Expectations re: horse purchase when older

[Birker2020]

As you know I lost my beloved horse a week ago. Its been a rocky few days but I am slowly coming to terms with the situation and know we did it for the right reason which makes it so much easier.

I have my stable on hold and I will in a couple of weeks start looking for another horse and hopefully will have found something by Mid August if not before.

17 years ago I bought B as a 7 year old imported Dutch bred Belgian WB with Nimmerdor lines, from a fantastic dealer (that no longer deals horses but cars instead!). She had done a few farmers shows abroad as they are called but had no BSJA winnings and was very well schooled. We went from prelim to elementary dressage and I jumped her every weekend around the 1m mark as well as doing many one, two and three day events and about 8 fun rides a year. We grew old together and learnt new things together, and she was very amenable and very nice tempered although that was mainly my Father and my input more than anything - we didn't tolerate bad manners.

However she was a very spooky horse, would about every 8 or 9 months throw me off by ducking out of the odd fence with a 'spooky filler' and I attended A&E about five times with concussion (although I did compete every weekend so there was always that increased risk).

Now I am 17 years older (51) and a few friends have suggested getting something a little less hot headed, so a mix of WB/ID or just ID.

I think they are correct in their assumption that I won't bounce quite as well as I did when I was 34! I want something that I can go out competing SJ and dressage (mainly dressage) so I'm thinking something around the 8 or 9 yr age, something that is established.

If you have lost a long time friend and have gone on to buy another horse did your expectations decrease as you got older in terms of the type/breed/height of horse?

 

[Green Bean]

I believe, as you get older, you have a greater sense of your own mortality. However, that doesn't mean you need to go for the 'safe' option as you often won't really know a horse until you have it for some time. As we all know, temperaments across the breeds can be very viable so can impact on your choice. I assume you would look at breeding for SJ and Dressage and the horse's results. If you narrow your search too much, you may well miss out on your dream horse. Good luck

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I think at 51, if you are fit and well, then you should get what you want, even if that is something hot. You only live once. Don't settle for the donkey, when you want the steed.

 

[Regandal]

I acquired a ‘hunter’, excess to owners requirements when I was late 40’s. He was probably 3/4 ID, 1/4 tb. Fortunately for me, someone had schooled him very well at some point and he was just fabulous to ride. Forward going without being too hot.
An ID, or IDx will do all that you describe above. My boy was 11 when I got him, he was in his prime.
Wishing you luck in finding a new horse.

 

[Annagain]

I'm a bit younger than you (43) and was looking in similar circumstances (mine are retired, I haven't lost them) but found the buying process really hard. Two falls - one very naughty horse, one just one of those things resulting in two trips to A&E - didn't help. 15 years of riding the same horse (or two horses in my case) breeds a familiarity that then makes the unfamiliarity of a new one really hard to deal with (or it did for me). I've ended up with a very similar sort of horse to my old boys but I'm finding this first year (we're ten months in) far more difficult than I remember my first year with Arch. I knew Monty and had ridden him a fair bit before I started riding him officially. I might have just forgotten but I don't think I have. I do occasionally wonder if I'd be further down the line with a not 6/7 yr old still growing, green, big boy but he's actually a bit of a star and I think reduced opportunity due to covid is a big reason we're not as far down the line as I thought we'd be rather than it being Charlie's fault or mine.

Whatever sort of horse you go with, give yourself time and don't get disheartened if it doesn't happen as quickly as you wanted. You have another 15 years with a new horse, so you don't need to get to where you want to be in 6 months.

ETA - I've also found I have much less inclination to go out competing. It may just be due to not doing it for a while (pre-pandemic, M wasn't doing much and A hasn't for years) but I think I'm totally fed up with all the hanging around, bathing (greys ) stress and nerves of it all. I think I'm happy just doing lessons, fun rides and hacking now but I'll see if that changes when things are back up and running properly. Just because it's what you've always done doesn't mean it'll be right for you with a new horse.

