Buying a horse "sold from the field"

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alibanni

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Hi, I'm after a bit of help please.
I've been looking for a horse for the last six months or so and nothing that I can afford has quite tickled my fancy!
I was moaning about this to a friend of my OH, who just happenend to know somebody who knew somebody.
The horse is being given away (it belonged to their father who was a farmer and has since died) but only to a good home and through word of mouth and hasn't been advertised.
She sounds lovely, 15.2, welsh Dx friesian, ride and drive.
I'm going up to see her this week to see if we get on BUT she hasn't been ridden in over a year and the rest of the family which are now looking after the farm don't ride. Don't really fancy just jumping on her back after this amount of time but the only other option I can think of is some lunge work or long reigning. What does anyone else think as I only have so much gear at home, I don't know what's available up there etc. Are there any other options?
 
Would they let you have her on trial for a month or so? If she has been sat in the field for over a year then surly if she isn't 'sold' for a few moths they won't mind.
 
I'd ask to have it on trial for 'x' weeks, and send it to a professional to get on it's back. It may cost you anywhere for £15 a day plus.... but at least you would get a professionals opinion, and won't cost you alot to get their opinion
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My friend got given a cob for free, and she broke him, and he has turned into a beautiful show pony!
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Sometimes you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth! But still be cautious xx
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I think if you are getting her for free, then go for it...
What can you lose? She sounds lovely btw, can't wait for updates and piccies
good luck
Kate x

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What can she loose!?
Ummmm, well.... she could end up with a horse she can't do anything with and then can't sell on - if it's got any serious issues. It happened to me and I ended up having to have the horse PTS 4 months later. Something the original owner should have had done. They say never look a gift horse in the mouth..... I'd disagree. Look doubly close!

OP, she sounds lovely but just proceed with caution, and assess her just like you would any horse you were thinking of buying. Have her vetted before taking her on, even on trial. The last thing you would want is to become attached to her, only to find out down the line that there was some sinister underlying problem. It happened to me and I could have saved myself a lot of trouble, expense, time in hospital and heart ache, if I had before taking my 'freebie' on.

The trial thing sounds perfect. If you can spend some time working with her on the ground you will soon gauge her temperament and decide whether she's likely to be a bronking/bolting lunatic or something you could work with and would be happy to own. Have you someone experienced who could work with you and her together?

BTW, how old is the mare and how much did she do before having her year off? And was it definitely just one year she's had off? Sometimes years pass by......

Fingers crossed for you. Hopefully she'll be a lovely mare in genuine need of a new home. Keep us posted
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I took a pony on loan "off the field", that I later bought. I was also the first person on his back in over a year, with someone leading. He cautiously walked a few hundred metres, and then promptly dumped me in a mud puddle with a giant spook at something random. For some reason I took him on loan anyway, and for me, things have worked out. I would, however, not generally advise this approach!

I second the idea of asking if you can have her on trial for a month, and while she's on trial, get her checked out.
 
Welcome!
This could be fate handing you your perfect partner... however, fate doesn't always work like that so while I personally would still get excited, go in with your eyes open.
If you're competent to assess the horse yourself, and happy to be the first one on board, a trial sounds like a perfect solution for everyone.
If after a month you decide this one isn't for you, they've had the horse brought back up and will find it far easier to rehome her. If you find serious issues, they get warned and can act accordingly.
If it's all going well, you can get vet, teeth, back, whatever you want checked, see her ridden by someone else, all before you decide to commit yourself.
Keep us updated and good luck!
 
She's 16 years old which doesn't bother me. It is just a year she's been in the field as that's from just before the father died and i've seen pleanty of photos from just before that under saddle and driving.
She's always been on the farm so never been to shows or anything like that. But all i really want is a happy hacker and something that will pull my little cart to take the kids for a drive at the weekend etc.
I agree with the month loan, that seems like a really good idea as currently she's not too far away from me.
Think I will take my assortment of headcollars with me just incase and hope she doesn't put me off in a puddle too!
 
Ah well, her age is on her side. Particularly if you've lots of photographic evidence of what she's done in work. She should know her job by now, even with a year's break
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I'd be on the phone arranging that visit to see her!
 
Go see her and have a good talk with her owners you've got nothing to lose. My boy was out of work for 2 years. Eventually told by vet to get on and ride him and he was as good as gold.
 
To be honest a year isn't that long at all.

I think the main thing is when you do something with her, i,e be it long rein or lunge or lean over her, her reactions are what you are going to be looking at. On the plus side the breeding is lovely and on your side (if you know what I mean)

I think you will be able to paint some sort of a picture when you do go see her and of course do not do anything that will freak her out!! you could always tack her up and when you lunge/line her and see how you go from there.

Definitely let us know how you get on please.xxx
 
UPDATE!!!!: I went to see her today and I LOVED HER! They told me that she could be a bit funny being caught, well she came straight up to me and let me put her head collar on. I put her saddle and bridle on and led her up the lane and back for about a mile and she behaved fantastically. So then we tried a ride, she jogged a lot to start off with but soon settled down and we had a great time. Felt like fate, as I said, they family reconed that she can be a bit funny and to 'watch out for her a bit', well she loved me and i loved her, So............. I'm picking her up next Thursday and she's coming home!!! Really really exited
 
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