Pro and Cons of Ex-Riding School Horses ?

[Ruskii]

I've decided to return back to the horse hunting search full on now, and I keep finding myself checking horsemart about 4 or 5 times a day, I think I'm addicted

Anyway I'm lucky enough to have three riding schools within 2 miles of home, one of which regularly has HW cobs (this is what I'm after), even though I havent personally owned a horse for a while, I'm still confident as OH has a horse and I pop up there during the week with OH and help out with looking after the gelding.

Getting back to original topic (I ramble on to much ) having a mad moment I emailed one local school to see if they had any horses going at the moment or if indeed they knew of any. I got an email this morning saying they have a few at the moment who would possibley suit me ! So I'm trying to weigh up the pro's and cons of having an ex-riding school horse.

These are what I've come up with :

Cons :

Could be dead to the leg with having a load of novices on board.

If this is the case, do you think it would easy enough to re-educate a horse from this problem ? If so how would you do it ?

Possibly be quite nappy when riding out on it's own

This probably wouldnt be a big issue as I would be riding with OH 99.9% of the time and his gelding hacks out fine in company so if indeed I did have a nappy horse then in theory going out with OH wouldnt be a big problem or would it ?

Pros :

As this school primarily hacks out and in order to get to the forest they do a bit of road work on a busy road, it should be fairly bombproof to traffic ?

I want something that is traffic proof and that is hacked out regularly and happily.

This school normally has complete beginners and specialises in them, so if the school is happy to put a complete beginner on a horse then it should show that is of a good temperment ?

Pretty much what I'm after really

So if anyone has brought an ex-riding school horse I'd be grateful to hear from you, or if indeed anyone can add extra pros and cons to my list then that would be a big help.

Thank you !

 

[Samsky]

My pony used to be in a riding school.I have found that he is generally more willing to work now than in the school (probably just because he doesnt have to do as much).

It has taken me quite a long time to get him working in a rounder shape but then i'm not sure if thats because he didnt have to in the riding school,or just because he wasnt taught as a youngster.

The only other thing i would be careful of when buying a school horse is that whilst they are not necessairily over worked,they may do considerably more work than you will be doing with them.This could mean that whilst in the school situation they are fairly calm,they could become faster,more excitable,naughty etc when privately owned.

This is not a definite,just a general thing you may want to consider.Feel free to ask me anything.I'm not too good at explaining myself.

 

[LMayhewtx]

I know two people who recently bought riding school horses and they are really pleased with themselves and their horses. Both these horses are gentle enough for a complete beginner, but also well trained enough to be considered "school-master" type. The one horse was a retired showjumper, and had been state champion at one point, and the other one had an eventing background. It sounds like maybe my friends had different goals than you, but I think whether or not it works out depends on the horse and you.

 

[vimto92]

Not all riding school ponies are what they seem!
Some seem the quiet type, get on and va-va-voom! Your off! Cantering around with no brakes! At the RS, we once had a stocky pony, he was lovely, so strong, Im not joking you wouldnt believe it! Even the instructor found it difficult to hold him, once he was off there was no stopping him! Some do generally go through a napping stage and some get through this when being worked on their own in majority of the lesson.
I'd just go and see if I were you, you might be surprised.

 

[jenmac_85]

Tyler was a former hunter with some dressage training before being used for a riding school horse.

He wasn't fully fit when I bought him, but as his fitness has built up, his character and true ability has started to shine through. Some RS horses I used to work, if they had a dedicated rider and schooled properly could have been smashing horses.

I felt that if I went for an RS horse I woudl at least have a little idea of what it was going to be like. Typer was used for novices so was easy going.

I would try out different horses. I also used to watch the lessons to see how the horses reacted to different riders.

I have no idea if that helps at all lol

Good luck.

Jenny
x

 

[essexgirl]

My old horse was and ex-riding school horse. He was loverly.....

BUT once he was no longer a riding school horse and his work load lessened, he found a new lease of life and a stroppy streak. I guess, his worst trait was that you could not canter behind another horse (especially if they were slower) and hold him back. He had been so used to doing as he wanted on a hack - ie. cantering as fast as he wanted and racing with the others if he wanted. Of course, I didn't want this and he learnt to buck if you tried to hold him behind another horse (he had never bucked - ever while he was on the RS).

He wasn't keen on riding out solo, but did do it under protest, but was more relaxed in company.