 

[pansymouse]

I think if you want spark and speed but with the edge dulled just a little a TB x larger native makes a fantastic all round riding horse. I'm a big Section D x TB fan but I understand not everyone likes the Welsh attitude! Connie, Highlands and bigger New Forests are all nice crossed with a TB. Also I think you get a better horse out of a TB mare and quality pony stallion - I've had both parent variations and without a doubt that has been a far superior horse.

I'm 58 and will buy another D x TB when the time comes.

 

[MereChristmas]

I am glad you are feeling better.
I am sure you will be able to find what you want.

A ( very ) slight word of caution. I bought the horse I wanted at age xx. A bit later without any injuries etc I realised that I no longer needed or was capable of riding this type of horse. This meant another sale and purchase and more importantly as the riding time you have left as you age decreases another period of getting to know each other.
One of my friends said ‘ It is almost that you should buy the horse you need in 2 years or so, not the horse you need now”

If you are confident nothing will change while you get to know the new horse then go for it.
Good luck

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I’m 51 this year and 3 years ago I bought a second horse. My oldie is a BWB I set out looking for something less spooky and silly. I tried a few Irish types and after two weeks came home with a silly spooky Dutch Warmblood in chestnut to boot ?. I have to say both my boys are lovely to handle in all ways and tbh better behaved than a lot of Irish types or cobs that I know. Ginger knob is still a work in progress but he’s turned into a pretty happy hack. Definitely try a few out but after WB paces and way of going you may find it hard to adjust.

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

I'm also looking again and to be honest after having the same herd of 3 for the last 18 years it's quite daunting! You just know them so well they're like putting on your comfy slippers. But my old boy who I had to put down at the start of the pandemic was really spooky and highly strung but also really kind and never intentionally tried to dump you or hurt you. In my 20s I didn't see a problem with suddenly flying sideways at random intervals but I think a combination of being older and not riding for a few years while he was retired have knocked my confidence . I finally faced up to the fact that I'm not brave anymore, so I have definitely decreased my expectations. I no longer want to be competitive or win anything I just want to be able to go off on adventures round the countryside on a fun pony without worrying about anything.

My only requirements now are that it's friendly, kind and fairly safe and sensible and preferably a native, somethong as low to the ground as possible that can comfortably carry my weight!

 

[canteron]

I have a 25yo old I have had for 20 years and still lightly hack and a 5yo who I have decided to keep at a friends riding school on schooling livery for her first ridden year even though I have great facilities at home.
I like the fact the the young lovely riders will ensure she never gets into bad habits, will keep her worked and she will see so much - and they have safe hacking.
This is my way of having the horse I want but trying to give us lots of space to get to know each other while managing risk.
I suppose, my point is, if you can, don’t be scared of budgeting in lots of help for the initial period.

 

[Birker2020]

I think at 51, if you are fit and well, then you should get what you want, even if that is something hot. You only live once. Don't settle for the donkey, when you want the steed.

I know it's so hard. Trouble is I'm fit, but overweight if that makes sense - I swim four times a week minimum and also do spin classes.
I have a slipped disc which impacts my life a lot, I'm on a 28 week wait list to see a neuro surgeon about the back operation I was offered but declined years ago. I honestly don't even know how I will get on riding another horse, I had one I rode once a week around a field permimeter a couple of months ago, we mainly did walk but a bit of trot and canter and my back coped, but schooling wise I have no idea.

My second horse was a 16.3hh ISH and although he was a nice type he wasn't for me. Whether I wasn't experienced enough for a young horse (he was sold as a 6 year old but was at least four or five or so the vet reckoned when he was vetted) and I'd gone from a 12 year old ex BSJA Grade B showjumper who never stopped at anything and used to spend his life cantering sidewards to this young horse.

He turned out to be slow, not forward going and napped for England. Looking back he could have had physical issues. Although we managed to conquer a couple of small XC clear rounds and some 2ft 6/2ft 9 jumping classes most of the time he was obstinate and awkward and not interested in anything except for bombing around a fun ride jumping natural fences.

It kind of put me of ID or ISH types as I found him dull as dishwater.

