Hate trying new horses?

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sprite1978

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I am looking for a second horse, but the problem is i hate trying horses i dont know. I do lack confidence sometimes. Although I consider myself to be quite capable - I have a real fear of the unknown! I am in my comfort zone at the moment, but want to progress.
Horses are so often badly described, i was wondering if anyone had any ideas.

I think the problem is, i never started riding until i was 27, so i missed the fearless child stage.

FYI - I am looking for something quality but straightforward - 5-9 YO, 16.2 plus, capable of doing lower level BE. Budget of about £6k (just in case you want to shop for me!) LWVTB or trial would be a bonus but not essential.
 
I feel the same! Currently looking for something a bit smaller than you, but as you said, I feel a capable rider on horses I know, but fear of the unknown can make me nervous on new horses. It's exciting and worrying all at the same time!
Can't offer any advice, other than I like to see the horse being ridden first, so I know what to expect, and would ideally like to try the horse out in a school first, to get a feel, and then get out on a hack. And very ideally, I'd like to go back more than once to ride the horse, but would only do that if I were very serious about buying it. I also worry about being considered a 'timewaster' even though I know I'm not..... I intend to keep my new horse for a very long time, so want to make sure it will be the right one.
 
Its true.... buyers get labelled as time wasters if the dont want to instantly buy what they see. I have only been to see a couple, but i know there are people who use it as an excuse for a free ride.
 
Just relax and pay attention to your gut feeling :) If the seller feels genuine as well as the horse, chances are you will be fine. Its not wise to go jumping on stuff that you don't trust!
 
I always ride like a complete plum when trying new horses... But I always warn sellers of this and say that it's down to butterflies / trying to adjust to a new mount in front of strangers, who are assessing you as much as you are assessing the horse...
 
I don't agree to share a horse before trying a few times. No harm in going to see the horse, see it ridden try it your self and try a bit more yourself on another visit. Obviously stop as soon as you're no longer interested. Most sellers/owners understand that some kind of trial is good for both horse and potential rider.
 
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Crazydancer said:
!
Can't offer any advice, other than I like to see the horse being ridden first,
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Completely agree with this. When we were looking we always got the seller to ride the horse first so that we could see for ourselves how it behaved and then judge for ourselves if we wanted to get on or not.
 
I bought a horse without riding her :).

She was a just broken 3 1/2 yr old and I saw the seller ride her and decided she would be fine and she was/is :).

Could have back fired spectacularly but it didn't, not sure I'd recommend that way of buying a horse though.
 
I've been riding since I was 3 (now 28) and had a fearless child stage but now I am just the same, if my horse mucks about I really don't mind anything but I hate, and I really mean hate, riding unknown horses, especially infront of other people, I am much happier if they leave me in a school on my own to get to know the horse!
I consider myself a good rider, I've been eventing, show jumping etc, but like you dislike the unknown. I cope with it by trying horses a few time and actually asking to be left on my own for a bit (depending on how comfortable the owner is) and just getting to know the horse. Equally if my gut says no to a horse I simply won't get on it.
I'll be horse hunting soon so will be going through this all again!
 
I absolutely hate the whole process of buying horses i find it really stressful, i also hate trying horses not because im worried of the horse but normally because i ride like an idiot & hate being watched by the owners. This said i should be well used to being watched as ive done BD upto Medium. But there's something really off putting about trying horses.

I am looking atm, i was all set to buy but horse failed the vet:( So im back to square one.
 
sprite1978 said:
I am looking for a second horse, but the problem is i hate trying horses i dont know. I do lack confidence sometimes. Although I consider myself to be quite capable - I have a real fear of the unknown! I am in my comfort zone at the moment, but want to progress.
Horses are so often badly described, i was wondering if anyone had any ideas.

I think the problem is, i never started riding until i was 27, so i missed the fearless child stage.

FYI - I am looking for something quality but straightforward - 5-9 YO, 16.2 plus, capable of doing lower level BE. Budget of about £6k (just in case you want to shop for me!) LWVTB or trial would be a bonus but not essential.
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In exactly the same situation looking for the same thing!!

