Has anyone bought a horse from Fiona Davidson?

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lizzieb

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I've been to look at one of her horses today for a friend of mine who wants to get back into hunting after having 2 children. She loved him (as did I) but would like some reassurance that he will be exactly as described having heard horror stories about horses bought from professional yards. We don't doubt what Fiona says about him but hearing some experiences from other people would put my friend's mind at rest.

Thanks in advance for your help
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I know Fiona and always think that she really likes her horses, does a good job on them and wouldn't be in any way iffy to buy from. She hunts them well with the Quorn and is a v experienced and competent jockey. That's just IMHO though, and I'm an acquaintance not a friend before anyone accuses me of this post being a "plant"!
 
Thanks Baydale. This is what we want to hear
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I agree Fiona seemed a very competent jockey and she definitely loves this horse and is sad he's got to go. She's hunted him for 2 seasons so he knows his job which is what friend needs. The only concern we have is that friend cannot always put horse on the perfect stride to jump from that Fiona can but he seemed genuine enough to cope with this as proven by me jumping him off some decidedly dodgy strides! I have to say if she does buy him I might see if I can steal him in the summer to event!
 
I spoke to her on FB as she had a lovely looking horse for sale and she seemed lovely and genuinely loved it
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She has got a yard full of lovely horses. This horse has definitely been very well produced which is also why we're slightly wary as my friend is a definite amateur. I think he's genuine and honest enough to cope though.
 
Fiona is a friend of mine and teaches me (not that I am a terribly good advert for her - she is trying to repair me from showing jockey to someone that can actually ride a fence!) she is a super rider, very quiet and sympathetic but I've had her on my horse too and she had her spot on - she has lovely quality horses that are perfectly produced IMHO, she is very very genuine and would tell you the 100% truth about the horse.
(Sorry that probably sounds very biased as she is a friend, but I dont bulls*** either!)

Good luck in your search!
 
Never heard of her, and I worked for one of the Quorn masters, but all I would say is buying horses from a proffesional rider who 99.99% of the time will present them at a fence correctly on a perfect stride, somtimes when an ameture gets on and misses the horses dont always know what to do. Your fried could do with buying from a typical hunting ameture whos horse will be used to regulary going on a misser and can find that 5th leg to help her out. seen it happen so many times with hunting riders buy from a profesional then after costant missers the wheels start to fall off. Could reccomend a good hunter dealer who specialises in horses that are for ametures, he understands that horses need to help the rider out who cannot find the perfect stride.
 
Thanks Jules. She's got a lot of lovely horses which I was very jealous of! She genuinely will be sad to see him go but that's part doing horses as a living.
 
Thanks Alchemist
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It's good to hear from someone who knows her and recommends her. I was very impressed by her riding and how she has produced him. I will speak to my friend tomorrow and see if she's made a decision.
 
Thanks for your concerns which I will pass on to her tomorrow. We've both seen numerous horses in the past that just can't cope with an amateur unable to see a stride which is why we're a bit wary. Friend has seen a few horses with amateurs though and hasn't clicked with any of them which is why she thought she would try this one and she felt really happy on him.
 
The only qualifier to the "amateur produced" thing is that not everyone rides the same and just because a horse copes well with one ride doesn't meant it will cope with another. If it's been produced by one rider only it will only know what it needs to do that job and I would hazard a guess no one would have gone out of their way to broaden its skills since if it ain't broke noone would think it need fixing. Not to say I don't understand the point, just that having a less professional rider produce a horse is no guarantee it knows everything it needs to know to move smoothly into another situation.

I think the best option can be a horse produced by someone who understands the demands on an amateur's horse and has done what's needed to produce a well rounded mount, including letting it make mistakes in a controlled way. That person should also be able to tell a buyer what the horse will/can do and what it can't.
 
You make a very good point that just because a horse is amateur produced doesn't mean it will suit everyone. This is very true as neither me or my sister get on particularly well with each other's horses as we have different styles of riding.
 
I've not bought a horse from her but I do know Fiona pretty well and see her out regularly with the Quorn. She hates having to sell horses, no surprise there, and she wouldn't hide anything from you, you would get what you saw.
 
I have
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Ponio was (and still is) everything(and more) she said he was.
He has never put a hoof wrong and is very cheeky
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Apparently someone from the Quorn is still kicking themselves that they didn't buy him before I went to see him.
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I email Fiona updates and she always seems genuinely pleased that we are doing well.
If I ever decided to get another one (shhh don't tell OH ) I would be straight on the phone to her
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"Roany-pony gets excited at her first (and probably only) post in comp riders"
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Thanks for the feedback. I've spoken to friend tonight and she doesn't think he's the horse for her as he's still a bit green and with 2 children under the age of 3 she hasn't got a lot of time to do lots with him. I absolutely loved him though and if I had the money would have had him like a shot! Fiona was lovely and it's good to know she's entirely honest about the horses she sells
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