EVENTERS! I need your opinions!

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kate.jessop

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Hi all!
My daughter is a petite 5ft3 15 year old that is desperate to start climbing the grades in eventing. After loaning and sharing ponys for many years we are finally in the position to buy her one. She is a very confident, quiet but also determined rider but unfortunately she hasnt had the opportunity to event and has only competed in unaffiliated dressage and show jumping (she was given the chance to event a friends horse but unfortunately he was injured before the event)

Sorry for my endless ramblings.. Now onto the actual question. My daughter and I have narrowed the final list down to a few horses but we were wanting your opinions on which you think would be better suited to her. She is looking for a horse with potential, a horse that will look after her but also a horse that will win. Her main ambition is eventing but she would also like do a bit of pony club and hunting etc.

These are the final few we have narrowed it down too and once we have had your opinions we will arrange a viewing:

horse 1:
https://www.horseradar.co.uk/classifieds/horses/egvx64r53x

and his BE record is:
http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-net/Events/Results.aspx?HorseId=95887

Horse 2:
http://www.horseselect.co.uk/eventing/prenov/prnov1039/prnov1039.htm

and his BE record is:
http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-net/Events/Results.aspx?HorseId=93834

Horse 3:
http://www.britisheventing.com/classifieds/Details.aspx?pid=4141

Horse 4:
http://www.verdinasporthorses.co.uk/horses/horse.php?xProd=191&xSec=2

Horse 5:
https://www.horseradar.co.uk/classifieds/horses/7pkfu4m9l4

and her BE record is:
http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-net/Events/Results.aspx?HorseId=101477

Horse 6:
http://www.horseselect.co.uk/eventing/prenov/prnov1064/prnov1064.htm

BE record is:
http://www.britisheventing.com/asp-net/events/Results.aspx?HorseId=102011

Thank you very much in advance to anyone who has taken the time and effort to help us, we really appreciate everyones views and I look forward to hearing your responces!

Kate x
 
Lovely selection of horses!
I would probably rule out the advanced horse, at 13 years old he is probably getting on a bit, and advanced horses at that age very rarely stay sound long term when they are sold to junior riders.

As for the other horses, it is hard to tell but the chestnut gelding looks the most fun and genuine . In eventing you don't need a horse with huge amounts of talent , just something that really loves the job , is genuine and will stay sound. They only have to jump up to 1m30 & dressage up to AM, which most reasonable horses are capable off.

Have you got an agent or trainer to help you look? Someone that is really good at matching up horses with children .
 
I would recommend you talk to someone at BE with responsibility for young riders/juniors as they would be able to offer you some guidance.

Several of the horses you have found have BE points, your daughter as she has not competed at BE before would not be eligible to compete at the higher levels initially which means you would need to compete HC, find open classes (of which there are not many) or downgrade the horse.

As your daughter has not competed BE (and you don't mention XC) she would benefit from an experienced horse - two of the horse are of a limited experience which may not be suitable...

Hope that helps
 
Without a doubt! We have got my daughters long term instructor among others lined up to come along as, although I am knowledgeable myself, I personally think it would be ridiculous not to take other, more experienced, people along too.
 
I think horses 1,2 and 6 are your best bet as they seem like they may be the most forgiving to someone learning the ropes. 3,4 and 5 sound like they may be quirky and need a rider who has eventing experience to get the best out of them. TBH though they all sound like lovely horses!
 
For a small 15yo (I'm about her height, and know I look small on anything over 16hh...) some/ most of those horses are going to be a massive step up. It might be worth trawling the PC website/ horsequest for something in the step below heightwise who has done all the PC opens/ JRN stuff and knows it's job with a young rider so it'll be forgiving and let her learn. Then what isn't spent can be put to one side for a later purchase of the next model up (as it were)...
 
Does your instructor really understand the eventing scene?

FWIW I like number 2, on the caveat that you may need to view him as a stepping stone
 
I have just looked at a few of your suggestions and feel you need to have a rethink, several of them have BE points which will prove to be restrictive for your daughter at this stage, she will be unable to do BE 90/ 100 unless in open classes, cannot try for the grassroots champs and may be restricted within PC.

I would cut out any that have proper points, get one with as clean a record as possible at 90/ 100, look for a safe xc horse, one that will help it's rider out and give fun along the way.

Of the first 3 the second would be worth a look, not looked at the rest yet:)
 
Horse 1 didn't have great BE record - SJ a little inconsistent.

