Anyone just given up when looking for a new horse???

Yes, we stopped looking and just had lessons a couple of times before finding a suitable horse. I was so excited when I decided to buy a horse but looking for a horse was such a nightmare! I posted on here several times in frustration.

I eventually found my perfect horse, and would suggest not sticking to firmly to your criteria as you could miss out on the perfect horse for you. Mine was smaller, finer and younger than I intended and well under budget but she has risen to every challenge and I genuinely couldn't ask for more!
 
I really struggled to find what I was looking for and would agree that being a bit more open minded regards height and breed etc can help. I'd been looking for a couple of years and had a very good budget for the right horse. I was advised to look at a horse that hadn't yet come on the open market, he was the wrong size (too big) wrong breed (almost full TB) not as established as I wanted and quite sensitive. He was also coloured with four white stockings which frankly is my least favourite colour. BUT he had a lovely temperament, was forward going with lovely paces and had beautiful manners. Importantly for me, he was also pretty bombproof in traffic. He was also a lot cheaper than i was intending to spend. I've spent some of the money I saved on training and he's proving to be as kind and willing as I'd hoped. I absolutely adore him but if I'd seen him advertised I would have completely discounted him.
 
I was looking for 9 months and despaired of ever finding the right horse but I was amazingly lucky in the end and found my saintly Bilbo. He cost me less than 3k though I spent probably double getting him into decent condition. I looked on horse quest about 3 times a day and phoned as soon as I saw a suitable ad come up (which wasn't that often!)
Also I wonder if you might take the route I did - being a cob Bilbo was very on the forehand and not very strong behind, but after a year of me having lessons on him and him being schooled once or twice a week by a decent rider (not me!) he is working really well, and I have also enjoyed and learned from the process.
I would also think that looking for a hunter is a good idea as they will be the height you are looking for and have seen and done lots.
Don't give up!
 
Thank you all for your replies, I really didn't expect to get much of a response................."Oh no another moaning minnie!" but, no, you have all be lovely.

I've always been the first to think....just pull yourself together and get on with it, life is what you make it and it's up to you to make it happen. This previously useful attitude has been part of my problem recently. Thinking it must be me. I'm not searching correctly, etc etc.....but now I realise it's normal for many people to struggle to find a horse, I can relax a bit more.

I too view the main sites 3, 4 or 5 times a day and grab the phone and car keys asap. However, recently I've come to realise I need to act quickly yes, but, stop trying to make it happen, because I can't and that has been a VERY hard thing to accept. It's too tiring anyway to be on full alert the whole time months on end so I'm going to keep looking, follow up on leads, but, be a little more chilled about the process.

Thank you all. x
 
Isn't it a total nightmare!!!

I've bought 5 horses in the last 8years. Each and every time I've proved that if the horse on paper seems worth the money and it isn't sold within 2weeks, then someone else has tries it and decided it is not as described. (Yes yes I am sure there are the odd exception)

The mare I have now on paper seemed expensive. However her owner at the time knew how special and rare she is, so asked a higher price and got it. She was probably £1-1. 5k more than what similar were going for.

If I had to help a friend look I wouldn't bother with anything that wasnpricedbfair and been advertised for more than 3 weeks. This ONLY APPLIES to horses suitable for your average riding club rider though

Sorry to anyone selling who might have the exception
 
Reading this made me want to add - I ended up buying slightly younger, slightly bigger and more expensive than my criteria. I was after a been there done it school master type. Ended up with a green ish 5yo. Oops. However, he's so talented, has a great attitude and has lots of potential. You need to put work into any horse and I enjoy clinics and lessons more than competing, so actually it's proved a really good decision. So far anyway ! Like people told me on here, you'll know when you find the one for you :-)
 
Does it have to be a wb or ISH type?

A friesian would be the size you want and most of them are sane and sensible (although I do appreciate not everyone's cup of tea) and a decent one nicely schooled and with miles under the belt would be within your budget.

