Game: find a first horse that wouldn't overhorse a competent novice

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WestCoast

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As a follow on to the why do so many people overhorse themselves I thought I'd set a challenge. Finding an advert for a suitable horse for someone looking for a first horse - they've had plenty of lessons, can walk, trot, canter, gallop and pop a few jumps and want to hack and do a few riding shows.

You need to read between the lines in the ads though - no dealers masquerading as private sellers. Oh and let's make it a bit more difficult - within 30 miles of a location, let's say Luton off the top of my head.

Paula
 
The mare I bought for my mum fits that bill perfectly and has been everything she said on the tin :D Only thing is shes not near Luton and worth her weight in gold ;)
 
About £4k - so not on a tight budget. Rider 5' 4" and 10 stone. Tiger - its got to be for sale now and near Luton as I want to see if how many viewables can be found to shed some light on why people find it difficult to buy a first horse.

Paula
 
Thing is though Paula with horse buying if you want the right one you have to be prepared to wait, travel, view try, try again and again or LWVTB. I get that this is a bit of a sore subject with you atm but its not about how many are in one area - horses just dont work that way!

http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/horses-for-sale/allrounder-horse/confidence-giving-cob__12-9-12-663238

http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/horses-...2-year-old-bay-gentle-gelding__11-9-12-537194

The above are the types Id shortlist to view depending on a phonecall/email correspondence with the owner.

Took me 3 months to find something I trusted enough to put my mum on who has also come back to riding after a long break. I wouldnt be looking at anything under 8, no hot breeds and nothing used to a competetive lifestyle.
 
I have 2 that would fit the bill, but neither are for sale! I think this may just be the problem, the good ones worth their weight in gold are rarely advertised on the open market, and due to the current climate people are hanging onto this type. perhaps it may be an idea to ask around local riding clubs?
 
TigerTail said:
Thing is though Paula with horse buying if you want the right one you have to be prepared to wait, travel, view try, try again and again or LWVTB. I get that this is a bit of a sore subject with you atm but its not about how many are in one area - horses just dont work that way!

http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/horses-for-sale/allrounder-horse/confidence-giving-cob__12-9-12-663238

http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/horses-...2-year-old-bay-gentle-gelding__11-9-12-537194

The above are the types Id shortlist to view depending on a phonecall/email correspondence with the owner.

Took me 3 months to find something I trusted enough to put my mum on who has also come back to riding after a long break. I wouldnt be looking at anything under 8, no hot breeds and nothing used to a competetive lifestyle.
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One's in Colchester, the other's in Northumberland. The person's trainer can only travel in a 30 mile radius. Nothing for him/her to view yet.
 
maisie06 said:
I have 2 that would fit the bill, but neither are for sale! I think this may just be the problem, the good ones worth their weight in gold are rarely advertised on the open market, and due to the current climate people are hanging onto this type. perhaps it may be an idea to ask around local riding clubs?
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It's not for me - I don't live in Luton and have a horse. It's just to see if anyone can find a horse for a theoretical person to view in those advertised for sale at the moment.
 
PaddyMonty said:
Which is why this mystery person is going to end up with a compromise and probably unsuitable horse.
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Exactly! Just doesnt work like that Im afraid - or theyd be looking for a few years. TBH if the person needed a trainer to go with them to purchase a horse they shouldnt be purchasing - they should part loan until competent enough not to rely on others opinions. That would stop a lot of the over horsing!
 
There are perhaps a few adverts that would tick the boxes, but that doesn't mean the horses will match the adverts. :D

I'd start off by spreading the word locally what you are trying to find and how about a wanted post on horse gossip?
 
So we have a responsible person, with a good budget, and has found someone to come and look at horses with them. But you don't feel that she should buy a horse because she can't travel all over the country and should wait until she has experience she can't get without a horse?
 
Actually TT said that the person should share/part loan - therefore getting the experience without the commitment of actually buying a horse.
 
rafty said:
I don't think thats fair to say that a novice who needs to take an instructor with them should not buy a horse.
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I think if more people took an experienced adviser there would be less problems, I regularly go with people most are not first time buyers but need a bit of help or advice it helps to have an extra pair of eyes and we usually video as well. As for sharing/ loaning it is not always easy to find a suitable one and why should they not buy their own, having help and support is essential for many novices, an involved friend or instructor at all stages in invaluable.

more to look at Horsequest 59213/ 59147/ 59111
 
No OP, what people said was a horse that fits your EXACT criteria may not be for sale at this very moment. Even when you have much more general criteria it can be difficult.

When I bought Buddy my only criteria was:
4-6yo
16hh+
Ability to jump 1.10 (which TBH most horses can)
Good to hack alone
Lovely temperament

It took me about 8 weeks and I travelled up to Shropshire (from Berks) for him. The distance wasn't an issue for me and he ticked all the boxes.
 
I can't get over someone expecting to find such a horse within thirty miles !! I consider a close search to be within a three hour one way drive.
 
