How did you know when you found the 'right' horse?!

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EquestrianFairy

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- or didn't you?

I'm becoming beyond disheartened with my searches to the point where I'm no longer excited about viewings.

I'm starting to think back at horses I walked away from and wonder if I am searching for something that doesn't exist?

Do you try a horse and have a lightbulb moment, knowing it is the one for you or do you go with the feelings that it ticked your boxes so that's all you needed?
I have this vision that I will just 'know' but in reality is it actually like that?

My other horses have always sort of just fallen into my lap and they've never been what I was looking for but it's always worked out well and they have been young. This time, I need an older more experienced horse so I'm actively looking.
 
I know instantly from a pic! If its love at 1st sight and i cant stop going back to look at it a million times over then thats it... Mine! Dosnt even matter what the ad says or how the viewing goes
 
The only time we've purposefully gone and bought a horse, they haven't been right! Ours just seem to find us! Examples-
Meg, had her 8 years went to a closing down polo yard to see a 15 hand grey and she was the 3rd horse they brought out for us to try.
Otto, sisters superstar went to see a mare that turned out lame and was sent off to the riding school down the road to see what they had. They had him!
Kali-long story short friend was looking for a horse so we were going for a trip up to a dealer we know, night before they cancel saying they've bought a horse and the dealer also gets in touch to say the horse had been sold! We had a feeling we should go anyway and indeed we came home with our lovely little black mare.
 
EquestrianFairy said:
- or didn't you?

I'm becoming beyond disheartened with my searches to the point where I'm no longer excited about viewings.

I'm starting to think back at horses I walked away from and wonder if I am searching for something that doesn't exist?

Do you try a horse and have a lightbulb moment, knowing it is the one for you or do you go with the feelings that it ticked your boxes so that's all you needed?
I have this vision that I will just 'know' but in reality is it actually like that?

My other horses have always sort of just fallen into my lap and they've never been what I was looking for but it's always worked out well and they have been young. This time, I need an older more experienced horse so I'm actively looking.
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ooooo. good post EquestrianFairy.:-) as someone looking to buy an older and experienced horse myself in the spring, I am looking forward to seeing the replies!

I looked at a couple back in the summer and I didn't have a 'lightbulb' moment with any of them and I was hoping that I would have that when I find him/her!

I have also fallen in love with a picture, and like rowan66, kept going back to look at it but the reality didn't live up to it when I went to view :-(
 
My first pony, mum got him to be the family pony but he somehow became mine, I enjoyed him and my sisters preferred the other one. My mare I started riding for a friend who had too many, she was a barely backed 3 year old and I thought she would be an easy project for a while until I got a "real" horse, but just never wanted to stop riding her so I bought her.
 
I keep looking at the photos of all the horses I've seen and I go back over them but none have given me that 'this is the one' moment And to be honest- I don't think I wil find one that does.
 
I don't know how I knew with my youngster, on paper he was the polar opposite of what I was looking for and all he did was snort at me and hide in the back of the stable.

I was looking for a something around 10 but this little 9 month old colt caught my eye. He was scruffy scrawny and looked like a donkey and didn't like me at all but I just felt 'it' 8 months on I adore him he's my little soul mate.

With my loan horse it wasn't the same for a few weeks I felt we weren't clicking but we stuck at it now he's my mate so it's not always the case that you know straight away the horse is the one.
 
I go to viewings with a solid "NO" lodged in my head - the horse has to be special and leave me feeling like I can't say no.

All of the ones I've bought have done just that. If I don't have a panicky feeling over whether someone else has bought them in the meantime, they're not right. My most recent purchase was a head-over heels moment as soon as I got on him, and I couldn't leave the yard without putting down a deposit. That was despite the fact I wasn't supposed to be buying.

I think you know when it's right.
 
Like you, I've never sort anything out.
I did try once, when I was looking for a friend with Ned, but then it just so happened my friend was looking to get rid of Cookie, so again, I ended up with him falling into my lap!

I did love Cookie as soon as I saw him, as I met him almost 2 years ago! I never dreamed he would be mine :)

Ned...no. When I first met him, I didn't pay much attention and when I first rode him I hated him! I was lucky that our relationship built up over a number of years, so I very slowly fell in love with him and got to know everything about him before he was given to me. Now he's my very best friend and horse of a lifetime :)

Good luck, really! I'm sure the right one will come along soon, I NEVER expected Ned would be mine!
 
Having driven 100's miles looking at horses that didn't fit their description :rolleyes3: I eventually found what looked like a lovely gelding. Phoned the yard, North Farm stud (Heroes). He wasn't full TB and was Catherston breeding (8 yrs ago so can't remember the exact line) Just what I wanted, not a full TB and a gelding.