 

[Birker2020]

Whatever sort of horse you go with, give yourself time and don't get disheartened if it doesn't happen as quickly as you wanted. You have another 15 years with a new horse, so you don't need to get to where you want to be in 6 months.

ETA - I've also found I have much less inclination to go out competing. It may just be due to not doing it for a while (pre-pandemic, M wasn't doing much and A hasn't for years) but I think I'm totally fed up with all the hanging around, bathing (greys ) stress and nerves of it all. I think I'm happy just doing lessons, fun rides and hacking now but I'll see if that changes when things are back up and running properly. .

Hi Annagain - this is what I did with B, pushed myself. I'd had really bad luck with my previous horses, I'd lost four in under 7 years one after the other, after the other, through no fault of my own I hasten to add, just a bad injury on a fun ride, a broken leg, a heart attack and wobblers syndrome. So when I bought B I was so convinced she'd only be with me a short while that I literally went mental and spent hours riding and competing, I took her for a 1.5 hour hack on my own the day after I brought her home, the following day we cantered around a big field at the local riding club and then we did our first Derby SJ competition the 2nd Saturday I owned her and came 5th! I'd not even jumped a filler with her prior to that! And it took me at least 2 years to bond with her as I was convinced she was going to leave me. If only I'd known what a fab long life she was going to have!

This time I won't put the pressure on so much. And I intend to have more help, lessons and clinics I think. Chill and learn to enjoy her a bit slower.

 

[Birker2020]

A ( very ) slight word of caution. I bought the horse I wanted at age xx. A bit later without any injuries etc I realised that I no longer needed or was capable of riding this type of horse. This meant another sale and purchase and more importantly as the riding time you have left as you age decreases another period of getting to know each other.

Yes, get this completely. I am just concerned about the back, and the thing is I don't even know if, after this operation, I can continue to ride how I would want to ride. So I really don't need to have further accidents, although I completely understand that this is a inevitable part of riding.

 

[Annagain]

Archie and Charlie are both unregistered but are from Ireland and clearly have a high percentage of ID if not 100%. Neither are dull and Archie could be scary, hang-on-and-hope-for-the-best forwards at times. He was a bit nappy but only when jumping so we put that down to his foot problems. Monty is TB x Shire x Sec D and looks for all the world like he's Irish. He's a bit more laid back but is still responsive, which makes him a very pleasant ride - he'll do it all brilliantly but the most excited he's ever got is cantering a bit faster! You can definitely find the Irish build with a decent engine.

 

[Birker2020]

But my old boy who I had to put down at the start of the pandemic was really spooky and highly strung but also really kind and never intentionally tried to dump you or hurt you. In my 20s I didn't see a problem with suddenly flying sideways at random intervals but I think a combination of being older and not riding for a few years while he was retired have knocked my confidence . I finally faced up to the fact that I'm not brave anymore, so I have definitely decreased my expectations.

Thank you. Mine was exactly the same, was the most gentle soul, would take a tic tac from your lips without even feeling it, you could walk under her tummy (not that I did!) and never ever kicked or bit. Lovely temperment and never intentionally tried to dump me, but was just very spooky and I couldn't sit her very abrupt stops!
I watch the professionals on our yard and how they are around the horses they work with (they sell horses) and they always seem ultra confident and very quiet in their movements and actions. I suspect this is very much the opposite of me at times.

 

[Birker2020]

Archie and Charlie are both unregistered but are from Ireland and clearly have a high percentage of ID if not 100%. Neither are dull and Archie could be scary, hang-on-and-hope-for-the-best forwards at times. He was a bit nappy but only when jumping so we put that down to his foot problems. Monty is TB x Shire x Sec D and looks for all the world like he's Irish. He's a bit more laid back but is still responsive, which makes him a very pleasant ride - he'll do it all brilliantly but the most excited he's ever got is cantering a bit faster! You can definitely find the Irish build with a decent engine.

That's good to know. I know you can't tar everything with the same brush and I'm sure Mikki wasn't really boring, it was just that I'd gone from full on to dead stop in the space of 2 months.

