How did you decide your horse was the one?

sarahann1

sarahann1

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Friday pondering from me, fruit loaf and tea on offer!

I am currently looking for a new horse, this will be the first horse I've bought that I didn't already know really well.

There is one on paper who should be good for me, the only two boxes she doesn't tick are she's finer than I would normally go for and she's a mare, I was looking for a gelding.

Ridden wise, she's green but very willing and honest, fab on the ground, great manners. She will do dressage up to the levels I hope to get to, novice at a push, and she can pop wee jumps fine.

But, she doesn't make my heart sing, I like her but there is a niggle about something I can't put my finger on.

So after that ramble, my question is, how did you decide, how did you know that was the horse for you? Am I expecting too much and making a rod for my own back by being to picky?

thanks!
 
If there is a "niggle" then don't buy her, doesn't matter how much you like her.... I went to see a perfect horse, he didn't do anything wrong, he looked nice but there was just something....

You just know when you find the right one! I was looking for a 15.1 and over bay mare.. Ended up with a 15.1 at a push bay gelding :D suppose one out of three isn't bad...
 
Id go see her, you might click straight away, you might not. Sometimes you just don't get the connection, no matter how perfect they sound for what you want.

i agree, that you will just know when its right. With my mare, i saw her head over a door and knew she was mine. And my gelding, I saw his photo on his advert and just had to have him
 
I know this is going to sound a bit cheesy but I fell in love with him the moment I looked at him.
On my first ride he was awful - no brakes, little steering but it felt amazing to be on him....
12 years later I still have him, on paper he was everything I shouldn't have bought as a new horse owner, however I haven't regretted it for a minute, he is my horse of a lifetime.
 
The first time I rode him, thought I was going to see a bay gelding who was actually chestnut bit of a surprise but not an important issue. It was his kind eye eye that also did it for me but as soon as I sat on him I knew I wanted him
 
Thanks all, your all so far confirming what I was thinking, I hate not knowing exactly why I have that niggle, I honestly couldn't say what the reason is behind it!

RubysGold, I've ridden her twice, she went well enough for me, but I have this 'niggle'. I've the chance the have a lesson on her so I'm going to so that on Monday. Hopefully that'll help!
 
As soon as I rode her I knew she was the one, I was grinning from ear to ear. I still went to look at others after viewing her just to make sure but I felt nothing when I rode the others even though on paper they would have been more suitable. I have had her a month now and love her more and more each day :)
 
Both the horses I have now just seemed to click, even though I had doubts about both as they werent exactly the type I was looking for. Mare is older than I wanted but when I met her we just gelled. Interestingly her previous owner later told me she can be really funny and didnt get on with the other viewers so she knew then I was the one for her!

Youngster was 6 weeks old, I didnt want a coloured, especially one with 4 white legs and a white tail. But he was lovely and straight and mum was stunning. Hes 3 now and a really smart young man, definitely a horse for life.
 
I had been looking for 18 months before I finally had one vetted - she failed about 3 weeks ago:(

Then a dealer I'd been in touch with before (didn't have anything I liked at that point.)phoned me up and said she'd brought back a 3 y o filly from Germany with me in mind and was I still looking... I went to see her and bought her out of the field that day (the dealer has all her horse 5 stage vetted for import)... She's at home now and I'm looking forward to the day she trusts me ...
 
I had niggles too about the last horse I bought. Previously I'd always seen a particular horse and thought 'this is it' straight away, but this time around, I didn't.
Like you, my mare was finer than I wanted. Was actually looking for something with a bit more bone and she was a Hanoverian x TB.
As soon as I got in the saddle, I knew she was the one, I felt as though I'd come home. I knew it wouldn't matter what quirks she had, she was a genuine horse and I trusted her. Even when I got her to my yard and she turned into the crazy horse from hell, I still knew she was underneath it all, a sensitive but honest horse. I absolutely adore this mare and getting her to return my trust has been a long process but sometimes, nothing easily won, is worth having.
 
