And so the horse search begins.

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WestCoast

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Thanks again to all of you who helped with suggestions and support in my livery quest. It's now time for looking for my lifelong friend.

I've decided to look for a 5-8 year old 14.2hh plus (but bottom of this height range would need to be really special). Up to about 16.2hh I guess, but at 5'3" it would be nice to be able to mount without assistance.

I seem to have a bit of a thing for beautiful big natives (welsh section d, dales, highland), friesians and coloured horses. I certainly would like some bone as will probably cross country/drag hunt, although initially it will be hacking, schooling and going too local shows. But the right temperament is a priority so I'm not going to restrict myself too much. Would like professionally schooled as have reasonable budget and will get ongoing professional schooling. Only set requirement is 101% in traffic and perfect health/vice free.

Gonna start with the midlands and will move outwards.

Mods - sorry if this sounds a bit too much like an advert - it's bit meant to be. I am using H&H classifieds to search. :)
 
That's great.

There are loads of websites with horses for sale on them, don't limit yourself to just looking on H & H. ;) Also, if you know you like welsh Ds, fells, highlands, etc, find out if they have breed enthusiast websites, often really nice sorts sell just being advertised this way. :cool:
 
I'm 5'3" and a bit and have a 14.3 section D - he's perfect. Great fun to ride and a massive personality. I did have a 14.1 section D for years and years - plenty big enough for me and ideal for getting on and off if there are tricky gates or you drop something out riding! I bought the first one privately as a greenish 4 yr old and the second as a backed but nothing else 6 yr old.
 
I'd certainly be happy to be pm'd details. But it may be challenging if it's a long distance away as after talking to a few sellers today it's confirmed to me that I will need to take someone from my livery yard with me.

I'm going up to the livery yard this week so they can assess my riding and make some recommendations - this is going to be a bit embarrassing.
 
I've just re read your requirements and seen you wanted 5-8 yrs - this lad is 4 yrs old but very special! He's 101% in traffic - has seen a lot - moves well and loves his jumping. Is he too young?

He's in Shropshire - we're about an hour and half from Kenilworth :)
 
Ive a friend with a 15.2, 8yr old coloured mare, shes done a bit of everything, brilliant in traffic, clip, box, shoe etc etc...shes in wales thought so probably to far for you?
 
Spacefaer - I have PM'd you, but am not in the position to do a lot this week.

Navaho - I'm afraid Wales is too far at present. I will expand the radius if I cannot find locally.

Paula
 
Probably 3-4k, but would be willing to go up to 7 for the right horse. Obviously the price would need to reflect its quality and experience. Having done a little looking and talking to people (not to mention the scary stories) I think I'm going to need to get advice from the manager at my new livery before making any decisions though.

Paula
 
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You certainly got what I wanted - there are some lovely horses here, the first one was already on my short list ;). Just gotta choose a couple and start viewing I think.

Paula
 
I know where there is a lovely Sec A dales mare for sale. She is very green but very willing (I've known her since birth). I can PM you details if you are interested. The mare is in Oldham.
 
Would be happy to look at details - particularly if there are videos of her under saddle. It would be a bit of a hike, but you don't get many Dales in this part of the country. I'm taking details of horses I like the look of to my livery manager Friday and she is going to assess my riding and advise me on what to see.
 
Exciting - good luck, we looked for ages and ending up getting something that perhaps with hindsight wasnt the most suitable, but we love him. You have a healthier budget than us and are more central for travelling. Keep us updated.
 
I haven't even managed to get something to view yet - every time I talk to someone on the phone either the horse has gone of they seem a little evasive. But I really need some advice first.

I'm quite concerned not to end up with a plod but I do keep getting told not to over horse myself :o.

Paula
 
i think you need to strim your paqrameters down! last post you wanted a fresian, next post you were going to look at a sec d (neither are easy first horses!!) so you are 5'3 so i would look for 14.2 to 15.3. good all rounders (color/breed are irrelevant!) otherwise you will go up and down the country being disappointed as they will be either too much for you or not enough~!
 
Wanting a Friesian, Welsh Section D or a Dales aren't mutually exclusive, just a range of possible choices. It's not a first horse - I've just been away from riding for a long time. I'm well aware what people think is suitable for a middle aged lady, but I always liked a bit of character in a horse (although not the sort that got my nice selection of previously cracked ribs - this time I'm not going to be dealing with other people's problem horses). If colour or breed are so irrelevant why do people breed for them?

I'm not going to know the horse I want until I get on and ride it - some will click better with my style of riding than others.

But I can't test ride every 14.2hh to 16.2hh in the country and so I might as well look at ones that I know and like the breed/type first.