 

[dixie]

I don’t think you should get hung up about breeding as they differ so much.
I’ve currently just bought a 5yr IDxTB and he’s forward going and fun and not very spooky. But as with all horses they can differ so much.
I’ve also had in the past a super little warmblood who was very similar to the one I just bought and again not spooky but forward. It’s trying to find them that’s the problem!
and I’ve just sold a TB because he was too quiet!
Just take your time looking at what’s available online and go from there.

 

[Birker2020]

I’m 51 this year and 3 years ago I bought a second horse. My oldie is a BWB I set out looking for something less spooky and silly. I tried a few Irish types and after two weeks came home with a silly spooky Dutch Warmblood in chestnut to boot ?. I have to say both my boys are lovely to handle in all ways and tbh better behaved than a lot of Irish types or cobs that I know. Ginger knob is still a work in progress but he’s turned into a pretty happy hack. Definitely try a few out but after WB paces and way of going you may find it hard to adjust.

Yep I am thinking that about paces especially as i want to do more dressage, my horse had lovely paces at one time. But very active behind which really didn't help my back one iota! So I need something in between, with nice paces but not something that feels like beating my disc to a pulp.

When I first tried her out in 2004 and cantered her I actually remember saying to the dealer 'Oh, she's bucking!!'. I bet he thought 'I've got a right idiot here!' I just wasn't used to anything that moved like that. Sometimes it could literally feel my spine being compressed!

 

[Birker2020]

Thank you for your suggestions and advice, I have taken it all on board.

I am going to start looking seriously in a couple of weeks.

Just for a heads up I'm looking for :

A gelding, between 7 and 11 who has been used to seeing traffic and is good to load, farrier, etc.
A height range of 16.3hh - 17.1hh, definitely no smaller than 16.3hh.
I'm looking for a middle weight type but with decent paces, so probably something mixed with ID like TB or WB.
Something that is confident jumping coloured fences, if it has a competition record all the better
I don't want a grey or coloured due to the additional work involved. I'd rather have a black or liver chestnut.
I don't want anything with any vices or pre existing conditions even if they have been treated.
It has to reside in this country and ideally around 60m radius of West Midlands.

I've actually seen three that fit me perfectly within my budget but frustratingly I'm not looking just yet.

 

[Annagain]

Thank you for your suggestions and advice, I have taken it all on board.

I am going to start looking seriously in a couple of weeks.

Just for a heads up I'm looking for :

A gelding, between 7 and 11 who has been used to seeing traffic and is good to load, farrier, etc.
A height range of 16.3hh - 17.1hh, definitely no smaller than 16.3hh.
I'm looking for a middle weight type but with decent paces, so probably something mixed with ID like TB or WB.
Something that is confident jumping coloured fences, if it has a competition record all the better
I don't want a grey or coloured due to the additional work involved. I'd rather have a black or liver chestnut.
I don't want anything with any vices or pre existing conditions even if they have been treated.
It has to reside in this country and ideally around 60m radius of West Midlands.

I've actually seen three that fit me perfectly within my budget but frustratingly I'm not looking just yet.

Pretty much what I was after. It took me 14 months, I had to almost double my budget and I ended up with a grey 6 yr old 120 miles away! Although to be fair, there were a lot in the Midlands when I was looking. I went to a few but some were just that little bit too far away, you're far better placed, geographically, than me.

 

[Spirit2021]

I wouldn’t recommend getting plod though . You probably want something to have fun on. I have a physical disability everyone told me to get something very quiet. I kind of regret it because my horse was so lazy that it wouldn’t do anything I wanted.

 

[mariew]

I don't know any IDs or IDx that are plods so if you go for them you should have fun. Get one who has gone through the brat stage, but they are hard to find atm.