In all other ways, he was wonderful. I could take him anywhere - shows, cross country. We did a little bit of everything.

I would buy another ex-riding school horse, but would also expect his/her personality to change once off the school routine.

Hope this helps a bit

 

[ponylover88]

...

 

[Plopple]

i brought my horse from the riding school and he had been there for 2 years
he was 5 when i got him.
he wasnt a popular one at all. bucking was his game
then we bought him and he was a different horse to what we tried. he wouldnt hack out he was realy spooky and very naughty to school. bucking became a serious game and he wasnt in pain, we had his bak and teeth and saddle checked so often.
his personality was lovely though, he really came out of his shell and turned into a cheeky chappy that loves fuss.
they all seem to change as my friend bought her favourite pony, he was really naughty but when she had him at home he turned into a right donkey!

i would go for another rs horse, but i wouldnt expect it to be straight forwards at all for a while

 

[eml]

As the owner of a RS we see the negative side a bit too often. We have a number of ponies in particular who have spent some years in a RS then being sold on and unable to settle in a private home are sold onto school like us.

Some schools specialise in buying in youngsters, bringing them on in the school and selling as 5/6 year olds, they are generally a good buy. I would however look carefully at schools selling the odd horse... good horses and ponies are far too valuable to the RS to sell on so generally the ones who have the odd problem or are not popular with clients are sold.

Other people have also raised the issue of workload. As an RS we think our horses have quite an easy life doing two hours a day five days a week but this is far more than any privately owned horse is likely to do. The horses are also handled by experienced people and any problems quickly sorted, these issues can re-emerge in less experienced hands.

 

[jowyles]

I'd agree the rs ive been to have only sold horses that were too dangerous to use in the school!

 

[SavingGrace]

I bought the sweetest cob who has spent over 10yrs in a riding school! (I knew all that time as well) The transition from being Riding School Plod to well mannered all rounder was a hard one as he was a lazy plod in the school! Once he cleared his head of the day to day job of being a riding school plod he is an amazing little horse to own! And certainly was not sold because he was too dangerous to use in the school...

 

[Kady A]

Stella had been in a riding school for years - she's an ex trotter who came via Appleby to several riding schools before ours. She's never been your typical riding school horse really, she has never hacked out well and likes to bounce about on the spot and will briefly explode! I bought her when our riding school downsized a few years ago, and although she is retired now we have had and still have a lovely time together and I have never had such a bond with a horse in my life. Like EML says some ex riding school horses don't settle in private homes - Stella had gone to a private home quite some years ago and had been found too difficult to handle and subsequently went through the sales and another riding school before coming to our RS and then me.

I know quite a few other people who have bought ex riding school horses - without problems. A lot of schools buy horses and ponies and work them in the school for a year or so and then sell them on before they get too stale in that environment.

Go and look with an open mind - any horse you buy will take some time to settle in and it can sometimes take a while for that bond to form. If they will offer you a trial period - snap their hands off! Good luck horsehunting, it will be nice to here how you get on.

 

[KT C]

I would agree with Samsky that many riding school horses will be worked more than horses that are privately owned, so when rs horses are sold on they may appear more enthusiastic(!)

My horse came from a rs, and while he is absolutely bombproof in traffic, which is great, it has taken me literally years to get him hacking out on his own - if this is something that you will have to do with your horse, be sure to try any potential purchases in a variety of situations - i.e. in the school, out in company, on the roads and out on his own.

 

[Julz]

The average riding school horse does about 4 - 6 hrs per day (with a day off) the average privately owned horse does around 1-2hrs perday with one or two days off per week.... A riding school horse inst neccessarily taught to go off the leg, or in a rounder outline, they are simply suitable mounts for the person to learn the aids on, esp the HW cob types, who are more often than not weight carriers...

Yes they can be good horses to own, and bear in mind that when they "come out of themeselves" may well end up being a totally different horse! Even horses that are "dead to the leg" will eventually liven up.... as you ride him properly, he will see that you are not endlessly kicking him, and so will respond to you... as he also sees that you are his now sole rider, you two will form a bond... I dont think there is a real downside to it.... as, as he comes out of himself, developes a personality, he will in the end be a different horse to the one you bought...but hopefully for the better!!

 

[Wobblydeb]

By the sounds of it, the school you emailed regularly sells on horses, so probably isn't getting rid of a problem horse. Beware of them trying to push you towards one in particular though!