What is making you dither? Is it the fact that she's female? Or something else?

If it really is only her gender that's holding you back then here's a *slap* for being sexist. If it's something else, then maybe she's not right for you.
 
I can honestly say 2 of mine....love at first sight. Did not really tick boxes and I wasn't really looking but they just 'called out' to me. :o Third was different as a rescue job. I never really felt I connected with him but then did loads of groundwork and actually I am especially close to him, but he was under 2 when I got him. For me personally I love horses but in 30+ years only met about 8 I felt that connection with......that instant 'click'.
Good luck with whatever you decide. x:)
 
For me, he was fun to be on. I fell off all 3 times we viewed him ad h was petrified of people, but as soon as I was on you could see he was trying his heart out to understand what you wanted him to do. I would go and see this pony, there's no harm in having a look and you can always walk away if you don't think that she's right!
 
sarahann1 said:
Friday pondering from me, fruit loaf and tea on offer!

I am currently looking for a new horse, this will be the first horse I've bought that I didn't already know really well.

There is one on paper who should be good for me, the only two boxes she doesn't tick are she's finer than I would normally go for and she's a mare, I was looking for a gelding.

Ridden wise, she's green but very willing and honest, fab on the ground, great manners. She will do dressage up to the levels I hope to get to, novice at a push, and she can pop wee jumps fine.

But, she doesn't make my heart sing, I like her but there is a niggle about something I can't put my finger on.

So after that ramble, my question is, how did you decide, how did you know that was the horse for you? Am I expecting too much and making a rod for my own back by being to picky?

thanks!
Click to expand...


My first mare died on 30 dec 1995 On Dec 30 I was looking for a 13h- 13.3 pony all that morning typing dun mare. About 11 am I typed Dun Mare, when up popped this dun mare. Smaller than I wanted - younger than I wanted (un broken)- and 5 hours away. The Same colour as my first Mare Biscuit same white leg almost the same pattern on her fetlock . Owner told me about her, then said her name is XXX XXXXX XXXX. But we call her Biscuit That was it I was hooked.


my late pony was a friends pony she was the perfect pony. Predecessor of my new pony

My late mare was fate brought us together she was 1 in a zillion as was my first mare.

My gelding was not what I wanted but he was bred from my mare so had no choice.


The donkey I brought from that horrid dealer Jamie Gray.
 
When I got off with the biggest smile on my face!

She was exactly the opposite of what I wanted/looking for.

The real moment you realise, is when someone offers you a blank chq for them and you say no!
 
I have always bought with my head, not my heart. I buy mares, because I like them and I value the spark and the loyalty they bring. I have been very happy with my purchases over the years. They have all been genuinely nice horses, with lovely temperaments. I bonded more with some than others, but have been genuinely fond of all of them.
 
My chestnut as soon as I went in the stable with him. He was fugly as hell but there was just something about his way that made me think he'd be my best friend.
My youngster was owned by someone else on a livery yard. As soon as I saw his head over the stable door I knew I had to have him (he wasn't even for sale). Luckily for me he was too much for his then owner so I stepped in :)
 
I didn't really. He was being sold by a horse professional that I know who'd told me he thought he'd be perfect for me so I went to have a look, having not even seen a photo. All I knew was that he was "about 15hh, rising 6yo, Irish gelding connie type, hunted in Ireland, been in UK for a month and very very green but great attitude and v genuine to jump". I wasn't at all struck by him in the box when I got there, nor when their groom rode him for me. I didn't much like him on the flat when I rode him and was going to get off and go home, but they made me jump him as said I would love him when I did. And they were right. He was so easy, genuine and obviously loved jumping. I went back the next day to hack out and have another play in the school. I wasn't in love with him and at no point did I think he was "the one" or he made my heart sing, or any of that. I just knew I liked him to jump and I liked his attitude so thought I could work with him on the flat. Also, given his size and type, I also knew I could easily sell him if we ended up not being suited.

