Honest advise please novice nervous rider buying a horse

S

savannahcat

Member
Joined
18 July 2012
Messages
11
Visit site
Hello i would really appreciate some open and honest advice here is my situation .
I am a thirty three year old female who has had horses on and off since i was eighteen. I used to be a confident rider when i was in my late teens early twenties. Since then due to lack of experience i have bought horses that have had issues or been unsuitable for me to ride 3 and four year olds to be precise that have taken my confidence away. I have up until last year had a lovely young horse that i had in full schooling livery with the intention of being happy not to ride the horse myself but watch the horse compete with a professional rider.
To cut a long story short the young horse went lame and is now in a new home more suited to light work and I have decided that i would like to get another horse but this time i would like to be able to enjoy riding it.
I had wanted to buy something that i could enjoy at home and have lessons on but with enough quality that my trainer could compete on my behalf.So i could still enjoy going to shows with the horse.
My trainer now has a full yard and a waiting list so this is not going to happen. I have looked at full schooling livery elsewhere but it is too expensive. So i am now having a crisis of confidence about the thought of keeping a horse elsewhere without schooling livery and a professional rider. So i am now thinking am i mad to buy another horse if i have to keep it on a normal livery yard. Even though i have had horses for years i have always been able to rely on other people to be on hand to help me with the horse i still feel like a novice confidence wise but i actually know quite a lot in theory.
My riding is very rusty to say the least i have had a couple of lessons recently but realistically i think it will be a couple of months of intensive lessons before i am confident and capable enough of riding a horse correctly that is not a riding school type. I do like a nice warmblood not novice horses i know!. I also worry about being on a yard that is not a small professional yard. I will also miss watching my horse compete as i do not think i would ever be confident enough to compete and i am worried that it will frustrate me in time.
I have worries that at a normal livery yard or riding school they will not have instructors who are very good at teaching pure dressage.
Also i am worried that i will be lonely on a more larger yard as i like to have people around me to ride out with or just someone around that can help me if i am unsure about something relating to my horse. Can any novice owners riders share their thoughts on keeping a horse on a less professional large livery yard. Has anyone experienced a similar situation that can offer advice. Am i crazy to think about getting another horse if i can no longer afford professional livery.
I really want to get another horse but i do not want to end up on a yard where i feel frustrated with the instruction available and isolated and lonely.
 
Hi, if I'm honest I'd say don't buy another horse until you are a confident rider, and you are having some jumping lessons and going on some hacks at a riding school. Once your at this stage then I'd part loan a horse on a yard with good facilities and nice people around to help. Only once your confident doing all this I would look to buy.
It's not fair on a horse to have a novice owner, if they have a shy at something one day does that mean they will be sold as you don't think you could trust them again or will you just end up paying someone else to ride it, which is silly. If you do really want to buy then look for a rock steady cob type, nothing forward going, and at least 7yrs old, and find a nice yard with people who are always around and have a lesson once a week. You could always buy a horse and put it on part loan to an experienced rider so you get money back for someone riding it instead of paying them.
 
The yard you like, with the people you trust is full at the moment. Put your name on the waiting list and have lessons and work on your confidence while you wait.

I think that you need to choose a real schoolmaster/mistress type that will not take advantage of your nerves, but will actually help you out. They do exist. :) I borrowed a very nice ex-racehorse (who'd then evented before doing pure dressage) to compete at RDA dressage after I had a spinal injury.
 
You could still have a nice warmblood - an ID x TB is a warmblood as is a quarter horse lots of other types that are not in the continental warmblood (another term for some is mongrel) registry.

Even a seen it, done it TB could fit you well but a horse that needs a professional rider is not the horse for you.

Look for horses in their teens, seen it, done it & got the proof of doing it. Not necessarily competed to any great level but one to have fun with.

If you were local I'm looking for a sharer - is that something you'd considered?
 
SNORKEY said:
will you just end up paying someone else to ride it, which is silly.
Click to expand...

While I agree with much of your reply - I don't agree with this . . . why is it silly to have someone else riding your horse - and paying them for it? It's called schooling. Because I have a talented, quirky horse who is ahead of my ability I have him schooled . . . helps me b/c he gets the work and is nicer for me to ride than I could ever make him, and helps him b/c - well - he gets the work. Also, GreyDonk loves jumping and galloping - I don't . . . so having someone else taking him out cross country schooling, etc. means he gets to go out and play/have fun and I stay alive ;).

p
 
I don't really understand why you would you want to buy a horse that was clearly beyond your remit for someone else to ride? I am your age and having taken a massive knock to my confidence bought myself a 11 year old ID/TB. His not a donkey but his kind and a lot of fun. I would get yourself some lessons, get yourself going again and then get yourself a horse that suits you!
 
