Decision post (long and rambly)

hellsdarkrose

hellsdarkrose

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I'm going to loan a horse through my riding school. Arrangement is basically £20 more than I pay for a lesson for 1 lesson a week plus riding the horse when there aren't lessons. This would mean I could ride Monday, Thursday, Friday in the evening, Saturday afternoon and sunday all day if i wanted
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I would have to help out caring for all the riding school horses one saturday morning a month. (this will help me learn)

My dilemma is that there are 2 horses available. 1 I have fallen in love with and I'm not sure is suitable. She is a 15-16hh grey mare who is quite green I rode her on saturday and it was lovely but she spooks a lot even in the school and she has a very sensitive mouth due to past mistreatment before the school rescued her. I'm not sure I would feel comfortable hacking out on her on my own. However me being 5'9 means she is about right height wise for me she also loves TLC and grooming.

The other horse well I say horse he is 14.2 max and is a hairy young cob. He is a little green but a lot further along than the mare and I was thinking of trying him this weekend just to make sure I don't feel like a giant basically.

It's really a decision between heart and head. head says cob is more suitable. heart says grey mare because I have fallen in love
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I say heart! You will have the support of the riding school and lessons, so you won't be completely on your own, and she will probably settle in the school if she is green now.
 
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I say heart! You will have the support of the riding school and lessons, so you won't be completely on your own, and she will probably settle in the school if she is green now.

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Funnily enough that's just what my mum said. Instructor said I could probably take her on a month trial and if we really don't get on I can try someone else if anyone is available.

i have seen how she moves when YO rides her and I want to be able to ride her like that.
 
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Can you not have the cob type first then switch after six months or something?

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unfortunately probably not. Once you loan a horse people tend to loan them for a long long long time. So really if I pass up on her now it is highly unlikely she will be available again.
 
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Can you not have the cob type first then switch after six months or something?

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unfortunately probably not. Once you loan a horse people tend to loan them for a long long long time. So really if I pass up on her now it is highly unlikely she will be available again.

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What does ur instructor think? They prob know which would be best - sometimes the one we really want isn't always the right one or sometimes they turn out to be the best partnership ever!!
 
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Um, if you are fairly new to horse care and riding,

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care yes I am new riding i'm not so new
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She is the same to care for as the cob it's just riding her that is different.
 
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go for the cob - its scary having a horse for the first time and if you have doubts now dont do it. go for the fun chap !

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Thaks for the help. It's just all so confusing. I think i will give the cob a go as he will be safer bet for me I think.
 
I would go for the cob! then again I am biased as I have one!

Cobs are very versatile and can be quite forgiving if you are relatively inexperienced. i would have never given a cob a second look before I got mine, snobbery I suppose and the fact that they have the reputation of being slow and for beginners, don't let this put you off! Mine can do dressage! and has a huge jump! (well he did he is off work at the moment)

He can be very spooky though and this can really dent your confidence if you have a spooky horse so I would be inclined to say don't go for the mare as the cob sounds a bit more 'stable' in his outlook. Also if the mare has mouth problems she will need someone with very kind hands and experience. As for size the cob will prob be bigger built than the mare so you may not feel he is too small as you will have plenty of horse to sit on!

My cob LOVES attention and he is really intelligent, telling me where he wants a scratch or a tickle! he loves being groomed and pampered and is totally besotted with my children!
Don't dismiss the cob under all that hairyness you may find you have a real character hiding who will give you many years of fun and pleasure! Also he may look a bit scruffy at this time of year with a winter coat etc, come spring you may be able to trim him up a bit and get him looking really smart, will you have the chance to go to shows as you may be able to show him and jump him!

Let us know what you decide to do!!
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I would go for the more established of the two - the cob. To be honest I am suprised that the school are offering the grey horse on loan as she sounds so green.

Personally I think that these type of deals are money for old rope for riding schools - and I also think that they're probably quite unfair to the horse, especially the younger ones. In most cases they are still expected to do the same number of lessons a week - despite having a 'loaner'. However it does help people like yourself get to grips with horse ownership.

You should also find out what day the horses is scheduled to regularly have off - so that you factor that in to your plans.
 
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