Did you 'click' with your horse when you first tried it?

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Javabb94

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Tried a horse today and I am finding it impossible to decide whether ti buy it or not!

It was a 5 yr old 16.2hh ISH and he had such a fantastic temperament. The only thing putting me off is the fact that I was finding him very strong, he wasn't trying to take off, just strong and the fact that I'm 5ft 11 and 8 stone didn't help either!

He was lovely in walk, trof etc I jumped him and he didn't rush and had a super action.

He was being ridden in a myler comfort snaffle full cheek with grackle and as mum pointed out I could also change his bit if I'm finding him a bit strong!

At one time I would have said any doubts at all say no however I have heard people on HHO saying the horses they clicked with on their first trial ended up being mistakes and the ones that they were undecided on turned out fantastic!
He was great at jumping and got me out of trouble when we hit a bad stride!
I find it really hard, impossible infact,to decide whether to buy a horse after 1hr of riding!

Thanks :D !!
 
I clicked with mine the moment I saw her! I liked her eyes...

You sound like you like him - why not have another ride on him, or a lesson if possible? Strong horses can be good horses, as long as they are nice natured.

Good luck!
 
Mine felt right when I rode him, then he took off bucking up the field, threw me off and I landed on my head and got concussion. I went back twice to try him again before I bought him!
Go back and try him again.
 
If he's just strong and it's not naughtiness why not go back and try him again? Ask if you can do groundwork then ask yourself if you can see yourself with the horse. I'm sure him being a tad strong can be helped with lessons/schooling or a change of bit
 
noblesteed said:
Mine felt right when I rode him, then he took off bucking up the field, threw me off and I landed on my head and got concussion. I went back twice to try him again before I bought him!
Go back and try him again.
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Similar, though mine took off broncing as soon as my bum touched the saddle. I stayed on, tried to do a bit of steering and eventually we came to a grinding halt. She seemed rather embarrassed by her outburst and then worked sweetly, so as she was the right height pretty and as stated in the advert (though broncing wasn't mentioned) I bought her.

Rash perhaps but I'm very pleased with my choice.

Go back and try him again, he sounds a good sort.
 
The one that i've just brought after a very long search I knew felt right within the first 5 mins and so far although not fully settled in is proving to be what I wanted & expected.

Same with the previous one, I knew straight away and before that can honesly say I didn't know well enough what I was looking for!

I did see lots this time round and there were two others that I liked but there was something that I wasn't sure about with each. I mulled them over but decided the fact that I couldn't make up my mind meant that they weren't right and i was just wishing that they were the right one.

I'm not saying don't buy but definitely ask yourself the question whether you are prepared to have a stronger horse than you were looking for and how high up the priority list it is, if you can honestly say to yourself it's not a problem go back for a second look!
 
Oh to be 5'11 and 8 stone......but to get back on topic...yeah I have with the 2 I bought for riding.Paid a deposit subject to vetting he same day. BUT the 2 youngsters I have had I clicked mentally. But I got a supposed nutter for £1 and with a bit of work we have clicked.Down graded her bit after getting her teeth done! Loved her straight away but "different" to what I was used to. Did not sit on her when I went to see her. ( even your 8 stone would have killed her) Lessons, change of tack and regular work and building a bond by handling everyday works wonders.
Good luck and keep us posted xx
 
I didn't click with either P or Calv really- though C we'd made an offer for before I got off as he was exactly what we were looking for (maybe a hand bigger than ideal :p) and although I couldn;t really ride him, that wasn't his fault and I wanted him as a step up to learn on and with.
Pip and Ginga we really didnt like- when they were still for sale 2 months later and we were giving up hope of ever finding anything we agreed to buy them, having been pretty sure we didn't want them!
 
Yep. Was feeling pretty nervous as had lost my confidence.. within half an hour i was cantering up a hill and jumping a course of jumps... i knew he was the one!
 