Miss Bean said:
I don't really understand why you would you want to buy a horse that was clearly beyond your remit for someone else to ride? I am your age and having taken a massive knock to my confidence bought myself a 11 year old ID/TB. His not a donkey but his kind and a lot of fun. I would get yourself some lessons, get yourself going again and then get yourself a horse that suits you!
Click to expand...

Hi
i can not really explain why i like to watch my horse at competitions. I supose i like the look of the flashier ones and most of the time they are quirky. I enjoy going to the regionals young horse classes etc.
I do not like lazy horses or cobs, i am a strange one maybe a warmblood x would suit me.
 
savannahcat said:
Hi
i can not really explain why i like to watch my horse at competitions. I supose i like the look of the flashier ones and most of the time they are quirky. I enjoy going to the regionals young horse classes etc.
I do not like lazy horses or cobs, i am a strange one maybe a warmblood x would suit me.
Click to expand...

In that case why not buy a share in a good stallion?
 
Q.1. are you going to take any of this good advice on board?
Q2. Why buy a horse when you don't have the income or livery to keep it?

Me. I am all out of sympathy and understanding today having just come in from looking at a TB ex racer bought by a novice? who can't ride it at more than a trot. Could not afford vet fees when it ran through barbed wire so it's legs are scarred and still not fully healed and there it stands wet and miserable in a field.

Please someone explain WHY do people do this. . ..? :mad:
 
OP I think you have got to decide if you want to ride the horse, or buy one for someone else to ride. There are people who have a horse and keep it excercised and fit and then have someone else take it to competitions, but they are not nervous of the horse for normal riding.

My sister used to exercise my hunter/eventer during the week and I would take it hunting as she liked the hacking, and he was well mannered, but she didn't want to ride him at the gallop and jump - but she wasn't nervous of him when hacking.

I think you are going to struggle to find a suitable horse for yourself, a real confidence giver that is going to look after you, AND something with the ability to take part in quite high powered competitions. I know they are around but generally people tend to keep hold of a favourite horse that can do two jobs.
 
Not getting into the other stuff, but

savannahcat said:
I do like a nice warmblood not novice horses i know!.
Click to expand...

A 'nice' warmblood is just as capable of being a novice horse as a 'nice' horse of any other breed. Sorry, but all the breed stereotyping on here (not just your thread :p) really gets my goat. If you do go ahead and buy for yourself, don't limit yourself to one 'type' of horse, temperament is the single most important thing! Likewise, there are some very flashy, correct cobs doing dressage :D so don't write them off either.


Good luck for whatever you decide :)
 
I think you need to decide what you actually want from a horse.

Either a very flashy, extremely talented, horse that you enjoy watching others compete on and win. Which is most likely going to be far too much horse for you to ever ride.

Or a more sensible 'all rounder' who's going to keep you safe and help your confidence, but is unlikely to become a top class eventer/dressage horse/SJ.

The two are not mutually exclusive but you will be extremely lucky to get that magical horse.

There are other disaplines and breeds that you could have that can be competed at the highest level yet still be suitable for a novice nervous rider without a huge amount of financial backing and help.

How about a well bred native? Or a top quality coloured cob. Plenty of classes you can do with horses like that, inc having a go at dressage and jumping youself. They're generally more ameinable to putting with a novice rider that a big flashy WB?

Your previous way of keeping a horse (on full livery with someone else competing it) is actually VERY unusual and only a tiny propotion of owners do that!! There are PLENTY of nervous novice owners out there on DIY. They however generally have solid sensible quiet horses but the horses is usually a cob type and they have far less money to pour into them.

Decide what you want and go from there. You don't sound particually novice in the horse-care side and there are plenty of options for a nervous rider to get help with riding.
 
Trasam. . Yes i am open to advice and will take on board peoples experience. With regard to being able to afford livery yes i can afford to keep the horse in most full livery yards. i just want to be a hundred percent sure of where both me and the new horse will both be happy. I am being a responsible and caring person. Not all novice owners in fact i do not know of any novice owners who would put their horse through the horrible experience you describe. Even though in the past the horses i have owned have been not novice horses due to their age they have always been in a lovely yard with lovely caring exlerienced people.
 
