How did you find/ end up with your horse?

silvershadow81

silvershadow81

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Just wondered what your stories were and how you came about getting your horse?

Mine is quite boring, but ill start..
I went to a dealers when i was 12 (quite clueless about buying horses, with clueless parents!). Was sat on a loony horse which wouldnt stop cantering and was very stong- then sat on another little grey which didnt really catch my eye- but at least didnt want to hoon about in canter on two legs- so quickly said she was the right one- before my parents changed their minds :-)

We did however end up leaving with two horses that day....!!

That was the start of my journey...
 
Chance conversation in a pub after my OH's work xmas do in 2005 - with the wife of someone he worked with. I was looking for a horse to ride having had to give up the previous horses I was helping to exercise due to moving and she knew someone who could do with some help....


I met Ash about a week later and for the first few months I just rode him two or three times a week, then his owner asked if I wanted him on full loan. I said yes. And now he's mine.

...and retired through injury. But not before being the most wonderful first pony a girl (in her late twenties and now early thirties) could have asked for...

So when my OH moans about time spent slaving after demanding pony I remind him that he introduced me to his friends wife in the pub so it's all his fault...
 
I had been looking at 16.2hh's as Im 5ft 10.5" and I found a lovely mare, however she failed the vetting,

and by chance, that night I was back on horse mart after feeling fed up that the mare had failed when I decided I would feel more comfortable on a 15.2hh,

I rang up to view him and I loved him the minute I saw him and now I have Java, who I wouldnt have had if the other hasnt failed and if im honest I didnt feel wholy comfortable on the mare but I had looked for ages and she was one of the quieter ones however still was rather fast,

it must have happened for a reason:D

the day the mare failed was the day Java's add went up so I really was quite lucky!
 
my first....

got messed about (very badly) with a share - and my parents knew how dedicated i was (helped out everywhere for 11 years) so bought me one.... :D

my third one now....i was looking for a loan with view to buy for my mothers sake. Then saw this little brown thing in an ad for sale, by this time im now at uni and bought her and pay for her myself. So bought her on the saturday - she came home on the sunday and is never going anywhere :)

im skint. but happy :)
 
My oldest mare: She arrived at the stables to be backed and sold on. I went out to field to photograph other ponies - I disliked highlands at this point - and said 4 yr old followed me around, stopping when I did and laying her head on my shoulder. I then went to the next field and started panicing as when I looked back, pony had her foot caught in the metal gate. As Istarted towards her, she took it away again. That was how I met and kept my delightful rogue.

The younger one - I had my heart set on a Welsh C and went to look at a New Forest??? The first was nervous and jumpy and very wary at the back of her stable. I asked if her legs had been handled and the guy got his hand to her shoulder before she jumped away. Love at first sight at that point.

:D :D :D :D
 
I had a horse on loan on a yard and the people who co-owned the yard had 4 horses. Ladies husband found out he had cancer and they wanted to find a home for Syd I told them not to be hasty and I would after him at my cost until they knew what was happening I fell in love with him and bought him 4 months later, had him backed and he is wonderful Unfortunately due to my ill health I am now having to sell him I will miss him very much as this has been a very difficult decision but he deserves a home where he will be ridden as he loves his work :(
 
i rode her in the riding school for a year and then said i wanted her to the riding school. 2 months and lots of decisions and decussion later and i brought her and shes amazing. my first horse woop:D:o:)
 
I had been looking for a youngster and after speaking to some really pushey breeders I found a couple of geldings with a breeder I really liked. After lots of conversations she mentioned she also had a filly that hadnt been advertised and sent me some pictures, went to see all three but as soon as I steped into the barn Kirstie caught my eye and everything about her said buy me buy me. Looked at the others but didnt feel drawn to them like with her. She failed her first vet as had slipped in the field, everyone said walk away but I knew she was the right one so arranged pick up a couple of days after second vet, even the breeder was saying she would understand if I didnt want her.
I'm so pleased I went with my gut she is perfect and we will be hopefully going out to do some shows later in the year aswe are in the process of breaking her now.
I truly believe that you should make all big decisions with your heart.
 