I've made a lot of sacrifices over the years to save this bit of money and now I want to enjoy it before I'm too old. So I might as well look for my dream horse to start off with even if I will probably get a nice, sensible horse word of mouth through someone the livery yard knows in the end.
 
Welsh Ds are fab horses - real allrounders!

There are some fab welsh Ds currently on Horse Quest, including a rather beautiful bay gelding in the midlands, and a lovely chesnut, also in the midlands! ;)
 
On my short list, but am waiting until I've been assessed on Friday before booking any viewings now as I'm worried that someone will yell at me for not being good enough for their horse (shouldn't have read the time waster thread).

Paula
 
ah don't worry too much. I was scared about that too when \i was looking last year for my new girl, and I've been riding for over 20yrs!

I found it quite nerve wracking getting onto strange horses, but i actualy took my very good friend (who also happens to be a riding instructor) and she rode the horses first before I got on.

People were as a general rule very nice....not one told me to get off their horse!! ;)
 
The dales mare is currently advertised on the Dales society website (Strinesdale May). I will ask if there is a video of her.

She does pop a jump and at her first show the other week she got two firsts and two seconds (ridden and in hand).

Appreciate that she is a bit of a trek for you but PM me if you are interested.
 
I would think Fells would be, generally speaking, nicer riding horses than Dales. Also Friesians do look nice but the ones I've come across are a lot of horse and perhaps not the way to go if you want an easy life.

There aren't many really boring horses, straight forward and not presenting constant dramas and challenges means you can pop off in the truck/trailer on your own and do whatever you like without worrying. Look for that, "personality" is usually just another word for PITA when it comes to horses. :D
 
Madlady - she is very beautiful and I think I found the show report as well. :)

I'm going to take details of all the horses/ponies suggested to me on Friday to discuss. This assumes that I don't fall off the horse I'm given to try to show my riding ability and get sent away never to darken their doors again. :eek:

Fells are truly lovely, but just a little too small generally. I'm going to admit I don't know what PITA means though. I agree that no horse will be boring, but I spent a lot of my teens watching others do things that my pony couldn't/wouldn't so it would be nice to do some things. But I'm never going to want to be a top class competition home. Actually that's not entirely true - you never know when you will get the bug. One of the attractions of a native/show cob etc is that my husband could get involved and show in hand as I don't think he's going to want to ride, but is excellent with animals.

I'm a little all over the place at the moment, but i will get there.

Paula
 
Paulag said:
I haven't even managed to get something to view yet - every time I talk to someone on the phone either the horse has gone of they seem a little evasive. But I really need some advice first.

I'm quite concerned not to end up with a plod but I do keep getting told not to over horse myself :o.

Paula
Click to expand...

The nice mare i mentioned in Wales is still for sale lol ;)

http://www.colouredcontacts.co.uk/horseforsale_49363.html
 
Paulag said:
Fells are truly lovely, but just a little too small generally. I'm going to admit I don't know what PITA means though.
Click to expand...

Pain in the.... :D

I think (but I don't know a great deal about either breed) Fells and Dales are the same size but Dales are heavier and more built for pulling than riding. ETA - You're right, I've just read up on it. My friend had a 14.2 fell but I guess it was over height.
 
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Oh, glad you like her :) Her Dam and full sister are still at the stud that bred her, I can say hand on heart that she is an absolute dream - she has a lovely temperament and is a lovely straight mover.

Re friesians I've got 5 now, 1 who I ride, 1 who is a semi retired broodmare, 2 x 3yo (1 filly, 1 stallion) and a yearling.

The mare that I ride has never been a spot of trouble, I backed her myself and she is schooled up to a reasonable level (we are only happy hackers though). She has never been a handfull (well none of them have really) and I personally now would never want anything but a friesian. D is a dream to ride - yes she has her moments when she is genuinely scared but I know I can get on her and set off to pretty much anywhere and we will be ok. Yes she is a bit of a climb at 16.2 if I need to get on off the floor but she will happily stand at the side of gates, walls or will even stand in a dip so that it's easier to get on - I can get on off the floor but I do generally try to stand on something just to ease pressure through the saddle :)

If you do want to do a bit of showing though then classes for friesians are very very limited, you are looking at riding club horse or open showing classes and that's about it really.
 
Navaho - also completely ideal, but a bit far.

It is probably much better for me to take someone experienced with me. So gonna look locally first. I have a horsey colleague with very experienced daughters and in going to ask her if one of them might like to take a road trip with me some time.

Stuck in London today attending migraine clinic - riding seems to have worked where most other things failed.

Paula
 
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