Finding it hard to find the right horse for my teen

[New-to-the-game]

Hi all,

I have been looking for a first horse for my now 16 year old for a year now and am feeling a bit of a failure! We started out not really knowing what to look for and have ended up looking at quite a few that were never going to be suitable, but have learnt a lot through the process. My main problem is that I’m just so nervous of ending up with the wrong horse, or one that ends up having some kind of health issue etc. and so I always seem to find a reason why we shouldn’t buy.

We are currently looking at a horse who is owned by a para dressage rider and he seems to mostly fit the bill, but when we viewed we were warned that he doesn’t like his tummy being groomed or his girth done up and to stand clear of his head. He did pin his ears and was quite gnashy when having these things done. I know a lot of horses are sensitive in this area but I’ve now got it into my head that this is a sign of ulcers or some other issue and it’s putting me off, but my daughter is is desperate for a horse by now and he’s so good in every other way, I don’t know if I’m just being too over cautious and this is really no big deal and something we could resolve or if I should listen to my very nervous gut!

What do you more experienced folks think?

 

[Starzaan]

I think I know the horse you are referring to, and if it is the same horse he is an elite competition horse so wouldn't be right for inexperienced owners.

I think you're doing absolutely the right thing by asking for advice, so well done you, and it's always much better to be cautious in these situations.

Are you taking an experienced coach with you who knows your daughter and can advise? I would never want any of my clients going out to buy horses without someone very experienced with them.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Nope to the para dressage horse but don’t lose heart. Is your daughter a member of pony or riding club? If so then you could perhaps loan from families whose teenagers have gone to Uni or buy. Many pony clubs have a sales site where tried and tested horses are advertised. A horse with a nice personality is almost more important than sparkly clean stage 5 vetting when you are new owners.

Edited to say sjdress is contemplating selling her mare, she’s posted on another thread, why not explore any potential there?

 

[chrisley]

Do you have an instructor? What kind of riding does your daughter do?

 

[gallopingby]

What does your daughter want to do with the horse and how tall is she? As a first horse you really do nt want a ‘competition’ type that requires special treatment, she’ll be quickly put off unless you’ve a ‘pro’ to keep it on form. Much better to go for a been there / done that type that she can have fun with. Maybe worth considering one of the large native breeds who have been out on the showing circuit and owners have a youngster coming on. You’ll have to pay a fair price but they’ll usually do a range of activities and be nicely schooled.

 

[New-to-the-game]

I think I know the horse you are referring to, and if it is the same horse he is an elite competition horse so wouldn't be right for inexperienced owners.

I think you're doing absolutely the right thing by asking for advice, so well done you, and it's always much better to be cautious in these situations.

Are you taking an experienced coach with you who knows your daughter and can advise? I would never want any of my clients going out to buy horses without someone very experienced with them.

We have already had a first viewing which went well apart from the niggles I mentioned. I would like to take someone but don’t really have anyone that can come with us atm.

I think I know the horse you are referring to, and if it is the same horse he is an elite competition horse so wouldn't be right for inexperienced owners.

I think you're doing absolutely the right thing by asking for advice, so well done you, and it's always much better to be cautious in these situations.

Are you taking an experienced coach with you who knows your daughter and can advise? I would never want any of my clients going out to buy horses without someone very experienced with them.

May I pm you?

 

[New-to-the-game]

What does your daughter want to do with the horse and how tall is she? As a first horse you really do nt want a ‘competition’ type that requires special treatment, she’ll be quickly put off unless you’ve a ‘pro’ to keep it on form. Much better to go for a been there / done that type that she can have fun with. Maybe worth considering one of the large native breeds who have been out on the showing circuit and owners have a youngster coming on. You’ll have to pay a fair price but they’ll usually do a range of activities and be nicely schooled.

She wants to start competing in UA dressage. This horse is a been there done that type and is a bit older so I thought might be suitable. We would plan on having someone school him if required. We will also be on 7 day part livery on a very experienced yard so will have support, as well as a coach for lessons at least once a week.

 

[New-to-the-game]

Nope to the para dressage horse but don’t lose heart. Is your daughter a member of pony or riding club? If so then you could perhaps loan from families whose teenagers have gone to Uni or buy. Many pony clubs have a sales site where tried and tested horses are advertised. A horse with a nice personality is almost more important than sparkly clean stage 5 vetting when you are new owners.

Edited to say sjdress is contemplating selling her mare, she’s posted on another thread, why not explore any potential there?

She rides in a school atm, so although she is a member of the PC, it’s as a centre member so not quite the same.

Is the horse you mentioned the 16.3 6yo green mare that naps? I’m thinking it can’t be that one but couldn’t see another with sjdress.

