Hi - what do you all think about this horse??

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HorseSpirit

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Be as honest as you like
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Its finally time for me to start looking for a horse! I've been saving up for about a year and a half!
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Can I have your honest opinions on this horse:

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Thank you!
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Yeah, absolutely.

This is her advert:

"16.1hds Middleweight dappled grey mare, 9 years old. A very stunning looking horse with a sweet disposition. Reasonable on the flat and happily pops a fence. On a strange yard she may weave a little, though she isn't a problem or stressy horse, she just notices the change. She has competed show jumping and dressage this year with success. Will make a very nice all-rounder."

I think they're understating her with 'reasonable' on the flat and happily 'pops' a fence!! There's a video of her, and whilst her canter transitions are a little off, she's a lovely mover.

My confidence isn't amazing at the moment so for now I can't see that I would want to compete in anything but some fun local shows. I'm mostly interested in SJ, though will mostly be having fun at home, but may take her to shows too once I get used to having her, she looks like she has the scope to do well. (All of this is IF she's suitable!!)

Most importantly she'll be my first horse, so I want something safe
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The weaving does bother me, I'll be asking a lot of questions about that, and watching her in the stable.
 
Seems a reasonably honest ad to me. Regarding the weaving, our TB weaved when we got him. Chucked him out 24/7 & this reduced to weaving at the gate at feed times. Now, even on the occasions we put him in, he doesn't do it anymore. The only time he would do it would be if we put him in a highly stressful situation (i.e. left him completely alone). As he is a leisure horse, this just doesn't happen. We are also lucky as we have year round turnout.
 
Sadly the yard I'd be going to doesn't have year round turnout. I live in Manchester too so sadly I don't have as many livery options as others, horse-riding isn't very popular here at all.

As far as I know, we have turnout 7 days a week in summer, and then stabled at night. And in the winter its about 4 times a week.

Luckily I know someone from another forum who is good friends with the dealer, so we're hoping if she comes with me to view her that I'm more likely to get blunt, honest answers. If she only weaves whenever something major disrupts her routine, then I wouldn't be so concerned, but if stabling was an issue, I don't think it would work out.
 
ditto the weaving. It is an expression of the horses need to be unrestricted so improves greatly with a settled environment and plenty of turnout. Wouldn't bother me as long as it is not really manic weaving as I have come across some which do it a huge amount! She looks lovely! Cant really fault her.
 
Good luck anyway! She looks like a nice sort. Hopefully the weaving is confined to an occasional behaviour, and is not constant when she is stabled. Do let us know how you get on. Very exciting being a potential first horse!
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I'm glad nobody can see any issues with her
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I'll have to enquire further about the weaving. In the advert they make it sound like it only happens if she moves yards.. I'd have to double check this.
 
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Good luck anyway! She looks like a nice sort. Hopefully the weaving is confined to an occasional behaviour, and is not constant when she is stabled. Do let us know how you get on. Very exciting being a potential first horse!
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Thank you
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I definately will.

Ahh I can't tell you how good it feels to say I can finally buy my first horse. I'm 18 and I've spent more than a year putting 80% of my wages away and leaving myself with £40 a month for riding lessons and the occasional take-away!
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To say my social life has taken a dive is a serious understatement!

Thats dedication for you, eh?
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That's fantastic. Really well done for taking a sensible length of time to get your finances together, and make sacrifices in order to do it.

Now the bad news - you still won't have any money and will continue to make these sacrifices once you buy the horse! I am 32, and still have no social life as a result of owning my horse as I make sure he is looked after before me!
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Is it worth it? Absolutely!
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Ah well if I was happy enough to deprive myself of money and nights out just to save for the horse, I'm sure I won't mind doing it again for my horse
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Thankfully my friend is intent on packing me away on a plane once I buy a horse, just so she can look after it!! So I'm sure she'd jump at the chance to do me a few favours sometimes.. wonder how long that'll last?? Better take advantage of it whilst I can!
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She looks really sweet and it must be amazing to finally get to view horses after waiting for so long!

