Am I expecting the impossible???

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VickyH

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We have been looking for a new horse/pony for my daughter but I am getting to the point of giving up! We don't expect a miracle on our budget but we aren't looking for anything fancy either but so far I've had to return one horse we had on trial as it appeared to have a personality transplant on the journey to us! We've looked at one that was obviously lame and another that threw it's rider! My daughter is 13 and I personally would still call her a novice, she can walk, trot and was cantering but last year we were sold a very unsuitable horse by a dealer ( who I shall not name! ) and so didn't get to ride much last year. Then we bought Lottie who is a good girl usually but due to an old injury she occasionally goes lame and can't do too much so she can't really have lessons on her either! I just want a safe, honest horse/pony that my daughter can love and enjoy spending time with, I don't care how big it can jump or if it works in outline or what the breeding is, all I ask is that is safe - although being sound would be a bonus too!
Can anyone suggest anywhere I might find such a thing and does it actually exist??
 
Probably !!

They do exist but get passed on by word of mouth as they are outgrown.

Try speaking to your local branch of the pony club and your local schools, they may know of something about to be outgrown. Riding schools occasionally have something that does not thrive in a school environment and would be more suited in a one to one set up.

Perfect ponies or horses for that matter rarely see open market.

Good luck in your search
 
They do exist but unfortunately even an unschooled kids pony can be worth a bit if its a really safe confidence giver. And when people do have one like that, they tend to improve them so the child can either progress on them or sell at a profit. Maybe if you give an idea what size your daughter is & your budget someone might be able to point you in the right direction. They do exist but everyone wants safe for their kids which means it might take a bit of time. Good luck.
 
My daughter is 13 so we were looking for a minimum of 14.2 up to about 15.2 max, she had a great start with the most amazing little 12.2 arab x welsh. Unfortunately due to the problems we had selling the unsuitable horse last year we lost money and so only have a budget of £2000 and that is a stretch :-/
We are off to look at one tomorrow but it is only 5, although it has been used to teach some young children already.
 
If she's ok on a 12.2 how about looking for an older first pony type on loan too? Realise they don't grow on trees either but the more options the better, look at oldies too & let everyone you've ever met know your looking.
 
I wish she did still fit on a 12.2 then we wouldn't have had to sell her first pony! lol! I don't mind loan or sale, any colour, mare or gelding, any age I'm really not fussy!
I've got a wanted ad on preloved and all over facebook too, I just don't want her to miss another summer season :-( I have just looked at the pony club website and e-mailed our local branch regarding membership and more info :-)
 
We just bought one of those, but for 4.5k including all tack, rugs etc. She's an absolute star, but you're really going to struggle finding one for that budget I think.
 
We just don't have that kind of money :-(
I'd hate to do it but even if I sold Lottie because of her old injury I wouldn't get a lot for her, it would break my heart to sell her but if it meant we could get something for my daughter I would have done
 
Look at unlikely ponies.
My friend bought a pony which had been sold to pay a livery bill (to YO). YO had put her in foal, then decided to downsize. So pony was advertised as green - 7yrs old broken to ride and drive but not touched for over a year. We went to look, took the mare for a walk round a housing estate, then our lightweight adult sat on the mare in a school and walked round. The mare was absolutely bombproof, didn't turn a hair when a huge wagon was started up next to her. Because YO wanted her to go she was priced at less than £1000 2 yrs ago.
The mare was green and the 2 boys she was bought for beginners but their mum and plenty of friends are very experienced. Now the pony and the boys are doing very well at local shows, oldest boy hacks alone and they have started jumping in local classes.
On paper this looked like a bad buy but has proved to be very successful.
 
Thanks Pearlsasinger :-) Was starting to lose faith for a minute! The one we are looking at tomorrow is only 5 and priced at 1950, the girl selling her hasn't had her that long but sells them from time to time to help cover her showjumping costs. I'm trying to view everything with an open mind but we've been had over once already so it's hard not to be synical sometimes :-)
 
Not at all!! You just need to compromise on somethings... Peej was a skinny/ scruffy looking thing

I found my perfect confidence giver for £900... a 4yo, 15.1 tb, bought from the field! It was a real gamble but a risk I was willing to take as he was such a gem (not ridden for over a year, tacked up, got on from mounting block, given directions to a arena 25mins away and sent off on our own.....)

You just need to be prepared to look outside the box a little.

Where in the country are you? My friend has just had a quiet 14.2 in (I trust her with my life, if she says its quiet IT IS QUIET, has taken a few kids through PC etc)
 
Dont lose faith, it will be more difficult at £2k but that isn't an unreasonable budget...as you said she is not a total novice.

You may be finding it more difficult as the size you are looking at is such a popular size range.
 
trickivicki said:
Not at all!! You just need to compromise on somethings... Peej was a skinny/ scruffy looking thing

I found my perfect confidence giver for £900... a 4yo, 15.1 tb, bought from the field! It was a real gamble but a risk I was willing to take as he was such a gem (not ridden for over a year, tacked up, got on from mounting block, given directions to a arena 25mins away and sent off on our own.....)

You just need to be prepared to look outside the box a little.

Where in the country are you? My friend has just had a quiet 14.2 in (I trust her with my life, if she says its quiet IT IS QUIET, has taken a few kids through PC etc)
Click to expand...

I'm in Kent, will travel within reason - the further I travel the less I have to spend! :-)
 
one of my mares would be just the ticket...sadly she is not for sale :) She is out on loan at the minute to a girl who has problems with her hips...means she cannot ride often, but she gets on and Doll is just an angel. She can do distance rides, is safe and steady in the school, jumps a small course and is a LE TREC superstar! Some pics...
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My friends very nervous 11yr old rode her in the school to get her confidence back, and my other friends very keen 7 yr old used to jump her in the school too. She has also done local showing with a nervous handler.

They do exist...unfortunately though once found...people do tend to hold on to them!

The other thing I'd day is there is no such thing as perfect...every horse will have it's little foibles...Dolly's is tractors! She is not naughty, just scared but for this reason, hacking out has to be sensible....i.e. not in the middle of harvesting!!! lol
 
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I'm in kent and I know of a wicked 14.3hh for sale, within your budget and with all tack and rugs!! Daughter has moved onto a bigger horse.

Mare is safe as houses, doesnt buck, rear etc, bombproof on roads. Does a nice dressage test and can jump. Only problem is she can be a bit fast when jumping but is not strong and always ridden in a snaffle. She will be a wicked teenagers horse.
 
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