How many before you found the RIGHT one?

S

samleigh

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 April 2011
Messages
263
Visit site
In 4 yrs I'm on No 3, current mare, ISH, 9 yrs, came from a happy hack home, but moved nicely and popped a jump while trying her, I'm not aiming high just fun unaf comps locally and RC and I thought with schooling she would improve but in the last 8 mnths every time I schooled her or ended my weekly lesson I could cry with frustration, she just says No no no even before you've asked! , so she's just finished 2wks at my trainers, make or break and he's advised sell..she just doesn't like schooling or jumping and the amount of sweat and tears for the tiny improvement she offers it's no pleasure, she's a fab hack, forward but safe, absolute sweetie on the ground, so hoping I can find her a good home as a hack again, I really don't mind putting the work in but starting to doubt my judgement in buying horses (I do take an experienced friend and visit numerous times) but really dreading the horse search again! Has anyone done part exchange or recommend it?
 
Try, try and try again. Not all horses are right for what we want them to do, but there are plenty of others out there, just as there is an owner for your mare.
 
I am very unscientific. I buy the horse I can't bear to think of missing out on. I buy the one where I don't want to get off, or to leave the yard - in case someone offers more.....

If I do not feel that way then I don't buy. I feel that to go through the blood sweat and tears it has to mean more to me than just it is the right type and description.

I was more scientific when buying for a business, if it fitted the program, was sane and sound, it was bought. But, for myself there is more to it than that.

It has meant a few disappointed sellers, where I have tried, and although the horse is everything they said it was, and it went well, it is just not "my horse". I have not had too much trouble though as I generally know very quickly and rarely move on to jump or faff around if it is not doing it for me. I never view twice, once I find IT then IT comes home ASAP!!!

Sorry if that was not what you wanted, but it is what works for me. I tey as many as I need to until the one that I can't leave behind finds me :-)
 
I had 3 wrong horses before getting THE one, still not perfect mainly I was not looking for a 5 year old mare. Before getting her I tried 16 horses in a 6 week time frame, and brought an extra 2 that went very wrong for different reasons and were in different homes with in 2 weeks. It sound like you have a good instructor helping you, get them to put feelers out, just search every website and call and visit them. Could you find a friend to go and look at them first, then take your instructor out a second time for ones you like.

Very best of luck, it is not fun but when it goes right it is well worth it.

EDT: If you do see a lot and start to get lost in know what you like, this does happen. Trust me after 16 you wonder when life has come to, and can you really ride. Mine was dropped into my life, with me crying about it!
 
Last edited:
Two years ago, we had to retire penny at 21 ...now my teenager Polocrosse playing son is very wary of new horses, and particular! He wanted another chestnut mare about 15.2" bit stocky to take up his long legs, so out brilliant YO found some for sale at a locally polo yard.. So we went over and tried 3 or 4 at same place .
First one was a mo straight away, it had a sarcoid near its mouth, but we tried it anyway but it was too " jumpy" for him, then we tried a black gelding who he liked a bit but wasn't overwhelmed, then we tried this lovely chestnut mare , 15.3 , bit stocky sport horse TB type... Well he fell in love with her... yO rode her, she was fast but controllable, two weeks later she was ours... But we did take lots of advise from YO and a local vet...
Two years later she is such a fab horse, everyone loves her, her only drawback is she can be a devil to catch!!!
 
I've never been horse shopping. All mine found their way into my ownership one way or another without warning lol.

Not sure if I could bring myself to go horse shopping! Wouldn't know what to look for....it's personality and train ability over time with them that's done it for me.
 
Well, I was quite excited at the prospect of going and trying different horses when I started looking, tried the first, fell in love with him as soon as my bum hit the saddle, couldn't bear the thought of anyone else having him, as week later he was mine. I've had him a year and three months now and he's absolutely the most perfect horse I could have chosen for myself. Sometimes you just are lucky and strike gold straight away. I have had misses in the past and think to myself every day how fortunate I was to find my boy so easily and quickly. I also know people who spend a long time looking and then find that the perfect horse was right under their nose all the time :)

Good luck with your search.
 
