Buying a better horse than you actually need

[Birker2020]

Reading between the lines a bit and I could be totally wrong, but that horse doesn't seem like one that would take care of an average or rusty amateur rider. Sounds like he also needs structure, work, and thrives in an environment with much (competant) exercise and with a competition driven individual.

Might be fine for a good rider in a solid training program though.

I could be totally off base, but just my feeling. Video would also help. If nearby I might be inclined to look if a chat on the phone went well/owner and we agreed that I might be suitable for the horse/the horse suitable for my needs and skills.

Edit: saw the last post, I'd have messaged and arranged a chat with the seller before making an offer. I understand the market is "hot" but just my opinion.

There are videos on the ad. Fingers xsed. I love him, I'd give him a great home and have a weekly lesson of the semi pro on the yard. He'd be brilliant for me, fill me with confidence I think.

I've texted the owner and we are talking later. I just need to view him, I won't know till I ride him, if I was good enough to get a 7yr old horse WB from nothing to elementary dressage and from nothing to discovery height jumping and do eventing I am sure I can cope. Yes its been a long time and I could still do with losing a lot of the weight but all I can do is try him and I really hope I get the chance.

 

[sportsmansB]

Reading between the lines a bit and I could be totally wrong, but that horse doesn't seem like one that would take care of an average or rusty amateur rider. Sounds like he also needs structure, work, and thrives in an environment with much (competant) exercise and with a competition driven individual.

Might be fine for a good rider in a solid training program though.

I could be totally off base, but just my feeling. Video would also help. If nearby I might be inclined to look if a chat on the phone went well/owner and we agreed that I might be suitable for the horse/the horse suitable for my needs and skills.

Edit: saw the last post, I'd have messaged and arranged a chat with the seller before making an offer. I understand the market is "hot" but just my opinion.

I think thats a very carefully worded ad about a horse which could be a bit quirky tbh. As long as you ask all the questions you need firm answers to, like management (seems to need ridden every day), will he go away from other horses (they aren't recommending him as an eventer although he has evented, could be nappy issues...), etc etc hes worth a look and I'd have thought with him on at 14.5k they'd consider offers around 12.5k for sure.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

There are videos on the ad. Fingers xsed. I love him, I'd give him a great home and have a weekly lesson of the semi pro on the yard. He'd be brilliant for me, fill me with confidence I think.

I've texted the owner and we are talking later. I just need to view him, I won't know till I ride him, if I was good enough to get a 7yr old horse WB from nothing to elementary dressage and from nothing to discovery height jumping and do eventing I am sure I can cope. Yes its been a long time and I could still do with losing a lot of the weight but all I can do is try him and I really hope I get the chance.

Whoops, must've missed the videos on my phone.

Best of luck and I hope you get a viewing.

Edit: More thoughts...I was also good enough to get a horse up a few levels in eventing years ago, but perhaps not so mentally capable now. It also depends on the horse. So sometimes, past experience isn't an indicator of what you will do in the future. At least in my case I am not sure that he is a "confidence giver" but he's a nice horse, and I don't want to endlessly critique someone's horse. I have my feelings on the suitability, but I know neither you or the horse irl, so...sort of irrelvant, really. I imagine you'll know if its a good fit at the viewing or on the phone.

 

[paddy555]

he seems to be 10 not 7?
Looking at the 3rd video of handling and hacking. There seems to be a gap in showing him out hacking. Nothing of him trotting and cantering in open countryside, nothing with traffic. Fine with all the kids and ponies but there is a handler on the ground next to him. The write up says he can spook and needs a competent rider. He is a lovely horse but like CC I am not so sure on the confidence giver part.
12500 seems to be a very respectable offer. I hope you get a viewing.

 

[splashgirl45]

Don't like, not my type.