Horses 5 & 6 I didn't think had done enough and I would rule out the advanced horse.

Hope I've got those in the right order.

A really nice PC eventer may be best to introduce her to the sport safely and at the right level - it should probably be the next horse that is the 'special' one or you may find it goes against her having a horse with more scope/ ability than she needs..
 
Sorry technical fault.. I didnt see all these other replies!

ellie-e. fortunately I am in a postion now where the cost of the horse isnt too much of an issue but obviously I dont want to be being overcharged.

seabsicuit2. that is a very good point about the advanced horse, one thing we do want is a horse that is going to stay sound so I think he will be ruled out. My daughter's favourite out of the lot was the chestnut but my worry was the fact he hadn't done as many events as the others? what do you think? Good point about the agent too I will definitely see about getting in touch with somebody. Thank you very much!

VRIN yes that has helped alot, thank you!

ihatework I think thats going to be the next step for us.
 
Honestly, I think you need to get in touch with someone like Caroline Moore, make an appointment with her (ie book her time, like you would for a lesson, and expect to pay accordingly), and discuss what you want and where to go with her. If you are serious about this, pay someone who is involved in the JRN/YR scene to help you get the right horse to do this very specific job, and who can advise you on management, vet care (because inevitably schoolmasters are in a system and need that kind of management, even if people like to pretend they don't), and who understands what is required for this type of venture. I'd also pay them to come and look at horses with you - even more so if 'getting on teams' is a potential goal.
 
I think that horse has enough experience for what you need. My best junior event horse was a horse that had hardly done any eventing - and he took me from nothing to intermediate level & junior team training etc& looked after me every bit of the way.
What he had was an amazing love for the job, and and all he wanted to do was just jump whatever he was pointed at, no matter how many times I put him into a pickle. He was as genuine as you could possibly get. All the best junior event horses are exactly the same.
That chestnut just sounds exactly the same type from the advert :-)
 
The chestnut has been well hunted which should have given him a good foundation, he has been in the same home all his life, which means you can really find out about his history, his BE record is good if short, he looks as if he would be a great one to look at as a guide.

I second others who say get someone experienced to advise, this first purchase is important to try and get right.
 
Thanks again for everybody's responses! We are definitely going to be having a rethink and looking for more horses similar to the chestnut, I will be contacting one of the BE JRN coordinators for their assistance too. I think the way forward will be to buy something thats going to be more of a step up. Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate everything!
 
Hey, I know this is a little after the fact and I don't event over in the UK but...... The horses you have chosen are lovely horses and they are talented, however they are also younger and quite probably ridden by people who have evented for years.

I started eventing last year and if I was in you and your daughters position, I would want an experienced eventer. A horse to take me out there, show me the ropes and be forgiving if I mess up, I have no doubt that if I had an older, more experienced horse I would be competing higher. You said your daughter has done dressage and show jumping in the past, which is awesome! :) But the cross country phase while being amazingly fun is also a whole different ballgame... If given a choice of the horses you picked in your original post, I would go for 1 or 3 however as others have said... they have points and it would limit your daughter while she starts out.
 
Lolo said:
For a small 15yo (I'm about her height, and know I look small on anything over 16hh...) some/ most of those horses are going to be a massive step up. It might be worth trawling the PC website/ horsequest for something in the step below heightwise who has done all the PC opens/ JRN stuff and knows it's job with a young rider so it'll be forgiving and let her learn. Then what isn't spent can be put to one side for a later purchase of the next model up (as it were)...
Click to expand...

I agree with this, I thought hey were all rather big for the girl in question. I would say something around 15hh ish. They look lovely though! Good luck on your horse hunt!
 
Is she used to riding bigger horses? If so 16hh shouldn't be an issue but if shes coming off ponies ideally she'll want something smaller. Have a look on the pc website they'll have more schoolmastery types but with talent so your daughter can learn the ropes and then start progressing.
 
i work on a yard where 2 kids have done eventing/xcountry since they were 7&8. they are now 15 & 17, the last pony was purchased for the younger one when the child was 14 and the pony was 6- the pony had a good BE record (with an adult) and has masses of potential but she has been hard work and inconsistent, these kids compete (eventing or cross country) or do rallies every weekend, go showjumping at least one week day evening and have 2 flat and 1 jump lesson every week. even with all of that all 3 of their instructors wanted them to stick to 14.2 max. especially if they were not going for an older laid back school master.
at 13 on horses of that size there will be little opportunity for your daughter to compete against other kids her age and her chances of winning against adults are slim.
my boss was reluctant to look at the one they bought (due to her age) until the chance was offered to compete on her before purchase.
we had an amazing school master on loan for a year he was 5 stage vetted before he arrived after 8 months or so he went lame an xray showed a chip of bone floating in the fetlock joint from an old injury-to be honest i would look for something to lease or but that your daughter can get some experience with before buying something so big that has been competed by adults only and not done much.

good luck hunting
 
Bloody hell, looking at some of those be results and the asking price I have seriously under valued the horse I have for sale!
 