Mine chucked me into a puddle spooking at something the first time I tried him. So, err, that would be no, then... :p To be fair to the wee mite, nobody had sat on him in over a year at the time. :D
 
The first horse I went to view as soon as I saw him I fell in love. He had the kindest face and the kindest eye you have ever seen, he was affectionate, despite being 17h he lowered his head to let me tack him up and as soon as I got on him I felt safer than I had in a long time. When the owners decided not to sell I was absolutely distraught because I had clicked with him so much. The second horse I went to see was perfect for me on paper but there just wasnt that connection. The third one came up to me with the same soppy face, licked my hand like a puppy would and I clicked with him the same way I did the first one. Needless to say I took him before anyone had a chance to change their mind! Even though on paper he is so, so wrong for me, and the second horse was everything I had been looking for, I went with my heart and it was the best decision ever!
 
I was going to look at 2 Trakehner mares...walked by a grey Trak. gelding...nope...didn't want a grey, a gelding or a cribber (he had a cribbing strap on).

Tried the first mare, she was OK but didn't "hit" me.

Went back and stared at the grey gelding who cribbed.

Tried the next mare...she was Ok, just didn't click.

Went to look at the grey gelding who cribbed.

OK...let me try him! CLICK! It was as if I owned him for a year. Jumped him around and took him over a 5 rail....Big bascule, lovely horse...he was mine.
 
All three of mine was given to me because they were naughty so didnt get chance to click. When my friend had trouble with her three year old cob went to have a look see he had a sense of humour in his eyes. Just love scareing her running at her and being a bully. So id say we clicked i knew where he was comming from and life was just a laugh to him. He loves seeing people run away from him After twenty years i still find him funny.
 
My old girl yes but more emotionally than ridden. Still together after 17 years. B unbacked but I sat on her in field and yes u could have heard the click several miles away. New boy yes and I am working through his faults because of it. The one i'm selling no I fell for her looks but 4 years later still no click.
 
Thanks for your replies!

I can't try him again unfortunately although i would love too!

He was just strong in canter, like I was struggling to collect to get a rhythm.

My mum videod me jump him and I thought it would look awful as I felt like I was constantly tugging however when I watch it back (which I have done over and over again!) I don't look like I'm pulling at all and he doesn't look strong!

I'm looking for a horse to BS on and that's a step up from my current one who hasn't really taken to competitions! And obviously I know that I need a more athletic horse which may be stronger than what I'm used to.
I think part of it was it was because it was the complete opposite of java, who is so backward it's unreal and I'm not used to riding something so forward although I ride a 17hh 5yr old who is classes as strong but the horse I tried felt stronger

I know it can be solved with groundwork as he needs to soften up and a change of bit, but I'm worried I'm taking a risk
 
I also think its a bit of a risk

If you haven't felt 100% comfortable with the horse in its own home there is a possibility it could be much worse later. If it takes a few months to settle or when out competing it could became stressed and any problems usually get worse.

Yes you could use a stonger bit and school etc etc. But forward going strong horses tend to stay that way. Is he competition fit, if not, they usually get worse when they are.

I guess it depends on your ability to cope. Ask yourself if you feel you could stop him if he really tried to take hold and would it put you off riding if he did.
 
Not really, no.
I was looking at Arabs, and the one I'd seen before the one I bought was in show condition, very fit, very shiny and generally looked fantastic. I really, really wanted him and had a vetting booked when he was sold without warning to a friend of the seller. The next one I went to see (who I've now owned for over 10 years and is my horse of a lifetime :D) was plump and fluffy, with bad rain scald and a sand crack. She wasn't in bad condition at all, she just wasn't looking her best. I also found her quite slow and lazy to ride, but then again she was very unfit. There were two things about her that got me though - when we first arrived she was in her stable eating with her back to us, but when the owner called to her she turned around and I saw that she had the most beautiful dark eyes I'd ever seen set in an incredibly pretty, kind face. Then, even though she was lazy to ride, when we got into a field and the owner asked if I would like to canter, she just lit up and sparkled. It was wonderful! So I didn't exactly "click" with her but there was something about her that felt right. And I'm so glad I went with than instinct :)
 
I knew before I got on that he was the one! But the last one I looked at I thought was the one too and it chucked me off! UM!

However the One that I originally got unbeknown to me was very strong in the mouth and strong! However he always stopped and never bolted etc. I only changed his bit to a full cheek to stop it going through if I ever had to turn him into a corner(which in 10 years happened once). He had been driven and it is when I started going to a riding school I realised how gentle and soft in the mouth the other horses were and just leading another horse was like leading air! Although they had their faults too.