The advert doesn't say anything about hacking. If you want to hack make sure you ask whether she hacks alone and in company, what is she like in traffic and open spaces. If she won't hack this should seriously affect the price. Also, ask for her competition record, where has she competed, with what kinds of results? The advert also doesn't say anything about what she is like to clip, load, farrier, dentist and generally to handle, so make sure you ask about all this as well.

I am not suggesting there is a problem with her, but as the advert does not state these things it is good to ask and get the answers in front of a third party.

Hope she is lovely to ride!
 
She does look nice, just beware that the weaving will be worse when/if you move her to your new yard, also remember the other liveries at the new yard may not be happy if a new horse comes in that weaves, it could make you feel akward - just a thought.
 
Hi.

Yes she's from Pocket Nook Farm, very local to me. She supplies horses to my riding school.

Thanks booboos, I have a whole list of questions to ask so will definately check those out. It is a very vague advert isn't it!!

Hermangerman, thats another thing to worry about I know. Obviously I'll ask the YO first whether she will accept weavers onto the yard, although I've heard lots of stories where the imitation of vices is proven wrong. We'll see. Ideally I wouldn't want a horse with vices, but if the advert is true and it's only when something major happens, like moving yards. I can't see it being much of a problem. I have lots of questions about it though, and like I said, since I know one of the dealer's good friends and will be taking her with me, I hope I'm more likely to get honest, un-sugarcoated answers.
 
Me being the sceptic that I am If you do not have 24/7 turnout or at least full day turn out in the winter I think I would possibly think again as the vice may get alot worse. Also I have to ask. How does the dealer know she gets worse when she changes yards? Has she had her before?
 
I saw the picture anf thought very nice, saw the price and thought wow that's rather cheap. Watched the video and thought umm, very down hill, shuffles and does not use herself. Could be for many reasons not all the end of the world but at least now I understand the price!
If you really like riding her and the temperament is right make sure you get a full 5 stage vetting done. I would also be interested to see her conformation stood up from front and back.

Good Luck.
 
Flowerlady, I had a PM from monkeybum saying that this was the horse she went to see in October, but near Kent. She suspected it was and was warning me to say the seller was very rude, thankfully it's not the same seller now. She may have been overstocked, and thought she'd pass her on to Pocket Nook Farm, and they could've exchanged information about the fact that she took to weaving in the first week of moving yards. Who knows? Sounds like very wishful thinking to me, lol.
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Toady is lovely, I would love a Shire X. I'm a sucker for MW's. But, I wanted a been there done that kind of horse. He sounds like a brilliant hack that will have some fun over a small SJ course, and thats just not for me. I do want a well-schooled horse, and I do want to be jumping bigger heights, and it sounds like he wouldn't be capable of doing that.

I am looking for a nice, safe first horse.. but at the same time I want something with a bit of spark, y'know?
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I saw the picture anf thought very nice, saw the price and thought wow that's rather cheap. Watched the video and thought umm, very down hill, shuffles and does not use herself. Could be for many reasons not all the end of the world but at least now I understand the price!
If you really like riding her and the temperament is right make sure you get a full 5 stage vetting done. I would also be interested to see her conformation stood up from front and back.

Good Luck.

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Thank you!

I definately will get a 5 stage vetting done, have said that from the start, I've heard too many horror stories.
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She looks very upright in the hocks to me, very long-backed (although that could be because the saddle is too far forward) and her head seems to be set on at an odd angle and very small for the rest of her. I do not like to see horses in bandages for selling photos (what are they hiding?) and would always prefer to see at least one photo of a horse without tack/rider. The jumping photo was useless IMO because of the angle and distance that it was taken at.
For a first horse I would not consider buying trouble in any shape or form so would avoid a weaver, although I know that weaving can be managed in the right circumstances. If I were you I would continue the search. Good luck!
 
She's also very cheap for a safe, sensible, sound, well schooled, able to jump, been there seen it done it horse (even though she weaves). Is a minefield buying horses. She might be the best bargain in the world but then again, she might not. I hope you find a great horse though - good luck!
 
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