For those actively looking to buy a horse - how hard is it now?

[Birker2020]

I think you're very mean not letting us search for one for you, how dare you go and find one all by yourself !

Seriously B I hope he's everything you want and sails through a tough vetting.
.

Thank you. WHilst I'm certainly not going to deliberately be a timewaster this horse is top of my budget and like my friend says, you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince, so he may not be 100% what I'm looking for, so trying not to get excited. I've not ridden for about 6 months now, and only then four times, the time before that was No.15 of Lari rides when I came a cropper! So very out of practice.

 

[Birker2020]

Do you still need the BS record? If so ping me its name via pm and I can send over its results

Yes thank you will do that now Squeak. Ta.

 

[Annagain]

I really hope you find Mr Right this time round Birker, I know how hard it is.

 

[Birker2020]

I really hope you find Mr Right this time round Birker, I know how hard it is.

Thank you. I just feel right out of my comfort blanket with it all, I'm terrified of being done over again, terrified of riding a strange horse in front of a stranger and terrified that I will look a complete idiot or I won't be able to ride one side of it. I really hate horsey shopping.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Hey don't be hard on yourself, just only do what feels right at the viewing.

Is there someone who can come with you for a second opinion and a bit of support, or even sit on the horse for you after seeing it being ridden first?

 

[I'm Dun]

Thank you. I just feel right out of my comfort blanket with it all, I'm terrified of being done over again, terrified of riding a strange horse in front of a stranger and terrified that I will look a complete idiot or I won't be able to ride one side of it. I really hate horsey shopping.

Listen to what you are telling yourself and buy the horse you need now, not the one you needed 10yrs ago. Something safe and sane with a good bit less blood will still pop round a course of show jumps, do fun rides and RC stuff and will be easier and kinder to ride than a fit competition horse. It will be easier to find something up to weight and sounder as well.

 

[ihatework]

Listen to what you are telling yourself and buy the horse you need now, not the one you needed 10yrs ago. Something safe and sane with a good bit less blood will still pop round a course of show jumps, do fun rides and RC stuff and will be easier and kinder to ride than a fit competition horse. It will be easier to find something up to weight and sounder as well.

Spot on

 

[Squeak]

Yes thank you will do that now Squeak. Ta.

Just sent it to you

 

[Annagain]

Thank you. I just feel right out of my comfort blanket with it all, I'm terrified of being done over again, terrified of riding a strange horse in front of a stranger and terrified that I will look a complete idiot or I won't be able to ride one side of it. I really hate horsey shopping.

The best thing I did was take a step back in terms of what I wanted. I stopped looking for the "decent riding club allrounder" and switched to safe and kind - if the decent riding club allrounder was secondary to that it was a bonus but it wasn't my priority. I know you still want to compete etc but don't underestimate how much the whole Larry experience has taken out of you and how it might change your riding ambitions. I'm jumping 70cm max now, even though Wig is capable of more but he tootles round very happily with me and I'm just as happy as I was doing 90cm on Monty.

ETA - just read some other replies and I see I'm Dun has said something similar. It's good advice.

 

[TRECtastic]

Good luck , hope the horse is the one for you

After my last horse was pts I've ended up with something I'd of never gone to see if he'd been advertised. 13.3 little hairy Irish cob that hadn't done anything but has a lovely nature , and I'm having great fun with him , plus at my age I quite like being closer to the ground

 

[ihatework]

Unasked for input I appreciate, but I’d urge you to look at this kind of type (not necessarily this horse, he is in Ireland). More maxi cob type in the 16-16.2 bracket.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

You really cannot underestimate the amount of fun that you can have on a safe, sound, and "unexciting" type. Plus, the confidence and level of "comfort" that you can gain.

Best of luck on your search.

 

[Annagain]

Unasked for input I appreciate, but I’d urge you to look at this kind of type (not necessarily this horse, he is in Ireland). More maxi cob type in the 16-16.2 bracket.

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If I didn't have Wig, I'd be booking a flight to Ireland for him as we speak (type)!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

If I didn't have Wig, I'd be booking a flight to Ireland for him as we speak (type)!

If I thought I could ever ride again I would be on my way now to pick him up before you got there first!

 

[Rowreach]

If I thought I could ever ride again I would be on my way now to pick him up before you got there first!

I'd be helping you.

 

[onemoretime]

Good luck Birker, hope the viewing goes well.

Yes Good luck. Its not a nice situation even though it should be something really exciting to look forward to. Please let us know how the viewing goes.

 

[Annagain]

If I thought I could ever ride again I would be on my way now to pick him up before you got there first!

I'd be helping you.

Hands off, he's (hypothetically) mine

 

[Rowreach]

Hands off, he's (hypothetically) mine

We're closer (well he's about 5 hours away but still closer ).