Don't feel bad - but ultimately if she doesn't like what you want to do it is kinder to find her a new home.

I have part-exchanged a horse - I had a massive warmblood, daughter was over horsed, the mare was tricky so the easiest thing was to deal her in. Not for the faint hearted, I still feel a bit sad about it - however we exhanged her for a super ConniexTB, so it has worked out well :)
 
ChristmasSparkles said:
I've never been horse shopping. All mine found their way into my ownership one way or another without warning lol.

Not sure if I could bring myself to go horse shopping! Wouldn't know what to look for....it's personality and train ability over time with them that's done it for me.
Click to expand...

Same! and none of them are prefect, but combined they would be :P taken quite a lot of years of work with them
just got a newforest 4 yo mare and looking forward to backing her
 
Only ever bought 2, first was unbacked 3 year old,, only one at time for sale in my price range of right build/height, only one i rang up about. visited once lent over it went away and emailed within 24 hours to say yes please and picked up week later. Still have him 9 years later and he is fab but he is off games lame so hence looking for hopefully temporary replacement.

Second one, had looked a few months earlier and did ring about different one but wasn't really what i was ooking for. When really looking, looked on internet rang about one, went down to view next day and brought home - can't for sure say he is "the one" as have had him less than 2 months but is everything I wanted and more so far. I was soo picky when looking didn't even pick up phone if didn't make me panic someone else would get him.
 
Last edited:
I tried a lot of ponies before buying but stuck with the one I decided on in the end. He is not perfect but then most horses are not, but I have fun with him and he is nice friendly little chap and I am very fond of him.

I did at one point think of selling him as it appeared that he did not like being stabled and would jump out, which was a pain as very hard to find good grass livery in the area, and I had hoped to keep him on part livery, but decided to keep him as was rather fond of him.

Three years ago he did have to have a long period of box rest after getting kicked and ending up with a broken splint bone but I was lucky enough to find a rehab yard that could deal with high strung ponies and he settled well on the box rest. He then when back to his normal yard living out until one of the grass liveries died of AM last year and so I moved him back to the rehab yard as a part livery as he seemed to like it there when he was on rehab livery and much safer as no sycamore and easier to control his weight so he does not need to wear his muzzle so much, so far so good. He likes coming in to his stable for the night and loves having hay and a lie down on his comfy bed. In the winter he liked coming in so much he wanted to come really in early.

I do think if they are not suitable and you don't sell within the first 6 months or so it can be very difficult as then you end up getting very fond of them so much harder to sell on. I do think horses can act differently in different environments too.
 
I viewed thirty two horses before buying my current one and I phoned up about countless others. Even with my fine tuned screening process it took me about 12 months to gel with him and during that time I thought about selling him several times. But then it all came good after a year or so and my main fear in life now is that I will lose him because there will never ever be another like him.
 
I have always said it is a 50/50 chance when buying a horse, however well you have done your homework. I am lucky enough to have owned two 'horses of a lifetime', but managed to buy a 'dud' prior to each purchase, which were quickly sold on.
 
First one was a mistake but have managed to buy two absolute crackers (second one died or I wouldn't have needed to buy a 3rd!) since that one. Also bought several brilliant ponies for my daughter and only one duff one which is really just too green and will be fine in the future just not for this stage.

I go for looks and if they are up to the job I want them to do I buy them. Not very scientific at all but I've bought quite a few from photos and videos without even trying them now and not regretted any of them!
 
I'm a bit of a hoarder - my third pony was my 'keeper' - after 15 years of fun, many no's, hospital visits, horsepital visits and many amazing memories he is now my cherished lawnmower. I bought his 'protege' as a yearling three years ago. We have never clicked in the same way but he is such an honest pony and has such a lovely character that I've kept hold of him too, even if I do feel guilty that he isn't my 'number one'. I think if you've honestly persisted as much as you can and you aren't willing to change your areas of interests then its probably fairer for both of you to part ways...
 
I have had many right ones, currently have 5, none of which is another 'right' one.

I have absolutely no idea how many horses I have owned over the past 40 years, several have been right for their job.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top