However he is 110% on the ground and good in all ways,traffic couldnt find a better horse etc.

I would go back and also perhaps see if someone you trust finds him the same. If you go out try to canter him towards home and see if he stops(thats a thing we always do)! Open space etc etc

Good luck if they want it to go to the right home they will let you try a few times.
 
YES! I fell in love with him the minute he popped his head over the stable door! And then when I rode him, it was as if he understood me and looked after me; great lack of confidence at the time, and a broken leg (undiagnosed!!)

We have had our ups and downs, of course - but he really is the perfect horse for me after all :D

I did try him again and before I took him home, had a lesson on him (from the chap who had been schooling him and knew him inside out) - which was a very good idea, I'd say. Why can you not have another go on him? I would suggest this was vital and I'm sure it would help make up your mind.
 
rockysmum said:
I also think its a bit of a risk

If you haven't felt 100% comfortable with the horse in its own home there is a possibility it could be much worse later. If it takes a few months to settle or when out competing it could became stressed and any problems usually get worse.

Yes you could use a stonger bit and school etc etc. But forward going strong horses tend to stay that way. Is he competition fit, if not, they usually get worse when they are.

I guess it depends on your ability to cope. Ask yourself if you feel you could stop him if he really tried to take hold and would it put you off riding if he did.
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I agree a change of bit may not help, if he is strong, he may always be strong.
He is competition fit on mix, barley, sugarbeet and haylage.

I could stop him ok, (although took a bit longer on than on J!) it was just in canter i almost felt like i couldnt sit down into the seat as i was constantly pulling but when i asked him to stop he was ok :confused:
 
MrsHutt said:
YES! I fell in love with him the minute he popped his head over the stable door! And then when I rode him, it was as if he understood me and looked after me; great lack of confidence at the time, and a broken leg (undiagnosed!!)

We have had our ups and downs, of course - but he really is the perfect horse for me after all :D

I did try him again and before I took him home, had a lesson on him (from the chap who had been schooling him and knew him inside out) - which was a very good idea, I'd say. Why can you not have another go on him? I would suggest this was vital and I'm sure it would help make up your mind.
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undiagnosed broken leg!:eek: ouch :eek:

I will PM you :D
 
Sadly not. I have heard buying horses should be like buying a wedding dress and you just know. I have just looked for something that fits the brief and that I really want to ride. I'm hopefully I might click with one eventually :)
 
I think if you are unsure a second try is essential before you say yes, if for some reason this is not possible, I would say leave it and look elsewhere. Usually there is some feeling of getting on and feeling that, even if it is not perfect , you want to keep riding the horse. As a SJ its canter is most important and it should be fairly easy to ride not feel like a battle of wills.
 
I sat on my horse after seeing 34 and before I even jumped her I knew I wanted that horse turned out to be a big mistake so instinct isn't always right wished I'd have taken my instructor with me! Now stuck with a gorgeous 5 year old ISH that isn't suitable for me I needed a schoolmaster!
 
I did click with her straight away and knew she was the one from the moment I went into her stable :)

As for you, I'd go with your gut feeling. If you think it's something you can cope with/manage, then I'd go for it but if not, then keep looking. It might just be you're not used to him and how he 'works' if you know what I mean so if you do go for it and buy him, it might just take a little while to get used to him and work out what combination of tack/riding style etc he likes best :)
 
When I have tried horses out it has more or less been a straight yes or no once I have got off them.

One in particular was Harley. I went to our local dealers (they were know for being abit dodgy and not selling the best of horses) and tried out a list of horses as long as my arm, finally they brought out a very under weight TBX type, his eyes were dull and looked extremely unhappy. I said to them to just put him back as he didn't look like what I was looking for. My mum ordered me through gritted teeth to get on the horse, so I reluctantly did. He was perfect, worked in an outline, leg yeild across the paddock, flying changes. Not long after buying him we went to our local XC course down the road and he went crazy, dumped me and ran all the way home on his own :eek::rolleyes: Eventually we did finally 'click' and he was my best horse of all time, definitely found a diamond in the rough with that one :)

Prob not much help but just wanted to share my story :p
 
Yep I knew as soon as I saw her!! I had looked at loads but knew straight away she was the one, as corny as that sounds!! Lol she is still with me 6 years later and couldnt imagine life without her
 
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