Buying the right horse - did you have a "moment"????

S

SouthWestWhippet

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 June 2006
Messages
2,343
Location
Somerset
Visit site
I had Polly on loan as a working pupil before I bought her and, when I left that position, I was umming and ahhing about whether she was the right horse for me to actually buy.

I had pretty much decided that she wasn't when i went out to catch-in one morning, saw her in the field and called her name. On hearing it, she turned round, all alert with her ears pricked and eyes bright to see who was calling her. When she saw it was me, she promptly flattened her ears and stomped off in the opposite direction, looking really cross.

I laughed so much at this, came back into the yard and told the girls that I'd decided to buy her. I think this was the exact moment I fell in love with her and knew she was right for me with her funny, quirky, cheeky ways.

So... did you have a 'moment' when you went to see a horse that told you s/he was the right one?
 
When I went to see the pony I ended up buying I walked up to his stall and he put his head over the wall, looked at me for a second, and then snuffled my entire face with his enormous moustache! I fell for him then!

When I got my rescue cats, I picked one up at the RSPCA centre, he looked at me, reached forward and licked my eyebrow. Yes, my animals are a bit odd...but so am I so we're well suited!
 
I knew my horse was right from the moment I sat on him. He was so willing to try - even tho he had only just been broken.

He had no personality in the stable, but that soon came out when I got him home - he makes me laugh every day now with his cheeky ways (even though he is lame and I can't ride him).
 
Ahhh bless, does the licking your face thing work for OHs as well LOL
wink.gif
wink.gif
 
I fell for my girl when she was 9 months old at a stud- my friends mare was being covvered there at the time.
the YO and everyone were sitting in the tack room having a cup of tea and there was a little foal walking around the yard.
I told them a horse was loose and they just laughed and said
" oh that will be pokey" apparantly she let herslef out whenever people where around to get some attention.
then the next time I went up and called her name and watched her unbolt her door (9 months old!!!) and come over to give me the BIGGEST slobbery kiss!!
That was the moment
3 years on and she has renamed Houdini as she gets out of everywhere! and still gives me a kiss and and shout every morning
Horse of my lifetime I think she is going to be!!!!
 
Nope, he was the first pony I'd seen (we weren't really looking) and I was 12 and impulse took over
blush.gif
, but it all worked out good
grin.gif
 
With Chloe, bearing in mind she was bought as a very safe hack for my mum, it was when I took her for a ride with the owners, and we set off galloping round a field and I could stop and start at will...
laugh.gif
I thought she was an ugly horse, and not my type, but still, she was spot on for what my mum needed, so told her to snap her up
tongue.gif


With meg, it was when she looked at me on my first visit. Her eyes were really dull and depressed. She didn't have a name, just 'the cob' and was the ugly duckling in a yard full of pretty show ponies. I'd have bought her regardless of how she was when I sat on her
crazy.gif
 
My son had lost his confidence, and refused to ride ever again. My daughter was still mad keen and we were told about a pony which might suit her. She had only just turned 2 so too young to 'try' a pony, so we went along and left her and OH at home. Son was sulking all the way saying he hoped I didnt expect him to see the stinky pony.
When we got there the owners had a huge lovely house and three lovely children, so my son decided he might just take a walk up and have a look at the dogs and chickens.
Their daughter rode the pony and my son said "mum? can i have a go?" We had his hat and body protector in the car so he went and got ready then got on. Shaking at first, but he even managed a little trot.
At the end I said it was time to get off. He threw his arms round the pony's neck and said "nooo! I never ever want to get off him".

I bought the pony there and then, no vetting, nothing. my son's confidence has rocketed, and the pony has given many children big smiley faces.
They have their first show next month
grin.gif
.
 
Yes-saw an tonne of really awful horses-when I 1st saw Paris, he was nothing special-very cowed. Went into the school and went round perfectly (came from a dressage yard-he had spent the last 3 years being ridden only in a school and BD) but had no life in his eyes at all, just did everything asked by rider-no sparkle. When I rode him, again very dead pan. Some very small jumps went up and he changed-bouncy, keen, with a 'let me at 'em' attitude, we roared round, bouncing about and squealing.
I then realised I had to buy this horse so he could actually have some fun! I hasten to add 4 years later having spent a season eventing him-he is the most difficult horse to school-spent our 1st dressage test together reversing up the centre line and spooking at the boards. He now rather fancies himself a 'hunt horse'....
 
Not so much me as my OH. We went from Wales up to Blackpool to view Sally and as soon as we walked into the yard (she was tied up outside her stable) my OH said thats the horse for you. I was a bit more cautious (having lost my confidence riding a green homebred youngster - who wasn't that bad it was just I wasn't the right person) 15 months down the line and we are both so so pleased with her - he was definately right!!
 
We ALL fell for our first horse when we were driving round looking for the place where he was. We could see this stunning horse standing proudly on the top of a hill - classic "wild stallion" pose and didn't realise that that was the horse we were going to see!

