Buying a better horse than you actually need

[Birker2020]

Getting your weight down to a point where you can have lessons is a real focus. Losing weight will open up your horse buying options too.

I'm not just lecturing, I'm currently shifting my own lockdown weight gain in order to feel comfortable to be riding my own wonky mare, who has been pronounced fit to ride again after suffering a major pelvic injury.

I know. I might be wrong in thinking, so apologies if I cause offence but i think you are over 50 too? Its that much harder. Currently sat on a spin bike in the studio waiting for my class, Sat, Sunday and Monday were swim lessons.

 

[Birker2020]

Slightly off track, and it’s a shame restrictions mean you can’t get lessons atm. I was a bit worried about my weight when I was trying. I told buyers that I was looking for a middle weight within a height range. Checking back on my messages, I didn’t say what weight it needed to carry but I did send some videos of me riding to check it was viable. Woild be awful to have pitched up and be told I’m too heavy to try the horse ?

Your last sentence -my biggest fear. I lack confidence anyway so if someone said that I'd be horrified.

 

[splashgirl45]

could you look at slightly older for something that wants a quieter life? and have it vetted for what you want to do and not Badminton and Burghley prospects...my friend bought a 16 year old mare for hacking and fun rides and maybe low level RC..our vet told her he would give a good report and say suitable for low level RC. but he wouldnt have if it was a 16 year old person who wanted to compete every weekend and do lots of galloping about ...she did loads with her and retired her at 28.. we later traced her old owners and she actually was 18!! even so she stayed sound for 10 years and my friend had loads of safe fun on her...not saying as old as 16 but maybe 14?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Yep agree. But not too old as they are more likely to develop joint issues. But then so could a four year old i know.

I've long come to the conclusion that any working horse will develop joint issues and at what age is down to the grace of god.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I know. I might be wrong in thinking, so apologies if I cause offence but i think you are over 50 too? Its that much harder. Currently sat on a spin bike in the studio waiting for my class, Sat, Sunday and Monday were swim lessons.

Yes, I'm 63, so I have a few years on you, I think .

It's a mix of motivation (get back on the horse), exercise (cycling and walking) and the right diet (for me, Dr Michael Moseley's Fast 800).

I've shifted 26lb in 6 weeks, and while I've just sneaked back into the upper end of the healthy weight range, I am aiming to get another 20lb off to get to the mid point of the healthy range. I'm built like a rugby player, so I'm never going to be Twiggy, but that will do me.

I feel loads better and much less creaky already. I think I'd be accepted for schoolmaster lessons at my current weight (12 stone 8lbs), but not sure? I'm going to look into to them, for sure.

Good luck.

 

[Birker2020]

Yes, I'm 63, so I have a few years on you, I think .

It's a mix of motivation (get back on the horse), exercise (cycling and walking) and the right diet (for me, Dr Michael Moseley's Fast 800).

I've shifted 26lb in 6 weeks, and while I've just sneaked back into the upper end of the healthy weight range, I am aiming to get another 20lb off to get to the mid point of the healthy range. I'm built like a rugby player, so I'm never going to be Twiggy, but that will do me.

I feel loads better and much less creaky already. I think I'd be accepted for schoolmaster lessons at my current weight (12 stone 8lbs), but not sure? I'm going to look into to them, for sure.

Good luck.

Wow that's so much more than I've done, well done you! I really have no excuse. I take on board about 1400 cals a day some days, other days 1200. Could never do 800, that's so hard. Tonights a bad night, steak, potatoes, veg and peppercorn sauce.

 

[Birker2020]

I've long come to the conclusion that any working horse will develop joint issues and at what age is down to the grace of god.

Ha yes you are right, physio friends horse with juvenile arthritis at four, another, a promising 6 year old burghley young horse too. The native dancer/northern dancer blood lines that are so diffused in the equine population causing huge problems too. Total lap of the Gods.

 

[Red-1]

I wholeheartedly recommend the noom diet, it is so much more than a diet.

I lost 4 1/2 stone over the last couple of years. Got stuck at 11st, noom got me down to 9st5. I was previously in the obese category.

 

[AdorableAlice]

The native dancer/northern dancer blood lines that are so diffused in the equine population causing huge problems too.

I doubt either stallion will feature in the general all round pleasure horse purchase and certainly not worth worrying about.

 

[Birker2020]

I doubt either stallion will feature in the general all round pleasure horse purchase and certainly not worth worrying about.

Actually you are wrong theres one for sale at the moment with Northern Dancer in its bloodline.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Actually you are wrong theres one for sale at the moment with Northern Dancer in its bloodline.

So you consider all horses with that bloodline to be unsound and unfit for purpose ?