If I could buy any at present it would be this one http://www.horsequest.co.uk/advertisment/258532

I love him. Would go up to £12.5K but stand no chance sadly

i love him as well, a 15.2 version would be ideal for me but he sounds like he could be suitable. you will know if you get the chance to try him...good luck

 

[nutjob]

Good luck Birker2020 FWIW I really like him. Of course you won't know until you see him if he's right for you but in the arena eventing video he looks pretty straight forward and I assume it's the owners 16yo daughter riding not a pro. I would ask for the registered name and look at his BE / BS record if I were you before you go. Also look at the record of the rider(s) as well as the horse itself.

 

[Birker2020]

he seems to be 10 not 7?
Looking at the 3rd video of handling and hacking. There seems to be a gap in showing him out hacking. Nothing of him trotting and cantering in open countryside, nothing with traffic. Fine with all the kids and ponies but there is a handler on the ground next to him. The write up says he can spook and needs a competent rider. He is a lovely horse but like CC I am not so sure on the confidence giver part.
12500 seems to be a very respectable offer. I hope you get a viewing.

Hi Paddy555 - I don't think i ever referred to this one as being 7?? I've just read through all my replies and can't see that I have but stand to be corrected. I have had the King of Spooky horses for the past 17 years so think I would be okay if its just the occasional spook and I am competent enough to sit on a horse that one second can be facing North the next South as this happened hundreds of times. It says he is good in traffic and with tractors so I assume he is safe.

When I say I want something to give me confidence I am on about a horse that won't be 'looky' at fillers. If he jumps fillers for fun (and with his winnings he would appear to be okay with them) then that is all I want. I know show centres vary tremendously with fillers and I've seen horses on video jumping plain fences at shows so understand that.

I am (I would say) competent sitting at spins at lightning speed but not competent going on a normal stride and stopping and dropping a shoulder one nano second before take off because the colours are too bright or pychedelic looking. I have an air jacket so would be wearing that at all times anyway if I was to buy this horse (or when I buy any horse).

There are a lot of horses for sale without any videos, this is the longest and most comprehensive video I think I've looked at (the hacking one). Maybe they don't have any 'safe' roads by them or maybe they thought what they provided on film was enough.

I really don't think I would be over horsing myself, he looks a dear, but who knows. I can only try him like I did Bailey. We grew a partnership. The thing is, and I'm not looking at rose tinted glasses, but I would commit 110% to this horse (or indeed any horse I bought) and it would be a forever home. Sometimes the sellers appreciate honesty and I might not be the best or most accomplished rider in the world, but I have all the best intentions and can offer a brilliant five star home on a five star yard and this time I would enlist support if I ran into problems as we have a semi pro. I only want to do the odd unaffiliated jumping class and that won't be for a good while yet as I need to fit into my old show gear again lol.

Please send me your positive vibes, I so want this horse really badly.

 

[throwawayaccount]

haven't had chance to read the whole thread yet birker so apologies if I get anything wrong,

hope you find the right horse for you and i wouldn't be afraid of knocking anything down, what with the way things are at the moment with the constant price rises and cuts to everything else, i think the market price will drop as people will be desperate to sell.

my second horse was a school master type and if i am ever in the position to get another, that's what i'll look for- of course horses are a high risk animal/sport to be involved with but if i can miminise the risk i will.

if you think its worth exceeding your budget and eating into emergency funds then i would, if it was 100% the right horse- but i'd be wanting to build it back up asap, so that depends on your own financial circumstances of course.

good luck x

 

[paddy555]

I don't think i ever referred to this one as being 7?? s.

sorry, this can't be the same one as the horse you refer to in post 151. Getting them a bit mixed up.

Is the horse 14500 with the 3 videos (who is 10) the one you are hoping for a viewing with? Last video shows him going for a walk with kids, ponies and a walker?

