And so the horse search begins.

My auntie has a lovely coloured mare that fits your criteria. She is in Leicester as well. If you want any info please pm me and i'll send you details and her number. She's done dressage, won showing, hunts. Only for sale as she has to many! Sure auntie won't mind me saying but she's in her 60's and has 4 as well as running a small livery yard!
 
Paulag said:
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.
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Don't you know you're supposed to buy a donkey as your first horse? ;)
 
Bernster said:
Falling in love horsey + sensible advice - does not compute ! :D
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Yes, but this could end in serious badness as she's very green. But that said it was pissing down with rain and the paddock was slippy as hell and she got taken out of a nice warm stable at 8pm at night to be ridden round it.

Frankly though I'd be happy just to plait her mane all day she so was so sweet.

Paula
 
Bernster said:
Falling in love horsey + sensible advice - does not compute ! :D
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Sounds very much like what me and OH have just done. OH has just started riding a 4 year old mare in order to bring her on for her owner to then sell on. Despite her being very very sweet OH said no we can't have her as she's not what I want long term and no you can't get attached. Seems like he's changed his mind as subject to vetting she's ours! :D
 
Madam Min said:
Sounds very much like what me and OH have just done. OH has just started riding a 4 year old mare in order to bring her on for her owner to then sell on. Despite her being very very sweet OH said no we can't have her as she's not what I want long term and no you can't get attached. Seems like he's changed his mind as subject to vetting she's ours! :D
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:) - that so was waiting to happen :)

I need to decide whether I want my dream horse that someone else may have to school for a bit while I take lessons, or whether I would be better off getting a horse I can jump on and ride straight off.

Paula
 
Paulag said:
:) - that so was waiting to happen :)

I need to decide whether I want my dream horse that someone else may have to school for a bit while I take lessons, or whether I would be better off getting a horse I can jump on and ride straight off.

Paula
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It is frustrating sometimes looking at horses and sometimes it seems you see the right one when you aren't looking. Good luck, hope you find your perfect equine partner soon and be sure to update us on here :)
 
Don't be too put off by age. They either have the right temperament or they don't. The rest is just schooling. I have a 5yr old cob who's the ultimate confidence giver and family horse and he's been like that since the day he was broken. And I know plenty of teenage horses who are still royal PITA at 15yrs old.
 
And I was awake at 5am this morning. I'm too old to behave like an overexcited child. Still I got plenty of sleep over the weekend so I'm not going to worry about it.

Yes Kallibear this mare had the nicest temperament I have ever met - although I haven't spent that much time around horses recently I'm very experienced with animals and can tell that she just loved people and fuss and was conpletely unspoiled temperment wise. I will arrange for someone experienced to assess her potential under saddle for me, but it would mean me continuing with lessons and her being schooled.

But there's no harm in investigating the dream. There's worse things in life than disappointment or even wasting a little money.

Paula
 
The only part of what I was looking for is that he is a gelding. The rest is completely off the mark but he arrives on friday!

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Although the mare you have seen sounds lovely, do make sure you sit down and think really carefully about what you want from your riding and how much time you have available before you buy something young/green. If you have missed out on riding for so many years, will you want to make the most of the time you have now?

I must say that being in my forties and returning to riding after a break, having an experienced been-there, done-it pony to ride is an absolute dream. I can go off hunting, hacking, to competitions and even to adult camp knowing that my pony knows her job and will look after me.

You have a decent budget and have only just started looking, so you may still find a horse/pony that meets your 'dream' criteria, have a fantastic temperament AND has been schooled and been out and about.

Sometime you just want to hop on and have FUN, like this:

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You are absolutely right. And there will be no rushing into anything. I still have my list of potentials - many of which have been suggested here - although sadly many of them are too far away for me to get an experienced rider to assess :(.

But I have spent my whole life doing the most sensible thing and all it really got me was a headache that lasted 4 years.

You have a Beautiful horse though. :)

Paula
 
OK so yard manager coming with me to see adorable horse at weekend. And oh god she's assessing my riding on Friday. I am so going to get laughed at.
 
Paulag said:
OK so yard manager coming with me to see adorable horse at weekend. And oh god she's assessing my riding on Friday. I am so going to get laughed at.
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:D:D:D Ah I know THAT feeling. But actually people there to help really do tend to be nice people, not meanies, am sure you wouldn't take her if she wasn't !
 
I don't think there is anything wrong with a young horse, if they have the right heart and head. I had a 7yr break from riding, when I got back into it I had two lessons a week - within four months I had myself a 6yr old giant (16.2, I'm 5 ft 2).

He is a gentle boy and I really enjoy learning with him. We have two lessons a week, and once or twice a month the Yard Owner (a super dooper show jumper) rides him for me.

I really enjoy feeling that we are improving as a team, and also watching the YO ride means I can see the improvement in the horse from month to month :)
 
Flame_ said:
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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I have a fab 14hh Fell pony and I am 5' 5" ! Do I look big on her? - erm maybe. Does she care? - not a bit, we have loads of fun. Very refreshing after a lifetime of "posh competition horses" :)
 
My 14.1hh pony as a teenager was quite big enough for me and I'm only carrying 1/2 stone more these days. Oh but he was a little whatsit. I may yet go for a big pony :)

All sorted for viewing at the weekend though.

Paula
 
ofcourseyoucan said:
i have a nice 14.2 connie and a 16.3 id/tb for sale stratford upon avon!
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I'll drop you a pm if things don't work out with this mare and you can send me some details.

On the bright side I slept until 6am this morning before I woke up overexcited. I have a riding lesson today - the instructor is also going to laugh at me . . . a lot.

Although I'm not sure it counts as an inpulse buy if you take an instructor along to assess her for potential and then a five stage vet check. . . .

Paula
 
Jamie-lee said:
I have a fab 14hh Fell pony and I am 5' 5" ! Do I look big on her? - erm maybe. Does she care? - not a bit, we have loads of fun. Very refreshing after a lifetime of "posh competition horses" :)
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Fells are fabulous and can carry much taller riders than people would imagine given their height, as usually they are stocky types and take up a lot of leg. My daughter is 5'8" but still rides Fell ponies for a friend of ours.
 
Well that was not the most successful riding lesson ever. I just find it so difficult to sit quietly and give correct aids on the poor riding school horses who are used to being booted in the ribs and actually get them going forwards.

Also 16.3 hands is officially too big - I did manage to stay on my feet and not just crumple to the floor on dismount but my knees had a serious opinion in it. :rolleyes:

Paula
 
Sooooo wish me luck. Today is the riding assessment at the livery yard to see what sort if horse would be suitable for me. Of course I could still ignore advice and buy what I like ;).

It's a hard life being sensible.

Paula
 
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