Am I too heavy?

[ihatework]

You are on the borderline of being too heavy for this horse to ride at any great frequency/intensity. It will all depend on his stamp and your experience/balance.

For comparison I’m now down to 12st and have only just started to ride my 5yo 15.3hh sporty type, and it’s only for 1-2 times a week on his easy days (light hacking). I’m an experienced balanced rider. I’d want at least another stone off if he were to be my main riding horse.

That aside, this is potentially the least of your problems as others have outlined. I hope it works out for you if you proceed.

 

[ycbm]

OP I buy unseen. The rules are that I am prepared to lose all my money and have it PTS if it turns out to have major issues.

Nobody at the moment has a need to sell any horse suitable for a buyer of your experience with a trial period.

Make sure your vet draws blood at the vetting, because your trial period is going to be over before stuff like bute wears off and the horse goes lame.
.

 

[Archangel]

Get a photo of the horse with a measuring stick on him. My friend bought a 15.2 unseen - 'horse' turned out to be a little over 14 hands.

 

[Gloi]

Get a photo of the horse with a measuring stick on him. My friend bought a 15.2 unseen - 'horse' turned out to be a little over 14 hands.

That drives me mad. I drove a long way to see one that was a good hand smaller than the seller said. I felt like sueing for my diesel ?

 

[twiggy2]

In reply to your question, you will only know the answer by riding the horse, see how the horse feels underneath you, get an instructor to watch and see what they think the horse is carrying your weight like.
From a completely different perspective if you do turn out to be too heavy for the horse then the horse has been moved and the dealers time wasted for no reason.
If you go and ride the horse and it feels wrong then you come home and carry on looking if it all feels good the get the horse vetted and bring it home subject to the vetting for a weeks trial.
Horses are selling so fast and (even when they are not) I dont know any responsible owners/dealer or otherwise who will let a horse go on trial to someone they have not met or seen ride or handle the horse, its a risk that good/honest sellers don't need to take.

 

[splashgirl45]

it seems that you are ignoring all of the good advice on here,

going back to your original question, what will you do if it turns out that you are too heavy for this horse.... even before covid hardly anyone would allow any sort of trial before buying, years ago it was more likely... there are posters on here who have been looking for a safe sensible type of horse for some time and havent managed to view many because they have sold so quickly, and the ones they have managed to see havent been sound or not as described and these are experienced people.. i fear that you are going to regret this and lose a lot of money as well..i really cant see this ending well

which part of the country is this dealer in, if you say roughly where maybe one of us has knowledge of their reputation and could pm you if its not good..

 

[mumof3]

it seems that you are ignoring all of the good advice on here,

going back to your original question, what will you do if it turns out that you are too heavy for this horse.... even before covid hardly anyone would allow any sort of trial before buying, years ago it was more likely... there are posters on here who have been looking for a safe sensible type of horse for some time and havent managed to view many because they have sold so quickly, and the ones they have managed to see havent been sound or not as described and these are experienced people.. i fear that you are going to regret this and lose a lot of money as well..i really cant see this ending well

which part of the country is this dealer in, if you say roughly where maybe one of us has knowledge of their reputation and could pm you if its not good..

I’m not ignoring advice at all. I asked for advice from you all as you have a lot more experience than me and I intend touse your opinions to help me decide what to do.

It’s a dealer called Lynn robertson in Soham, Ely. I’ve only heard great things about her and have done a fair bit of research. However, I know that this doesn’t necessarily mean everything, hence why I’m asking for advice.

Thank you x

 

[mumof3]

I’m not ignoring advice at all. I asked for advice from you all as you have a lot more experience than me and I intend touse your opinions to help me decide what to do.

It’s a dealer called Lynn robertson in Soham, Ely. I’ve only heard great things about her and have done a fair bit of research. However, I know that this doesn’t necessarily mean everything, hence why I’m asking for advice.

Thank you x

Also, with regards to my weight I can very quickly gain and lose weight … I haven’t cared about putting on a bit of weight recently as I quit smoking but now I’m gonna lose the 2 stone again and I doubt it will take me too long. Especially when I put my mind to it x

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I’m not ignoring advice at all. I asked for advice from you all as you have a lot more experience than me and I intend touse your opinions to help me decide what to do.

It’s a dealer called Lynn robertson in Soham, Ely. I’ve only heard great things about her and have done a fair bit of research. However, I know that this doesn’t necessarily mean everything, hence why I’m asking for advice.

Thank you x

From what I gather Lyn has a fairly good reputation when my friend was looking for a horse she enquired about a few horses of hers, unfortunately every time she tried to get one for a week's trial it was already being trialled somewhere else.

If you are having doubts about your weight it's probably not wise to go to all the bother and expense of getting the horse sent to you, go and view it first then if it is going to be suitable have a week's trial.

 

[Trouper]

I'm not concerned about your weight - that doesn't mean I think you are a good weight now ( I don't) but I accept what you say about being able to lose some weight quickly and then you should be fine.

What really worries (horrifies?) me is the method of purchase you are following. I try to keep my comments on this forum constructive but I am struggling here. For all the reasons others have mentioned so many things could go wrong that I am baffled that a day devoted to going to see/try the horse seems not to be a factor in the equation when it could answer so many things for you and save so much heartbreak and, possibly, money.

???

