How long did it take to find your perfect horse?

You aren't the only one, don't worry!

It took me about a year and a half and two unsuccessful vettings. I posted on here several times.

I don't think I was being unrealistic but did have quite difficult criteria as the horse had to be suitable for DH and I to share.

Keep looking the right horse will be out there and when you find it you will be glad none of the others worked out.

Do take a chance on going to see a few that don't quite tick all the boxes though. I bought a horse who was younger smaller and finer than I was looking for, so DH still looks a bit tall on her but she is a superstar. And I had enough left in the budget for a trailer!
 
All mine have been gits then I train them to be as perfect as they can be. No horse is perfect and you must treat like that quirks and all.
 
Mine was no 20. My wish list wasn't exhaustive (8-10 years old, 14.2 to 15.2 must have 'been there and done that', confidence giver and novice ride but forward) and my budget was reasonable. Nevertheless it was frustrating - I saw 4 horses that were clearly lame, 2 that were well under height and 1 that reared. Keep going! You'll find the one!
 
Two weeks! Had 6/7 horses lined up to go see, and I knew what I wanted. First horse I went to see fit everything that I've always wanted, went to see her two more times to make sure, nearly two months later and she still hasn't put a foot wrong:)

Still needs some work done but the difference already is amazing:p

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I looked for my next horse (when my 20 year old who taught me to ride again when i bought her as a 7 year old had a back injury) and it took a good few months to find the right one. I had some absolutes on my list - had to be a mare (as my existing horse doesnt mix with geldings), able to live out, good to handle, hack out and generally well behaved. I quickly saw that anything with experience and solid schooling was out of budget so it was a choice of either buying something with an "issue" or buy a younger horse and get some lessons/schooling help as and when. I bought a 4 year old and she truly is a gem in the making. She isnt perfect and def green from a schooling perspective but she's a genuine mare and whilst not bomproof is 95% there (she's led older horses on hacks). I have already paid for help with some parts of her education and will continue to do so as she develops and i get professional schooling lessons with her. All things being equal she will make a perfect horse for me and I'm loving seeing her learn and develop.
 
I bought the second horse I went to see. I spent A LOT of time internet trawling, asking questions and requested videos to rule out obviously lame ones or ones that didn't have the kind of movement I was after.

TBH I wasn't blown away by his beauty, breeding or vital statistics - but with a limited budget I had to be realistic and I couldn't find a good enough reason not to buy him (a green schooling project).

He has slowly transformed into a cracker and I genuinely can't believe my luck! Already worrying about how I am going to find my second horse when this one eventually retires because I can't imagine enjoying riding another horse as much as him.
 
Sasha was first gareth tried, she came from polo place, he did try two others at same yard, but something about sasha they just clicked. I liked the younger one he tried, but as he is a junior, it didn't have brill brakes, and a sarcoed near bit area! Had her vetted, bought her then day of fetching her we had all that snow, couldn't get lorry out so she stayed there for another 5 days!!! Then I had a teen itching to get his new horse and 2 ft snow on ground!!!
 
Some lovely stories and it's nice to hear that although you didn't gel with some of your horses to begin with, you've managed to forge great bonds.

I'm waiting for this feeling everyone says you get when you try the right horse and know it's the one. I have a feeling I'm never going to get that. My pony of a lifetime who I loaned, I didn't click with straight away and it was only 6 months later we really got on and I felt we had a great relationship. I think £3k is a reasonable budget for a nice all rounder to do the odd show and have general fun on and I'm not looking for a flashy warmblood or something with BD/BE/BS points. It's been a frustrating and confidence knocking experience and I think it might be wise to have another break from horse hunting to refresh myself. Fingers crossed something comes up!
 
I bred mine :p Bloody lucky I was with her too, she's an absolute star! If only she was a hand bigger... (I'm planning on breeding from her again to get rid of this issue too :D ) I'm going to end up with an army of her, but she's so lovely I don't care :D
 
hi charcoalfeathers - good luck with the horse search :-)

Interesting that you say you have seen 19 in several months - I saw about 8 in 2 weeks when I was looking - looked on line for new ads several times a day, popped in to tack shops to look at their ads whenever possible, and rang up instantly about any I was interested in. Also was prepared to travel quite a long way to see ones that looked right. Having said that I ended up buying my new boy from a dealer! I mainly liked him for his temperament, which is wonderful. We've only been together 5 weeks so keep fingers crossed!

Enjoy the search... I rather miss drooling over horse adverts now!
 
No help to you as I bought the 1st one I went to see , also the 1st horse I'd sat on in 15 yrs,paid £480 and didn't have her vetted so I ended up with a very opinionated ,stroppy,issues a long as your arm,beautiful TB who i would not swap for love nor money.So if you want advise on how not to do it I'm your gal x
 
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