Would love to find a lovely PC horse but have been looking for a year and not seen one yet! I think there must be some kind of secret market for these.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Join your local PC and ask them! Lots of ponies move about in the same club and the instructors will know them well.

Always go for something a little too quiet to start, if it’s boring you can sell on but having your own horse is a learning curve and whilst you might ride the difficult horses at a RS it’s not the same as owning one.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Hi all,

I have been looking for a first horse for my now 16 year old for a year now and am feeling a bit of a failure! We started out not really knowing what to look for and have ended up looking at quite a few that were never going to be suitable, but have learnt a lot through the process. My main problem is that I’m just so nervous of ending up with the wrong horse, or one that ends up having some kind of health issue etc. and so I always seem to find a reason why we shouldn’t buy.

We are currently looking at a horse who is owned by a para dressage rider and he seems to mostly fit the bill, but when we viewed we were warned that he doesn’t like his tummy being groomed or his girth done up and to stand clear of his head. He did pin his ears and was quite gnashy when having these things done. I know a lot of horses are sensitive in this area but I’ve now got it into my head that this is a sign of ulcers or some other issue and it’s putting me off, but my daughter is is desperate for a horse by now and he’s so good in every other way, I don’t know if I’m just being too over cautious and this is really no big deal and something we could resolve or if I should listen to my very nervous gut!

What do you more experienced folks think?

Hello, welcome.

It might help if you say roughly what area you are in.

 

[New-to-the-game]

Join your local PC and ask them! Lots of ponies move about in the same club and the instructors will know them well.

Always go for something a little too quiet to start, if it’s boring you can sell on but having your own horse is a learning curve and whilst you might ride the difficult horses at a RS it’s not the same as owning one.

Can I do that if we don’t have a horse?

 

[HopOnTrot]

You can join as a non-ridden member, I would recommend joining as it’s a great organisation.

 

[New-to-the-game]

Hello, welcome.

It might help if you say roughly what area you are in.

We are Berkshire

 

[JenJ]

We have already had a first viewing which went well apart from the niggles I mentioned. I would like to take someone but don’t really have anyone that can come with us atm.

She wants to start competing in UA dressage. This horse is a been there done that type and is a bit older so I thought might be suitable. We would plan on having someone school him if required. We will also be on 7 day part livery on a very experienced yard so will have support, as well as a coach for lessons at least once a week.

Could you ask one of the staff from the yard, or even better, your coach?

 

[Squeak]

While you're looking have you thought of trying to find a share? If she's currently in a riding school, it's quite a big leap from riding lessons to having your own and sharing can sometimes be a really helpful middle ground that can give you a bit of experience of owning a pony and what kind of pony suits. It could also give you a chance to build up some contacts and depending on the share she might even be able to start doing some pony club with it. It could also hopefully help take the time pressure off trying to find a pony.

 

[Orangehorse]

There are Pony Club branches in riding schools, you use their ponies.

 

[New-to-the-game]

While you're looking have you thought of trying to find a share? If she's currently in a riding school, it's quite a big leap from riding lessons to having your own and sharing can sometimes be a really helpful middle ground that can give you a bit of experience of owning a pony and what kind of pony suits. It could also give you a chance to build up some contacts and depending on the share she might even be able to start doing some pony club with it. It could also hopefully help take the time pressure off trying to find a pony.

We did have a pony share some time ago but he retired. I would consider doing again but haven’t seen anything come up. We don’t have transport atm so that can be restrictive. I have let the yard manager where we have reserved a box know that we are on the lookout.

 

[New-to-the-game]

There are Pony Club branches in riding schools, you use their ponies.

Yes, we’re a member of PC at our riding school, but it doesn’t quite work the same as being a branch member and as everyone is riding school horses there aren’t horses that come up for sale etc.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

Have you spoken to her instructors about looking for a horse? They might be willing to come with you to viewings, or know of something suitable in the area.
Also, quite a few riding schools loan/sell their horses to clients, and then they stay there on working livery. I know of at least one riding school in your area that does this. Might be a good way of easing into horse ownership.

 

[New-to-the-game]

Have you spoken to her instructors about looking for a horse? They might be willing to come with you to viewings, or know of something suitable in the area.
Also, quite a few riding schools loan/sell their horses to clients, and then they stay there on working livery. I know of at least one riding school in your area that does this. Might be a good way of easing into horse ownership.

Would you mind PMing me the name of the school? Thanks.

 

[New-to-the-game]

Have any of you used sourcing agents? What’s the feeling on these? Some charge a % of the purchase price and some a flat fee, which of these is preferable if at all? I really need help!

 

[Starzaan]

We have already had a first viewing which went well apart from the niggles I mentioned. I would like to take someone but don’t really have anyone that can come with us atm.

May I pm you?

Yes, please do!!