Also have you considered other coldblood crosses (cob x tb) or suchlike? They can be very useful horses, sane, sensible and would come in at the height you want?
 
I would broaden your search. Decide what is the most important quality for your new horse and put that word/phrase into a search engine. Be prepared to read every ad that comes up, no matter which site it is on. There are big, well schooled confidence givers out there. Have you seen the former police horse on DD? I have no idea why it was retired or how it comes to be for sale now, now whether it is currently sound but would imagine it is worth a look at the ad.
 
I haven't read all the replies but I was in the same position as you and found putting a wanted advert on horsequest the best way to find a genuine horse and that's how I found my new boy who is coming at the weekend:) good to get in there first before the good ones are advertised!
 
Thanks 9tails, but , that's 200 miles away!

Soulfull, that has been my experience, on the rare occasion I visited an "older" ad it's been a wasted trip. From the beginning I've tried to be quick to any potentials and can now sniff out a "too good/cheap to be true" quite well and although as you say there will be the odd genuine quick/cheap sale there are too many of the other sort!

I get where you are coming from Bernster to stay open to possibilities and I do try........never search with any criteria now, just see what pops up. 5 and green is a no no though!! Can't wait to be able to get schooling and going to clinics, even bought a beefy 4x4 so I'm ready!

Madlady, ( I'm sure you're not) of course I don't mind what it is labelled, but, am not keen on cobs, but, a x would be great. Same with fiesians I hadn't thought specifically of them as I really do try not to prejudge what might pop up, so it's more about how the ad reads and location of course.

Pearlsasinger interesting approach which I haven't used, so will do, thanks. Your neck of the woods appears to be home to a few of "my type" I have noticed over the months.........I live in the wrong place, south coast is lovely, but, not the best horse buying country! The ex police horse you mention, at 19h, would struggle to squeeze into a trailer I fear, let alone a stable at the average livery yard, but, I catch your drift so thanks.

Sparkey a wanted ad it will be soon to ad to my other.

Once again thank you all. x
 
To look at the problem from another angle. You say you are a rusty rider who would like to ride better. You view horses and like them but feel they are a little too much horse for you just now. It costs several thousands per year to keep a large horse. Have you considered spending the first years horse keep money on a combination of a share horse and plenty of lessons for that year, then look again to buy when your riding has improved?
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I would broaden your search. Decide what is the most important quality for your new horse and put that word/phrase into a search engine. Be prepared to read every ad that comes up, no matter which site it is on. There are big, well schooled confidence givers out there. Have you seen the former police horse on DD? I have no idea why it was retired or how it comes to be for sale now, now whether it is currently sound but would imagine it is worth a look at the ad.
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That is not right. The advert says it served with Cumbria Police. I have been a Police assessor for Mounted Police for as long as this horse has been alive, travelling the country. Cumbria has not had a Mounted section in that time. Oops.:o You would have thought they would have picked a Police force that actually HAD a mounted section...:D:D
 
Just wanted to say I feel your pain, I very nearly gave up. But i couldn't help myself and kept looking and hopefully the horse Ive just bought will turn out to be the absolute star/darling that he seems to be.
 
Red-1 said:
That is not right. The advert says it served with Cumbria Police. I have been a Police assessor for Mounted Police for as long as this horse has been alive, travelling the country. Cumbria has not had a Mounted section in that time. Oops.:o You would have thought they would have picked a Police force that actually HAD a mounted section...:D:D
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You would have thought so, wouldn't you!

I must admit I did wonder why a 15 yr old had been retired from the police and then moved on from its next home, which is what the ad sounded like. It just goes to show that you should do your homework when reading ads, preferably before ringing about the horse and then to check out what you have been told about its history.

OP, I remember when I was looking after having to have a young Clydesdale pts all the suitable horses seemed to be at the other end of the country!

I can't say that I have ever really struggled for months before finding the right horse, though.
 
