Does such a horse exist?

tabithakat64

tabithakat64

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Do real family horses exist?

In a years time I'm hopefully going to be in a position to purchase another horse, however I'm not sure what I'm looking for actually exists.

Horse needs to be quiet enough for my novice OH and kids to hack, so must be spook proof, not nap, buck, rear etc and be good in company, heavy traffic and with farm animals.

Kids ideally want to do a little bit of jumping so something that is sensible enough to look after them round a very small SJ/XC course would be good.

I want to do a bit of everything, showing ideally county level or larger agricultural shows, BD up to novice, sponsored rides, le trec and a little show jumping. I have MS, so ideally I need something that is well schooled and responsive and stands still to be mounted and doesn't mind when I'm wobbly.

My wish list would be 15hh-15.3hh, show cob/hunter type that will carry 12 and a half stone.

Ideally to have already sensibly competed at local level, something that will not hot up in a group or if he/she hasn't been ridden for a few days, must also hack safely alone, be good to catch, shoe, clip, load.

I would like a mare (no older than 12 and preferable not grey or anything with too much white) with reasonable bloodlines of some description as I've had terrible luck with horses over the last few years and have always wanted to breed my own foal.

Looking at my list of requirements I'm really not sure it actually exists all in one horse.... But if it does what would I be looking at paying and where would I look for such a beast?
 
It definitely exists - I have have her, except she's a 16.3hh Irish TB (plenty of bone!)6yr old with excellent breeding. She's bombproof to hack alone and company, quiet and easy but responsive ride currently just moving up to BD Novice, easy to jump, sensible in open spaces, exeptional temprement, OH can ride her (he can't ride!) and she's like a lamb with my 18 month old daughter.
I got her as a 3 year old (she was only expected to make 16hh) and did everything myself, so yes, they are out there!
 
They sure do!! Sometimes they need to be made not bought but something suitable will be out there somewhere...
My old boy was a true family horse but he was grey, a gelding and a PBA! I used to ride him when I was a 7yr old girl, my mums friend did BSJA on him, dad did fun rides and my mum evented him. He was safe enough I used to ride him as a child bareback with no saddle or bridle on. We had him for 20 years. He was worth his weight in gold. My lovely TB now is a star, I rode him until 36 weeks pregnant, my mum rode him, my sis, my friend. He competes all spheres, is beautiful, kind and talented. I have had him from a 4yr old and made him myself although he has always had a super easy temp.
Problem is he is so good I won't sell him, just like the old boy, when you come across a horse like that and haveput the effort into making them everything you want they don't go anywhere.
Not to say they don't come up for sale, just might be hard to find!
 
My old TB, if he had been schooled a bit better in his previous homes, would have 95% fitted the bill. He could do anything from dressage, eventing, endurance and was easily good enough for county level workers. He was excellent to hunt, and perfectly safe to hack, although he pretended he wasn't.

His downfall, he had been let to get away with a lot of things in previous home, and this manifested itself badly at shows when he didn't want to do it. Mind, I couldn't take him out that often, and when I could it wasn't always to the most appropriate show (lack of transport meant I had to take what I could get.)
 
Contact Henryhorn on here - she breeds them! Or try googling Narramore Stud, they have a facebook page, as not sure how often she comes on here anymore.

My Narramore horse is 15.3, county show winner in hand and under saddle, BD at Novice, working Med at home. Did quadrille with the RC as a 5yo, hacks alone & in co - excellent in traffic. Hunted sensibly, enjoys xc and jumping (full sibling eventing at Novice). Amazingly chilled out chap, loads himself and will stand on the trailer all day with a haynet. Can turn him out for a week then drag him in and go for a plod round the lanes quite happily, but he is gelding and most definately not for sale.

I will be going back there for my next one thats for sure :)
 
Yes they definitely exist but there aren't that many and they are rarely for sale, as many are self produced and are then never sold or go through word of mouth. I own a 10yr old 15.2hh skewbald gelding version of what you are looking for who has been to BE Badminton Grassroots champs twice and has just qualified for HOYS, he'll turn his hoof to anything and is equally happy being a school master to less experienced jockeys or just plodding round the road with heavy farm machinery, articulated lorries and buses whizzing past him. He is a character and no horse is 100% but he is pretty damn close! For us he is worth in weight in gold. Good luck with your search :)
 
Keep looking they do exist.

I had one of these at the start of the year - but had to sell due to the sale of my house. He was 16.2 ISH 8 years of age - my novice partner learnt to ride on him whilst i evented him, did dressage and SJ with him and also hunted him. He did everything i wanted him to without any hassle. I sold him straight away and I advertised him on Horse and Hound. Keep looking!!!
 
Geminijess - do you mind telling me how much you sold him for? I am about to advertise mine but have no idea at all on price so doing some market research - Pm if you prefer!
 
You are describing my mare, who is not for sale and is 19 now & semi retired. I wish I had cloned her, I could sell one a week!
 
siennamum said:
You are describing my mare, who is not for sale and is 19 now & semi retired. I wish I had cloned her, I could sell one a week!
Click to expand...

Yep mine is 16 and I could sell her a hundred times over. Smart enough to do a bit for me, kind enough for novice OH to hack, sweet enough for step daughter to do pony club and safe enough for my mother to hunt. The world would be a better place if everyone had a horse like her. :)
 
My boy I'm selling at the moment is exactly as you described other than the fact he is a gelding. He is 6 years and has novice bd points and also has very striking markings so is amazing at showing.
 
the problem is many horses that are as you describe exist,they exist because they have been produced well and never allowed to go down the route of bad behaviour.

often though once a novice/younger kids ride them on a more regular basis bad habits creep in and the horse picks up ways to avoid work/situations. or the kids bomb them about (thats fine) and the horse becomes to fizzy for other family members.

my mare will be as you describe in a year or so when she has seen more of the world (but i dont intend to sell her)

if OH and kids want to ride on a regular basis personally i think it is a big ask and ruins many a good horse-but if its every now and then thats great
 
I also have one- but she's 8 this year, and 16/16.1hh, and grey.

She has taught my husband to ride- and he has now started affiliated jumping, I jump 1.10/ Newcomers on her, my 4 yr old nephew leads her and has lunged her, she scores 74%+ at prelim and 70% at novice, she would show but it's not my thing, she hunts in a snaffle, does XC, hacks alone and in company including over motorway bridges with two dogs on leads (me holding leads whilst riding).

They are very special, rarely for sale, and whilst I would consider selling mine (baby on the way!) it needs to be good money and a good home.
She is an ISH, bred very well by Ghareeb with A Clover hill mare, who was hersel premium graded.
 
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