Had him 2 years now and he's awesome, he has done wonders for my confidence and I adore him. But it's taken time, and he isn't an easy horse. Can be v sharp and hot, combined with his incredible green-ness, means it's been quite difficult at times. Did our first BE last weekend and hopefully many more to come. He's come on really well on the flat, and he's a machine XC, proper PC type pony (even though I'm 33yo!!). I still wouldn't say he makes my heart sing, I'm not sentimental about him, but we have so much fun together and he's a brill pony :D
 
I didn't get that 'this is the one' with either of my 2 best horses. Both times I bought with my head not my heart.

Current one is totally opposite of everything I wanted! She is a chestnut welsh cob mare. I don't do mares, chestnut is my least favourite colour and I always said I would never have another welsh cob and certainly not one with 4 white socks
I only went to see her because she sounded such a genuine horse and there are so many things welshies can do well

She is turning into the best horse I've ever had :):)
 
Saw my boy's advert in the local tack shop, loved the look of him and phoned up about him, was told he was okay for a novice but could be cheeky/strong and he was slightly more money than I'd budgeted for.
So I forgot about him for a little, went to see some others and never clicked with them on viewing, then dad decided to phone up about Jack again, convinced me that I could afford the repayments (and if I struggled I'd have help). Was told this time that she had someone coming to look see him for a second time and she was waiting to hear back, so we waited for a few hours, got a phone call back and were told that the first person wasn't interested anymore.

We arranged to view him the next day and I fell in love with him the moment I saw him, gave him a ride, he took off with me around the arena, but I loved the feel off him and it all just clicked into place, so we bought him then and there!
 
She napped all though the viewing but then I took her for a canter and it was on the buckle. For £800 I couldn't really go wrong and I haven't! She does everything I wanted and more.
 
I didn't really. I thought he was lacking in character and not a great ride but he was the right size and age and was cheap. It wasn't until I got home that I suddenly felt that I didn't want him to go to anyone else and decided I'd have him.
Eighteen months on and he is full of character and much more confident. We still have ridden issues but I am happy to continue to work on those (we missed much of last year due to injury).
He is generally brilliant on the ground (and he was a nightmare for the first month of ownership - rearing, spinning, jumping out over his stable door complete with turnout rug twice) so we just need to do more of the same until he is the same ridden. He's got great paces but would prefer to go everywhere at 90mph.
Couldn't part with him now, even though he sometimes scares the bejesus out of me when I'm on board.
 
My first horse was an impulse buy but he had a handsome face with a kind expression and in spite of having been left off work in the time before my viewing him, he calmly let me as a stranger go about handling him and lifting up his legs etc. That was enough.

The second was a viewing that came to be after a reply I got to a carefully worded advertisement. The mare incidentally was a dead ringer for my second and most favourite lease horse and that was reason enough for me to go and see her as I desperately wanted to have another horse like that. Got taken aback by her size when I first saw her in the stable, but I tried her twice and fell in love and she became mine as soon as she passed the vetting. In her case I might not have gone to see her at all if she hadn't resembled my old favourite which would have been a shame as I would have missed out on an amazing horse.
 
When i got my old mare I didn't want a mare I didn't want a tb I didn't want a grey & I wanted to buy private

I got a 15.2 (the only bit I got right!), grey mare connie x tb from a dealer but I drove down the drive & fell in love he'd only had her in a week & she was a bitch but I rode her & it just felt right & plus she jumped the moon

When I got lucy I was looking for something 4 & unbroken to sell within a year
I got a 2 year old who I have now had 3 years !
I ummed & arred so much over lucy on the way home but in the end I couldn't ring them up & say no I knew I would be letting go a complete bargain of a horse...turns out I was right :)
 
I didn't...My loan horse of 2 years was going back, everyone told me I needed to get a horse...viewed him...didn;t like him...everyone said buy him, can always sell him on after few months if still don't like him...bought him for £350, and he's worth more than that now; everyone saw his potential, I didn't as all I could see was my loan horse! Love him to bits now, and if I wereto sell him would get a £1000 easy, but he's a keeper :)

Don't ever judge a book by it's cover :)
 
Short answer = I met him!