Have been to try a few so far. The first one I was a nervous wreck and constantly apologising for my riding. I felt so embarrassed that I was after a horse to do BE but was riding so badly!!!

Doesn't help that I've jumped nothing but ponies for the last 6 years!
 
When I bought my mare I took a very good and more experienced friend with me, as I lack confidence, particularly on horses I don't know. She rides in a similar style to me and knows my capabilities. So, got the owner to ride first, and then my friend hopped on and had a ride, and then I got on. Her having ridden and assessed first gave me a lot more confidence, she then stood in the middle and suggested things I try (like transitions/ circles etc) and gave me almost a mini lesson which made me focus on her and what I was doing rather than I was riding a horse I didn't know with someone watching. Also meant that the owner would quite often wander off to the other end of the school which made me more relaxed.

So, long rambling post cut short - maybe take a friend who you trust with you to ride before you hop on?
 
I hated it too. I was recovering from a badly broken ankle last time so I used to get owner to ride, then my friend and she knew what I was looking for. There were 3 horses that she rode but I didn't as they were nutters!!

my fearless friend was a godsend:D
 
I don't know if this would help you, but you could go for some lessons at a reasonably large riding school?

They generally don't put you on the same horse every time you go, which means you get more used to riding different horses regularly. Having a new instructor sitting and watching you might also help you if you get nervous riding in front of people you don't know and are "judging" you.

Hope this helps and you find something soon :)
 
Hi im looking too and although a confident and ok rider i get nervous in front of people in a school situation when they are watching, to overcome this when viewing a horse ive been getting the owner to ride then my instructor friend who puts them through the paces and then me but what we do is a mini lesson that puts the horse through its paces, starting off on the lunge to allow me time to relax and find my position!! We then move on to some transitions, circles etc all under her direction which really helps me focus on her and the horse rather than the other people watching.....i second the taking a friend/instructor is a really good idea.
 
sprite1978 said:
Its true.... buyers get labelled as time wasters if the dont want to instantly buy what they see.
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I agree, I am put off ads that say 'no timewasters' as I feel that if I tried, I would be obliged to buy!

I usually enjoy horse hunting and trying, but would not like to, say, try a horse over a big fence as I would rather build up height wise in my own time, if that makes sense! For example, I was offered a day's draghunting as a trial for a horse I bought a few years ago, but I turned it down as I would rather get to know a horse in my own time before taking it out hunting.
 
Easy.
If you feel worried about getting on the horse while watching the seller ride it - don't. You'll be even more nervous at home on your own. It's really not worth the risk, trust me, I know too many people who've been thrown off by horses they tried.

When you see the right horse, you won't be nervous about getting on it and it will just feel comfortable as you're trying it.
 
Always a good idea to watch owner/seller ride the horse if there hessitant to get on you know theres probably something not right. alternatively if your very nervous/unsure have you a gutsey friend who would come with you when i worked in the riding school i often had one of my dare devil riders get on first to see how the horse goes. If you have someone whoes brave and whoes opinion and riding ability you trust see if they would be happy to jump on first for you and let you know if they feel the horse is suitable/safe for you to trial.
Good Luck with your search its always nerve racking and exciting looking for your new baby
 
Delta99 said:
Easy.
If you feel worried about getting on the horse while watching the seller ride it - don't. You'll be even more nervous at home on your own. It's really not worth the risk, trust me, I know too many people who've been thrown off by horses they tried.

When you see the right horse, you won't be nervous about getting on it and it will just feel comfortable as you're trying it.
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Ditto this. I am totally rubbish these days and really lack confidence but as soon as you are on the right one, you will know. I always say its like coming home.
 
D'sMum said:
maybe take a friend who you trust with you to ride before you hop on?
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This is good advice. Its not unkown for a horse to behave differently with a strange rider ;)
When I've been in the 'trusted friend' role I tended to ride the horse badly (not difficult) just to see how it reacted.
 
I think it's a common thing to not be confident on a horse you don't know; self preservation is a strong instinct!

