Jericho
Well-Known Member
Story is that the owner of my loan mare has said she wants to sell her in the summer and would really like me to buy her at reduced price. We havent discussed price yet so was hoping for some words of wisdom....
She was advertised for sale back in September for £3500 - is (now) 12yr old 15.1hh grey mare Connemara X TB with Hildenly as sire. Has done a lot of Pre and Intro level eventing, sometimes in the placings mostly not but fairly consistent. I have had her on loan since September as owner was struggling I think financially and to find her the right home (she responded to my Wanted on Loan ad).
Very easy mare, good doer, not stressy or nappy at all, not marish, never shows any sign of being grumpy, hacks out alone, good in traffic, clip, shoe, load, stands all day at shows. I have only really done prelim dressage with her and her tests (mainly due to me being tense) are around the late 50s/ early 60s but she does work really nicely in the school when I am relaxed although she does have a tendency to be a giraffe and finds it difficult to be soft in the contact and quickly reverts to old ways when I get tense. for this reason I dont think she would be many peoples cup of tea. She is a jumping machine (but loses all sense of the correct way of going) and loves it, I have done a little 2ft 3 XC and she flew around but that is not my first love (I am scared rigid tbh). Her only issues if I am being picky is that she can be a little moo to catch and she is also quite aloof (as I dont think she really has had a close bond with humans during her early life.)
She hasnt the greatest confo - i.e long back and neck a little weak (but that is only because I only really hack and do a little dressage) but she has amazing feet!
Would I have bought her as opposed to loaning her when I first set eyes on her - not sure, as she was very aloof, tubby, smaller than I wanted and her passion isnt my passion i.e. dressage. She can be very strong and I dont feel that I can really make a lot of difference to her flat work as she seems quite set in her ways especially with regard to walk work. In my perfect world I wanted a 16.1hh WB coloured gelding!
She is a really fantastic little mare and in terms of her stable manners and being round her she is perfect (especially as I keep her at home and my children can handle her as well.) As to whether she is my perfect ridden horse I am not so sure....but I am worried as to whether I am focussing on the negative when in fact I should be thinking that it is a case of better the devil you know and her other qualities are all things that shouldnt be taken lightly.
Thanks for reading this far and please help if you can as I going to have to make a decision soon and what do you think she is worth (bearing in mind she hasnt done a great deal with me and I paid all costs inc inj/vacs over winter). I couldnt / wouldnt be allowed to pay £3500 for her (OH controls the purse strings on this one!) so I do feel that I have been fortunate enough to ride a horse for the last 6 months who is better than I could otherwise have afforded!
PS I also have a 16.1hh gelding at home who I had to retire due to navicular and is an incredibly bad doer and a real stress head...
She was advertised for sale back in September for £3500 - is (now) 12yr old 15.1hh grey mare Connemara X TB with Hildenly as sire. Has done a lot of Pre and Intro level eventing, sometimes in the placings mostly not but fairly consistent. I have had her on loan since September as owner was struggling I think financially and to find her the right home (she responded to my Wanted on Loan ad).
Very easy mare, good doer, not stressy or nappy at all, not marish, never shows any sign of being grumpy, hacks out alone, good in traffic, clip, shoe, load, stands all day at shows. I have only really done prelim dressage with her and her tests (mainly due to me being tense) are around the late 50s/ early 60s but she does work really nicely in the school when I am relaxed although she does have a tendency to be a giraffe and finds it difficult to be soft in the contact and quickly reverts to old ways when I get tense. for this reason I dont think she would be many peoples cup of tea. She is a jumping machine (but loses all sense of the correct way of going) and loves it, I have done a little 2ft 3 XC and she flew around but that is not my first love (I am scared rigid tbh). Her only issues if I am being picky is that she can be a little moo to catch and she is also quite aloof (as I dont think she really has had a close bond with humans during her early life.)
She hasnt the greatest confo - i.e long back and neck a little weak (but that is only because I only really hack and do a little dressage) but she has amazing feet!
Would I have bought her as opposed to loaning her when I first set eyes on her - not sure, as she was very aloof, tubby, smaller than I wanted and her passion isnt my passion i.e. dressage. She can be very strong and I dont feel that I can really make a lot of difference to her flat work as she seems quite set in her ways especially with regard to walk work. In my perfect world I wanted a 16.1hh WB coloured gelding!
She is a really fantastic little mare and in terms of her stable manners and being round her she is perfect (especially as I keep her at home and my children can handle her as well.) As to whether she is my perfect ridden horse I am not so sure....but I am worried as to whether I am focussing on the negative when in fact I should be thinking that it is a case of better the devil you know and her other qualities are all things that shouldnt be taken lightly.
Thanks for reading this far and please help if you can as I going to have to make a decision soon and what do you think she is worth (bearing in mind she hasnt done a great deal with me and I paid all costs inc inj/vacs over winter). I couldnt / wouldnt be allowed to pay £3500 for her (OH controls the purse strings on this one!) so I do feel that I have been fortunate enough to ride a horse for the last 6 months who is better than I could otherwise have afforded!
PS I also have a 16.1hh gelding at home who I had to retire due to navicular and is an incredibly bad doer and a real stress head...