 

[mumof3]

Completely get what your saying. Perhaps I should have explained why I chose this option. I’ve been looking for a little while now abs every time I find a suitable horse it is gone. I then found out about Lyn and found the perfect horse in her page. I asked to see the horse (as I was cautious of the trial before seeing) which she booked me in to do, but without securing the 7day trial, anyone else interested in the horse who was happy to commit to the 7 day trial could do so before my viewing. Obviously someone else did so before my viewing and I lost out on the horse. 2 weeks later I find another perfect horse in her page and secure with the trial period paid for. I would have loved to have gone and seen him beforehand but we are currently on a family uj holiday and I start my new job tomorrow evening so I have no option to do so.I didn’t want to lose out on this one too which is why I booked the trial.

 

[mumof3]

I was prepared to lose the transport money both ways if I didn’t like the horse or he isn’t suitable - and after hearing a lot of previous success stories (both where people have kept and returned the horse) I felt comfortable doing the same

 

[mini_b]

I was prepared to lose the transport money both ways if I didn’t like the horse or he isn’t suitable - and after hearing a lot of previous success stories (both where people have kept and returned the horse) I felt comfortable doing the same

how many times has this horse been out on trial?

 

[mumof3]

He hasn’t yet this will be his first time

 

[Tiddlypom]

How much riding have you done in the last 10 years since you last owned a horse, OP?

In your first post on the forum a couple of weeks ago, you mentioned booking some refresher sessions. Have you had those now?

Refresher sessions are a great idea, btw.

 

[AmyMay]

Completely get what your saying. Perhaps I should have explained why I chose this option. I’ve been looking for a little while now abs every time I find a suitable horse it is gone. I then found out about Lyn and found the perfect horse in her page. I asked to see the horse (as I was cautious of the trial before seeing) which she booked me in to do, but without securing the 7day trial, anyone else interested in the horse who was happy to commit to the 7 day trial could do so before my viewing. Obviously someone else did so before my viewing and I lost out on the horse. 2 weeks later I find another perfect horse in her page and secure with the trial period paid for. I would have loved to have gone and seen him beforehand but we are currently on a family uj holiday and I start my new job tomorrow evening so I have no option to do so.I didn’t want to lose out on this one too which is why I booked the trial.

All of which sounds (sort of) fair enough. Good horses don’t hang around for long.

But do make sure that the horse is vetted before it leaves the dealers yard.

 

[mumof3]

How much riding have you done in the last 10 years since you last owned a horse, OP?

In your first post on the forum a couple of weeks ago, you mentioned booking some refresher sessions. Have you had those now?

Refresher sessions are a great idea, btw.

I have had the odd hack or two each year during my 10 year break.
I have indeed had refresher lessons - I’ve had 3 private lessons a week since (so 6 lessons now) and a 2 hour hack. I’ll also be continuing my lessons on my new horse if I decide to keep him.

 

[mumof3]

All of which sounds (sort of) fair enough. Good horses don’t hang around for long.

But do make sure that the horse is vetted before it leaves the dealers yard.

It’s been arranged ?

 

[AmyMay]

It’s been arranged ?

Well done. Good luck.

 

[mumof3]

T

Well done. Good luck.

Thank you. I do appreciate everyone’s comments

 

[splashgirl45]

i dont know about this dealer but she seems to have a continuous string of horses who, on paper, are absolutely perfect in every way and almost all of them are supposed to be suitable for anyone to ride . from the volume advertised i cant see that she will have had them very long before advertising.... please make sure that bloods are taken when the horse is vetted and please dont say you are using a vet recommended by the dealer..

 

[mumof3]

i dont know about this dealer but she seems to have a continuous string of horses who, on paper, are absolutely perfect in every way and almost all of them are supposed to be suitable for anyone to ride . from the volume advertised i cant see that she will have had them very long before advertising.... please make sure that bloods are taken when the horse is vetted and please dont say you are using a vet recommended by the dealer..

No my own choice of vet and yes I’ll be doing that ?

 

[muddybay]

I brought a 15.3 seen and we then realized he's 15.1! Fine for me weight wise but it's probably a good idea to measure before you buy

 

[splashgirl45]

No my own choice of vet and yes I’ll be doing that ?

good. i hope he turns out to be what you want. good luck

 

[Widgeon]

That drives me mad. I drove a long way to see one that was a good hand smaller than the seller said. I felt like sueing for my diesel ?

Me too. Went to see a 14.2hh mare, we got there and she was 13.2hh - it was a two hour drive, then two hours back...gah!!

 

[mumof3]

good. i hope he turns out to be what you want. good luck

Thank you

 

[ester]

I've definitely remember conversations about the dealer previously but can't remember whether it was here or (more likely) on the cambridge horsepoo fb page. IIRC it was positive though, albeit it slightly different way of doing things to usual.

 

[mini_b]

I’ve heard only positive things about the dealer thankfully.

I do think it’s really odd about sending trials to unseen places with unvetted riders. Must work for her!

 

[mumof3]

I've definitely remember conversations about the dealer previously but can't remember whether it was here or (more likely) on the cambridge horsepoo fb page. IIRC it was positive though, albeit it slightly different way of doing things to usual.

Thank you. I did see an old post on here from a year or so back with someone mentioning her when I was doing my research.

 

[mumof3]

I’ve heard only positive things about the dealer thankfully.

I do think it’s really odd about sending trials to unseen places with unvetted riders. Must work for her!

She does ask lots of questions and makes sure she feels you are both a good fit for each other. She always messages straight back when I have questions etc and seems like a very honest lady who cares about the horses