I liked him from his ad, but as soon as I met him I thought "wow" (still think that whenever I look at him, but that's by the by).

Honestly, if you're not completely enamoured, I would give this one a miss. I tried plenty of horses who were perfect on paper, were polite/mannerly to handle and nice enough to ride . . . but none of them made me smile like Kal did.

Best of luck with your search - looking forward to seeing a "here's my new horse" thread :).

P
 
My new(er) horse I'd known for a couple of years. I didn't particularly like her I thought she was boring and nothing special with no personality. The only reason I bought her was because I'd been riding and taking care of her for the owner for a few months and the owner said she would send her to a dealer if I didn't buy her and me being a softie couldn't stand the idea of her being passed from pillar to post if I was able to prevent it. Anyway so muggins bought horse for almost three times its value! Two years later and she's the most wonderful creature I could've imagined and so changed from when I first met her and I love her as much as my "the one" horse.
What I'm trying to say is, neither of my horses are the horses that I would've gone for and I definitely didn't think they were "the one" or made my heart sing, they ticked some boxes but not all but turns out that they actually are and I would never part with them! Don't judge a book by it's cover, remember you have to get to know the horse. Just go for it, what's the worst that can happen? (oops maybe should ban that phrase in the horsey world!).
Fingers crossed for you! x
 
I first saw J as a four yo and thought I had never seen anything so beautiful.
I watched him and out and about and watched sadly as he went through several riders .
When I rang the owner ( after I had seen him behaving very badly at a horse trial ) and he said he was for sale I saw him the next morning he was vetted the next afternoon and I picked him up the next morning .
That's over two years ago and I still get a thrill from looking at him he's a lovely lovely horse.
 
I think you should trust your gut on this one - I wouldn't worry if she doesn't tick all the right boxes especially with build and sex, but you should always trust your instincts with horses! If something is telling you no, it's not worth the risk if it's gonna be your only horse.

Last horse I got, I went looking for nice safe 8yrs plus dressage horse that could do a bit of jumping for fun - I came home with a very sharp, just sat on 3yr old and 7 years later it was the best decision I ever made :) Alright she has some health problems now, but they have come on over the years and had I have brought my 'ideal on paper' they could/would still have happened.

As others have said, as soon as I sat on her, I knew she was the one :)

Always trust your instincts!
 
Horse 1: My "best" horse was actually bought by my sister; I didn't have time for my own horse as I riding for other people but my sister wanted a horse and she bought him (15hh CBxTB). I thought he was cute but he was horrible to ride and was difficult on the ground. She loved him at first sight (although didn't ride when we viewed - I did though). He turned out to be too strong for her so I took him on and after many tears and tantrums (from both of us) he is the best horse I could have hoped for and although we only had 2 yrs together (he has been retired for the last 6) I wouldn't give him up for anything.

Horse 2: I bought as a rescue - he has been so tricky but has taught us both so much. He became my sister's horse but after Horse 1 was retired I took him on (sister had some bad falls from him). If I am honest, I have never bonded with him (even after 8 yrs) but there have been periods of time when I have actually enjoyed riding him, although as he requires work every day, I often regard it as a chore. He definitely prefers my sister.

Horse 3: I bought from Ireland - saw some pictures and videos and bought him for my sister. She loves him to pieces and they go bimbling round the countryside together. I ride him as well but he doesn't gel with me like he does with her, although "technically" he goes better for me than her. He is definitely her horse though, in the same way as Horse 1 is definitely mine, although in theory we share all 3.

So the short version of all that rambling is I have never had that "feeling" when buying a horse; I have had that "feeling" when riding other horses, although they are all horses that I would not be in a position to buy i.e. regimented routine etc. I just cannot do that with my job, so I need something that I can leave in a field for 3 weeks and then just get back on. I would definitely pick with my head than my heart as otherwise I would end up with something completely unsuitable but beautiful (see above Horse 2).
 
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