I've got one, not for sale though at any price. Admittedly in her prime could do far more competition wise. She's 23 & connie x tb, full up 14.2, & being a pony has many years left yet. Even now she's older she can still jump a 3' unaffiliated sj, do a decent show & novice test, hack through anything, 100% in all ways to handle. And all those things a novice could come & do with her now, without supervision or settling in periods. Perfect schoolmistress really, adapts to the rider, anything from nannying & helping them out, up to refusing to listen to less than perfect flatwork aids, so could teach someone a lot. However, even forgetting the fact I'd sell a kidney first, I wouldn't ever need to advertise her. She'd go word of mouth. And that's why they're hard to find. Plus with ones like her, its far more sensible to get them competing. You may well find a safe hack for 4k. But if you have one that can also do low level affiliated with a novice its worth a hell of a lot more. If as either a private seller or dealer I had the 4k horse you want, I'd take it out & do bn, bd, be, get someone to do pc stuff etc. And then sell for an awful lot more.
 
littlelegs said:
You may well find a safe hack for 4k. But if you have one that can also do low level affiliated with a novice its worth a hell of a lot more. If as either a private seller or dealer I had the 4k horse you want, I'd take it out & do bn, bd, be, get someone to do pc stuff etc. And then sell for an awful lot more.
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I think this is part of the trouble - if a horse has a good enough temperament and is schooled well enough to be a lovely, enjoyable safe hack alone and in company for a novice rider, then unless it has soundness problems, it probably has potential to do well in PR/RC/low level affiliated competitions. So as you, say, sellers are keen to develop that potential to boost the price.
 
The point of the thread was to show why people end up overhorsing themselves - it's also fascinating that the majority of suggestions when you google the telephone numbers are sellers with several horses for sale all of which are "perfect" - make of that what you may. I suspect the buyer that buys those may end up mysteriously overhorsed.

Interesting that it was assumed that the hypothetical buyer wanted to do unaffiliated. I was thinking clear round and sparkiest pony type competition. And also people saying the criteria was too strict - but no age, height, colour, breed etc.
 
Ok been wanting to ask this since this morning - do you think you overhorsed yourself because of the lack of suitable ones near to you Paula?
 
TigerTail said:
Exactly! Just doesnt work like that Im afraid - or theyd be looking for a few years. TBH if the person needed a trainer to go with them to purchase a horse they shouldnt be purchasing - they should part loan until competent enough not to rely on others opinions. That would stop a lot of the over horsing!
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Interesting opinion... I have 24 years riding experience, most recently brought on a very green 17.2hh warmblood, competent and confident rider, and currently looking for my next horse... (something young, green, blank canvas like) I will be taking my trainer with me to look at every horse i think has potential to get her opinion, and wouldnt ever consider buying a horse without taking another experienced person with me to provide their opinion...
 
Hedwards said:
Interesting opinion... I have 24 years riding experience, most recently brought on a very green 17.2hh warmblood, competent and confident rider, and currently looking for my next horse... (something young, green, blank canvas like) I will be taking my trainer with me to look at every horse i think has potential to get her opinion, and wouldnt ever consider buying a horse without taking another experienced person with me to provide their opinion...
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There's NEEDING the trainer to go with them as they know they havnt the foggiest what theyre doing really, and liking having a 2nd set of experienced eyes to add to your own.... different kettle of fish
 
TigerTail said:
There's NEEDING the trainer to go with them as they know they havnt the foggiest what theyre doing really, and liking having a 2nd set of experienced eyes to add to your own.... different kettle of fish
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So anyone buying their first horse should be able to do it without any advice/opinion from their instructor/trainer?

I actually think the problem of over horsed people is that many dont take their trainer with them and end up buying something that seems perfect on the day, but due to their lack of knowledge/experience in horse buying dont notice things that the more experienced eye would...

Sorry, didnt mean to hijack OP... I cant face doing a search for this 'virtual' person, I've spent too much time looking at horses for sale with zero luck so far today!
 
Paulag said:
The point of the thread was to show why people end up overhorsing themselves - it's also fascinating that the majority of suggestions when you google the telephone numbers are sellers with several horses for sale all of which are "perfect" - make of that what you may. I suspect the buyer that buys those may end up mysteriously overhorsed.

Interesting that it was assumed that the hypothetical buyer wanted to do unaffiliated. I was thinking clear round and sparkiest pony type competition. And also people saying the criteria was too strict - but no age, height, colour, breed etc.
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Actually only one of the ads I posted had more than one animal for sale (and was the least suitable of the ones I chose but worth a ring). I don't get your comment about assuming that the rider wanted to do unaffiliated when you said the rider wanted to do 'riding shows'.

I think it was your distance criteria that people felt was too strict. I know when we bought my daughter's horse we travelled 60 miles and felt that was a nearby one - with the previous pony it was a three hour journey!
 
Well I get the point. It's funny about the trainer thing. In America very few show hunter riders would ever purchase a horse without their trainer. Commisions are high and everyone seems to have a finger in the pie. Anyway that's a whole nother topic. But they will travel further than 30mins.

I have one of these horses you describe but I'm in Ireland and wouldn't part with her ever. She's my "makes me feel good no matter what the day brings" horses. She's an 8 YO chestnut TB mare. Go figure. We have put just about everyone on Heidi and never a moments worry. Great if someone visits who isn't confident, a complete novice, or can ride a bit. Bred, owned, and owned by me. I'm pretty proud of that actually considering that in today's world people think it's more cool to have the horse only they can ride. Love Heidi bug!

Terri
 
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