Feeling low..... Still can't find a horse to buy:(

Miss Horse lover

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Sat here on a sat night feeling sorry for myself, I'm going through the for sale ads for the umpteenth time today and still can't seem to find anything that's right for me:(

I called a couple today and they have been sold or waiting vetting. Did call about a very nice welsh d mare that looked a nice sort but when I called they said there had been a mistake in the ad and she wasn't 15.2 but only 14.2 now I'm only 5'2 but after having kids I'm on the wrong side of 11st the owner said I would be fine on her but it's a 3hr drive each way so don't want to go all that way and waste everyone's time due to my size.

I've even tried looking for loans but they are all to far from me to travel to everyday and the owners don't want to move them which I completely understand and there isn't any shares near me that are big enough.

I'm not completely away from horses I still have lessons twice a week and ride out a few times a month with friends. I'm just frustrated that the time has finally come that I can buy/loan a horse again after a few years out and I can't find anything I like:(

Really pointless post tonight so anyone that has got this far can share my wine and malteasers :D
 
I'm having exactly the same problem as you, finally took the plunge to get my own after my last share was off work injured. I've scoured so many adverts and viewed so many that I'm beginning to lose hope! I've also put out a wanted ad looking for a nice allrounder native type, older than 10 years and had calls about freshly backed 5 year old TBs! I've also had one fail vetting and another the seller pulled out so it's incredibly frustrating! I've gone back to weekly lessons but am considering putting horse hunting on hold and looking again in the spring as I'm hoping to move to Sussex and would really like a new forest and hope I'll be able to find something more suitable down there.

Good luck with your hunt, hope you find the right one soon!
 
Have wine of my own but the malteasers are most welcome.

I feel for your frustration, I keep engaging in pointless window shopping as I am not in a position to buy just yet but sod's law says that when I am (hopefully next year) there will be nothing. I have managed to find a part loan for the time being, keep looking, the girl who owns my share lad said I was the only one who replied to the ad, you may be lucky there.
 
I know how you feel! It took me ages to find mine. And that was from a tiny little ad that I just stumbled across on Preloved with no picture and very limited info! I only went to view as it said he was roughly the right size and only 15 mins drive away!

It's so frustrating when you find a good one that's already sold though; I think most of the adverts I responded to were like that or they had decided not to sell! Well, duh, take your advert down then!!!
 
I wouldn't mind something just backed or even a project but even looking at this type of horse some people want silly money and are putting their horses in the same price bracket as something ready to get on and go.

Saw a tb a year off the track hadn't done anything for the last 6-7mth owner completely out her depth with him and wouldnt do anything with him tbh but handed me tack and said feel free to have a go, then her oh said they had been thinking about price and wanted almost double what her was advertised at :eek:

Just feel like giving up tbh.

Sure anyone can share my malteasers :D
 
I wonder if I am finding all sorts of "exciting possibilities" because I am not actually looking and if I really were looking to buy a whole horse at the mo I wouldn't touch these with someone else's. The ones I look at all come in under the £3000 mark (even when window shopping I keep my feet on the ground).

Would it be rude to steal the bar of Green and Black's my mum has left on my bookcase?
 
Hi

I feel your pain. It took me over a year to find mine. Try expanding your preferences and see what turns up, eg a wider age, height or distance.

After a while of searching I think I got a bit too picky, in the end my non horsey husband told to go back and see this horse again cause he was so impressed with his behaviour, so glad I did because I bought him.

Good luck with your search, he/she's out there, sometimes it takes a while. As frustrating as searching is, the more your look at the more experience you get in knowing what you want. That's how I justified many a wasted journey anyway!
 
Better to wait for the right one than buy one that turns out to not fit the bill later on down the line.
I completely understand your frustration though!
 
Hi

I feel your pain. It took me over a year to find mine. Try expanding your preferences and see what turns up, eg a wider age, height or distance.

After a while of searching I think I got a bit too picky, in the end my non horsey husband told to go back and see this horse again cause he was so impressed with his behaviour, so glad I did because I bought him.

Good luck with your search, he/she's out there, sometimes it takes a while. As frustrating as searching is, the more your look at the more experience you get in knowing what you want. That's how I justified many a wasted journey anyway!

It is just really frustrating :( and know what your saying about about my preferences and to be honest I'm looking at anything that I think will take my weight not that i think 11st 2 is that heavy and age isn't really a big thing either ideally I don't want anything to old but I'm open to pretty much anything
 
I'm planning on buying a new horse in March. It's the first time I will have 'properly' bought a horse as my previous steeds have been acquired (in a non-illegal way). I keep looking on line and through the mags but I have the opposite problem to you. Every time I look I find a new 'dream horse' and wish I could just go out and buy it now rather than have to wait!!!! So frustrating.
 