My current horse- 5 year old arab...I actually saw him last may and fell in love with him. He was for sale but I couldnt have him as I had my PBA and Oh and daughter had theirs- so all 3 stables full and OH would have killed me:rolleyes:

Then, in August- very suddenly and with no warning- I had to have my PBA put to sleep. I was devastated and still miss him greatly. I was going to just ride OH/daughters over winter and have a look around as of now. But I couldnt get this little arab gelding out of my mind. He was totally unsuitable- nervous, green - just backed and very little else.

So.....he was still for sale. I knew the girl who was selling him and she wanted a good home for him more than anything......I threw caution to the wind and bought him. My (daft) feeling was that he had been waiting for me to be able to bring him home, and that when it was time for Desi to leave us, it was time for Azzy to come to me. Stupid, I know.:o

And he is lovely. I think Desi would be pleased that I'm putting everything he taught me, into teaching Azzy.:)
 
Poppymoo Syd is an arab They just fill you will love dont they Hed never really had any attention and he just wouldnt leave me alone He just wanted (and still does) kisses and cuddles all the time I will miss him terribly when hes sold but know hell give someone else the enjoyment and love hes given me
 
My old girl came to our yard for working livery over the winter. My RC said - I recon she will be for sale come spring, by then daughter and I had done a few lessons on her and were smitten, so whn she came up for sale she was ours.

Honey monster the companion was a reject given to us by the RS when they sold up.

Almera my daughters baby cob was on one of the adverts on the edge of H&H, my daughter had almost given up on getting another horse due to some bad experiences. She saw the add over my shoulder when I was on H&H one day and said 'that looks nice' it turned out she was local, we looked, she liked and a year on is everything she hoped for.
 
I was selling my first horse as he wasn't right for me and i started looking for my next one. I had said i didn't want a thoroughbred, what did i see 7 years ago.......an exracer! I fell in love with his picture on the internet and when i saw him he was perfect and there began my love for thoroughbreds and in particular exracers. He now has a home for life. I owe this little horse everything he has taught me so much.

My next came when i thought Fred had to be retired due to his head shaking and back issues (he is now back in work and at 17 is still loving life like a 5 year old!). I knew i wanted another exracer and i wanted to retrain one from scratch so i went to the sales and i believe the next bit is fate. Marley came in the ring, very relaxed and lovely looking, i hadn't viewed him earlier as he had got there late and this was near the very end of the auction. He started at £600 i bid the next and the first bidder bid again, i didn't have a lot to spend and as i hadn't seen him or spoke to his groom i didn't really want to bid again. Then what happened is i believe either someone else bid behind me or i made a movement that got taken as a bid and then it ended and i was gutted becasue i hadn't bid and thought i'd lost him and he looked really nice. Then the spotter came over and asked me to sign the paper to say he's mine, i was gob smacked but delighted. I did not bid so i truly believe that was fate and he is everything i want, a true gem and despite foot issues he is now sound and coming on really nice.
 
Bert appeared as a weanling in a batch of gypsy colts that were bought as a job lot. Condition score one and full of lice. Couldn't walk away..... He's now rising two, looks fab, great temperament and will make a great allrounder/ride and drive for 2011.

Unfortunately he has a retained testicle - which means he is going to cost me at least £700 to castrate........:eek:

My second has just arrived via preloved - a cracking little welsh freebie, a companion to be rehomed. At 9yo, sound and healthy, I'll be breaking him to ride and drive. Hopefully will be a cracking little lead rein for my youngest.:D
 
sydneysmum said:
Poppymoo Syd is an arab They just fill you will love dont they Hed never really had any attention and he just wouldnt leave me alone He just wanted (and still does) kisses and cuddles all the time I will miss him terribly when hes sold but know hell give someone else the enjoyment and love hes given me
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I'm sure I've seen your horse before somewhere - is he actually up for sale right now? I think I recognosie the picture...... He is gorgeous......and if I had another stable......;) ( do you think OH would notice two grey arabs? or would he think them the same one?)
 