I'm not a confident rider at the best of times and I'm even less confident on a horse I don't know extremely well. I tried a mare that was advertised as being bombproof and spook proof and it was; so long as it's owner was near by. As soon as the owner was out of sight, the horse decked me and I fractured part of my pelvis. I'm even worse now about getting on horses I don't know and although I'll be looking for another one in the future, I'm equally excited and dreading the whole affair! I think the idea of having a courageous friend or instructor getting on beforehand is a brilliant one; they'll know how you ride and what your confidence and ability can take!

Sorry for the long post! A glass of wine and choccies to all those who finished it! ;)
 
That's why I buy youngsters...get them at 2 or 3, handle them, get to know them and the final getting on bit is easy (done of course after paying some young light teenager a few quid to get on the first few times!!). I've bought on my 2 boys and wasn't scared or nervous of either of them because I knew them well enough. Don't think I'll ever buy an older horse now, much prefer my way. :D
 
I bought my horse from a friend of a friend - he has lived in my hometown for longer than I have, so everyone in the local horsey community knew him and could assure me that he was a good choice, so when it came to riding him I knew that there weren't going to be any nasty surprises. If you can find one by word of mouth, it does take a lot of the stress out of it - I'm so glad I didn't have to trawl around the country trying out strange horses! Obviously it takes a lot of luck to find the perfect horse locally though, so if this isn't possible then I second what everyone else has said about getting a fearless friend to hop on first. :)
 
I love buying horses and hate selling.
op I see you are north west this is my friends horse, http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all_rounder_horse_9_yrs_4_mths_16_3_hh_dapple_grey_clwyd/advert/141112 he is very talented, wellbehaved and scopey but safe, he could be very competitive and knowing the horse cheap as she is desperate to sale as she is currently jobless.
Is in north wales but not that far from chester.

I find a lot of horses are nothing like the advert when you go and see them, they are usually much less than described this one is better!
 
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I hate trying new horses too. I am currently looking, mainly if horse is too much for me. I hate being watched too as Im not the most stylish or confident rider in the world. Im getting fed up of looking to be honest. Ive got no one to hop on before me to try so if I dont like what the horse is doing when they ride him for me I dont get on.
 
arizonahoney said:
I always ride like a complete plum when trying new horses...
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My problem exactly. I get so worked up, I end up all hunched up and tense with the reins all in a muddle.

I`ve even bought out of the sales in Ireland in the past - just to avoid having to try the horse. I like to get it home, in my safe environment and do it alone with no pressure.

Thanks for all the advice - its been really helpful. I think the way forward is to find a fearless friend! Anybody fancy the Job?

Also the idea of getting the friend to try and ride badly is genius!
 
Trust me, the fearless child stage will evaporate for most people (unless your Mary King) and I don't know anyone who is as brave/reckless as they were when they were younger. In my case, numerous stints in hospital from sitting on an unknown quantity has made me a lot more wary!

I am not that keen either on trying new horses.. and will (as long as mine does sell) be looking for the same sort of horse as you. I will do the normal (untacked, trotted up) then see the owner ride, then me. Will also take along a friend who is ballsy to push me on a bit - if I like it, then instructor will come back, finally will be vetted. I have watched someone ride a nice looking horse who started massively playing up when the owner was riding and walked away at that point. It took me a very very long time to work out that I don't bounce (though my ability to relax in a fall proves very useful for skiing!). I do not mind a horse trying it on, bouncing, strong, spooking. What I won't have (as its terrifying) is a horse that truly loses the plot and awareness of its rider.
 
I hate trying horses in front of people! I don't mind competing in front of people, and quite often have an audience when I ride at home due to being liveried at a RS, but I can't stand riding and unknown horse in front of their owner. Mainly because I know I'm hyper critical of anyone on my horses!
I fell off my gelding when I went to try him! He'd chucked off everyone that had been to try him though, so I didn't feel too embarassed! I still bought him though!
I loved buying my latest horse, she's unbroken, so I did nothing but run my hands over her and pick up her feet! :D
 
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