Finding the perfect horse...

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niko

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I am just reading quite a few threads about horse hunting and people viewing many with nothing suitable. I was thinking about my experiences looking for horses and somehow i just 'find' them, all have came to me somehow without being advertised.
My latest addition came to me through word of mouth, never been sat on by me and for the price no vetting. Obviously this is my own concern, but i feel for the price i pay, the vetting only holds for that day and i can take the gamble, if when going to get the horse in my gut it feels right.
He has turned out to be a true gent in every situation and an outstanding jumping horse with a beautiful mouth and trainable attitude, he turns heads wherever we go and is perfect.....for me.
I have never had to scour the country for my next horse and i am trying to understand why some people look for the 'perfect' horse, when sometimes it takes time for them to be 'perfect'......for you.
For example, my mum has a mare that has so many quirks we now call them 'Mollyism's'!!!
She only weaves if stressed or apprehensive, i.e. through pain or anticipation of food. She is a true blood horse and her senses are sharp. We have had her for 6years and not once has she ever bucked, reared, bolted or been mareish. You could leave her for a year and put the saddle on and go for a hack and she will look after you. Yet dare you put a rug near her she will jump a 5 bar gate and is will always flinch when approaching her right side!! Yet take her xc with my nervous mum who on approach to a jump, freezes, and i know the mare will turn herself inside out to jump for her.
I understand these horses are few and far between, but she is far from perfect and we put up with these things as the rest is so good and she is forward but SAFE.
I had a person try a thoroughbred who was quieter than your riding school 20yr old cob and she was quite a nervous rider, the horse suited her for her requirements and was wanting to take her, then called the next day to say she thought about it and as she was 6 (highly schooled at that) she was 'too young', but perfect in every way!!! Age is a number, mums mare is 16, but you darent put a novice on!!
Strange people stress out my mums mare and as they are kept at home, she was horrified my mums mare started weaving and continued with a story about buying a horse from a top eventer, that was 'perfect' in every way, but when got it home done the same, so she returned it. Obviously this is her perocative, but she also told me she wasnt wanting to sell on. So after x hundred horses viewed (in Ireland too, i mean we have LOTS of what would suit her!)
My view is i am far from perfect, eveyone and everything is an individual and adapt to live in unity (most of the time) with each other. They do not have a choice in putting up with me and my 'habits' so i will make allowances for some of theirs as long as they do what i require, this to me is quite 'fussy'.
Am i just grumbling as i am ill, or are there too many expectations to find perfection? Beechams to all for getting this far
 
I agree with what you have said. My horse is very anxious when left alone and quite frankly looks like a complete loon when he's having an episode in his stable, if I didn't know him I wouldn't want to go anywhere near him, but then on the other hand e is perfect for everything I want, if I want him to live out, he will, if I want to not ride for 3 weeks and then go for a hack, I can just hop on!! Like you say he puts up with my odd habits so why shouldn't I put up with some of his? I do think there needs to e some guidelines when buying, I for example wouldn't take a reader no matter how perfect it was in other ways but I think it's important to weigh up the pros and cons before disregarding a horse as it may not be 100% on paper
 
Yes I agree with you. I wasn't looking for perfection merely something I can mould into perfection :cool: I looked at 6, 4 were completely unsuitable, the other 2, either would have done what I wanted and I chose the older one although nearly 3 times the price as ready to work with now. I saw several more adverts for strong contenders as well which were further afield.
 
I think there are too many novice adults who want the horse equivalent of a true first ridden. But won't accept that horses like that are like gold dust. They want a bombproof rc schoolmaster, in the 8-10 range, within a 30 min drive for an unrealistic budget.
And I think many people don't account for settling in. Ok I would expect a kids first pony that's been in lots of homes to behave, & even the average horse not to behave badly. But all too often people seem to expect the horse to immediately act the same as in its previous home, even when its green, or young, or been in the same place all its life, quite often despite the fact they've also made huge changes in its management.
Personally its never been an issue. Every horse I've owned has been either young or with known problems, so never had high expectations of initial behavior, I knew already they had lots to learn. Only exception was a horse for whom I'd been groom to for 2yrs, he knew his stuff & we also were very used to each other before I bought him.
 
Personally, I would be wary of a 5/6 year old for a first horse. Reason, I had a five year old as a first pony. He was a great pony for an experienced home - not as a first pony. He went to a really goood home, but hindsight means i know i wasnt able to provide what he needed and also what i needed.

Should I ever be looking to buy a horse, I'd want one a bit older, that's seen the world and knows what their job is. I would not consider a young horse (and I put six year olds I to that category) because it wouldn't be fair on either of us. Fwiw, I was told by.my last instructor I would be able to bring on a young horse with support - just because I am able doesnt make it right.
 
I think there are also a lot of people who want a lot of horse but are not prepared to pay the market rate for it and so are disappointed. Broaden your horizons or increase your budget..!

And I have had a big TB who was so laid back it was as if he was always sedated. Sold to a novice friend and was wonderful to her. One of the sharpest horses I ever knew was a cob...!
 
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