 

[Birker2020]

haven't had chance to read the whole thread yet birker so apologies if I get anything wrong,

hope you find the right horse for you and i wouldn't be afraid of knocking anything down, what with the way things are at the moment with the constant price rises and cuts to everything else, i think the market price will drop as people will be desperate to sell.

my second horse was a school master type and if i am ever in the position to get another, that's what i'll look for- of course horses are a high risk animal/sport to be involved with but if i can miminise the risk i will.

if you think its worth exceeding your budget and eating into emergency funds then i would, if it was 100% the right horse- but i'd be wanting to build it back up asap, so that depends on your own financial circumstances of course.

good luck x

I am quite good at saving and at the moment can save £180 a week. When I had a horse it would probably drop down to £120 a week.
The problem always lies when I have to have time off work sick or when its the long Xmas break as I don't get paid. Unfortunately despite being told at interview I could do a couple of hours overtime a week, (ideal when I've got holidays coming up) I've since been told this isn't going to be allowed which I am a bit peed off about.

I doubt the car engine or relatively new boiler will blow up.......

 

[splashgirl45]

lots of good vibes from me, you know i like him and hope if you get a chance to try him that he is the one, we can always pick holes in adverts but meeting the horse will let you know if the ad is correct......temperament is the most important thing IMO and he seems to have that....lots of luck

 

[AdorableAlice]

Don't like, not my type.

If I could buy any at present it would be this one http://www.horsequest.co.uk/advertisment/258532

I love him. Would go up to £12.5K but stand no chance sadly

Enhance the picture of him stood up and have another look at his limbs.

 

[splashgirl45]

just let her go and try him, many horses without perfect looking limbs never take a lame step..my old mare had straight hocks, did loads of RC stuff and only problem i had was with an accident when jumping where she got a hairline fracture on her front leg. never lame but then got arthritis when she was older and at 24 sustained a stifle injury in the field..its different if OP is looking for a badminton horse but for general RC type stuff you can get away with a less than perfect conformation...

 

[stangs]

I wish you the best Birker - if nothing else, he looks like a sweetheart.

Enhance the picture of him stood up and have another look at his limbs.

I’m awful with conformation, what do you think is wrong with them?

 

[Birker2020]

Enhance the picture of him stood up and have another look at his limbs.

Yes long pastern, windgall near hind and slightly post legged hinds which can lead to spavin. The word being 'can'.

I will have anything I see vetted but I appreciate your input. Like others have said, no horse will be perfect.

 

[windand rain]

As I see it you buy a horse dependent on whether you like it, if it is safe for your purpose, has the talent or more incase you are more ambitious, has good enough conformation to at least start out strong and healthy and be within a boundary of the money you can afford to part with. The horse on the otherhand needs a human to feed, care and meet is needs beyond that it doesn't care whether it is a lawn mower or an olympian.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I know you are already going to look at a horse and I wish you lots of luck but just wanted to weigh in here:

Gosh yes. I'm 5ft 10 and have always had 16.3hh - 17.1hh's. But thanks anyway. My feet would be on the floor.

This was my last one, I want the same again if I can.

View attachment 80369

I'm taller than you (5'11") and I have an inside leg of 34/35".
I have always ridden and preferred big horses, over 17hh where possible as I feel "right" on that size. However, I am not in the same physical condition these days with back issues and Fibromyalgia so had to change my wants and expectations a fair bit when horse shopping last time. I now have two horses, a young 16.1 (poss slightly bigger) Connemara x Cob and a 15.1/2 traditional Cob. I also help exercise my friend's 14.2 trad Cob (I admit I do feel silly on this one lol). It's surprising how a proper Cob or Cob type with a decent amount of bone can take up your leg....my lad is currently "chubby" which we are working on but even at his best weight I don't look ridiculous. I understand you have a "type" that you like, my dream would be an 18hh Clydesdale lol, but sometimes it really is worth thinking a little outside of the box.
I would never have usually gone out of my way to look at either of my boys but they are both perfect for me

 

[Birker2020]

I've spoken to the owner of the horse i love on the phone. Everything seemed great, she answered all my questions and he seemed like he was made for me, he hacks out on his own, he isn't spooky with fillers and doesn't do stopping at fences. He has lovely manners on the ground, is shod every five weeks, never been sick or sorry. So I excitedly arranged to see him and then she dropped the bombshell that someone is viewing him saturday morning.

