Finding the right horse.. back to first I saw, but also the oldest

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rafty

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Well I have viewed a few horses so far in my search to find the perfect one. I am selling my competition horse for one I can share with my young children. So need something rustic and that can carry an adult even though it is quite small.

So far viewed: Lovely part Fjord, 15 years old, real confidence giver, knows how to do it all (although not very good at dressage but we can't have it all). Great for hacking out, and nice and calm when jumping. Perfect for kids on the lunge, and I can hack out and do a couple of jumping bits and pieces with her. Feel that she coudl be the one, although her age worries me, and just so different from my beautiful big competition horse who I felt so proud of when I rode him as everyone loved how he looked, although I was too scared to do much with him!

Saw two others, not even worth mentioning after bucking off riders etc.

Then the beautiful Irish Cob, 5 years old, but possibly rigged and unsure of why the paperwork says parents unknown. Shame, shame, shame.

Viewing some more at the end of the week, but still always come back round to looking at the photo of the Fjord, I felt so sure on her (although a bit silly), but 100% confident. And she always comes back to the front on my mind, enough to recontact the owners and talk about haggling on the price.

Will know more how I feel after the next viewings this week. But again can we all calm my worries about her age.

Thanks
 
I think 15 is a great age when you want a fun confidence giver. Especially a fjord, they go on for donkeys years.
My old horse was in his prime at 16 as that was the time he was experienced enough for me to really enjoy him. He was a part bred arab and I had 10 years of fun on him before he passed away at the age of 26 and he was a blood horse. Ponies usually go on longer. Mine was still winning 2ft9 jumping classes two weeks before he died (of colic!).
Go for it. The 5yr old cob will need work, the fjord you can stick your kids on straight away, go to a show straight away and just start having fun!
 
The Fjord sounds a cracker.Just get her well vetted.Believe me, any horse you really enjoy riding will be beautiful to YOU and thats the only important thing.
 
Firewell said:
I think 15 is a great age when you want a fun confidence giver. Especially a fjord, they go on for donkeys years.
My old horse was in his prime at 16 as that was the time he was experienced enough for me to really enjoy him. He was a part bred arab and I had 10 years of fun on him before he passed away at the age of 26 and he was a blood horse. Ponies usually go on longer. Mine was still winning 2ft9 jumping classes two weeks before he died (of colic!).
Go for it. The 5yr old cob will need work, the fjord you can stick your kids on straight away, go to a show straight away and just start having fun!
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Great, thanks. Its exactly what I need to hear of horses/ponies doing things way into their 20's!!!!
 
I agree with Firewall, 15 is a great age. The best ponies that we bought for our children were both 16 when we purchased them, one went on teaching small children till she was PTS at 27 & the other one is still going strong at 21.

They taught us loads & are worth their weight in gold.

Have fun & enjoy :-)
 
Agree with Firewall here.

Best horse of my life was the ex racer I was sold as an 8 year old who turned out to be 13 instead, gave me so much confidence, just got on with stuff and was the most fun I have ever had in a horse, he is now 20 and still gong strong not with me alas as i had to move countries and the one downside of an older horse was not wanting to put him through the trip.

When I am in the market for another horse I will be looking for a been there, done it, get on and enjoy type who may need a few schooling tweeks but nothing major and certainly nothing that will need any form of professional help (paid for enough of that over the years with my now 7 year old who sounds very similar to your old one!).

If you sat on the Fjord X and felt safe and right then that speaks volumes. A horse that has confidence in itself and does not rely totally on the rider for confidence is worth its weight in gold.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
eahotson said:
The Fjord sounds a cracker.Just get her well vetted.Believe me, any horse you really enjoy riding will be beautiful to YOU and thats the only important thing.
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I do think this too, but am worried about the reaction at the club!! Also my instructor does not want me to get something old. But think this is purely selfish as obviously I needed lots of help with my competition horse, had to pay her to ride him, could not just keep him on my field, and she got to use him in lessons as he needed to be worked all the time!! She will loose out alot if I get something easy I can deal with myself, this is why I needs lots of positive thoughts from H&H!!
 
rafty said:
Great, thanks. Its exactly what I need to hear of horses/ponies doing things way into their 20's!!!!
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No probs. He was jumping 1m10 courses when he was 20 and at 18 I took him to uni with me, to Hartpury college for 4 years!! It was very nice having a horse I could go on crazy group hacks on and do friday night jumping and then not ride for a few weeks if I was doing exams without fear of being bucked off. :p.
 
For a fjord 15 is nothing. My 23 yr old conniextb stopped competing properly after an injury but is still happily doing local unaffil stuff. My 7yr old is going to have her first go at an intro this year on her & working hunter as she's easier than her pony. Plus when daughter outgrows hers in 2yrs or so she'll be moving on to her, at which point pony will be 25. Given that last summer a friends daughter took her in ridden veteran at a local show & the judge assumed she'd gone in the wrong class, looked at teeth & asked to see passport before letting her in to go on & be placed first, I doubt she'll be retiring anytime soon!
 
rafty said:
I do think this too, but am worried about the reaction at the club!! Also my instructor does not want me to get something old. But think this is purely selfish as obviously I needed lots of help with my competition horse, had to pay her to ride him, could not just keep him on my field, and she got to use him in lessons as he needed to be worked all the time!! She will loose out alot if I get something easy I can deal with myself, this is why I needs lots of positive thoughts from H&H!!
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Sounds like you need a new instructor! I'm sure the people at the club will be jealous when you have a horse that you can just jump on and go for a gallop on your own on a sunny day, one that you can take to the beach, to sponsored rides and one that you can take to an RC show and get a rosette in the jumping one minute and a rosette for your kids in the lead rein class the next. All the while having a picnic and enjoying yourself instead of being scared to death.
Not much point in a beautiful young competition horse if you are not enjoying it!
 
