How should I sell this horse, project? *pics* sorry long!

Lollii

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 October 2007
Messages
3,082
Location
Knee deep in mud!
Visit site
I need to sell my horse, I am down sizing due to going away this summer and being fed up with doing so many horses this winter!

I brought him a year and a half ago, he has been 'testing' sometimes, but is a good horse! I have copied the ad (below) that I brought him off, confirmation fault: he is pigeon toed.

Problem: I have had trouble jumping him, he is such a big jumper that I can't handle him, and I am spoiling him, he now is rushing into the fences and getting anxious because I am holding him in to much, we have just not 'clicked' when jumping, everything else about him is great. (Back & teeth checked and double checked!)

So, my question is should he be a project horse?

I can't jump him when I show him to anyone as now he just grabs the bit and cat leaps, I need to find someone who can get him back to jumping as he was before.

He is excellent to hack, very brave, well schooled, good but strong to hunt (I go around most of the jumps now!) good to load, clip, shoe, but he is a BIG horse and not at all a novice ride!

This was the ad when I brought him:
Height: 16.3 hh Age:8 yrs Sex: Gelding
Breed: Irish Sport Horse - Colour: Bay
Category: All Rounder / Eventers
Price: £2950
Horse Description
by Shauna's Diamond. Hunted in Ireland before being imported early 2008. has been jumping bsja since then and is jumping double clear BN, proving to be very brave, scopey and careful. Never stops, will jump anything. He is a very willing ride and loves to work in the school, hacks alone or in company. no vices. tons of potential in any sphere, suit keen competent rider. slight conformation fault hence the price.
This was one of the photos on the ad:
Paddi.jpg

PaddiatSarahsFeb2010.jpg

paddiinschool.jpg

What do you think?
 
Hm, if he's good in every other way I would probably just say on the ad that he's good in most ways but needs an experianced rider for jumping?

Then perhaps explain in more detail on the phone.
 
where abouts are you he sounds just what my friend is looking for something to bring on a bit and play with in bsja and a bit of eventing? im in scotland though :S
 
[ QUOTE ]
where abouts are you he sounds just what my friend is looking for something to bring on a bit and play with in bsja and a bit of eventing? im in scotland though :S

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh dear, he is right down the other end of the country in East Sussex - shame!
 
Would you be able to send him to someone for jump schooling before sale? I had a mare who was like that and when I took her to a trainer with a view to selling on my behalf, the lady just rode her differently and pulled her to a stop a good few strides before the fence, at the moment the mare took charge so to speak. After a few rounds the mare stopped doing it and respected the trainer. Perhaps worth asking someone if they could help and how long / how much it would take. (no offence meant if you are experienced and have tried everything - I'm just assuming you aren't able to do this yourself).

I would either put that his conformation fault doesn't affect his performance if that's the case, or leave it out and tell people on the phone when they ring.

If you think that he is not for a novice then put something like 'suit experienced / confident rider who wants to get on with the job'.

I like the look of him, and the sound of him, but I don't think he is necessarily a project horse, just one that needs some jump schooling which is not a fault as such in my opinion.
 
I have thought about sending him to someone to try and get him jumping again, but I wasn't sure about it, I need to sell him by July as I am going away and I don't just want to turn him away, he has hardly done anything since being with me, he needs to be in work!

I will ask around to see if anyone fancies schooling him for me.

Thanks for the replies
smile.gif
 
Hi, I wouldn`t call him a project horse at all. He needs re-schooling with his jumping which they all do at some point.
Everyone has had some sort of issue with jumping their horses either small ones they overlook, or bigger ones that they get help with from a trainer.
It would probably be sorted with a more experienced person who rides differently or more confident than you do, and in no way am I saying that you aren`t capable of riding your horse but after a certain time of owning a horse, they all take the pee to see what they can get away with and a lot of people have to get help from a trainer.
In the ad, I would put that he`s not a novice ride and if he is good in every other way, that wouldnt put anyone off who was capable of riding him. We all have to be honest when selling a horse but TBH IMO he isnt a big issue. You can give more details on the phone.
Have you tried loose jumping him to help him? This will tell you if it is a problem from his side or yours.
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Have you tried loose jumping him to help him? This will tell you if it is a problem from his side or yours.
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't tried loose schooling him, but it is something I could try if he doesn't jump out of the school
shocked.gif
it would be interesting to see how he goes.

I know it is my fault he is like this, but I can jump my other horse with no problems (we event) but I cannot get on with this one, I need to trust him but he feels like he is going to run off, I can't get over that but someone who is used to this sort of horse could do a lot with him.
 
I like him, had he been 16hh I would have been interested as am used to big jumpers, but at 16.3hh he's justa bit big! Have you got a front on pic of how bad his feet are?
 
He is a big boy!

That is me riding him and I am 5ft 10" tall, he rides big as well
tongue.gif


I don't have a pic of his feet, I will get a front end shot though, it is worth it so people can see what he is like before they come, his right hoof is turned in more than his left, you don't notice when he is being ridden at all, just when he stands still.

The vet said he should be ok now at his age, I have had him for over a year, he has never been lame, he was out hunting before the snow, he can go all day if you can keep up with him
tongue.gif
 
He's a beauty - and what a wonderful picture of the scenery too!!!
Are there any implications for the pigeon toeness, such as early onset arthritis? Does he tank off?
 
Being slightly pidgeon toed wouldn't worry me in the slightest - although I may be alone in thinking that! Obviously though for a showing person this would be different!

My own mare's off fore is a bit crooked but at the age of 16 it has never ever proved a problem and she has led a full life of hunting. So I wouldn't get too hung up about that. In fact my old farrier use to say that a pidgeon toed horse will never trip - God knows if that is true or where it came from!

Re the jumping, I do think that you need to be able to ride some jumps to show a potential purchaser so perhaps getting a friend/instructor or whoever to jump school him for a couple of weeks before you advertise might help you.
 
Pippa Funnells Supreme Rock had shocking pigeon toes and that didn't stop him! Pigeon toes often go with a "bench" knee where the cannon bone is slightly offset BUT it would not bother me as long as they put their foot down straight they can do what they like with it in flight. Sometimes they dish or plait with pigeon toes but not necessarily.

He is a good looking horse obviously has a scopy jump make a great gents hunter, obviously a brave boy and I'd say with no offence will probably suit a different rider as you seem out of synch with him (it happens). Don't discard him as a project horse or get hung up on the pigeon toes other wise we would all be advertising including "slightly upright shoulder" "bit too much knee action" "crumbly hooves" etc.
 
Hi Irishlife,

Thanks for the reply, Zara's Toytown has pigeon toes as well!

I really wasn't bothered about the toes, you really don't notice when he is being ridden, it is the fact that I can't jump him and I do realise that I am going to ruin him
frown.gif


I will be honest in an advert and make sure people know before the come and see him what he is like.

I will put him on Horsemart then.
 
Hi Rotchana, He doesn't tank off (he gets strong hunting) but hacking, sponsered rides etc he is fine.

I also don't think there are many implications for pidgeon toes, they just look 'different'
tongue.gif
 
Top