Help me find....

[SatansLittleHelper]

I need some ideas please..!!
On behalf of a friend I'm going to be looking for a lazy occasional hack type gelding.
Any age would be considered as long as safe.
She's only 5ft but due to medication she is currently overweight, she should be able to get to 15 and a half/16 St but much less will be hard due to health conditions.Will only be hacked out once or twice a week, otherwise a big pet/pal.
I need to find something not too tall that will take 17.5/18" saddle. Cobs are the obvious choice but wanting to look outside the box a little as the budget isn't massive and want to increase the search parameters a little....what breeds/types might do the job..??

 

[spacefaer]

Highland?
Comtois?
If on a limited budget, an older cob type is probably the cheapest bet though

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Comtois is a good suggestion. I'd say Suffolk or part Suffolk too.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Highland?
Comtois?
If on a limited budget, an older cob type is probably the cheapest bet though

Thanks, we have looked at these but Highlands seem insanely priced and Comtois are few and far between. I guess we need to be looking at around 15hh

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Her previous horse was a Breton draft but there don't seem to be any of these about in the UK

 

[Squeak]

I know you said about wanting a gelding but I saw this mare pop up this morning:

Horse Quest UK - Search

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I know you said about wanting a gelding but I saw this mare pop up this morning:

Horse Quest UK - Search

A hand shorter and a grand cheaper and she'd be great..!!! A gelding is a necessity though sadly as it will be kept with my boys and one of them thinks he's a porn star ??????

 

[dorsetladette]

have you looked on pets 4 homes and homes for horses, if you aren't to fussy sometimes you can find nice things on there.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

have you looked on pets 4 homes and homes for horses, if you aren't to fussy sometimes you can find nice things on there.

Will take a look, thank you ?

 

[I'm Dun]

Highland?
Comtois?
If on a limited budget, an older cob type is probably the cheapest bet though

Even a full up to height chunky highland isnt going to carry 16 stone plus tack of unfit rider. I'm quite laid back about weight carrying but I have a maximum of 14 stone on mine and hes solid and full up. Most wont take a huge saddle either.

 

[SEL]

Even a full up to height chunky highland isnt going to carry 16 stone plus tack of unfit rider. I'm quite laid back about weight carrying but I have a maximum of 14 stone on mine and hes solid and full up. Most wont take a huge saddle either.

I'm not a fan of putting that much weight on the draft horses either - they are usually short backed being bred to pull.

OP - There is a dealer who is currently importing Belgian Drafts, but he's bringing ones at about the 16h + mark and I'm not sure your friend would find that very comfy at 5 foot - they are broad! I have seen leg at each corner gypsy cob types advertised who would take the weight for short hacks, but you could struggle with the saddle size. A wanted advert on Homes for Horses might find you what you need.

 

[Squeak]

Just thinking out loud, would driving maybe be an easier option for your friend if she's having health problems? Possibly not quite the same as riding but it would still involve a horse and remove the worry re weight for her.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Caveat: I don't know the dealers so must research!!

https://www.dragondriving.co.uk/horseforsale-177451.html

https://www.dragondriving.co.uk/horseforsale-172622.html

https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/121173645/arthur-the-super-horse-looking-for-a-new-hero.html?link=/search?keyword=shire

https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/121167803/17212-year-old-clydesdale-x-irish-draught.html?link=/search?keyword=clydesdale&orderBy=priceDesc. (Sorry, read this price as £4500 not 6)

https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/121056593/safe-sane-weight-carrying-novice-ride.html?link=/search?keyword=ardennes

 

[[153312]]

Irish draught or crossbred?
Clydesdale cross?
Ardennes, comtois, Breton, all good ideas

There's a shire on Preloved for £5.5k but it's 17hh


Also this but is a mare
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/121143879/151hh-shire-x-mare-looking-for-forever-home.html?link=/search?keyword=Shire&page=2

You might struggle at 15hh to find something, could she go to in height?

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'm sorry, but I agree that a 16 stone 5ft unfit rider should not be riding.