My old mare was bought for me before I was born !! and shes still going strong at 24
My Gelding was the the last foal my second mare (she unfortunately had to be PTS 4 years ago) had and so we kept him
I hand reared my next mare from birth and bought her for the grand price of a pouund!!
The next mare I saw born and watched her grow up to be a beautiful 2 year old and my grandparents bought her for me for my 18th birthday
And she had a foal last year bringing a beauitful bay colt into the world
 
1st pony - dad did it all properly, I was 11 and parents non horsey so found a reputable yard to help us purchase and keep pony. They took us to a dealer friend and 'helped' us buy a mare that kicked, bit and jumped anything you pointed it at!!

Lottie, - my 1st horse, sold grumpy pony as outgrown, before I even started looking the livery yard I was then at had a riding school as well and offered me Lottie. I didn't like her at all but the day I was press ganged into trying her another girl came to try her and leathered her for spooking. I went to her stable to see her after and noticed all the old healed whip scars and decided she would never be whipped again. She groomed my mother's arm and that was it, bought and paid for. Think Dad was just pleased I wouldn't get kicked or bitten or worse still other people who might sue!

Beau, - I wanted a spotty and couldn't afford a 3 legged coffee table. Went to look at the cheapest I could find out of the admag, she was purple with white spots, unbroken and alone since weaning, love at 1st sight over the gate.

Ice, - researching Beau's breed I saw her on a knab website and had to have her, went virtually to wales to see her, waste of time as I knew I was having her!! Paid for her with my tuition fees and set up a payment plan to pay them off!!
 
I found mine online and went to view him a few days later. As soon as I seen his face peek over the stable door my heart melted. He has taught me so much in the year that I've had him - just wish we could hack nap free! Feel at a bit of a loss right now as I'm unsure if I have the capabilities to improve the riding issues :(
 
Yes Poppymoo he is for sale Youve probably seen his pic on the forum before as I posted it when I first joined I havent actually advertised him yet but am going to in another month or so I feel sure he has so much potential I have pmd you
 
My current three:

Old horse - friend and I went to the local horse sales. Bad idea. Saw half starved ex polo pony being thrashed round by large man. Went to see him when he was tied up (horsenot man....) and he laid ears back and bit me. Bid, several times, determined not to let the dodgy dealer who was also bidding have him. Ours (then mine) for £405, 12 years ago. We had planned to give hima few nice days then PTS.......(he looked that bad) but with some food and tlc he soon turned the corner.

Wee pony - friend had on loan to show about 13 years ago, didn't get on with her, I started riding her, loved her and kept her. Not heard from proper owner for about 7 years........

Welsh - friend (yes same friend for all three!) asked me to school on to sell, she was unwell and couldn;t cope with him. That was 3 years ago.
 
Decided to only look at horses my friend's husband knows as he is a farrier and gets to know the "true" horse rather than the adverts version.

I was looking for 15hh, bay, no feathers, good bone, sensible hack, able to do long distance rides, must load, must go past cows (!), must go through water...........

He was the 2nd horse i looked at. Arrived in pouring rain to see him, nearly didn't bother to get out the car to look at scruffy, hairy wet cob.. my first words to my friend were "what that?!".

Fell off when I tried him as he had lost weight and girth was too big (he really bloats when first tacked up so i didn't realise the girth was enormous), went back a 2nd time to try with a girth that fitted - he did an enormous spook in the middle of the road at a Tesco delivery van and for some reason i just thought "oh well if that's as bad as it gets i can cope" and had him.

Took an hour and a half to load when i went to pick him up. He hates puddles............... oh and he is palamino and very feathered!

I LOVE HIM TO BITS!!!!!
 
I found my coblet through a friend. Last year of uni and the last thing I should have been buying was a horse, let alone a youngster as I'd never had my own before. She was selling him on but I fell in love with him and when she offered me a deal on him and somewhere to keep him, I completely followed my heart instead of my head. BF was not happy and BF + his mother made me feel so bad for having him (we were saving for a house) that I advertised him for sale :( He eventually went on loan with view to buy at a yard 45 minutes from me, but this fell through just before the month trial was up and I had to take him back. Desperate to find him a home, I went back to another woman interested in him but that fell through too so spent the weekend phoning around trying to find somewhere for him. I luckily found a yard 10 minutes from me with a spare field, and the rest is history.