When we discovered all his problems I didn't think we should proceed but my husband and daughter were smitten. It was only that he was so good on the road that made me decide to give him a chance. If we hadn't had him he was off for meat because he was "dangerous".

He has taught us so much and given us so much love and has looked after my daughter as a total novice so well. The horse I bought because it was a sensible buy has never been able to tug at my heartstrings like Charlie. The moment I saw him I knew!
 
Yup.... With Dermot when they loose schooled him...After each jump he would turn in and look very lost and confused, in fact he genraly seemed uncertain. When I went to ride him I was very unsure...he was a big horse compaired to my fine 13.3hh pony, but I didn't feel slighty over horsed, remember I knew him as they horse for sale because he wouldn't let anybody on his back very long, so when a horse in neighbouring field came running and whinning I thought that was it...He ignored it....I just adroed hes temperment. He has always looked after me, god knows what I've done that he likes because even when I really piss him off, nagging him in the school he is yet to take me off however he has thought about iy. He realy is the gentlemen that looks after me. Though he is an angel now when I got him was very unsure of people, would tank off when tied up, lose it if you so much as raised your vocie or there was a whip about, wouldn't lead let alone trot up, didn't listen on lunge, when he spoked it was unridable, oh and he throw very twised bucks.
 
Yes I had a "moment" with Maiden. I had seen nine other horses and not got the "wow" from them, and although my YO told me to wait until I found a horse I knew I liked I tried to have one vetted but it fell through. I was totally despondant and was sure I wouldn't like the next horse I went to see. I had no idea what colour she was and her owner took me up to her field where there were two huge bay horses and a huge chestnut (quite nice but obviously not the "total schoolmaster" I had seen advertised). Owner then went off and disappeared down the other side of the hill and came back with this chunky, small, train-like grey thing... not at all what I imagined but exactly my type and what I had been looking for! I took Maiden off her owner and got to lead her back down the track to the yard, and I just kept looking at her plodding behind me and looking cute and ugly all at once and told her that she was "The One" and that I was sure I would buy her. That was within about 30 seconds of meeting her! When we got down to the yard her owner tied her up and took her rug off and there was this skinny ribby potbellied thing underneath, much chunkier though than anything else we'd seen (and smaller at 15.3hh than the 16.2hhs we'd been looking at). My mum looked at me as if to say "oh god look at that, it's another wasted visit because you don't like it do you...?" and I just grinned at her because I knew Maiden was the one I wanted! My mum was very shocked, she didn't like her! Turns out she was the best out of the lot, exactly as described and such a sweetheart and a safe and sensible ride, just what we wanted. Sadly we should have known she was too perfect for us though, she's now almost irreparably injured. Don't regret buying her for a second though!
 
I had lost my confidence big time after landing on my head several times off my mare, she was retiring as an old injury was playing her up and she kept having fits (we later learnt that she had brain tumours)

So, I went to see a young (rising 4) TB gelding. I don't know why, I just got a feeling from the advert. Watched him being ridden, popped on and rode him myself. He was nothing special, just a young green, growing into himself TB. Looked a bit odd too as he was in the process of a growth spurt!

What sold him to me was that in the next school to where I was trying him there were 5 little kids having a jumping lesson. Screaming with delight they were and he didn't bat an eye at them! Sold!

3 years on I have the most wonder partner in my boy! He is brave, bold and looks after his mum well! We have had wonderful success in dressage, show jumping and are going to event this year.

Not bad for a £800 wierd looking youngster that was unsure where his feet were going!
 
When I went to view J he came galloping up to me. His last owner said she'd never seen him do anything like it before. If I moved away from him he followed me and would nudge me to get my attention.
 
My mare I have now, i defiantely had that moment
smile.gif
After having a nightmare year or so with a naughty/problem youngster i was loosing the will to live and thinking of giving up! I'd heard about a friend needing to see her mare but didnt bother to go and look - then by chance my YO had brought her as a deal to sell on...while she was at our yard i offered to take her jumping one evening with someone else on there youngster...
Well got there, jumped on for the first time, had a play in the school then ended up jumping a course of jumps, some being up about 3'5ft. For somone who hadnt jumped for ages, it was brilliant, I felt sooo happy and comfortable on her i nearly cried lol and decided then and there i wanted her myself
smile.gif
The other thing that made me smile was i'd jumped her no problem so my friend who used to champion SJ in her time had a go - first time round to the jump, she stopped and girl went flying - now I know its not funny, just knew that she was meant to be for me
smile.gif
Soo cue spending all my savings buying her and selling my youngster....best thing i've ever done and youngster is in a brill home, comeing on nicely
smile.gif
 
mmmm, think it was when I had my first lesson lesson on T (he was at a riding school for a few months) after riding cobs/ponies for a few weeks to get back into riding (after 15 year break). I asked for canter and he leapt across the school with me - I got that amazing adrenalin rush and remembered what I loved about riding! He was also very affectionate in the stable and looked after me on my first hack out in 15 years.