It's tough on her if she genuinely can't shift the weight, but horse welfare come first. Her backside will inevitably be very large at that height/weight, she will not fit correctly into a saddle that will fit a 15hh.

 

[I'm Dun]

In his prime my cob would have carried the weight without blinking, but part of what makes him strong is his very short, very wide back, which can take an absolute max of 16.5" saddle. Longer backs take bigger saddles but tend to be weaker. Hes also very wide and at 5ft would probably be uncomfortable.

I think a big chunky cob type is going to be your best bet, and just pick very very carefully. For light riding plodding about then it probably doesnt matter as much if shes on something wider.

Driving is a brilliant idea. Much less effort than riding and no issues with weight at all unless you go the tiny shetland route.

 

[I'm Dun]

Could she not ride yours? Hes a big chunky cob isnt he? And you could ride your other one. Then if she wanted a horse of her own, she could get something where she didnt have to worry about riding it?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My fabulous Westphalian Kaltblut would have easily carried your friend. She was 16hh with short legs and an enormous barrel. She had a short back in proportion to her barrel but she wore an 18" saddle. She was very similar inbuild to Julie on DD. She taught a friend of mine to ride, in short bursts, no more than30mins, absolute max. My friend was a bit heavier than yours and about the same height. There are a few mares on Horse Mart of Ardennes breeding, if you need a gelding it might be worth contacting the dealer and asking if they could get you one. I have seen at least one heavy gelding on there from that dealer but the prices are premium for super-safety.

 

[dorsetladette]

I've just seen a weight carrying Cob on a local sales livery FB page. Have a look at GJE Eventing & Racing

 

[Flowerofthefen]

What area is she in? A friend is looking for some to loan or share her horse.

 

[ester]

I agree the back length/saddle fit is the trickiest conundrum and I don't think any particular breed/combo is going to resolve that more just on an individual horse basis. I think our coloured loan boy probably could have done that when younger but though his passport says 15hh, he's def 16hh to me ?.

I also think there is a bit of an issue with the just light hacking, the trouble with that is that the horse is not ever going to be in a fit toned condition to help it carry the weight required unless she also has someone else riding it.

 

[laura_nash]

I also think there is a bit of an issue with the just light hacking, the trouble with that is that the horse is not ever going to be in a fit toned condition to help it carry the weight required unless she also has someone else riding it.

This is what I was going to say. My 14.3 cob would fit the brief perfectly (he's not for sale) but he can only carry that weight when fit. He's just light hacking with me these days and I'm around 11 stone and feel I'm at the top of his weight limit. Plus I have to be very strict with his weight, in light work he can easily get fat which reduces the weights he can carry.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Not fair to put that much weight on a small horse when they are not fit-even if you could find a saddle to fit.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Could she not ride yours? Hes a big chunky cob isnt he? And you could ride your other one. Then if she wanted a horse of her own, she could get something where she didnt have to worry about riding it?

She might well have a sit on him but he's not the most sensible of creatures at times so he's not the best option really.

I'd just like to add that the Horse would also be ridden by someone else so would be in regular work. My friend is going to wait a little while and see if she can work down to 15st if possible.
Her previous horse was a 15.1 Breton draft that took an 18" saddle and barely noticed my friend was there ?

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Just a quick update. I have read all of the replies to my friend and she has taken them all into consideration. She says thank you and has decided to change things up a bit with her weight loss and try to lose more weight to get down to 14-15st....poss a change of her meds etc may help. It will take longer but she wants a happy, healthy horse in the long run

 

[Antw23uk]

I have the perfect horse. As of this morning, he doesnt like me apparently, even though he is treated like royalty and shown nothing but love and respect ... Im sure i could do your friend a good deal if she can catch the mud monster!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Hahaha he's gorgeous ? ? ?

 

[Antw23uk]

Hahaha he's gorgeous ? ? ?

If your friend had approached me at 0600 this morning she would have probably got him for a tenna! Im a bit more calm now so he's back to at least £100 a leg