On the phone they went on about a nice little filly, 3yrs old and just off the track. Wasn't the slightest bit interested but they went on about her so in the end I said I'd look at her with the intention of looking, saying no she's not what I'm looking for now show me the gelding. Turned up, they said they were busy but T was in the end stable so go and have a look and they'd be ready in a minute. Walked in - fell in love. She has such a lovely nature and just wanted cuddles which surprised me. The yard jockey came down, tacked her up, legged up and off he 'didn't' go ! :biggrin3: She wasn't very obliging, not naughty just didn't understand. They led her up to the school and he managed to get about 3 strides of trot. He got off her and apologised for wasting my time ! Said they hadn't, haggled a bit, had her vetted 2 hrs later as vet was due at the yard. Went back the next day with the deposit and picked her up two days later.

So there you go. I ended up with the two things I didn't want - a TB and a mare :smile3:
 
If you are not that bothered about the viewings you are probably wasting your time even going, I think the ad, photos and conversation should make you really want to go and try, if it is too much effort the horse will probably fail to impress when you get there.
I have viewed with clients looking to buy and the right ones were nearly always the ones that felt right before setting off, the odd one was a let down once there for various reasons but more often than not the trials were just to confirm the horse was the one. It is once you get desperate and start looking for reasons to even phone that viewings become frustrating and the horses are disappointing, this is not a great time for looking there are not so many for sale it may be worth having a break and look in the new year.
 
Megibo said:
The only time we've purposefully gone and bought a horse, they haven't been right! Ours just seem to find us! Examples-
Meg, had her 8 years went to a closing down polo yard to see a 15 hand grey and she was the 3rd horse they brought out for us to try.
Otto, sisters superstar went to see a mare that turned out lame and was sent off to the riding school down the road to see what they had. They had him!
Kali-long story short friend was looking for a horse so we were going for a trip up to a dealer we know, night before they cancel saying they've bought a horse and the dealer also gets in touch to say the horse had been sold! We had a feeling we should go anyway and indeed we came home with our lovely little black mare.
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This - I don't think I'd ever go looking at horses from adverts after seeing some of the disasters friends have had. Both of ours have been found for us by friends, the first of which was a brill first horse but not quite right so we sold him after 2 years and go our next one found by my SJ instructor and bought off professional showjumpers. From now on I'd always just tell people I trust what I'm looking for and hope the right one finds me but always be prepared to sell if it doesn't work out. Also I think we just went with temperament because I think if you go looking for the perfect horse, that ticks every box then you don't ever find it (a friend has just gone and done this and is still horseless 6 months later) x
 
Ive recently done all the searching to find my next 'forever' horse.Very hard when the last one was so fab. Im pleased that it took me a while to find what I wanted as actually what i ended up buying was not what i thought i wanted in the first place. I ended up with a 4 year old which i definitely didn't want! But at the end of the day it is a gut feel. I knew when I sat on them if they were the 'right' one, even if they seemed to tick all the boxes . I am thrilled with my new boy and so glad i waited to find the right one. Keep looking, you will find him/her but be opened minded but realistic about what you are looking for. Good luck with your search!
 
I've only ever bought 2 horses..... And only tried 3 for the first one and 5 for the second.

When looking online I looked at streams.... And wasted so much paper!! For every horse I tried I'd written at least 50 other off.

When I looked for my second I did the wrong thing in wanted something to replace my 1st exactly.... I realise now that will never happen, so when I ever get another I will not go in with this attitude.

However.... How did I know I'd found the right horse?
Simple answer.... She made me smile even just thinking about her. When I saw her she had no personality (a professionals horse, string of 18), but I knew we would get along, riding her felt right. Someone said 'this is the horse for you, you are smiling about this one' and they were absolutely right!

It took me 4 months...I was 1 week from giving up..... But one day she just popped up! Ok it's not been plain sailing and really she's useless ATM......but i still smile when I see her ever day!
 
Saw my girls photo online an knew she was special, travelled to the other side of the country to see her, as everyone walked on the the yard she was quiet, I drove in an she shouted her head off lol. I fell for her against the rules of never buy the first horse you see and never buy a horse you feel sorry for (she was very underweight) but I did both and it was the best decision I have ever made. My mate (an ex dealer) who went with me quizzed me for hours after we viewed her to confirm she was what I wanted from a horse, then said thank god you want her as you choose each other and to be fair I couldnt of wished for anything better than my girl. Think its gut reaction :)
 
I have a sneaky suspicion that someone by the name of EquestrianFairy will be getting a PM full of pictures and videos tomorrow evening ;)
 
I didnt tbh!! I ummmed and ahhhhhhed at my latest perchase knowing he was what i needed but not what i wanted. I wanted a speed demon xc machine he is a sj donkey (no offence!!) but hes the best ive ever brought such a shame hes broken :( but i find when trying horses go with ur gut i kept saying my current lad didnt have enough character.... How wrong could i be.... Do not leave anything within reach of him!!! I tried him twice and walked away feeling the same both times... 'Meh' thought sod it if i hate him ill sell him.... Hes never going anywhere!! Sometimes its worth looking at things that dont tick all ur boxes!!!
 