What a shame but its true what they say - the right horse will find you!
I'm not sure why you were put off by a 14.2 welsh cob. I am a lot taller and heavier than you and ride a 14.1 highland and have had cobs in the past about the same size.
With natives they ride much bigger than a horse as they take up your leg. Also they dont have a big wither so the measured height is decieving.
You will probably find a 14.2 welsh cob would feel quite big and would certainly carry you without any problem.
Worth while going and having a look!
 
I bought my lovely Welsh Sec D mare from a local dealer. The dealer was extremely helpful especially as the pony I originally wanted had just been sold so I tried some others & found my one I have now. She still keeps in contact now, several months later. She even transported her to a new yard when I was stuck. She gives me advice if I need it. You will find the right one! I didn't imagine I would find mine through a dealer as I was getting a little disheartened trying out ponies from private sellers.
 
Have a look at the Blue Cross website. There are a couple of lovely cobs on there. A youngster, Keon,backed and ready to go on (i'm not sure how experienced you are) and an older mare, Bessie whose owner could no longer keep her.
 
I too wouldn't worry about the height of the 14.2 welsh cob.
I am 5ft 3 and Ozzy is 14.1, and I find him the perfect size.
I was actually looking for something 15hh+ when I bought him, and would never have found him if I had been hung up on height. Even when I bought him, I thought I would have him as a 'fill in' pony for a few months whilst I looked for something bigger. That was 3 years ago and I wouldn't change him for the world!

So it is true what they say....size isn't everything ;)
 
I think you would be OK on the 14.2, there are two lovely welsh cobs in the next field to mine and I often think how big they look for their height and that I could happily go out on a hack on one of them as the owner has offered. I am considerably heavier than you and I was originally thinking 16hh plus but I have bought a 15hh haflinger after much searching (then transport broke down today, hopefully she arrives tomorrow!) and she is sooo wide she can carry me just fine. I had a 16.3 TB before her. It sounds weird but find out what rug size she is! The haffie is the same size as the TB! I am a little bit in love with one of the neighbouring welsh mares she is so sweet!

If you need help horse searching I am always up for it :-)

I didn't want to travel far, been looking all year and a few duds and then I saw this one and drove 4 hours, I knew before I saw her really after some chats with the owner. Good luck!
 
I actually called about the welsh cob again today and have arranged a viewing for next weekend (easiest time with mine and owners work due to distance) my OH convinced me last night when he got out the photos of my old welsh x Arab pony who was 14hh and looking at my pics reminded me that I would be fine on a 14.2hh pony and my friend who was heavier than I am now used to ride him, he was built like a tank and wore a 5'9 to 6' rug. I've also arranged to see a couple of others during the week that fall into the same height as you nice folk are right I would be fine with something smaller and I would prob feel comfier as I've always preferred ponys :)
 
Relax and try not to despair. I spent more than a year and a half looking before I bought my mare. In the meantime DH and I were spending a fortune on riding lessons that we were finding limiting. We were gutted everytime a horse sold too soon or failed the vet. But eventually we found our gorgeous girl.

She didn't tick many of our boxes but she has been more than we ever hoped for and continues to surpass all our expectations. To say she was worth waiting for is a total understatement.

It sounds such a cliche to say be patient the right horse is out there for you but it is true. :D
 
I quite agree. I have been looking for nearly a year. All i have looked at have been either misdescribed, over-priced or lame. Sometimes all three!!!

They all looked/sounded ideal till I viewed though. Buyer beware!
 
I know how it feels - I didn't go too far traipsing around looking for one as criteria was so open lol but saw some real nutters - one thought I'd buy the horse without seeing it ridden or riding it (after they told me some of its issues!)
Ended up going to ascot sales and coming home with my gorgeous boy :) biggest gamble I have ever taken buying one - only saw him trotted up!
Good luck with the viewings - hope you find something soon!
 
I know of 2 wonderful young cob/sports horsey types that are out cubbing and clear rounding for under £2k ... They are out there but these are word of mouth :) chin up x
 
It is so hard..... Well maybe it isn't but I seem to have a nack for picking nutters or horses with bad medical problems that the owners are trying to pass on to someone else :)

I've got a couple to see this week and Ive contacted a girl that I found thru a friend that's loaning her horse for at least a year that she would be willing to sell after the loan contract ends to the right home. So I might end up loaning for a year as it looks promising as she is willing to allow the horse to move yards which is great as she to far from me to keep at her yard and go everyday.

Will keep you all posted :)
 
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