Buying from riding school?

[TillyF]

I am looking for a happy hacker pony. I have tried a cob pony, he took some effort to get into a canter, bit lazy. Apparently he can spook on a hack. I think both of these will be ok to deal with. Owner said she won't sell him to a child, as needs a firm hand.
He is currently in a small riding stables, 15 horses. He has been there 6 years.
He would be living out with 1 other pony at ours, with others over the hedge!
Can anyone suggest any issues with this?
Anything I should think about?
Thanks so much.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I'd be very cautious. Possible problems I have encountered when RS ponies are sold to.private homes:
- dramatically reduced workload
- a career of learning every trick in the book
- an over reliance on the person in the middle rather than listening to the aids of the child on top
- being in a very fixed unvarying routine with a herd and struggling with change
- being more of less institutionalised

I've seen ponies go and it work ok but an awful lot come back. Especially the longer they have been there.

 

[vmac66]

Bear in mind that horses taken out of the riding school environment can be very different in a private home, not always in a good way. I've had an ex riding school pony, luckily he wasn't there too long but had learnt a lot of evasions during that time.
Best way I can describe the change in them is that they wake up.

 

[TillyF]

Thanks for your thoughts. Hes only being ridden a couple of times a week at the moment, as he is too big for the smaller children to ride. Also they feel he would be better making a bond with one person - to give him confidence.

I think I will go and try him again before making any decisions.

 

[TillyF]

Thanks - he could probably do with a bit of waking up! Not too much though

 

[HorsesRule2009]

With him being from a riding school, and you wanting to hack just check that he'll hack out alone.
And if he does is he confident and does go alone does this escalate the spooking?
I know alot of riding school ponies both at schools and then when in a private home.
And they can be unsure when Hacking alone as only used to going in a group.
Even if happy to march out at the front in a group setting won't necessarily mean they'll be happy and confident alone

 

[Ample Prosecco]

An RS pony lacking in confidence, needing a firm hand? I'd definitely avoid and how he is on viewing is almost irrelevant. He could be completely different in a new environment.

RS horses generally are fairly confident because routine, predictability etc builds that. If he still loses confidence even in that environment I would be very wary of his shut down ("lazy") behaviour turning into nappy behaviour. Or even explosive behaviour.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I personally would also ignore any talk of 'bonding' being the answer here too. A 'lazy', spooky horse is not going to become a calm, confident one through bonding but through training and experience plus their own temperament. The bond is the cherry on top when horse and rider are in tune with each other, trust each other and can communicate well with each other. It's not the thing that turns a spooky horse around. At least not without an awful lot of work and training too.

 

[TillyF]

Thanks. Yes I want to check he hacks alone, was going to ask to see that on second visit, or do it myself.
Humm making me question it a bit more now, thanks. Not sure if I have the experience to train him.
So tricky to find a nice happy hacker at the moment!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Is this pony for your daughter to replace the one you had so much trouble with and have recently sold on or for you? I only ask as little cobs can become very opinionated without firm management and extremely strong in open spaces. Personally I would find a trainer to work with, let them assess your current capabilities and then go and find a pony together that suits your needs perfectly. Something sane, honest, willing, has manners and you feel totally safe on. Confidence is fragile and ponies are clever and know when to take advantage and from your description of this cob I think it will do just that in no time.

 

[TillyF]

Hi thanks. This is for me rather than my daughter. But I think he might need more training, than I have time/knowledge for. Shame, as was v sweet

 

[JackFrost]

I personally would also ignore any talk of 'bonding' being the answer here too. A 'lazy', spooky horse is not going to become a calm, confident one through bonding but through training and experience plus their own temperament. The bond is the cherry on top when horse and rider are in tune with each other, trust each other and can communicate well with each other. It's not the thing that turns a spooky horse around. At least not without an awful lot of work and training too.

Agree this. 'Lazy' and spooky and needs a firm hand = disrespect and disconnectedness from the rider. Not sweet. Could be temperament, could be previous experience, but IMO not a horse to take a punt on if you want a happy hacker.

 

[AmyMay]

I had an ex-riding school pony. She was challenging to the max, and very nappy initially and wouldn’t hack alone.

We did turn it around and she became a great little horse (hunting really helped).

But absolutely approach with your eyes wide open. They are often not easy.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thanks for your thoughts. Hes only being ridden a couple of times a week at the moment, as he is too big for the smaller children to ride. Also they feel he would be better making a bond with one person - to give him confidence.

I think I will go and try him again before making any decisions.

That sounds like the best plan. The owner seems to be a responsible seller, if she won't sell to a child, she obviously knows her ponies well.

I have bought 2 horses, over the years, from RS. The 1st was a cob gelding who drove commercially in summer and joined the RS in winter, he was a fabulous 1st horse, taught us a lot.
The other was a Clydesdale mare who very much appreciated leaving the RS behind to be a family horse. In fact she went, while we were moving house, for about 3 months to stay on a friend's farm, where friend ran a RS - and she sulked, if she was expected to go out with a group or carry anyone who wasn't one of her family riders.

 

[Skib]

I am a hacker. I would avoid a horse that spooks. One can train them and ride keeping the head low but better to start with one that doesnt spook. An R S horse used to going first is often fine solo. A follower not.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I had an ex riding school pony years back. He hacked alone and really thrived in a one to one home.

You need to judge the pony as an individual. If you want to hack alone, then you need to find out if he hacks alone before buying him. RE spooking, I've not met a horse that doesn't spook at *something* the question is, how dramatic are his spooks? Can you cope with them? You could have lessons to school him up and improve the canter as long as it is just a schooling issue.

 

[TillyF]

Thanks, he did a little spook with me riding, bird in a bush flew out, and that was fine. I think younger children have found it they get unbalanced when he spooks.
Have asked to talk about him hacking alone on Wed.
But am thinking he prob isn't quite right for me.