Faracat said:
Oh TM, that poor horse. :(
Click to expand...

Firstly..sorry OP I'd just come in and was feeling upset and angry about the state of the horse. I'm sure you are far too sensible and caring do do something like this.:)

Faracat. Yes indeed poor horse. It's a friend if a friend's horse and I won't be staying quiet if there is no improvement. It's ewe necked. It's withers are so sharp you'd do yourself an injury if you sat on them. All in all it is not a pretty sight and that's before you see the scars and scabs on it's poor legs. It was well muscled although thin when it arrived. It's not gained weight and it's muscles are wasting through lack of work. :mad::mad::(:(
 
I'd say you were ripe for a schoolmaster type: mature enough to be sensible; schooled enough for you to have fun advancing your own riding without scareing the bejasus out of yourself.
 
TM,

I don't know if you saw, but I posted the other day RE a horse at my friend's livery yard. The horse is literally starving (bare paddock, no hard feed and no hay) and the YO wont get involved. I'm glad to say that the owner is moving the horse to grass livery elsewhere - with grass.

It's just such a shame when you have to force the owner and YO to do something (I told friend to report it and informed her that the YO does have duty of care). I couldn't just watch someone else's horse waste away, so I just don't understand those that can.
 
i fully understand your worries but i think that your best option is to get put on the waiting list at your trainers yard as you were happy and confident there, which is very important. you are still young (im twice your age) and have plenty of time to own a horse so i would wait for a space to become available and in the meantime see if there is someone on that yard who would like a sharer or be glad of some assistance, turning out, in, grooming ,mucking out etc . this may also help with your confidence around horses if you help out with different ones......good luck with whatever you decide..
 
Faracat. Yes , I saw that post. I'm glad that it got resolved and that your friend had the sense to move her horse. I can see this situation having a messy end. What I commented on with the TB is only part of the story.
 
TM,

both horses are moving but to different places (friend's and the thin one). I'm hoping that the starved horse will recover once at the new yard.

I hope that you are able to help the poor TB, it sounds like he/she really needs someone to fight their corner.
 
Thank you for all your replies. I am going to keep a open mind with regard to horse breeds. Carrying on having lessons and keep looking at different horses for sale with a open mind and not rush in. I am on the waiting list at my normal yard but i will still visit other yards in case when the time comes and i find the right horse my yard is still full. So at least i have a back up plan and leave it to fate.
 
headcollaruk said:
Thank you for all your replies. I am going to keep a open mind with regard to horse breeds. Carrying on having lessons and keep looking at different horses for sale with a open mind and not rush in. I am on the waiting list at my normal yard but i will still visit other yards in case when the time comes and i find the right horse my yard is still full. So at least i have a back up plan and leave it to fate.
Click to expand...

Sounds likea good plan. Any good yard with an experienced YO or manager should be able to offer you the back up you require even if you go part livery or DIY. I keep mine at home and have done so for over 10 years and still have to go to friends or RI for advice from time to time. Good luck
 
I' a nervous rider too :) I would say carry on with the lessons for the moment ad try to ride as many different horses as you can get your hands on.

As others have said you might be better looking for an older schoolmaster to help you gain some confidence.

I don't know where abouts you're located but there are several reputable dealers that sometimes have the odd flashy horse that's also suitable for a very nervous rider, it might be worth you getting in contact with one/some of them.

I'm very lucky to have found my perfect horse but he really doesn't resemble the horse I thought I wanted :D
 
Miss Bean said:
I don't really understand why you would you want to buy a horse that was clearly beyond your remit for someone else to ride? I am your age and having taken a massive knock to my confidence bought myself a 11 year old ID/TB. His not a donkey but his kind and a lot of fun. I would get yourself some lessons, get yourself going again and then get yourself a horse that suits you!
Click to expand...

Agree- A few mad as hatter TB's later chance dumped a big fat lame ID X in my lap....He's the best thing that ever happened horse wise to me. I enjoy riding him and he makes me smile everytime i look at him.
He's no donkey either but equally i know i can and have left him for weeks then hop on and plod round the roads if thats what i want to do.
You might find if you have this sort of trustwothy horse that you can build a relationship with that YOU will want to take it to the odd show here and there which surely will be more enjoyable?
 
