Finding the perfect horse...

[ExpressPrincess]

Sorry guys long post…

I have been looking for a new horse to replace my lovely mare who I sadly lost just over a month ago, I had a good list of what I wanted but my yard owner mentioned her friend had a gelding who despratly needs a new home due to his owners divorce, I decided to go and see what he was about and have a try and (surprisingly to me) he is a complete poppet and i did really like him! He is a flea-bitten grey with Leopard spotted bottom (Apaloosa x QH) and could not be any more different to what I was looking for (my wishlist was an ex racer / TB, Mare, 15-16hh, 5-12 years old!)

I’m thinking of taking him on (Still thinking! I was a week ago i tried him!) but I have a several worries I’m hoping people could reassure me about. No 1 he is 16 and has not been ridden in 9 months due to owners circumstances (although I rode him fine and only found out afterwards that he was simply sat on the day before I came! Poor boy must have wondered what hit him especially as I made him work in an outline and did some laterals! Meanie!!!) No 2. His feet are shocking but only due to lack of time/care I think (feel bad saying that!) he is in desperate need of a trim and has thrush in 2 feet despite living out 24/7, No 3 he is massively overweight probably about 100kg so worried as have never had a good doer before and we have acres of great gazing!!! Final panic point is that with work and weight loss he might turn into a psyco horse not the almost kickalong boy he was when I tried him (not that I’m worried about a bit of high spirits as have has 2 young ex racers who have both had their moments but could do without being repeatedly thrown off!) What do you think???

Also a bit of advice from those appaloosa owners out there - manes and tails, He has an average to thick tail but his mane is almost non-existent / straight up in the air like a Fjord but very fine more like the QH, but the owner said its part of the breed characteristic, what would you do with it for showing? Platted or pulled? Thanks in advance

 

[Lolita]

I'm slightly biased because Im obsessed with Appaloosas but I'd say go for it! My Appaloosa is also 16 and he's jumping the biggest tracks he's ever done and never been sick in his life (touch wood) and I find them to be very very hardy horses. Sounds great that he hadn't been ridden in so long and he worked well for you, and they do usually have great stamina and very trainable in general. I first rode mine when he was overweight, bought him when he was emaciated and now he's healthy and hes not much different so wouldn't worry about going into a psycho! A sparse mane is a typical Appaloosa and I find plaited best although I have once spiked it up with gel which looked quite good!I'd defiantly give it a go sounds like a lovely project!

 

[smellsofhorse]

Sound like he is worth the chance!

Age is nothin gif healthy.

You can get a pretty good opinion of their tempermant even if fat and unfit, he may have more spirit when fit and healthy but shouldnt turn totally oposite to now.

Same with the feet, if they have just been neglected lately shouldnt take much to return them to good contition.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Sounds OK to me, but get him 5 stage vetted as at that age [or at any age] you are not wanting to buy in to a problem. Ask for him on a two month trial to give you time to sort out his feet a bit before vetting, be prepared to pay a small non return deposit, but agree the final price of the sale, which should be low as you have two months of work ahead of you to get him fit and sound. They should be happy to have secured a good home for him.
You may be able to keep him barefoot if he has not been shod for a while, and shoes will not help his feet.
Re overweight you will be best to have him stabled as much as possible [will help with feet initially], though some turnout is advised, a fibre based diet ... only feed soaked forage, Allen and Page Fast Fibre and some "food for feet".
He will probably be OK to be kept out un-rugged to slim him and keep him moving, then go for a light rug when winter sets in, do a lot of walking on roads to firm up ligaments and burn off fat.
Re your grazing, look in to these ideas for making the horse work for his grub.

 

[ExpressPrincess]

Thanks for the reply’s so far, I agree with the trial idea and had already suggested it however the owner is hesitant as due to her circumstances she wants him to be rehomed and not have the worry of him coming back if unsuitable. Im an experienced but not always the most confident rider and owner has described him as "sharp when fit / not a novice ride" which initially put me off a bit as to me sharp would mean "bucking/spinning/jogging" etc but she then went on to say that for example he might look at fishing Bivvys when she hacks past fisherman on the river bank - well! my last mare would have thrown me in the river and bolted home if i had the stupidity to take her anywhere near that situation so i think her idea of sharp and mine are along way apart... I’ve booked to see him again Thursday night if he is ok again I will hopefully bring him home at the weekend! Will keep you updated!