 

[Goldenstar]

I am 60 .
When all the issues kicked off with my parents I had to sell my sharp naughty ISH he was unsuitable for me he needed outings, work and his nose to the grind stone .
I never knew what would happen from one day to the next , cutting a long story short I sold him to a pro .
I very quickly bought a lovely ID a who was being sold because he was naughty and spooky now if theres one thing I know it’s how to square up a young yob of a ID although I intended to pass him on when I found something I liked better he’s worked out so well here .
I think it’s wise to look for an easy horse ( I realiseI did not but I have a lot of back up at home ) .
I have to say I am enjoying Sky immensely.
Good ID’s are hard to find made as they are rarely sold once made and if they are there’s a disorderly queue once there’s a sniff you might part with them and there’s a knack to making them they are not the easiest they often go through a difficult stage at 5 6 or 7.
Be careful, have an open mind you might find a mother daughter share being sold they can be great .

 

[brighteyes]

I lost a beautiful KWPN 16.2 mare who was kind and sweet and a complete sweetheart just over two years ago. She was never supposed to be mine and I would never have chosen her as suitable at all, but fate stepped in and I kept her. Thinking she'd be my last horse, I was devastated at the loss but being me, I did the least sensible thing and got an ex racehorse. Worse still he was a successful hurdler who was still in full racehorse mode. I had my reasons for not wanting to own again (primarily my age) as we keep them to the end and chances are he will outlive me. He has a home to go back to so we have his future secured.

Two years on and I have lifetime horse number three! I've loved him since the moment he stepped off the transporter's lorry. I got him sent up from his owner on trial - long and wonderful backstory, so I hadn't even seen him in the flesh, let alone sat on him!

In a nutshell, there's absolutely NO point asking me for advice. I have a good few years on you, too!

 

[brighteyes]

I am 60...

Oh, having read your experience, I don't feel quite so reckless!

 

[Trouper]

What jumps out at me are your back issues. Having had two back ops - and possibly facing a third - I know a) how long it will take to get over it and b) how different you will feel and ride when it is done. You say you are facing several months to even see a neuro surgeon, let alone get a date for an operation, so that is a long, long time before you are going to be fully fit again. Sorry to sound so pessimistic.

I wonder if there is any way to short-circuit some of this. Would you be able to afford to have just the consultation privately with the surgeon so that at least you can talk it all through and be able to put some sort of timetable together. That may give you a better picture of how things will turn out. They always say "6 weeks for healing" but it will take much longer than that to get your muscles fully functioning and strong again. In turn, that may alter your view on the sort of horse you want to take on permanently.

Just a thought.

 

[Skib]

I started riding in my 60s with a degenerated back. The love of my life was a narrow Connie mare down-graded to be a RS hack. My shares have been ISH mares but if I ever buy a horse it will be a Connie mare.
I am told not to, it is crazy. But when one buys a horse it has to be what one really wants. I havent lost the skills of halt to canter. And I dont want to spend 10 years riding the second best.

 

[ycbm]

I started riding in my 60s with a degenerated back. The love of my life was a narrow Connie mare down-graded to be a RS hack. My shares have been ISH mares but if I ever buy a horse it will be a Connie mare.
I am told not to, it is crazy. But when one buys a horse it has to be what one really wants. I havent lost the skills of halt to canter. And I dont want to spend 10 years riding the second best.

I bought a cob 7 years back to experiment whether I could downgrade to a steadier horse as I got older. I meant to break him and sell him when he was ready, but four years later I still had him because he was such a lovely character. I loved that horse to bits, but one day I was half way round my arena when I burst into tears thinking of the me in my avatar and what I had become as a rider. I sold him and replaced him with a TB who I felt at one with as soon as I sat on him. (Incidentally also changing the buyer's life for the better, she tells me regularly.) I lost the TB to terrible neck arthritis, backed my mare last year and I'm now 63 and about to back my latest 3 year old.

My message B, is don't give up the dreams too soon.
.

 

[brighteyes]

I started riding in my 60s with a degenerated back. The love of my life was a narrow Connie mare down-graded to be a RS hack. My shares have been ISH mares but if I ever buy a horse it will be a Connie mare.
I am told not to, it is crazy. But when one buys a horse it has to be what one really wants. I havent lost the skills of halt to canter. And I dont want to spend 10 years riding the second best.

Now I feel positively teenaged!

 

[brighteyes]

@ycbm you're local to Somerford? We HAVE to meet up!