) and bigger movements than I'm used to
- was not the ploddy cob I'd imagined but could be something so much better - but is this how you overhorse yourself?
- only other silly thing is, despite being the same size as my current RS horse, I did feel quite high up.
What I can't decide is have I pep talked myself so much about not going in with my heart that I've not allowed myself to really feel anything or is this a gut instinct? I know you can't answer that really but any thoughts and advice in terms of the details would be good.