Whilst horse shopping, I saw one being sold from a reputable stables. He had become sick of schooling, hence the sale. Nothing nasty, he just didn't want to go into the school, and moved like a tortoise once inside, bless him

 

[joshes mum]

My friend owns an ex riding school horse he was sold on as he likes to canter and can get a bit strong when hacking.Having said that he wont go unless hes allowed to and does have brakes, hes good in the school as he knows his job and excellent in traffic also very bomb proof.

 

[D&D]

daughters horse is ex riding school and she is loving it, sensible and sane and knows his job and her ground confidence is also growing and in turn i think pony is loving the one on one spoil me thing

 

[eml]

Sorry going OT but I would love to know the evidence for

The average riding school horse does about 4 - 6 hrs per day (with a day off) the average privately owned horse does around 1-2hrs perday with one or two days off per week.... A riding school horse inst neccessarily taught to go off the leg, or in a rounder outline, they are simply suitable mounts for the person to learn the aids on,

Riding School horses are about teaching riding and that includes working in correct round form and correct response to correct aids. Any school that expected its horses to work 4-6 hours a day does not deserve to be called a school. A horse on lesson 3 in a day is unlikely to work well enough to train the rider correctly.

Today I taught..potential student (NR person as well!!) grids to 3'6, class of 8 year olds to do 10 metre circles correctly, Class of teenagers to do walk to canter and leg yield to canter transitions, private client to do canter half pass, Class of adults to do canter serpentines with correct simple changes, Class of teenagers to ride changes of leg over showjumps.

You cannot do this on a horse doing that much work....oh and yes we are a RS

 

[shanghai_missy]

Personally I think it depends on what riding School you are buying from, there are the ones ran for money and only money, and ones ran with the horses point of view in mind. I have never really been a great fan of Riding Schools and around here alot are shutting down due to sueing, and high insurance.

I would always ask myself why the riding school are selling a horse?

I did own an ex-riding school horse before, and she was brilliant, but she had a private home before me, and the girl couldnt control her, she was sour and disliked chopping and changing of riders...although sweet to handle in every other way, she was just awkward under saddle. So they took a foal off of her, sent her for proffesional schooling and then i got her for my birthday! Much to my pleasure, she was fantastic! Very safe, and sane, keen to work for me, and she taught me to jump. However as I got older I was keen to start hacking out with my friends, and found that she could be very naughty, although not dangerous, on the road. At only 13.2 I was getting too big for her anyway and we made the decision to sell her to my younger cousin...who did alright with her, as she was only beggining.

Unfortunately my poor Poppy then ended up in a riding school once again and from there I have lost track of her whereabouts.

I guess Im trying to say, RS can make horses very dull, and lifeless which makes then look 'safe' however you can replace that sparkle with a little work and get a horse with a little more pizzazz about them, just beware of why the RS is selling them on

 

[Floob]

Pro's some happily go round the track by themselves and know the drill.
(took my pony into the school and let her loose while I attempted to shut the very heavy gate and the poor thing started walking round all by herself

My 2 are both ex riding schoolies. Tarquin was only ridden by experienced riders mainly ones doing training for BHS stages, he was there on working livery for a few months until his ower decided to sell them. He was a grumpy bad mannered old fart, he is fine 99% of the time now.
Ruby was on working livery where I used to work, I loved her, she was a really nice hack, but had a sense of hunour and a little stubborn streak. She disliked the school and was overjumped. She went back to her owner for a year and sat in a field getting fat, the break solved all our jumping problems. She is a lovely pony who is super safe and wouldn't do anything dangerous whatsoever. She still has a mind of her own and a very hard mouth, which is strange considering how lazy she is.

EVen at the place I worked at the horses didn't 4-6 hours a day, the absolute maximum a horse is allowed to be used for lessons is 3 hours, being 2 in the morning ie 9.30 and 10.45 and then again at either 2.30 or 4.30, the first 2 of those hours are kids who do not tend to do much cantering or jumping and the last lesson is a lesson of adults who are just starting some leg yielding and 20m circles in canter. A horse doing more intensive lessons only does 2 maximum.
The little ponies often get most of the week off, or will only do gentle treks and the horses tend to only hack during the week.
But then sometimes horses get worked more, but it will be hacking, most likely to be a gentle walking hack and sometimes some horses may have to do 7 hours of trekking 2 days running (expedition) and then get a break. We have one who works best on about 2 hours a day every day.