Do I have nothing to lose?

Black_Horse_White

Black_Horse_White

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I posted last week about losing my confidence and sending my horse back. Well he went on Thursday and I'm bored stiff. I've been to try a horse today which is being sold as a happy hacker, he's kept on a farm in the peak district. This horse is hardly ridden by the lady because she works full time and has no school. She told me today that he's been kept stabled for a few weeks as the fields are too wet and her farmer dad doesn't want his fields churned up,

We my confidence at an all time low I got on him and took him on a busy A road, lots of fast cars coming past he didn't even notice they were their. As it was a very straight road i turned him to take him back. He was ok a little excited to be going back but soon settled again. Now he did nothing to make me doubt him but I was still nervous.

I like him a lot and think in regular work he will be just what I want to regain my confidence on. Now because the lady selling him doesn't have the facilities for a proper trial she has said that I can have him at my yard, obviously I will get a proper agreement in place. She just wants him ridden as she really doesn't have the time.

She's assured me he is a happy hacker brilliant in heavy traffic isn't even scared of pigs :-) I can have him for as long as I like until I feel he's the horse for me. I will start off just riding in the school until we get to know each other, and hack after that as that's what I mainly want him for. Do you think I should go for it? After all I have nothing to lose, after a tough run of luck I thought I was ready to give it all up, but I can't it's all I want to do. I do have support on my yard and I'm prepared to have lessons to try to regain my confidence. Sorry it's long and thanks for reading.
 
That she is letting you have a trial is hugely positive :) I would grab that with both hands and pick him up asap (assuming you can get something in writing of course). Good luck
 
I'll be blunt. The only thing that you've got to lose is more confidence if the horse that hasn't been ridden or gone out for weeks turns into a handful when on a new yard and starts getting fitter... That is quite likely to happen. You'd be better finding something you can try properly and that has a proven track record - one that comes known by people you trust or something.. I think you're rushing into the wrong thing here, and it isn't fair on the horse which will have to go back if you have taken on too much...

Take your time and look at loads and loads. Don't just grab the first thing you see because you're bored! Find someone to help while you're looking...

Sorry that wasn't what you wanted to hear.
 
Honey 08 I know what your saying and I will be taking time to think about it. He is a nice quiet 11 year old cob, and is advertised as suitable for a novice and he did feel very safe. But after being bombed off with on a couple of occasions is only out hacking that I've lost my confidence.
 
You have nothing to lose, but much to gain. Is your gut feeling to go with it?
Always follow your gut feelings, they are usually right in my experience.
Keep us updated and Good Luck:D
 
I'd go for it, if he is do good in traffic after not being ridden for so long he sounds fab.

And if you have in on trial etc, then you're not committing yourself if it doesn't work out.

Sounds perfect :D
 
OP reading through some of your previous posts I do feel for you after having such a bad time with the health of youR horses. I can't help but notice though that you do have a habit of rushing into buying another. There are barely a few weeks between each, and whilst I realise this may be your way of dealing with the loss of your others, I would perhaps suggest taking a bit of time to have a good look around and perhaps get some lessons in the meantime to get your confidence back. I know it's hard to be without a horse when you are used to having one around but it's much harder to deal with the heartbreak of having to sell because of a mismatch, as I'm sure you are aware.

I don't mean this to sound horrible. Hope you do eventually find a suitable horse for you and get your confidence back!
 
I think it sounds good - as long as you get an agreement in writing, if the lady is prepared to let you have him on trial you have nothing to lose (except maybe more confidence, as someone said - but you do seem to have a sensible plan in mind).

If you like him, I would go for it :D
 
Moomin 1 yes I have brought quickly, the first horse I lost I'd owned for over 4 years. The second yes I did buy quickly but I did have him on loan for a while & vetted. Just turned out to be very unlucky. I do not regret buying Murphy whom was the perfect horse for me from a riding point of view, so his illness was out of my control. Yes I did make a mistake with the horse I've returned to the dealer. I'm only asking for opinons and will be taking my time to look.
 
