Advice appreciated please!

[Lizzybet69]

Hi,
I am in the process of buying my first horse and have seen one that i like. I have been told by someone who knows a lot that the one i have seen is unfit and is weak-backed. On the plus side, he is very laid back, kind and great to hack out. I am wanting something that the family can ride as well as me, including my husband who is 14st just and a complete novice..so my dilema is should i buy this horse, or even put him to vetting only to be told £300 later that his weak back may not be able to take a novice 14st, something i may already know. The horse is a 12 year old, 16'1 TB, never raced, as i say, is unfit in terms of schooling and has mainly been hacked out. I weigh 11.5st or slightly less on a good day. The person i took with me is a friend of a friend and her advice has been so useful..i would just like some other opinions??
It's such a difficult decision as i have seen so many that are not suitable for personality reasons.. I have been so shocked at how different the horses are from their adverts!!

Any advice??

Thanks..

 

[s4sugar]

A horse may change behaviour completely once fit but this horse sounds like he is unschooled which is different. How much work is he doing?
Why is he described as "weak backed"? As a heavier rider myself I would not put a 14st Novice on a 16.1 TB unless it was an exceptionally sturdy & short backed one and even then it would need to be fit to work.

From what you have already said I would keep looking.

 

[[59668]]

Hi

Buying a horse is so exciting but can be so full of pitfalls!

The only thing that I would say is that there could be a big difference between a laid back underweight tb and when he is fit and raring to go!

 

[lexiedhb]

Personally if looking for an all rounder able to teach a 14st novice I would be looking at something a bit chunkier than a TB.

In answer to your question No I would not vet/buy this horse as
a) a fit and ready to go TB may well go through a personality transplant and go from laid back to loon
b) I would not put a 14 stone novice on a 16.1 TB
c) A "weak" back (although difficult to tell without seeing actual pics) is probably a huge vets bill waiting to happen as hoss gets older

 

[chickeninabun]

Hi Liz!!!
I wondered if I'd be able to find your post!

Do you have any photos/advert link you could put up to give us more of an idea, although I would also worry about putting a 14st novice on a TB. Maybe once more experienced for short periods but novices are much heavier than more experienced riders.

Just had a quick browse and this lad looks fab...
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/riding_club_horses_ponies_horse_12_yrs_11_mths_15_3_hh_grey_south_yorkshire/advert/171035

Although not very big, he would carry more weight, and sounds great. Although you've probably already been and seen him!!

This ones looks nice too and is a big lad...
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all_rounder_horse_12_yrs_2_mths_16_2_hh_chestnut_cumbria/advert/168604

Ooo, another!! I'm loving this one, but the photos are *****e!!..
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all_rounder_horse_11_yrs_5_mths_15_1_hh_black_south_yorkshire/advert/171588

Ok will stop now! Good luck in whatever you decide to do. If you can bare the wait then there is usually an influx of horses onto the market at the end of summer, with people going to uni and people wanting to cut down before winter.
Let me know what you decide.

Emma & Molly!!

 

[LiveryList]

I agree that i probably would not put a 14st novice on a small-ish TB, weak backed or not. I would always prefer to buy soemthing 'fit and ready to go' as it were.

I always think with horse buying if there is any doubt in your mind it is not the right horse.

 

[Lizzybet69]

Hi Emma and Molly!!
Thanks for the advice and for finding the thread!! One of these posts is actually the very forst horse that i saw 6 weeks ago that i love to bits ...and has now been relisted at a higher price.. i thought it was no longer for sale..something strange going on there..i will have to check it out as i really liked that one.
Anyway, having seen another unsuitable one tonight i am off to bed!!! x