I can see where you are coming from OP, and plenty of people get pleasure from seeing someone else compete their horse. If that is what you enjoy then don't let people on here put you off, people like that are essential to top level equestrian sport.

I think you need to have a serious think about what you want and what you are prepared to compromise on.

It would be easier to find a nice sensible horse that you can ride and have lessons on or a decent competition horse that would be too much for you than something that does both jobs so it is worth thinking through.

If you genuinely want a horse that you can ride but that will compete successfully with your trainer then it will be pretty tough to find a horse with the talent to event/sj at a high level that is sensible enough for a novice. But it will depend on budget, and the level of competition you are aiming for. Plenty of horses can be reasonably sensible for a competent but nervous rider and still have the talent to get round, maybe BE novice or Intermediate. I've ridden a horse that has competed at 1* that was genuinely anyone's ride providing they could sit reasonably quietly and not pull him around.

If you want to see your horse really at the very top then you may have to accept that either you won't ride it or it will be in a different discipline. You could for example have a top dressage horse or HOYS level show horse that would be a sensible for a quiet competent but nervous rider. Especially if it was perhaps a native or draft cross rather than a continental warmblood or tb. What about getting a seriously nice hunter type? You could have it competed in show hunter and working hunter classes and ride it yourself and maybe even do some flat or inhand classes yourself. Hunter types often have a good injection of draft blood which tends to make them a bit more sensible. likewise a nice show cob or large M&M might be suitable for you. You could still do dressage to a decent level if you wanted to.

You don't sound like a novice to me, you sound like a rider who has lost confidence. I'd get your name on the waiting list for your chosen yard and talk to the YO too, it may be that for a deal that enables her to compete she is prepared to let you jump the queue.
 
headcollaruk said:
Trasam. . Yes i am open to advice and will take on board peoples experience. With regard to being able to afford livery yes i can afford to keep the horse in most full livery yards. i just want to be a hundred percent sure of where both me and the new horse will both be happy. I am being a responsible and caring person. Not all novice owners in fact i do not know of any novice owners who would put their horse through the horrible experience you describe. Even though in the past the horses i have owned have been not novice horses due to their age they have always been in a lovely yard with lovely caring exlerienced people.
Click to expand...

Eh? You aren't the original poster?

Or do we have someone with multiple identities?
 
Kat said:
Eh? You aren't the original poster?

Or do we have someone with multiple identities?
Click to expand...

What? She said in the OP that she could afford to keep a horse at MOST schooling livery yards, but as you must be aware it would be far more to keep a horse with at 'top' rider than with someone further down the rungs.

She also said she'd never treat a horse as the one TrasaM described was treated, as 99% of people would... All of her horses were well looked after, even if she didn't ride them.

:confused:
 
Now Op - as many other HHO'ers (including Rhino) can testify I have the perfect horse for your situation. It can be done!
I am an experienced horse owner and rider, but get severe wobbles with confidence. I am very fortunate to have been loaned a 19hh ex 2* eventer who is now 20. He is a gentle giant, totally safe to hack, but absolutely amazing at jumping/hunting/dressage/side saddle. He has already taught me so much. He has been there, done that, got the T-shirt and still has the most amazing attitude to competing.
He is a WBxShire and a total gentleman.
He is still so forward going and enthusiastic about his work that a professional could still ride him and get an amazing tune. He is also nice enough for me to do everything with.
You don't necessarily need a top trainer to support you. You can go to any yard and still find someone to come and teach you and probably a fellow livery who would offer you the support you need.
I have a 20 year old friend who keeps her horses with mine and she has been amazing with her advice and support (you are never too old to learn from others - even if they are 18 years younger than you :rolleyes: ):D

I wish you all the luck in the world. The right horse will come along :)
 
rhino said:
What? She said in the OP that she could afford to keep a horse at MOST schooling livery yards, but as you must be aware it would be far more to keep a horse with at 'top' rider than with someone further down the rungs.

She also said she'd never treat a horse as the one TrasaM described was treated, as 99% of people would... All of her horses were well looked after, even if she didn't ride them.

:confused:
Click to expand...

:confused: Are we at cross purposes?

I am referring to the fact the OP was Savannahcat but then headcollaruk started answering questions directed to the OP as if she was the OP. Seemed odd....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top