Advice needed re buying a horse

[evehardwick]

Hello,

I have been riding for nearly 5 years now, and I would class myself as a good, sensible rider and I have ridden quite a few young horses in the past and also quite recently. I am currently looking for my first horse.

I have found a spectacular 8yo coloured gelding for sale as a dressage prospect for an experienced rider. Do you think that I could take this on? He also does showing which is something I really want to have a crack at - this horse is perfect on every other way for me but I was just wondering what other people would say about this?

NOTE: he is a gelding who had a late start being cut as a 6yo, does this mean he may have stallion behaviour still? Because I know with dogs if they have a late start they still remain unruly and boisterous


Thanks!!

 

[wren123]

Simple answer no! If at 8 brought on correctly should be ready for preliminary dressage tests at least, in my opinion. The bit about needing experienced rider rings warning bells to me!

However, I haven't bought a horse for years, so others may have different opinions.

 

[evehardwick]

Simple answer no! If at 8 brought on correctly should be ready for preliminary dressage tests at least, in my opinion. The bit about needing experienced rider rings warning bells to me!

However, I haven't bought a horse for years, so others may have different opinions.

I should have mentioned - they have had a few prelim outings where he has scored 70% plus with potential to go advanced medium

 

[webble]

I would ask yourself if are you ready financially and care knowledge wise rather than riding wise?

 

[chahala]

My Horse was cut at eight and can be a little 'stallionish' - dominant, flirty, calls a lot... however just needs firm handling.

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

Unless you have a very, very good support network around you in case things go a bit pear shaped - no.

I would hazard a guess that when they say experienced, its because the horse is, er, 'quirky'.

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

If it is this one http://www.horsemart.co.uk/bargain-dressage-horse/Horses/355678 then please make sure you take someone with you (as I think you might go and see it anyway) who is truly knowledgable and capable, get it vetted and bloods taken.

For 2K, he might turn out to be a bargain, but reading between the lines about prefering flatwork, issues over loading and that he seems a bit cheap I would steer clear.

 

[Tnavas]

If this is the horse you are considering Reading his ad he sounds like he would be a nice horse. I'd hazard a guess that he's not particularly keen on jumping. Definitely take someone with you. Have him vetted, not wanting to jump can be a sign of discomfort and that would also affect his ability to go further in dressage.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

If it is this one http://www.horsemart.co.uk/bargain-dressage-horse/Horses/355678 then please make sure you take someone with you (as I think you might go and see it anyway) who is truly knowledgable and capable, get it vetted and bloods taken.

For 2K, he might turn out to be a bargain, but reading between the lines about prefering flatwork, issues over loading and that he seems a bit cheap I would steer clear.

If it's that horse, it looks like it was being sold as a SJ or Eventer for £4K last year by the same owner. I wondered why the latest dressage advert was only showing a head shot.

 

[gnubee]

It very much depends on you as an individual and why the horse needs an experienced rider. With only 5 years experience however I would be inclined to think not, particularly if you have only ridden horses with other riders. Your own horse will pick up all your own weaknesses/ bad habits, and you don't benefit from the balancing influence of other people with a different skill set riding it on a regular basis to stop it developing into a big thing. As a first horse it would be more adviseable to get one you are confident is well within your capabilities so you have the best chance of being able to enjoy him and don't need to worry about spending years working through issues.

 

[cptrayes]

One, you have never owned or loaned a horse before. Please, do not even think about buying a horse where the advert says it needs an experienced rider. A horse advertised that way needs a rider who has ridden every day for years on multiple horses.

Two, if the ad pointed to above is the horse, there is probably something wrong with it. I simply do not believe that anyone selling such a beautiful, prime age, right height horse would let it go for that money, probably a quarter of what it should be worth in a dressage yard. Not wanting to jump often means kissing spines, psd or sacroiliac issues which in early stages will not be picked up even by a five star vetting.

 

[Kaylum]

My first horse wouldn't tie up, was riggy, shied on the road at everything, was terrible in the school and taught me everything I know. You only learn how to ride when you get your own horse. You need time and lots of it and have determination don't what many do and just give up. Learn how to cope with situations. I took him to a show once and it blew his mind. He reared would not settle even with his stable mates. I had to hack him home he reared and threw me off half way home and ran back to the show. Just one of his many adventures.

 

[Gloi]

If that is the horse in the advert this part "Lots of presence, especially at show" made me feel like he still acted like a stallion at times. He doesn't come across as a first horse to me either. If you do go to see him make sure you take a couple of pairs of experienced eyes with you.

 

[Stroppy Mare]

My first horse was similar to this, however we were told suitable for a novice. Unfortunately he really wasn't. That sort of ad would put me off if I was looking to buy my first horse. I'm a bit of a risk taker though and have taken on a 3yo after having extremely little previous experience with youngsters. I do have an excellent support network though and have 'lessons' (for want of a better word) of a friend who owns her half brother and knows her breeder.

If you want my opinion - find a horse via word of mouth. Don't be in a rush to buy, most certainly don't buy the first horse you see. Go see the horse on multiple occasions and test the horse out doing the activities you want to do. Before buying a ridden horse I would always as standard want to see flat, jump and hack (moreover ride them!). Get your experienced friend/ instructor on board first to test ride before you get on. I've never done this, but really it is good practice to do so.

Oh and if the horse isn't passported for whatever reason, walk very briskly away! I've been caught a couple of times now and it's not fun! There's no shame in buying a relatively easy and ploddy horse now and progressing, selling that one a few years down the line to suit your needs then. Don't buy a suitable competition horse for 'when you're ready to compete' unless that's going to be now. From experience, over horsing yourself to last yourself longer only ends up in injuries and confidence losses.

My old girl, I bought 8 years ago as a novice ride. Despite her being a safe hack (she's spooky but she's safe!), I would never describe her as a novice ride. She is sharp to ride and I always have to be one step ahead. Moral of this story - judge the horse as you see it, not as the owner/ seller is selling it to you as! Horses can also change as you get them home and they realise they can push boundaries/ the routine has changed and their unsettled. Take that into account too.

Finally, good luck in your horse hunt.

I bought my 3yo on the first day out looking, and I wasn't actually looking to buy then - I'd seen a potential 'pity buy' on FB and happened to mention to a friend about him and she mentioned this little filly so popped over to see her too and she's ideal. But had little handling at that point so literally saw her in the stable, stood up outside and trotted up and down the lane. Sometimes the surprise buys are the best!

 

[oldie48]

If he is a nice straightforward horse suitable for a relatively inexperienced rider like you, then he is way too cheap, particularly as he's not in a cheap area of the country eg bottom of Cornwall, Scottish Highlands. Methinks there's more to this boy than meets the eye. With regard to being cut late, my horse was cut as a 6 year old when he failed to make the grade as an eventer, pretty careless showjumping at novice level BE, so stud decided they wouldn't stand him. He doesn't have any stallion traits and is beautifully mannered and kind. However, thing to remember is stallions are usually kept on their own so might not be good around other horses. Have you looked to see if this horse has a BE record? Also, why has he been kept entire until this late, worth knowing if you decide to go to see him but frankly pricewise he seems just a bit too good to be true..

If it is this one http://www.horsemart.co.uk/bargain-dressage-horse/Horses/355678 then please make sure you take someone with you (as I think you might go and see it anyway) who is truly knowledgable and capable, get it vetted and bloods taken.

For 2K, he might turn out to be a bargain, but reading between the lines about prefering flatwork, issues over loading and that he seems a bit cheap I would steer clear.

 

[Kaylum]

We had a welsh cob that was cut late and had covered twice. He was like an old sheep so loving and soft.