Black_Horse_White said:
but I was still nervous.
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I really dont want to sound in the against camp but those 5 little words you've stated "But I was still nervous," to me speaks volumes. Why take on a horse even if on a trial if you felt nervous riding him. Is he fit, because if he isnt at the moment, once he is his personality may change, I've got no great experience of cobs, but they can be bolshy and as you have lost your confidence and are nervous a bolshy animal would be the last thing you needed.
Why dont you have some lessons instead on a good schoolmaster. Ask some friends on your yard who have reliable animals if you can have a turn round the school on them. As said in another post, take someone with you when you go to see them who is completely unbiased and will offer good advice. I certainly wouldnt rush into the first one you see, because you've got bored in a couple of days.
 
I think there's a chance he could be like this as he's been out of work for so long and you could easily build your confidence up only to lose it if he gets fitter and stronger. Or he could be fine all the time but just because and ad says it's suitable for novice that doesn't mean it's true. Make sure you have an experienced confident friend on hand if you do go for it to help out in case things go wrong, and have a very long trial before you decide to buy
 
Tzarinaarabians said:
I really dont want to sound in the against camp but those 5 little words you've stated "But I was still nervous," to me speaks volumes. Why take on a horse even if on a trial if you felt nervous riding him. Is he fit, because if he isnt at the moment, once he is his personality may change, I've got no great experience of cobs, but they can be bolshy and as you have lost your confidence and are nervous a bolshy animal would be the last thing you needed.
Why dont you have some lessons instead on a good schoolmaster. Ask some friends on your yard who have reliable animals if you can have a turn round the school on them. As said in another post, take someone with you when you go to see them who is completely unbiased and will offer good advice. I certainly wouldnt rush into the first one you see, because you've got bored in a couple of days.
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This. OP you have obviously lost an awful lot of confidence and I don't think it would be fair for you to take on another horse straight away. I really do agree that if it was me, I would be taking lessons first, for your own safety and sanity, and to be able to give the next horse you do get the best opportunity for a lifelong home!
 
If you can get this horse on trial, id go for it, youve got over the first hurdle by facing your fear and taking an unknown horse into heavy traffic.:D so well done.
If it works great, of you still cant get comfy with him, nothing lost, send him back, summer and hacking is just around the corner, make sure you get something in writing
 
My confidence has only been knocked out hacking on busy roads, I'm fine in the school even in open spaces, I have a very busy road outside my yard which is where my horse took off twice. Ive owned bolshy cobs before, my last horse was, and my section D before him. I've had horses for 15 years and as a teenager so not a novice as such, but as a happy hacker I want to be safe. I hear what you are all saying and will certainly take my time.
 
I think you owe it to the horse to be pretty sure that it is the right one for you - even if it is on trial. So many people seem to be saying "you can dump it back if its on trial". I feel sorry for the horses that go through this. Its not something to go into lightly.

I agree with the comments about still feeling nervous, and also the bit about the horse getting stronger/fresher or whatever going home didn't tie in with my image of the perfect novice's horse...
 
Does the owner of the possible trial horse know you've had a few horses which haven't worked out? She knows about your nervousness and still believes her horse to be suitable for the job in hand? If so then she sounds like she has confidence in her horse that it will work out for you.
 
Black_Horse_White said:
My confidence has only been knocked out hacking on busy roads, I'm fine in the school even in open spaces, I have a very busy road outside my yard which is where my horse took off twice. Ive owned bolshy cobs before, my last horse was, and my section D before him. I've had horses for 15 years and as a teenager so not a novice as such, but as a happy hacker I want to be safe. I hear what you are all saying and will certainly take my time.
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Black_Horse_White. It must be awfully to have had your confidence dented to the extent you have, luckily I've never been in that position, but I'm having trouble getting my head round this. You say that it is only hacking out on busy roads where your confidence is at jelly level. You only rode this horse out on the road though and you stated that you felt nervous. Why still be even considering having him on trial.
You dont know how fit/unfit he is, moving him somewhere different could bring about a complete change of personality, and you could have more problems. I really want you to find a horse that is 100% for you, and getting off a horse and saying that you felt nervous on it is not a horse that is 100% for you.
 