For him though it's taken us a long time to bond being a TB. I hadn't seen him for 3 days recently (due to work) and OH was wetting himself laughing when he came over the stable and saw Ty, who had decided to welcome me by resting his head between my boobs......mmmm, very odd!
 
Me and my lad had a moment, not a very good one mind you haha. I was on work placement and he was up for sale, lovely looking chap, bit of a beast at times rode him a few times and he certainly had life in him! My dad came to see him, little bugger chucked me off more times than i had ever come off before, took off with me, bucked, was just been a little sod and my dad said 'right we are buying him'!

So he bought him, since he wanted me to have a pony with a bit more life and wan't so much a push button ride.....he is still a nutcase at 22, and still far from a push button ride. I have lost my confidence with him on a lot of occasions but also got it back with him. But he is a lovely horse and I woudln't change him, the only thing which would have stopped me from buying him again if i could go back in time would be his height, he is only 13.1 so would prefer him to be a but bigger but that is the only thing i would change.
 
I knew I wanted him when saw him on the internet. Then first time I "met" him he was lying down in his stable, fell in love there and then, even though he did try and buck me off....
tongue.gif
 
After a really bad accident with a horse, which left me very, very nervous and then seeing some really unsuitable ones, as soon as I saw Ella and I knew she was the one for me. She had been in a good riding school for 18 months or so and they were such lovely people and wanted her to have a nice home as a happy hack. I had a little walk out on the roads with her and bought her there and then, 3 days later she was delivered. That was 9 months ago and she has given me so much confidence, she is just the kindest, loveliest mare and we all love her to bits, including my other 3 horses
smile.gif
 
I definitely knew, I couldnt take my eyes off him and he was just perfect to ride, when he hacked out along a bypass and a bus and a bike flew past him and he did NOTHING- i knew!!
 
When I went to see Louis I knew he was "the one" straight away. I'd seen a tonne of other horses and actually went to this yard to see a different horse and but found it very sweet but a little dull. They said that they had been to Ireland to pick up some hunting horses and had picked up a little chestnut but he was very green and fizzy (I had told them I wanted something calm and sensible as I had had a bad accident on my last horse). Anyway I took one look at the the gangly orange monster and was smitten. Got on him for a ride and got thrown off after 5 mins when someone hooned through the field on a quad bike...well I was sure after that...quirky and orange
grin.gif
Rode him a few more times and he was very green and a bit loony but he just had that something.

So I went looking for a 8-10yr old, quiet, schoolmaster type and came home with a 4yr old loony, quirky, orange monster
grin.gif
 
It is interesting to see that some people fell in love with their horse for being so "good" whilst others fell in love with a "naughty" side.
smile.gif


I definitely always fall for the naughty ones. LOL
 
Yes, the seller sent me some pictures of him in his full Welshieness trot and I fell in love hook, line and sinker. He has been such hard work at times and is so incredably opinionated...he can bronk for England too. But I adore him and could not change him for anything. Yes, I would buy him again as he is great, a real partner and full of character which has helped my riding no end!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
It is interesting to see that some people fell in love with their horse for being so "good" whilst others fell in love with a "naughty" side.
smile.gif


I definitely always fall for the naughty ones. LOL

[/ QUOTE ]

I know, I seem to be a sucker for the naughty ones
grin.gif
 
Lady I just felt sorry for but i loved her sweetness and spirit.
Fudge and i just instantly clicked and I did have a moment when i knew he was the horse for me.
To be honest I think all my pets have picked me, my terrible tortie wouldn't even let me look at any of the other rescue cats, Fudge i just trusted straight away after he licked me like a big dog, both Lady and my dog were so sweet and loving I couldn't bare to leave them at the rescue centre even though they weren't what I was looking for.
 
I think the only horse Ive felt I HAD to buy was one I have now. He wasn't really what I was looking for if Im honest. But we went to see him anyway on a freezing day just after New Year. He was thin as hell, very scraggly coat (had been wintered with no rug and he is a horse that definately needs a cosy rug!) and very depressed looking. I remember he basically stood at the back of the stable showing no interest in the world at all. He was on a busy yard which didn't suit him as he was ignored a lot. He was so quiet, you would have thought he was doped! But I went in to see him and he vaguelly looked at me and turned away again - that was it. I knew I had to have the horse just to make him happy again!

He was very depressed for about 2 months after I got him home, but very slowly began coming out of his shell. 3 years on and he's such a happy boy, he's got a best friend in the field so every day I see them playing about nibbling each other knees and bronc'ing about! He neighs to me, loves being worked and is just generally happy with life now.

I have never regreted buying him, he's actually turned into a little superstar - which I knew he would be as he just had that super honest look about him. He's remained overly polite though, I think because he'd been so submissive during his younger years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top