Advice wanted on what type of horse to get next!

4leggedfurries

4leggedfurries

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After everything that has happened this year with me and my riding horse, Its time that I looked for something more suitable. As some of you are aware, I had sold my horse but he came back and gave him a second chance. That hasnt worked out so he will go on loan when I can find the right rider for him. So that leaves me with a horse shaped hole to fill.

I must admit I'm very lucky that after my accident (I smashed my wrist to pieces falling off the horse and now have a hefty chunk of metal in there holding it together and months of physio to get a decent amount of movement back. Doubt it will ever be the same again though... :( ), that I've convinced my parents to let me ride again! I know Im 28 but my parents are completely none horsey and my mom wont even watch me, and it doesnt help that this is just a long line of breaks/injuries I've suffered with this horse! But fair play to them they are doing all my chores for me while I'm recovering :D

So before I ramble on too long, I would appreciate your advice on what would be a suitable breed/type for me! I'm looking for something that I can just have fun on, nothing too big 15-16h (closer to the 15h, even 16h is a long way down when you know its going to hurt :rolleyes:) and not too chunky as have problem hips. I want something that can do a bit of every thing, jump up to about 3', xc, prelim dr, hack alone and in company even possibly hunt. Its something that I would like to do the odd competition with, but more than anything I just want to be able to get on and ride. It would have to be confident (as I'm loosing mine again:( ) but sane and sensible, ie going to a jump it stays in the same rhythm and doesnt hoon around etc. I'm also looking for something thats a bit more hardy and easier to look after/keep.

Ideally I would like to move away from TB, as much as I love them and keep saying 'I'm not having another bl00dy TB, too much hassle' I keep getting another, but this time I mean it! I'm fed up of the hassle, the quirks, the broken bones :rolleyes: So ideas please... :D Also what sort of price would I be looking at for what I want? I'm hoping to have money saved by next summer, it wont be a massive budget, but will be realistic.
 
well I think its probably a case of go try some and see, but its such a minefield out there when buying. I know you said no TB but what about something IDXTB Ive always found them to have lovely temperaments but obviously each horse is different and every breed has its different temperament of horse in it.

Sorry thats not a lot of help LOL
 
TBH, I would keep your mind open to all breeds and types, although I can understand why you would want to avoid TBs after your experiences! Rather than breed or type, concentrate on temperament, schooling and experience. If you want "something that can do a bit of every thing, jump up to about 3', xc, prelim dr, hack alone and in company even possibly hunt", then look for a horse that is already doing that sort of job for a similar standard of rider - perhaps for sale due to rider's pregnancy, going to uni, redundancy etc.

If you want something that reliably jumps 3' SJ & XC courses and does reasonable prelim dressage, then you are starting to overlap with the RC/PC allrounder/eventer and the lower level affiliated eventer market - and these can be pricey if they are sensible and good to hack, unless you are happy to consider a horse in its teenage years.
 
I think you need to be open minded about breed and go with whats most important for you when looking for a horse so you need a four legged friend that is well bahved, will look after you and be able to do what you want - any breed could manage that :D

In terms of budget, thats the difficult one. I would say realistically you'll need 4-5k if you want something 8-12 years old - any older or younger and you should be able to drop this a bit. What you need to remember is going into spring/summer is the sellers market - lots of people want horses to compete on etc whereas now is a great time as sellers want rid before winter!

Good luck :)
 
Leg_end said:
In terms of budget, thats the difficult one. I would say realistically you'll need 4-5k if you want something 8-12 years old - any older or younger and you should be able to drop this a bit. What you need to remember is going into spring/summer is the sellers market - lots of people want horses to compete on etc whereas now is a great time as sellers want rid before winter!

Good luck :)
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This is my problem, I dont have the funds now and cant come up with them unless of course I win the lottery, but my big problem is, is that I cant ride! I'm still in a splint and at the moment from the doctors and physios view point its going to be the new year before I can safely ride again, so will be moving into spring anyways...
 
I was thinking conniex as well, but be open minded, if the right horse comes along then who cares about the breeding?

Might be an idea to start riding in an RS when you are feeling up to it again. That will give you a bit of confidence back and ease you into things rather than having your first rides on horses for sale which might turn out to be completely different from advertised!

If your budget is limited how about something a bit older, e.g. 12 plus, that has reached its competition limits with what you want to do and is more sensibly priced?
 
Booboos said:
but be open minded, if the right horse comes along then who cares about the breeding?

Might be an idea to start riding in an RS when you are feeling up to it again.
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Oh most definately, I'm going to be open minded, I'm considering something other than a TB for a change lol!! I think I've had my fill of TB's though, I've had 4 now and had problems with each of them. I just dont have the mental strength or any unbroken bones to deal with them any more.

I still have my boy to ride when I'm back up and running, so wont be out of it completely. I havent managed to find anyone yet to loan him, so he's having a break until I'm back, I'll get him going again, though only with flat work and hacking, have come to realise that he's not suitable for jumping then find someone to loan him.
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As others have said breed is not important. Unfortunately it sounds like you will be looking for a lot of peoples perfect horse so I would say 4-5K. As others have said though an older horse will be cheaper and will have a lot of experience. You might get a 14yo for 2Kish
 
Truly, it is about individual horse rather than breed. I picked up a fabulous little TB, 7, not in the greatest condition but nothing that couldn't be corrected, who went through a 5 stage vetting with flying colours, for £2k. She's been with me a few months now and really has come on hugely - and has the most fab temperament. So much so that I have my less than confident friend hack her out often and she has not done one thing to raise concern. I also have a 6 year old PRE who I wouldn't let anyone hack out because he can be silly at times and catch you out if you're not on the ball. That said again, in the manege I'd be more than happy for a half decent rider to do some schooling with him. So, always temperament, temperament before breed as such I think - and try lots and lots. I must have ridden 15 horses before buying the TB, who were all a good thousand pounds more expensive and yet nothing like as nice a horse.
 
I bought a selle francias x cob as I wanted something a bit more sensible, but to be honest it's difficult to see where the cob bit went, he was only three when I got him so wasn't broken in etc. The advantage you may have is being able to try the horses out first so you can get an idea of temperament and fizz! I think it's difficult to know what breed is best as they vary so much from horse to horse, so you'll just have to try out loads until you find the right one. I think the trouble is we get sucked in by the handsome looking, showy ones, which often turn out to be a handful, but look great while they're doing it!:D
 
I wouldn't rush out to buy anything, as others say I'd ease yourself back in with lessons on other horses as well as your own/those of friends, and play it by ear, see what comes up. Might take longer than you think to heal/get up to full strength, you won't want to damage yourself further.
 
The best advice on buying the "next" horse came from my farrier, who said "don't go for waht you had last time, go for something completely different".

I had an Clevaland Bay X goodness-knows-what plus a bit of TB last time; horse I have now is a Traddie Cob - very last thing I thought I'd end up with!!! But wouldn't swop him for the world.

So, yes, good advice. Go for it!
 
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