 

[Squeak]

What's the criteria of the horse you're looking for? E.g. age, height, mare/ gelding and what would your daughter ideally like to do - bit of everything or focus on dressage or sj etc?

It's a shame one of her instructors or the RS/ livery yard owner aren't able to offer the service of helping you find something. It might be one that finding a trustworthy dealer could be easier. People might be able to recommend some to contact once they have an idea of what you're looking for

 

[TheHairyOne]

Given where you are I can also guess the para horse you looked at and thats not much different to buying a Ferrari as a first car, only one where the car has a mind of its own. I wouldnt!

Id be having a trawl through some of the more local dealers/yards/trainers and asking what they have/know of with a pretty strict list of criteria. You clearly have a pretty decent budget so should be able to find a nice horse doing the things your daughter wants to do.

Pheonix equestrian at Bucklebury look to have some nice allrounders in sometimes just from what pops up on my facebook feed, Sophie Hamilton often has a few really nice horses based in Wokingham and Amy Derber (sp?) was very local and had a really good reputation, isnt too far away now. Just a few ideas, none of which I am in any way associated with.

 

[Bobthecob15]

From experience it is nigh on impossible to find a pony or horse through pony club unless you are already well in there, they pass from friend to friend. I'm just being honest, we've been in pony club for several years in a branch and haven't managed to find a pony yet through PC, always ended up with adverts! I'm not that involved in the PC stuff hence why we don't get a look in!

I would do as above and try contacting some sales yards, you might get lucky with an advert but you really have to know what you are doing as so many people will basically fib to you. And be prepared to travel a bit of a distance, have you asked on local facebook groups for recommended sales liveries/trainers? I would try that.

 

[shortstuff99]

If you're child wants to do UA dressage and PC/RC activities why not look for a good cob? I had a cob in my teenage/young adult years and she was ace! Evented up to pony club senior level (BE Novice equivalent) and did all the teams but was safe and sane for a teenager.

Don't feel like you need a sport horse to do low level competitions and having fun!

 

[gallopingby]

If you're child wants to do UA dressage and PC/RC activities why not look for a good cob? I had a cob in my teenage/young adult years and she was ace! Evented up to pony club senior level (BE Novice equivalent) and did all the teams but was safe and sane for a teenager.

Don't feel like you need a sport horse to do low level competitions and having fun!

I agree! Absolutely nothing wrong with a cob, 14.2 M&m or M&M part bred or overweight. There are specific dressage comps for most breeds / types these days. Depending on the yard you may be steered towards a ‘proper’ horse and a large breed M&M or cob should be able to do the same activities except maybe jumping once you’re looking at the bigger courses. Lots of people start out with cobs and have great fun with them and the successful ones are much admired.

 

[New-to-the-game]

What's the criteria of the horse you're looking for? E.g. age, height, mare/ gelding and what would your daughter ideally like to do - bit of everything or focus on dressage or sj etc?

It's a shame one of her instructors or the RS/ livery yard owner aren't able to offer the service of helping you find something. It might be one that finding a trustworthy dealer could be easier. People might be able to recommend some to contact once they have an idea of what you're looking for

Looking for 15.3h-16.2hh, 7-12 ideally, and she wants to start competing in dressage, starting UA Prelim and working up to doing BD, plus hacking out, clinics, fun rides etc. She doesn’t really enjoy jumping but would do this occasionally.

 

[New-to-the-game]

Given where you are I can also guess the para horse you looked at and thats not much different to buying a Ferrari as a first car, only one where the car has a mind of its own. I wouldnt!

Id be having a trawl through some of the more local dealers/yards/trainers and asking what they have/know of with a pretty strict list of criteria. You clearly have a pretty decent budget so should be able to find a nice horse doing the things your daughter wants to do.

Pheonix equestrian at Bucklebury look to have some nice allrounders in sometimes just from what pops up on my facebook feed, Sophie Hamilton often has a few really nice horses based in Wokingham and Amy Derber (sp?) was very local and had a really good reputation, isnt too far away now. Just a few ideas, none of which I am in any way associated with.

Thanks for the tips. I have been keeping my eye out on the Phoenix but they tend to be youngsters and Sophie doesn’t have anything suitable atm. Will check out Amy Derber, that’s a new one.

 

[New-to-the-game]

I agree! Absolutely nothing wrong with a cob, 14.2 M&m or M&M part bred or overweight. There are specific dressage comps for most breeds / types these days. Depending on the yard you may be steered towards a ‘proper’ horse and a large breed M&M or cob should be able to do the same activities except maybe jumping once you’re looking at the bigger courses. Lots of people start out with cobs and have great fun with them and the successful ones are much admired.

Thanks, we do like cobs but teen is pretty tall and leggy but slight, so not always a good fit but will see what I can find. What’s M&M? Is it Mountain & Moreland?