So that's it, dream over. Back to the drawing board. Feel gutted ☹

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I thought I'd share these pics so you can see what I mean...please excuse photo quality...my friend is a terrible photographer ???

Me on Rocket, he's 15.1 (ish)
Then on Rex, 16.1 (ish)
Test driving Jack, he's 14hh
Me and Tonto, he's 14.2 leading Jack
Me and Belle, she was a French Trait Breton and 15.1
Lastly Me on Ruby, she was 14.1

 

[AandK]

Can you not book time off work if he really is ticking all boxes?

 

[stangs]

Keep in mind that the person viewing may not end up liking him. I do very much sympathise with getting too excited over a horse just for something in the buying process going wrong, but, whilst I don’t recommend getting your hopes up, your dream’s not dead until Saturday at least

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Ah you never know, he could be not right for that person.

 

[splashgirl45]

they might not like him or suit him, make the appt to go and see him on saturday if you cant get there before and phone after the other viewing to find out if they have taken a deposit..... if you really like him, which you do, dont give up at the first hurdle, how far away is he?

 

[Red-1]

Oh, I hope the people viewing in the morning don't like him. Or, procrastinate! I would still book to go, if you like him, get that deposit paid!!!

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I strongly believe what’s meant for you won’t pass you by. That said in the current market if you really do believe he’s the one I’d find a way to take time off this week and view him beforehand.

 

[Birker2020]

I strongly believe what’s meant for you won’t pass you by. That said in the current market if you really do believe he’s the one I’d find a way to take time off this week and view him beforehand.

I wish i could but the lady works full time so she couldn't even if i could and she has children too.

He's over 1.5 hrs away which is more likely 2.5 hrs in rush hour on the M6. So if she doesn't have floodlights its a no go.

I will ring her tomorrow and see if i can go up after work, i might be able to leave early if my partner can make it.

 

[TGM]

Popping his breeding into the British Eventing database it seems this horse's registered name is "Happy as Lari" and the videos of "Happy as Lari" on the internet seem to look like the horse in the ad. So you might want to have a search on his name. His BE record does show him stopping and being eliminated XC quite a few times but this might not bother you if you only want to do SJ and dressage, as it could just be down to him disliking water or ditches, or perhaps being nappy.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Popping his breeding into the British Eventing database it seems this horse's registered name is "Happy as Lari" and the videos of "Happy as Lari" on the internet seem to look like the horse in the ad. So you might want to have a search on his name. His BE record does show him stopping and being eliminated XC quite a few times but this might not bother you if you only want to do SJ and dressage, as it could just be down to him disliking water or ditches, or perhaps being nappy.

I hadn’t looked at the ad before my last post but just realised this was one I’d previously looked at (to be clear I didn’t view him) and ruled out as personally speaking a few things didn’t add up. I hope he’s right for you OP, but please as with any horse go in with your eyes open.

 

[Birker2020]

I thought I'd share these pics so you can see what I mean...please excuse photo quality...my friend is a terrible photographer ???

Me on Rocket, he's 15.1 (ish)
Then on Rex, 16.1 (ish)
Test driving Jack, he's 14hh
Me and Tonto, he's 14.2 leading Jack
Me and Belle, she was a French Trait Breton and 15.1
Lastly Me on Ruby, she was 14.1
View attachment 80514View attachment 80509View attachment 80510View attachment 80511View attachment 80512View attachment 80513

Thanks but I don't want anything under 16.3hh, all my six were between 16.3hh - 17.1hh. And height is not debatable. Nice photos by the way.

 

[ycbm]

Thanks but I don't want anything under 16.3hh, all my six were between 16.3hh - 17.1hh. And height is not debatable. Nice photos by the way.

I get this, Birker, and I used to face the same questioning as you do. I felt exactly the same until I hit my late fifties, when I bought a 2 year old expecting him to make 15.2. He's now heading towards 16.3 and I absolutely love riding him!
.