I dont feel I can advise you which horse to buy, but I would steer clear of anything with BE points. If your daughter wants to be competitive she will only be able to ride in Open BE90 and 100 classes, plus she will have to ride HC at a BE80T, which is a great starting point. Also, if she wants to do PC eventing at Area level, then it can restrict what you can do, plus she wont be eligible for the Badminton Grass Roots champs (you are talking to a mummy whose daughter got through to a couple of RFs and then got BE points which disqualified her from it .....) I would take the advice offered above, plus what about speaking to your local U18 Co-ordinator? Their details are on the BE website under the various regions. There is lots of U18 training in all of the various regions, and although at this stage I would hesitate t recommend your daughter went for it this year with a view to getting to the U18 J* at Weston Park, the training is usually open to all levels for under 18s.

Also, we found having a good instructor who knows what is what in BE is invaluable. Mini TX had a lovely lady whose son did very well with Juniors and was long listed for the Euros, and her current trainer is one of the U18 selectors, who has ridden at 4* level, and her dressage trainer is a listed BE and BD judge, who knows what she is doing big time.

All I would say is that you will both have loads and loads of fun, will be extremely knackered from all the running arond, early starts, late, late finishes and also mega stressed and skint. However, i wouldnt swap being an eventing mummy for the world - roll on the new season and good luck with horse hunting.
 
You can forget No 1... that is an old ad, he went clear in his first 1* last year and is going 2* this year. The owner had to sell one out of her 2 and has done so so the bay isn't going anywhere. He is also a firm yard favourite as a complete gentleman but right now, 3* is in his grasp and they are crossing their fingers he can go further. He has spent the winter improving flatwork (which was pretty good) and jumping which was his weak phase. After his recent results out and about, that doesn't look to be the case anymore! Would also say that when he was for sale, the owner found that she had a lot of responses from people such as yourself but realistically thinks her horse was too rangy for a smaller child albeit he is a gentleman. He has also grown over the winter so do bear that in mind when searching.

Good luck with your search. I would actually put out the word with your trainers and call people who have a serious reputation behind them which they can't afford to trash, particularly as money is not a problem.
 
I would defintatly agree with the others & don't buy something with points already as this will restrict your daughter in classes she can do.
I also agree don't overphase her on height! something under 16hh would be your best bet..

Just had a quick look & below looks quite nice - plenty of ability, home bred, full brother about to go advanced.. ( we all have our own tastes though:D )

http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/horses-...y-Talented-eventer-allrounder__29-9-12-797167
 
IMO no-one here has seen your daughter ride so it's really impossible to advise which horse is going to be best for her. Get a trusted local adviser who can accompany you and see your daughter on a variety of animals.

My only comment is re horse number 2: Pam Ashworth is a respected dealer, primarily in hunters, with a good reputation. However, James who has been competing the horse is no idiot jockey! :D He's a 3 star rider and I just wonder if your daughter would be able to follow in his footsteps? Obviously, a lot will depend on the horse: some are more forgiving than others whilst others require everything to be spot on!

Good luck!
 
I like, 2,3,5,6. I think the others will be too advanced, and their age lets them down. Like the others have said r.e BE points and going HC or in open classes. 2 Looks like a good fun horse that she could enjoy he's not too big either as you say your daughter is only slight.
 
gunnergundog said:
My only comment is re horse number 2: Pam Ashworth is a respected dealer, primarily in hunters, with a good reputation. However, James who has been competing the horse is no idiot jockey! :D He's a 3 star rider and I just wonder if your daughter would be able to follow in his footsteps? Good luck!
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^^ My thoughts exactly!! James is a supremely talented rider who seems to get a fanastic tune of of almost everything he rides. Not entirely sure how well suited a horse he has been competing may be for a young girl.
 
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