How did you choose your horse?

We'd been looking for a while and had a decent idea of what we wanted but couldn't find it. Our instructor spotted a little ad on Facebook and thought it might be worth a look as it was close and cheap........

Went for a look and she wasn't really what we were looking for but she was very pretty, sweet and worth trying a bit more.........

When I rode her the lights in the school failed plunging us into darkness during a canter. She just slowed down and stopped and that sealed it! We went again to look and hubby (who is a nervous rider) felt safe enough to hack her out after trying her in the school.

We had her vetted and the vet advised against buying her. Said she was scatty and highly strung and unsuitable....... But........ I couldn't quite leave her...... Took instructor along and she had me push her really hard to test her attitude and she thought she was worth the risk despite what the vet said especially as the owner had offered us a trial period.

She only ticked one of our boxes, that she's a mare, she's younger, and smaller and more lightweight than we wanted, the wrong colour, the wrong breed, she'd not hacked much or jumped, or done much of anything........ but she is perfect and has proved herself to be a super little horse. Couldn't have asked for more!
 
First time around I wanted a 14.2hh -15.1hh cob gelding, came back with Lady, 13.2hh chestnut, Welsh x Arab Mare.

Second time around I wanted what I set out to buy the first time, preferrably a buckskin, roan or dun, confidence giving schoolmaster type. Fudge fitted the bill looks wise being the most beautiful horse I have ever seen, but was spooky and as green as grass :D

Third time I wanted a Mouse dun Highland youngster and my friend brought me Merlin :D Yes, he's a confidence giver, but he's a TB x Welsh D so not a Highland and he's black.

All three are perfect in their own way and I wouldn't swap them for the world. What you det out looking for isn't necessaryily the horse of your dreams.
 
I had some criteria from my mum; under 11hh but preferably not much bigger than a labrador (ha!), pretty, not going to bite her. I added something young that wouldn't be set in its ways and open to conditioning (slightly mental yard situation and will have to deal with an autistic child) and also become fitter and more capable as my brother does. We had a fairly tight budget so schoolmaster was out of the question.

Ended up finding an 11.2 Welsh Section A within a reasonable distance at the right price and although very young at 4 he was amazing to handle. He suits the family so well. I'd been looking for about 4 months before I found his ad and I sort of knew when I read it we'd like him (providing they gave an accurate description) he was as described and we all love him. Except when he's breaking into the feed room/leaning on the car/ nipping my mum (she's never disciplined him and is the only one he tries it on with) :rolleyes:
 
I start with a list of attributes and specifics, and as I realise I'm not going to find anything, I broaden my sights and go and view a lot of horses until I end up with a 16hh 6yo OTTB grey mare instead of the 15hh chestnut Colonial Arab gelding youngster I originally aimed for. I'll get him next time!
 
I wasn't looking for anything in particular, although I had been admiring a horse at the yard I rode at...

When I asked about livery I told the YM that I was basically looking for a horse that I could ride LOL

So she tells me they have a horse I might like, and brings out the horse I'd been admiring all winter.

SOLD!

:D
 
After riding a skewbald mare for nearly 9 years who was owned by a so called friend, who then decided he wasn't going to sell her to me but to someone else, I knew I never wanted a skewbald mare!! Greys were also my favourite colour, so I decided a dapple gelding would be for me. After many hours of internet searching and replying to adverts, I found my boy in the local saddlery! He is a pure arab, never having any experience of arabs before I was a little hesitant, but what made me think he would be worth going to see, was his name .......... Fred, the same as my OH at the time! I went to see him and a few days later he was home with me and just over 11 years later we are both still going strong!!
 
With the exception of Olly I haven't actually gone looking for any of my horses - they have all found me.
Olly - went to a local dealer to see a different horse and saw him tied to the fence. Loved him on the spot and after sitting on him for 5 minutes I was writing out a cheque!

Velvet - a friend was buying a horse from a dealer on our yard at the time. She was turned out in the same field and there was something about her that I liked. She was dirt cheap as she had no manners due to the previous owner being terrified of her. I bought her with the intention to sell her on which I did 4 months later, making quite a nice profit!

Pippa - I was working for a dealer when she arrived, that night I couldn't stop think about her so I asked to try her the next day. When she didn't bat an eyelid after meeting a coach on the road coming towards us at 55mph I bought her!

Sandy - a friend needed to move his ponies after losing his grazing so another friend and I took them on between us. Sadly he died not long after this and I ended up buying Sandy after about 6 months.

Millie - I was working for her breeder when she came back to him to be re-schooled and sold. I was paid to ride her, and after working with her for about a month I decided to buy her!
 
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