15 old?? good god, it frustrates me that i see this time and time again and it is such a shame that so many horse/ponies get written off in their prime. My horse is 14 this year and he is only now coming on lovely and improving so much that I shall be out competing him this year. Too many people go get younger horses only to have problems. Dont forget, a 7 yr old can be more knackered that a 20 year old.!
 
Don't worry about others' opinions - the pony is for you and your daughters, not them!

If this pony ticks all your boxes what are you waiting for, someone else may be thinking the same and be snapping him up whilst you think about it.
 
Have phoned the lady, am just trying to negotiate a better price as they are asking a lot. Have had a long chat with her about the home I can offer her and sent her photos!! She is going to think about my offer, and we will take it from there. My offer is reasonable, and actually still above what I would have wanted to pay. But have taken into consideration that they are worth their weight in gold. Anyway have offered a price, with another in mind which I can move up to. Fingers crossed. If not wasn't meant to be afterall.
 
am now just waiting for the first photos of you on the scrummy fjord.

lady being picky about price is a good thing, suggests the pony is quite good and genuine, if she were a dodgy wreck she probably would have bitten your hand off on the first offer.

get a different instructor if they are sniffy, theres a lovely fjord near me doing ODE and they are the absolute business and look gorgeous!!
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
am now just waiting for the first photos of you on the scrummy fjord.

lady being picky about price is a good thing, suggests the pony is quite good and genuine, if she were a dodgy wreck she probably would have bitten your hand off on the first offer.

get a different instructor if they are sniffy, theres a lovely fjord near me doing ODE and they are the absolute business and look gorgeous!!
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I said for her to think about it over the weekend, but now I want to go back straight away and say some things I forgot to say, like it will be cash etc. Even move up a bit on price as really want her now!! However, like I said she is not full fjord, possibly a bit of Henson or something in her. Sweet looking thing though. Will put up photos of her next week if it all goes through ok!!!
 
I would go with your heart and buy the Fjord! (subject to vetting, ofcourse) 15 is not old for a horse, especially these days, my 21 year old is still hunting etc, she is as fit as a fiddle, and I know of lots of other similarly aged horses still hunting/showjumping/dressage etc still. Also pony-types tend to go on for longer! She sounds ideal for what your children want to do and more importantly, safe.
 
rafty said:
I do think this too, but am worried about the reaction at the club!! Also my instructor does not want me to get something old. But think this is purely selfish as obviously I needed lots of help with my competition horse, had to pay her to ride him, could not just keep him on my field, and she got to use him in lessons as he needed to be worked all the time!! She will loose out alot if I get something easy I can deal with myself, this is why I needs lots of positive thoughts from H&H!!
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you're buying for you and your kids not for the club or your instructor!! fingers crossed the owner accepts your offer :D
 
pixiebee said:
15 old?? good god, it frustrates me that i see this time and time again and it is such a shame that so many horse/ponies get written off in their prime. My horse is 14 this year and he is only now coming on lovely and improving so much that I shall be out competing him this year. Too many people go get younger horses only to have problems. Dont forget, a 7 yr old can be more knackered that a 20 year old.!
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS THIS THIS ! TOTALLY AGREE! XXXX
 
At least I know I can up my offer if needs be. Not sure I can wait till the weekend now. Also the other horses I am viewing are at a dealers with my instructor so may get pressured into something not suitable again!!!! Think I will phone this lady back tomorrow or Friday to see if she accepts my offer or offer a bit more if not. OK and breath.... just too excited now!
 
rafty said:
At least I know I can up my offer if needs be. Not sure I can wait till the weekend now. Also the other horses I am viewing are at a dealers with my instructor so may get pressured into something not suitable again!!!! Think I will phone this lady back tomorrow or Friday to see if she accepts my offer or offer a bit more if not. OK and breath.... just too excited now!
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Fingers crossed for you! And I bet you will find that you have just as much fun on her as your children, small horses/ponies are the best!
 
Ibblebibble said:
you're buying for you and your kids not for the club or your instructor!! fingers crossed the owner accepts your offer :D
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^^ This

rafty said:
At least I know I can up my offer if needs be. Not sure I can wait till the weekend now. Also the other horses I am viewing are at a dealers with my instructor so may get pressured into something not suitable again!!!! Think I will phone this lady back tomorrow or Friday to see if she accepts my offer or offer a bit more if not. OK and breath.... just too excited now!
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^^ You NEED an different instructor!

If he/she is putting pressure on you to buy something that you are not happy about then you need to shake her hand, look her in the eye and wish her luck for the future- get in your car and drive away.

xXx
 
Firewell said:
Sounds like you need a new instructor! I'm sure the people at the club will be jealous when you have a horse that you can just jump on and go for a gallop on your own on a sunny day, one that you can take to the beach, to sponsored rides and one that you can take to an RC show and get a rosette in the jumping one minute and a rosette for your kids in the lead rein class the next. All the while having a picnic and enjoying yourself instead of being scared to death.
Not much point in a beautiful young competition horse if you are not enjoying it!
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Spot on that IMHO.
 
I paid £4800 for a 14.2 10year old Welsh Cob who had only competed at unaffilliated level and been a hack.A friend said HOW MUCH!!!!!! The seller wouldn't take a penny less, and he didn't come with any tack either.He has been worth every penny and I am not the only one that thinks so.My instructor came horse shopping with me and had turned down 2 previous ones but loved him practically on the spot.If I was looking for another horse and knew where that Fjord was I would be after him.
 
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