 

[Birker2020]

So you consider all horses with that bloodline to be unsound and unfit for purpose ?

I only go by what I've read and the conclusions of much research. https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/triplecrown08/columns/story?columnist=nack_bill&id=3399004

I don't know enough about horse genetics to say if its correct or not but the article makes very interesting reading.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Ha yes you are right, physio friends horse with juvenile arthritis at four, another, a promising 6 year old burghley young horse too. The native dancer/northern dancer blood lines that are so diffused in the equine population causing huge problems too. Total lap of the Gods.

What? I know so many (and have owned) horses with that bloodline. Never knew there was some specific trait relating to arthritis/joint issues ?

Then again, I sort of just buy the horse in front of me and live under a rock.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I only go by what I've read and the conclusions of much research. https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/triplecrown08/columns/story?columnist=nack_bill&id=3399004

I don't know enough about horse genetics to say if its correct or not but the article makes very interesting reading.

Interesting indeed. I do admit I'm not crazy about seeing a lot of Northern Dancer, or any horse, really, multiple times in a pedigree. Makes sense to have more balanced breeding practices.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Horse quest 263084

Very decent stamp apart from colour, but a good horse is never a bad colour, unless you dislike chestnuts which I do.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Interesting indeed. I do admit I'm not crazy about seeing a lot of Northern Dancer, or any horse, really, multiple times in a pedigree. Makes sense to have more balanced breeding practices.

Is the OP buying a racehorse or a basic pleasure horse ? Trotting down the centre line hoping to achieve 70% or pottering across a few hunt jumps is within the remit of most pleasure horses.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Is the OP buying a racehorse or a basic pleasure horse ? Trotting down the centre line hoping to achieve 70% or pottering across a few hunt jumps is within the remit of most pleasure horses.

Yeah, I'm not denying that ?‍

 

[ester]

Wow that's so much more than I've done, well done you! I really have no excuse. I take on board about 1400 cals a day some days, other days 1200. Could never do 800, that's so hard. Tonights a bad night, steak, potatoes, veg and peppercorn sauce.

Fwiw I didn't lose anything unless I was sub 1000 calories most days of the week (usually 5/7), however much exercise I was doing. Which is why in any previous attempts I'd given up because what I was doing that should be working wasn't working. Even now people say did you just start eating healthily then, nope there was way more to it than that.

 

[bouncing_ball]

When I went buying again I was looking for another one of him, which of course, there wasn't. The more so called 'educated' horses I tried the more disappointed I got. I had some horror rides including getting bucked off two and trying two that were on happy pills. Not impressed when I had driven 300 miles to try it.
.

Horsey happy pills? Sedalin? ACP? How did you find out?

 

[splashgirl45]

i cut out bread,potatoes and pasta and had either chicken or fish with loads of veg, i love cauliflower and have had cauliflower curry tonight, lovely... instead of potatoes i used sweet potatoes as i didnt need to smother them in butter...i lost almost 2 stone inabout 3 months , have put 7lbs back on as i was really upset when i lost my collie so ate cake....i counted calories and wrote down everything i ate so i could allow myself a small treat

 

[AdorableAlice]

Horsey happy pills? Sedalin? ACP? How did you find out?

hangi

Horsey happy pills? Sedalin? ACP? How did you find out?

Hanging sheath that he couldn’t put away when poked and rode like a drunken skunk. Very obvious acp.

 

[Birker2020]

What? I know so many (and have owned) horses with that bloodline. Never knew there was some specific trait relating to arthritis/joint issues ?

Then again, I sort of just buy the horse in front of me and live under a rock.

Its a very interesting read as is the stuff about the malformation of the neck and a skeletal statue somewhere in London that is based on a famous horse that died in a War and he had the same malformation of the neck but they didn't know when they built the exact replica of his skelton some 200 years ago or whatever it was. Its only come to light in the last decade.

Here is the link, my horse had the same issue, but it was subtle, it was a transposed process on C7. She wasn't badly effected with it although she did display ataxia every now and then. https://thehorsesback.com/c6-c7-malformation/

 

[sportsmansB]

I think you need to be wary of buying a horse which has been living a competition lifestyle and trying to turn it into a pleasure horse. While all should be happy with food, warm stable, turnout, exercise - if they are used to living in a busy competition yard, getting out to shows weekly, having all the facilities on hand, etc - they may not settle to a more laid back life easily. I tried to move my horse to a smaller yard with more turnout and better hacking, he hated it. Lost at least 50kg, and most of his sparkle, had to bring him back to the big competition yard where he blossomed again, age 16.
He also, despite being at the quieter end of competition horses (doesn't bronc just for sport, and a rear and spin is rare) he is still not a quiet ride as such. He is used to being ridden with purpose everywhere he goes, all the time. No moseying around for him, it makes him nervous that he is not getting any instructions.