 

[Barklands]

Good luck and go with your gut! Was buying a new one in 2020, went to try three times and had vetting booked in but just had a gut feeling wasn't right and pulled out, turns out horse had major issues and had been doped on viewing. Went to try another a week later, sat on it once but just got such a good feeling from both horse and seller, put deposit down there and then, horse turned out to be an absolute superstar and everything the lady said he was. There are decent, honest sellers out there, just go eyes wide open and trust yourself!

 

[paddy555]

Unasked for input I appreciate, but I’d urge you to look at this kind of type (not necessarily this horse, he is in Ireland). More maxi cob type in the 16-16.2 bracket.

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very nice and I do love his face.. Just get on and go. What more could anyone want. A couple of weeks he could be here and out riding, competing at your local riding club Birker. This sort has a lot to recommend it.

 

[Birker2020]

Hey don't be hard on yourself, just only do what feels right at the viewing.

Is there someone who can come with you for a second opinion and a bit of support, or even sit on the horse for you after seeing it being ridden first?

Yes I'm so lucky my physio friend is coming as well as my partner. She won't ride it but she can advise me what she thinks.

 

[Birker2020]

Unasked for input I appreciate, but I’d urge you to look at this kind of type (not necessarily this horse, he is in Ireland). More maxi cob type in the 16-16.2 bracket.

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I wouldn't consider anything under 16.2hh but get your point. I'm five foot 10 and have never owned anything under 17hh. And I'd certainly never buy unseen. The one I'm looking at isn't a WB. He looks 'safe' but I'm prepared to try a number of different types. I've even text about one which is a grey! But can only see one this weekend so it's the one I'm interested in as on paper he sounds great and he's actually sound which is a good headstart lol.

I totally get about buying what you can ride now. But I bought a quiet, not my usual type years ago and he turned out to be very boring for me and felt like the handbrake was constantly on.

 

[Birker2020]

Just sent it to you

Thanks Squeak

 

[Birker2020]

Good luck and go with your gut! Was buying a new one in 2020, went to try three times and had vetting booked in but just had a gut feeling wasn't right and pulled out, turns out horse had major issues and had been doped on viewing. Went to try another a week later, sat on it once but just got such a good feeling from both horse and seller, put deposit down there and then, horse turned out to be an absolute superstar and everything the lady said he was. There are decent, honest sellers out there, just go eyes wide open and trust yourself!

Thank you

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I wouldn't consider anything under 16.2hh but get your point. I'm five foot 10 and have never owned anything under 17hh.

But he's a tank! Seriously he would carry you me and a bag of carrots! On the other hand I have seen a good few 17 hander plus that I would be very concerned about what weight they carry. Horses for courses and all that but it isn't all about height, depending on what you are expecting to achieve I suppose.

 

[Birker2020]

But he's a tank! Seriously he would carry you me and a bag of carrots! On the other hand I have seen a good few 17 hander plus that I would be very concerned about what weight they carry. Horses for courses and all that but it isn't all about height, depending on what you are expecting to achieve I suppose.

I'd feel very under horsed on a 15.3hh. My feet would be on the floor

Just want to do the odd bit of CT, SJ, XC and dressage, hacking on my own and fun rides so a general all rounder.

It's sad but Lari would have been so ideal for me if he wasn't so damaged. So easy to keep and good in so many ways. Totally lovely boy.

 

[ihatework]

I'd feel very under horsed on a 15.3hh. My feet would be on the floor

This is where you are wrong.
On a decent maxi cob your leg would be taken up far more than you realise. A 16-16.2hh maxi type would be far more sensible than a 17hh+ part bred type

PS they aren’t all boring plods either

 

[Birker2020]

This is where you are wrong.
On a decent maxi cob your leg would be taken up far more than you realise. A 16-16.2hh maxi type would be far more sensible than a 17hh+ part bred type

PS they aren’t all boring plods either

Well we'll see

 

[Asha]

This is where you are wrong.
On a decent maxi cob your leg would be taken up far more than you realise. A 16-16.2hh maxi type would be far more sensible than a 17hh+ part bred type

PS they aren’t all boring plods either

Totally agree IHW

We’ve a 15.3 maxi cob type ( full ID but built like a tank ) the lady who is schooling her is probably about 5ft 10 too and really doesn’t look small
She’s as wide as she is tall .

Please excuse poor photo /mud etc . It was first time ridden in the arena at home and she hadn’t been ridden for a week
ETA .. and only weaned her foal 4 weeks prior to this

 

[Tiddlypom]

Birker, you say that you haven’t ridden for 6 months and not much for a while before that. Please please get some riding in before you go trying horses again.

You also need a horse that will carry you at the weight you are now, not at the weight that you’d like to be.

There are plenty of deep bodied 15.3hh maxicob types who will nicely take up the leg of chunky 5’10” riders like you and me .

I feel like we’ve been round this one before…