Help me find a new project horse?

charleysummer

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Hello, almost finished college and have the summer hols plus a gap year coming up and parents have agreed to let me have a project horse during this time. I have brought on my last 2 loans and first bought pony from scratch so have experience with pain in the butt behaviour (one was a welsh x shetland ! ! :o ) although don't want anything psycho dangerous- just something green. I will have finished my exams in 5 weeks so would like to start looking now and then after a good time to settle in I can start work in the holidays!

Have been having a quick look around horsemart etc but im not very good at online horse hunting..

Ideally I would something about 15.2hh but 15hh-16.2hh is fine- I am used to riding and schooling a strong 17hh but think i look silly on him :p aged between 4 and 10 - ideally about 5 or 6, any colour but don't really want annything too cobby- aiming to do a bit of eventing/showjumping. Would like a gelding but im sure my little mare would much prefer a new girl to chat to! Don't want anything injured and recovering and nothing with severe vices.

I have all the facilties including a manege, very small but useful xc training with water, good roads and bridleways and most importantly a lot of time. I am in the leics/warks area and can't travel too far to view and pick up. I have around £1500 to spend so understand this isn't very much but I want to keep a fair chunk of money aside for tack and other expenses so I don't drain the parent fund- and will be getting a job along with my arty income.

Think i've covered most of it...

Thanks for reading :)
 
You could have a look on the ex racers forum (if a TB would suit) There are quite a few on there at the moment, not sure if anything matches your criteria but def worth a look.
 
Thanks for the replies will take a look, TB would be fine however i worry that racers will develop joint problems due to being trained so young- I have ridden ex racers but had no long term experience with them.
 
How much of a challenge are you looking for? I know of an appaloosa gelding who needs a new home desperately!!! He is 4 this yr i think, about 15.2 and apart from having a head collar on and led around a bit nigh on feral..... PM if interested!
 
Ideally I would something about 15.2hh but 15hh-16.2hh is fine- I am used to riding and schooling a strong 17hh but think i look silly on him :p aged between 4 and 10 - ideally about 5 or 6, any colour but don't really want annything too cobby- aiming to do a bit of eventing/showjumping. Would like a gelding but im sure my little mare would much prefer a new girl to chat to! Don't want anything injured and recovering and nothing with severe vices.

Thanks for reading :)

A little over budget: http://www.adhorse.co.uk/horseforsale_48324.html
Ok this one is an unbroken 3 year old, but really good price and breeding http://www.adhorse.co.uk/horseforsale_48176.html
http://www.adhorse.co.uk/horseforsale_48289.html
http://www.adhorse.co.uk/horseforsale_47992.html
http://www.adhorse.co.uk/horseforsale_47499.html
 
Can't quote but Lolly dolly the black gelding which you liked I went to view about a week ago. Please do not consider this horse. Seller said he had uneven muscle in back end but went to view and he was lame and his left quarters had dropped significantly !!! Seller become very aggressive when I asked about this.
 
Thanks for the replies will take a look, TB would be fine however i worry that racers will develop joint problems due to being trained so young- I have ridden ex racers but had no long term experience with them.
Only flat racehorses are broken in as yearlings, and not really worked too hard, though obviously damage can occur.
The bigger, stronger type NH jump horses [suited to eventing], are not over-trained when young, but are not often priced for the average rider's pocket if sound, and with ability.
Many hurdlers were once flat horses, and don't necessarily have injuries.
You can go to a charity which sources TB's direct from the trainer's yard, they tend to have nice types and may select one most suited to your needs and abilities. Have it five stage vetted and you should be fine.
Buying Ex racehorses from an unknown source because they are cheap is a tempting but risky strategy, you can end up with a nutter who has been ridden by a silly girl and allowed to get out of hand.
 
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I am possibly going to be selling one shortly but am near Hereford so it might be too far.
16.1hh, gelding. Has some ridden issues but is lovely on the ground. He's schooled over 1.40m in the passed but has more or less had the winter off so would need slowly restarting! He's 8.
 
Only flat racehorses are broken in as yearlings, and not really worked too hard, though obviously damage can occur.
The bigger, stronger type NH jump horses [suited to eventing], are not over-trained when young, but are not often priced for the average rider's pocket if sound, and with ability.
Many hurdlers were once flat horses, and don't necessarily have injuries.
You can go to a charity which sources TB's direct from the trainer's yard, they tend to have nice types and may select one most suited to your needs and abilities. Have it five stage vetted and you should be fine.
Buying Ex racehorses from an unknown source because they are cheap is a tempting but risky strategy, you can end up with a nutter who has been ridden by a silly girl and allowed to get out of hand.

Thankyou this is very useful to know Miss L Toe ! Just remembered my friend who was herself a 'silly girl' (when it comes to horses, she is a very nice person) she bought an ex racer from a cheap dealer- ended up having the thing shot after it smashed holes in the horse box, flipped over and broke a leg.

Unfortunatly many of those adverts are a bit too far away for me but some nice horses and useful to know what I can get for the price. Regarding the black horse with uneven muscle, thats what i hate about horse viewing, cant trust anyone and people can tend to be a bit eccentric/loopy :p

Such a minefield!
 
I am possibly going to be selling one shortly but am near Hereford so it might be too far.
16.1hh, gelding. Has some ridden issues but is lovely on the ground. He's schooled over 1.40m in the passed but has more or less had the winter off so would need slowly restarting! He's 8.

Probably too far yes but good luck selling him. A shame because nice age and the right gender :p!

My mum is doing the towing etc and although she is good at it, not very confident over long distances.
 
Keep looking, they are out there!

I accidentally bought a "project" horse, didn't want one and can't do much with it, but he was cheap, sound, healthy and good natured, very handsome and passed a two stage vetting. He had been turned out for six months by a dealer who had had a novice on him plodding around with another horse, but had done absolutely nothing with him.....lucky her!

He is 11, 16.2, has never been backed, no schooling whatsoever, been a pet for nine years, shoved from pillar to post (including the meat man) for a couple of months and is now our best boy. 'Course we knew nothing of all this at the time. We now need...er....someone to back and ride him away and find an experienced younger person to ride him. But he has a lovely nature and wants to please.

Not much good to you, I know, but it's just to demonstrate that the horse you are looking for is out there.

By the way, cost a lot less than a grand! Good luck!;)
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