OP you don't sound anywhere near ready to have a horse again if I'm honest. Please don't be offended but it seems like your head is all over the place at the moment. My advice would be to take a complete break for a few months. It's a bit like being 'on the rebound'. Don't jump in too quickly.
 
Presumably this is the horse that your farrier recommended?

If that is the case then I'd imagine that your farrier knows what the horse is like in work as well as out of it, and wouldn't have recommended him if not.

In my opinion I think you should give him a go, be prepared for a few teething troubles, moving yards is stressful for horses, but I think he sounds just the ticket for you. Your nervousness was to do with previous experiences, nothing that this cob has done, so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. :)
 
I have had 1 horse that didn't work out not a few, and he was the only one I've sent back, I need a horse that hacks out alone and is safe on the roads, she says he is. It's very scary when I horse is tanking off down the road with cars do 60 mph and still trying to come past you. And I still hacked my horse out after that for him to do it again. Once I get out again on a safe hack my confidence will be restored. It was a very hard decision for me to send the horse back but he did put me in a dangerous situation.
 
Touchstone no that's not the one from the farrier, still waiting for him to get intouch.

Wagtail I've just had a bad experience with the wrong horse. Its surprised me and all the people around me how he's knocked my confidence, as I would get on anything. Maybe it is time for a break, which would be a shame as I can give the right horse a very good home.
 
If you go ahead make sure you get a proper contract drawn up and a price pre arranged. Having had it happen to me you potentially have quite a lot to lose if all goes well and you bring the horse back into regular work either making it worth more than it is now price wise or the owner deciding she wants him back after you have put in the hard work
 
OP, I quite understand that you were saying that EVEN THOUGH you were nervous on the road this cob didn't take advantage and was a saint in the heavy traffic.

I think you should take the trial which has been offered. I doubt very much if the owner would be offering the trial if she thought that her horse would change personality, the more he is ridden.

I lost my confidence (& I have many more years experience than you, it really can happen to any-one) on the road after a nasty incident when I landed on my head because my horse had a bad back. I bought a new horse while I still had the first one (who we sadly lost later) and am now confidently riding her solo on the road. I didn't actually try her on the road, although I saw her ridden along an 'A' road and rode her in the school. I was meant to be going back to try her on a hack but last year's icy weather got in the way, so eventually just decided to bring her home anyway.

I think you get a feeling about a horse as soon as you get on it, you obviously got a good feeling and the seller sounds genuine. Go for it!
 
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I know how you feel - my confidence is still fragile at times. I took a year off from horses, but couldn't stay away and had a lesson every week for that year. I then found a share horse near me who was a solid cob - I ended up buying him (he is a star) but I thought about it long and hard because I didn't want to make a mistake and buy the wrong horse again, I couldn't face going through that again.

So, if you ask me I would say, whats the rush - take your time and the right horse will find you when you are ready. Only you know if that is now or not.
 
I'd wait a bit longer tbh.
I would wait and see what the one your farrier recommends is like first.
The reason being is I think you should buy a horse thats doing what you want now. Not something that's been out of work, kept in 24/7. You need to know what it's like now, not guess at what it will be like once back in work. I know she offered a trial, that's generous but I don't know..
I think you should wait and find a better one that's in work and you know what you are getting. Word of mouth is best anyway.
 
Thank you, it is only on the roads. I have only been offered the trial as their was no where else fore to try him except on the road. The owner says he is better when he's in more work, she just can't ride him in the winter as she has no where to ride him.
 
So sorry to hear what happened. I didn't see your other post. I was really jealous of you having such a lovely lad, its a shame it didn't work out. I wish I had time and money for another, I would have bought him off you.

I do know how frightening it is when they set off on roads, my oldie did it on a regular basis. He wasn't frightened either, just a bolshy strong cob, so you probably did the right thing to end it now. Mine has never really grown out of it and I have owned him for 32 years.

If you think the new one will be OK, then go for it. Only worry I would have, being a loan, will you find its the perfect horse and then they want it back.
 
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