Bernster said:
Reading this made me want to add - I ended up buying slightly younger, slightly bigger and more expensive than my criteria. I was after a been there done it school master type. Ended up with a green ish 5yo. Oops. However, he's so talented, has a great attitude and has lots of potential. You need to put work into any horse and I enjoy clinics and lessons more than competing, so actually it's proved a really good decision. So far anyway ! Like people told me on here, you'll know when you find the one for you :-)
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Lol I did the same thing as you. Went looking for a school master type and got a 6 year old non school master, but he is awesome and was being used in the riding school. I swear he knows when I am nervous too as he stays calm until I am better and only then will he do his little 'spooks' at silly stuff. Not really spooks either, its just wide eyed looks of terror and maybe a step to the side.
 
Just to add that ISH are not automatically more laid back than TB. If you have a traditional ISH so TB x ID then if the stallion was a TB, you tend to have offspring which look more like a TB, and vice versa. ISH could now also mean a large dose of warmblood.

I wouldn't disregard a nice TB though. The easiest horse I ever owned was an exceptionally well bred NH TB who never made it to the track. Ended up selling him to a very novice friend (staying on our yard). If he had been human he would have spent his life on the sofa chilling!

I too am hunting now. To be fair I seem to only found really honest people and there have been horses I have opted out of because of the discussion I have had with the owner. I am not rushing this time though and want to be really sure!
 
sparky1981 said:
I haven't read all the replies but I was in the same position as you and found putting a wanted advert on horsequest the best way to find a genuine horse and that's how I found my new boy who is coming at the weekend:) good to get in there first before the good ones are advertised!
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Hi. Can I join the "why cant I find a horse party" I am looking for a happy hacker and it sooo difficult. Everything seems to have a quirk, I am too old for quirks now. I was thinking of putting an ad on horsequest sparky, I am glad that it worked out for you.
 
Crikey I didn't think the thread would still be going.

Thanks everyone

Firefly ....of course I want to improve my riding, don't most of us? I enjoy learning and improving and like to try and do things as well as I can, but, I can ride just fine for hacking and even jumping (although not done much of either recently) so take your point about some kind of temporary share.

Until getting back into the saddle, (after I lost my mare) with a very good classical instructor on her schoolmasters, I hadn't realised what "riding" was. If that makes sense?? I do however, need practice, miles of it to, build muscle memory to really consistently get dressage riding "in an outline" (hate that phrase). I have yet to view a horse I thought would be too much horse for me and not because I'm a good rider or brave (far from it)but, because I just don't go to those.

I have viewed ones too green / nappy lame etc. which I would have liked but for those things! Sorry to sound defensive that was not my intention it's merely that the thought that maybe it's because I'm not good enough, crossed my mind once very briefly before i reminded myself that I'm perfectly competent on a relatively well behaved, ( "normal") horse, and by that I don't mean riding school plod either.

On the police horse front I must admit I thought I'd read somewhere they retire quite old and actually properly retire??

Ahh 9tails I know, I know it could be lovely.. I've just temporarily lost my umph to go too far. Thank you though......occasionally have to think of the husband being dragged around the country too!

Hadn't thought of an arab. I did used to share a pba who was a great hack.

Luci of course you are absolutely right I do try not to generalise I only mentioned an idx as that seems to be what lots of horsey people have said to me and because in the size range there are only so many "breeds" / crosses that come up.

Happy hunting Ponyclubmumz don't be disheartenend by my experience you'll be much better at it than me!


Many thanks all

I am restored (ish) . I am fit and healthy have a wonderful husband, the sun is shining. I am blessed. x
 
been there got the tshirt, been through heartache, dispair, been lied too, and even questioned getting another horse.... I did finally find the right one after almost a year of searching....with very little compromise on my list and she is wonderful in every way, i look at her now and feel blessed to of finally found her, the right one for you is out there.... just have to see alot of not rights untill you see the one and you know its perfect for you !! stay positive = )
 
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