Good question, the second horse I went to look at I 90% knew when I looked at him in the eye that he was the "one" and was proved right when I rode him just knew then I wanted him and 9 years later love the bones off him he's taught me loads :-) I think I just got very lucky. Good luck in your search your horse is out there somewhere :-)
 
When she didn't piss off with me in canter, stayed behind the horse in front and stopped when asked. :) LOVE my girl - she's gorgeous and amazing :)
 
I knew right away with Seren my late mare, i was totally drawn to her at the auction that day, she did not sell in the ring thankfully, and my parents bought her outside the ring and they delivered her for us as we did not have transport, I went in the very large lorry with the seller, I was so happy as I walked her down the lane to our house,she was amazing and my horse of a lifetime.

It is funny and I think back to when I first visited Nell, I think she chose me! She just stood at the gate the whole time trying to say hello to me, she was not exactly what I was looking for, I viewed her a second time and decided to go for it as she had a willing nature from what I could tell. Initially I thought she was the wrong horse, it was a difficult transition after Seren, but now I have an amazing young mare who I am very happy with indeed, she is perfect for me and my needs
 
My friend used to buy school on and sell. She was short of stables so asked me to look after a 14.2 Arab mare for her. When she came to sell my friend asked if I could ride the mare for the photos. My friend was too tall. As I was riding her my jr terrier shot straight underneath the horse didn't bat an eyelid. And I knew I would never get another one like her and had to keep her
 
_GG_ said:
I have a sneaky suspicion that someone by the name of EquestrianFairy will be getting a PM full of pictures and videos tomorrow evening ;)
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Oooooo :) I look forward to such delights :)

It's interesting hearing other peoples stories- I certainly grew to love my last two horses but there was also a deep feeling that they would turn out perfect and they did.. If you ignore the fact one is a lawn mower for at least a few years.
 
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Misty was my first pony and she was utter pot luck, she was my one in a million and I hope I can find that again.

You may have seen my thread the other day about Barry. I've had him 6 months, and as lovely as he is on the ground, I'm just not really clicking with him ridden. So I think I am going to sell and keep searching.
 
I saw my horse prancing around the paddock when I went to buy some straw....turned out he belonged to someone I knew and was for sale, but I wasn't actually looking.
I thought he was stunning. He was still for sale four months later....so I bought him. :) Love him to bits.
 
Jester's ad caught my eye even though there was no picture with it...and I wasnt actually looking for another horse :rolleyes3:
BUT I was intrigued and arranged to view the following day. Despite the fact no-one could get very near him and he was very stressed I took one look at him prancing and snorting and fell in love.....literally in that instant ♥♥♥♥
He is only a baby and I wont riding him til next year but we already have a fabulous bond and has come so far in 15 months. Still my heart quickens to see him cantering down the field to me ♥♥♥
 
When i decided that i was going to start looking for a new horse it just so happened a friend told me about a horse that she had come across when helping another friend out, it didn't suit her friend but she was sure that it would be ideal for me! The day that i had arranged to view him i was tying 3 others also, they were all nice horses but when my boy came out it was love at first site(even with him looking like he had been dragged out a field after a long holiday!) and when i rode him it couldnt have gone any better and my friend couldn't have been more right! He is the first horse i have had and just seemed to click immediatley with! I really think he is my horse of a lifetime!



I definitely had that 'hes the one' moment, so yeh i would say it can be like that! Good luck!
 
Honestly, Harry's ad was nothing special. Had a really disheartening week and had pretty much decided to give it a break for a few days, and my mum called me to say she'd seen this one, and even though he was a cob and only 2, would I be interested? Thought I'd give it a shot, and knew once I got there that he was for me. Absolutely amazing little horse, wanted cuddles and a scratch, had no issues with whatever I did, picked his feet up well... really nicely mannered and we got on really well.
 
Chester was at my local hunt. OH knew I wanted a horse to hunt so suggested I go take a look. Said if I liked him he'd buy him for me but to talk to him first. So off I went, he was lovely out hacking, went with the groom on one of the other hunt horses. He lead and then let the other horse canter off whilst he stood. Then a farmer let a flare thing off as I was trotting round a corner and he didn't flinch. He was also very cuddly. I got back from the hack, called the Master and said OH would drop the money off at the next meet :)

Frolic was on sales livery at the yard I was on. I was there when he was dropped off and thought he was lovely. OH saw him and said he'd be perfect for you. Chester was lame so yard let me ride him. Had a jumping lesson on him and was in love even thou he bucked me off. Bought him a week or so later.
 
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