I understand what it is like having ridden a lovely moving horse (the grey in my sig, sadly no longer with us, was a flashy girl and looking for her replacement was such a challenge as everything else felt plain as a ditch) but please buy the horse that suits you now. You'll have to compromise on something at the end of the day, and you'd soon get used to a lesser mover if they ticked lots of other boxes.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I think you need to be wary of buying a horse which has been living a competition lifestyle and trying to turn it into a pleasure horse. While all should be happy with food, warm stable, turnout, exercise - if they are used to living in a busy competition yard, getting out to shows weekly, having all the facilities on hand, etc - they may not settle to a more laid back life easily. I tried to move my horse to a smaller yard with more turnout and better hacking, he hated it. Lost at least 50kg, and most of his sparkle, had to bring him back to the big competition yard where he blossomed again, age 16.
He also, despite being at the quieter end of competition horses (doesn't bronc just for sport, and a rear and spin is rare) he is still not a quiet ride as such. He is used to being ridden with purpose everywhere he goes, all the time. No moseying around for him, it makes him nervous that he is not getting any instructions.

I understand what it is like having ridden a lovely moving horse (the grey in my sig, sadly no longer with us, was a flashy girl and looking for her replacement was such a challenge as everything else felt plain as a ditch) but please buy the horse that suits you now. You'll have to compromise on something at the end of the day, and you'd soon get used to a lesser mover if they ticked lots of other boxes.

This is such good advice. The horse I wrote about came out of a professional yard and had been a stallion. His routine was vital to him as I found out when he arrived in rural Worcestershire with me. In the pro yard he was on the walker after breakfast, then on the lunge then schooled, washed off, solarium, groomed and put away. Afternoon back on walker, pick of grass in hand and put to bed. Competed weekly, he was fit and occupied.

He came home with me and I told him his life would be much better, lots of freedom, no walker etc etc, yes a routine but much more relaxed in his own lovely field with a friend. I was so ignorant in many ways about his needs. He simply had a melt down when I turned him out and it took 12 months for him to settle to his new routine. He still went out competing and was ever the professional on the lorry and at shows but at home he was a nightmare to look after and a constant worry. His ability to trot over 5' post and rail didn't help either. Even today at age 27 and 17 years in my ownership he still has to have a rigid routine or he gets upset. At least now in old age he has given up jumping the gate in and out of the yard ! There is no doubt some of the professionally raised and kept horses are very set in their ways and struggle with change.

 

[splashgirl45]

Its a very interesting read as is the stuff about the malformation of the neck and a skeletal statue somewhere in London that is based on a famous horse that died in a War and he had the same malformation of the neck but they didn't know when they built the exact replica of his skelton some 200 years ago or whatever it was. Its only come to light in the last decade.

Here is the link, my horse had the same issue, but it was subtle, it was a transposed process on C7. She wasn't badly effected with it although she did display ataxia every now and then. https://thehorsesback.com/c6-c7-malformation/

very interesting article but quite scarey to read

 

[The Irish Draft 2022]

Be careful I now people who bought a grand pre jumper she was retired from that level and sold to a normal rider. She was very reactive and was difficult to handle on the ground .

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I don’t think there’s any issue with buying a horse doing more than you want to do with it, but I would be wary about clearing out savings to do so. The one and only time I spent most of my savings on a horse she broke a month later (despite a 5 stage vetting) and I lived in constant fear of how I’d do right by her once the insurance money was used up. In the end we were forced to PTS due to a secondary injury but I still remember the stress of worrying how I’d cover additional emergencies if anything else had cropped up.

 

[mini_b]

I've long come to the conclusion that any working horse will develop joint issues and at what age is down to the grace of god.

very much feeling this. It’s honestly a toss up. You can be as conscientious as you like but it seems to be hit and miss what stays sound and what doesn’t.
My next horse is going to be a rocking horse - can’t cope with the lottery of it ?

 

[AdorableAlice]

very much feeling this. It’s honestly a toss up. You can be as conscientious as you like but it seems to be hit and miss what stays sound and what doesn’t.
My next horse is going to be a rocking horse - can’t cope with the lottery of it ?

Probably have wood worm and still cost a fortune !

 

[mini_b]

Probably have wood worm and still cost a fortune !

? yes more than likely.

I have a penchant for big things that go bang sooner than I’d hoped for cars, husbands, horses.

Might get a mini and a sh*tland.
Not sure what I can trade him in for to be honest.