With some many things falling through, I think it was destined for me to keep him. I now cannot imagine my life without him and my BF has also fallen in love with him so he's a keeper :)
 
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I went to holding area where horses were being loaded for meat and saw a little andulisan and bought him hes lovely nearly come back with loads more if only had the money
 
;)
poppymoo said:
And he is lovely. I think Desi would be pleased that I'm putting everything he taught me, into teaching Azzy.:)
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OMG, that pulls at the heartstrings and brings a tear!! What a lovely thought Poppymoo.

My story is quite a common one I think and one that a lot of us on here share already.

We had been looking for months for my first horse and then I found him. He was a lovely 10 year old grey gelding, who had done everything. He belonged to a young girl who was unexpectantly pregnant and was unable to keep him. The loans he had been out on had failed and she was faced with no other option but to sell. He'd come off the eventing yard she'd been working at and he was so laid back that he was almost falling over himself. We agreed a price and I arranged the 5* vetting which he conciquently failed!

Two days later and feeling down and out, I was bullied into viewing a couple of horses on a dealer friends yard locally, and that afternoon I found myself looking over a stable door at an emaciated, depressed bay mare that was as ugly as sin. There was no chance of me buying her as she was everything I didn't want,she wasn't even grey! I was not the least bit intrested.

Then I reluctantly rode her and there was just something about her, there was a magic.

So there you are. I paid the asking price which was proably double what the dealer was hopeing for, but I suddenly wanted this rough little mare and I wasn't going to miss out again, so I took the gamble.

She has been a nightmare at times, but yes the majic is there and she has grown into the most beautiful girl for me and I would never swop her, even if she is a bay.
 
Well, I'd been searching for ages for a first horse, when a friend told me about one she'd seen photos of, but was adament she wouldn't be able to justify having, because she'd never use it to it's full potential. I went to see said horse, and still have her four years later. :D

My friend maintains that she'd hate to have Ballet, and won't get on her! :P She's seen her at her usual insane self too many times! :D
 
After waiting 3 months to get a horse that i never got (owners wanted to keep her to breed from) and then going to look at a horse that was the complete opposite of the ad (i swear it was trying to kill me. every second of riding it i thought i should have sorted out a will!!) i was browsing the net, looking at horses i could never afford, i saw one for loan. I wasnt keen on going to look at him at first due to his age and after the last one i went to look at. My partner encouraged me to go, and i thought i had nothing to lose.

It was a complete accident i came across him, but i'm glad i did. He's perfect and everything i was looking for. I love him to bits.
 
Came across my boy when I was a working pupil at a riding school. Having a lesson one day when the horse I was on went lame and I was told to go get something else quickly - only horse left on yard was an ex-racer that hadn't been ridden for 3 months after having been abandoned on the RS land (long story!).
So I got him in from the field, tacked him up and got on - and it was love at first lesson! He was an angel, didn't put a foot wrong.
And considering he was my first horse and tbh I was a pretty crap rider - I had to up my game pretty damn fast to cope with what he was about to throw at me over the next few months!
Wouldn't change him for the world :)
 
I bought my first horse which turned out to be a disaster, swiftly returned her. Started looking for other but was quite dis-heartened at this point... My friend helped me and found his advert on the internet, rang up and viewed him the same day :D
 
I started helping out at my mom's friends yard as I was pony-less and desperate :) After about 6 months of hard work, I was given Tont on loan as a project to back (he was 14!) :) So, to cut a long story short, on christmas day 2009 I was given full ownership of him, and he is everything I could want and more :D

Nicole :D
 
I went to a dealers to look at another horse who turned out to be totally wrong for me, and my friend persuaded me to try this tatty looking mare in the next stable. Love at first ride!! lol Have had the best year ever :)
 
Found him at a dealers in Manchester
I had my last horse 8yrs and fractured my ankle badly. Then ended up with a horse that scared me to death. I just hadn't realised how badly it had all affected my confidence

I walked away saying he wasn't what I was looking for (too fizzy)

friend who had come with me went crackers in the car on the way home telling me I was nuts, hed idn't do anything wrong was just a young green horse> I realised she was right and went back the next day to try again

The rest is history

He is the best horse I have ever ridden.

Funny my friend and I both have horses chosen by each other:D
 
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