How long did it take you to find your horse?

[AandK]

Horse no1 about 24/25yrs ago, several months and failed vettings before I got her, age 7. Totally unsuitable at the time in the end, but I kept her and we gelled as I gained more experience. I lost her age 29 2yrs ago.
Horse no2 in 2002, about a month, he was the second one I viewed. Failed his vetting due to a heart murmur, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him so bought him anyway. Now 24 he’s retired, but never had any heart related issues!
Horse no3 was March 2019, came across his ad in the first week of searching, first one I saw and ten mins down the road. Loved him and picked him up 5 days later!

 

[SO1]

9 months 14 years ago probably would not have taken so long if I had more knowledge at the time as then it would have been easier to focus on selecting a certain type.

I ended up with a 5 year old New Forest when what I really wanted was a 7 year old connemara or SHP stamp which turned out to be outside of my price range. Had I more knowledge I would probably have gone down the NF route to start with and got something a bit earlier.

He is 19 now and having some health issues with his 2nd soft tissue injury in the last 18 months. I have had some challenges along the way but he has taken me to places I never dreamed I would go including the Royal Windsor Horse Show, and before his injuries he was doing really well in the veteran classes.

One thing I learnt back in the day when I was looking for a horse was that you need a big budget to get perfection and you might need to think outside of the box to get something that is suitable for you if have not got a good budget. I compromised on age and breed.

If I was looking again and hopefully that is something I won't have to do for a very long time I would be considering two things, livery yards and lifestyles have changed. Hacking is more challenging with busier roads so a confident safe hack is important, and also most yards are not well set up for a horse or pony that needs weight management so for that reason I would stay clear of very good doers. The constant worry of the risk of laminitis and muzzles is not a lot of fun.

 

[HorseMaid]

About 3 months the last time I was looking. Had seen a few duff ones then someone contacted me through wanted advert on Facebook, who had a couple of mares for sale that had just been broken and were ready to go. I dragged my mate along and took a wad of cash, tried both and bought the one which was the most badly behaved (she didn't walk a step, she jogged, trotted, rocking horsed and sidestepped the whole way ?), she's been ace and has been with me for nearly 4 years now, never regretted it for a second!

 

[Jellymoon]

I think it used to take me a few months, if not up to 6 months, but as I’ve got older and more experienced it only takes a few weeks now. I have a few contacts that I trust, and I ring round them to see what they’ve got, and usually they have something. They will be dealer/producers I’ve bought from before and had good success and service. I do buy 4/5 yr olds though, which is easier than an older one which has more boxes to tick.

 

[Miss_Millie]

We advertised one of our horses for sale, didn't really want to but we had to for a variety of reasons. A mother & daughter, both adults, came to see him & fell in love fort him. We'd only advertised him for a couple of weeks but on talking with them they'd been looking for about 12 months. After all that time they'd slowed down on the searching as it was soul destroying not seeing anything they wanted but they had a quick look, saw our boy & fell in love. They came to view, rode him & loved him. This was a happy result.

Beware when looking for a horse that you don't fall into the various traps. Decide the type of animal you want & what you want to achieve. Decide what amount of money you will need to purchase the type of horse you want. So many people buy a horse who's lovely but after owning for a few months they decide they wish to go a different route & the new horse does not have the ability the owner now needs. Don't blame the horse for your ill thought out purchase. Don't buy one because you are fed up of looking & it's taking too long. Be realistic on how much the animal will cost. So many people post things like "I don't want a world beater, I just want to be able to hack out, go to local shows, jump a small course & do a reasonable dressage test. They have just advertised for an all rounder, they want champagne for beer money. Most dealers would kill to have a stable full of these, they can sell them all day & they are much easier to sell than competition horses. They also achieve good money. Be patient, don't think you have to drive hundreds of miles to find the horse you want, this is the curse of the internet. Providing you are not looking for a specialist horse you sould be able to find a decent horse within 50 miles of home & more than likely by word of mouth. Good Luck.

This is really great advice, thank you I have found that my 'must have/must be' list has now become more specific, since viewing a few different horses that didn't quite tick all of the boxes. Looking at the bigger picture is definitely important!

 

[Expo]

I've just taken delivery of my new one after a couple of months of looking.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I've just taken delivery of my new one after a couple of months of looking.

Congratulations, I hope that will be me soon enough! How many did you view before you found him/her?

 

[Peglo]

This is really great advice, thank you I have found that my 'must have/must be' list has now become more specific, since viewing a few different horses that didn't quite tick all of the boxes. Looking at the bigger picture is definitely important!

just being nosey but after viewing a few horses, what has changed in your must haves/nots? Hope you don’t mind me asking. Just curious as I missed out with the viewing stage ?

 

[Miss_Millie]

just being nosey but after viewing a few horses, what has changed in your must haves/nots? Hope you don’t mind me asking. Just curious as I missed out with the viewing stage ?

Height and age have changed now, I was initially looking as small as 14hh but now feel that 15hh is the most comfortable height for me as a general rule. Age wise I was being very broad at first but am now looking under 12 as I ideally want this horse to be for life.

 

[Peglo]

Height and age have changed now, I was initially looking as small as 14hh but now feel that 15hh is the most comfortable height for me as a general rule. Age wise I was being very broad at first but am now looking under 12 as I ideally want this horse to be for life.

I’m glad your viewings have helped you decide what you’d like but hope you find your new horse soon. ?

 

[eahotson]

This time about four months. I didn't want a young horse and I didn't want a mare.Guess what I ended up with. A four and a half year old mare!! She is lovely though.

 

[Caol Ila]

Weeks, for all of them.

 

[Miss_Millie]

This time about four months. I didn't want a young horse and I didn't want a mare.Guess what I ended up with. A four and a half year old mare!! She is lovely though.

It just goes to show that you can't always plan for everything, sometimes the horse chooses you!

 

[Goldenstar]

I looked for Blue for a year in that time I only found one advert that passed my screening by the time I rang the horse had gone eighteen hours after the horse when online .
Blue popped up on a sales agent/ producers Fb I saw him at mid day on fb viewed him first as the first person the next day and had him home by 6pm .
My horse Sky came through ihatework who posts on here she contacted me about a horse a friend was parting with a very interesting extremely nice ID who was naughty .
So he just sort dropped on my lap .

 

[Expo]

Congratulations, I hope that will be me soon enough! How many did you view before you found him/her?

Hi ... I viewed 4 - as in, showed up and sat on them, plus I was offered two which weren't suitable so didn't actually go to see them; one too old and one had a health condition I wasn't prepared to manage longer term. The 4 I rejected were 1 - too small, 2 - awful manners but otherwise nice, 3 - looked lovely in the ad but just didn't like it in the flesh, 4 - too hot when I got on, and I got off again pretty quickly. All of them looked like good prospects on paper. Just shows you can't tell by looking at the ads.

I now have a lovely ID cross who is settling in well and am feeling pretty optimistic I've made the right choice. Time will tell.

Don't ask how much I paid !!!!! More than I'd budgeted, for sure ............

Best of luck with your search.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

About 48 hours for last one. I put a 'wanted' ad on my (then) Facebook business page, horse related with large audience of followers in Ireland and UK. I was inundated with offers of loans, freebies and very cheap ones, but he stood out literally head and shoulders above the rest. Went to see him and that was it.

 

[anglo]

8 months to find my current one but he was worth the wait and in the end he found me . I got fed up of looking at countless horses that werent what they were supposed to be. I found one that was, on paper, everything I ws looking for, but just didnt feel like "the one". I put an advert in a buying /selling paper and got a call from his owner . I fell in love before I even sat on him and he has been mine now for over 21yrs .