How to decide if it’s the right horse?

[KINDMARE]

When you go to view a new horse (especially with a dealer) and you only have a relatively short time - how the hell can you tell if it’s the right horse for you?
Do you go on gut instinct? What a mine field it is buying a horse that’s going to be a massive part of your life in just an hour or so?

 

[asmp]

When you go to view a new horse (especially with a dealer) and you only have a relatively short time - how the hell can you tell if it’s the right horse for you?
Do you go on gut instinct? What a mine field it is buying a horse that’s going to be a massive part of your life in just an hour or so?

It is the same as buying a house! Gut instinct I suppose.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I've known with all mine as soon as I've looked at them!! During my search for my last horse I viewed 12/13. I knew as soon as I saw him that as long as I could stay on him that he was coming home!! I think the general feeling of not wanting to get off when you ride during the trial is a good indicator.

 

[Accidental Eventer]

with one of mine it was the second I saw him, I just knew and he has been absolutely perfect and will be with me for life. My other one wasn't as clear cut, but he didn't scare me and that was important! He was harder as I was looking for something young and green, and while he hasn't been as easy as I had hoped he is perfect now!

I think it's a little bit of instinct and a little bit of knowing what you want, a little bit of luck!

 

[abbijay]

My first 2 horses both came to me on loan; and I trusted the person loaning them to me to loan me something right for me. But when I went horse shopping I bought the one who, when I saw his face over the stable door, just felt like I had to have him. The second I put my hand on his shoulder it was like a lightbulb. Whereas the others I viewed I felt they were nice andI could manage them but I didn't get the same instant connection. It's completely unscientific but it has served me well.

 

[Trouper]

Absolutely all of the above. Don't overthink it - gut instinct is always right. And then pray they pass the vetting .................!!

 

[Highmileagecob]

Went shopping for a family pony, and liked the sound of the advert. Saw the horse was totally relaxed with my kids (10 and 12 at the time) and not fazed in traffic. He came home with us and we have had him 21 years and counting. My daughter is just about to start horse shopping and is hoping to find similar traits in her search. Can't imagine anything living up to Supercob!

 

[ElectricChampagne]

I knew with mine almost immediately. My first horse they decided to pull him from the market after I'd agreed to buy. (Serious Family emergency which was fair enough) and I was absolutely devastated. Went looking at several others one of which was fairly dangerous. Nothing clicked.

Few months after I got a call saying to come pick him up and he was the best I could have ever had as a first horse. Minded me like no other horse could.

My last fella I knew he'd be coming home with me before I went to visit him. Don't know how or why and definitely didn't let that cloud my judgement, but the owner took me out on a long forest hack with rivers and ditches to jump and he never put a foot wrong.

I think if you have to ask yourself the question if this is the right horse, then they may not be.

 

[Winters100]

To me gut instinct is part of it, but I try to buy with my head rather than my heart.

I would say have a list of what are the essential boxes the horse should tick, what would be nice, but not essential, and also what would be dealbreakers.

Do not feel that you have to buy, remember that not owning a horse is much less difficult than owning the wrong one.

For me the gut instinct part comes from how I feel riding the horse. Do I feel safe, and do I feel that if I took them home today I would be happy to ride alone. If you feel that the horse will be fine if you have some lessons, or gain more confidence, then it is not the right one - you need the horse that fits you from day 1.

Good luck with finding a great partner.

 

[Spotherisk]

Gut. I had no intention of buying my first horse when I bought Harley, and Tinner was in a barn of about 30 feral foals and yearlings and he picked me - we just kept locking eyes. Although they are now both gone I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

 

[honetpot]

When you buy anything remember that it will always have a problem, and I think the most important thing is to understand whether you have the time and the set up to solve it.
Most dealer horses are prepped for sale, so they look and behave their best, so you have to see past the varnish. It will have been worked pehaps more than you will ride, and handled by experienced people. Has it been in or out, have they got a horse walker, I look at things like shoes, droppings and the way it behaves before its even ridden. I like to see them tacked up and if possible caught in the field, which is rare. When you ride it ride it like a novice, dealer riders tend to hold them together, how much of this does it need?
Check the passport, does it match the horse and the tale you are being told. If its competed search for results. Don't fall in love with the dream. If its a nice horse, and you do not click it should be easy to move on.

 

[SantaVera]

Gut instinct and a conscious decision that it is the right one and that you will stick with it when things go wrong even if it won't jump as high as you'd like or win rosettes.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Found mine through a friend, went for a hack with her husband, dropped the reins cantering across a field and decided she was the horse for me. Still her 12 years later.

 

[MuddyMonster]

To me gut instinct is part of it, but I try to buy with my head rather than my heart.

I would say have a list of what are the essential boxes the horse should tick, what would be nice, but not essential, and also what would be dealbreakers.

Do not feel that you have to buy, remember that not owning a horse is much less difficult than owning the wrong one.

For me the gut instinct part comes from how I feel riding the horse. Do I feel safe, and do I feel that if I took them home today I would be happy to ride alone. If you feel that the horse will be fine if you have some lessons, or gain more confidence, then it is not the right one - you need the horse that fits you from day 1.

Good luck with finding a great partner.

Ditto this.

I had no gut feeling, instant connection or anything like that vibes from my pony.

But he ticked most of the boxes, had potential and was sound.

14 years later he's the absolute love of my life. We have such a connection & have had many, many years of fun - some tears and set becks along the way, but the fun & relationship we have outweighs them a million times over.

 

[Polos Mum]

TBH finding one the right rough size / age that wasn't lame or with v bad obvious vices that would vaguely walk / Trot / canter in a basic circle and that cut the choice right down.

When buying a riding horse last I bought the first one that wasn't lame / in a cribbing collar / tried to bite over the door !
I viewed about 15 and was getting desperate ! He's a lovely boy but was lame within 6 months (despite passed vetting!!) Hence I won't ever buy ridden again

 

[dottylottie]

gut instinct for me! lily was supposed to be a 15.2hh sporty/part bred gelding…she’s a 14.2hh welsh mare because when you know you know!

 

[Green Bean]

For my horse, she was ‘okay’ when I saw her and rode her. I politely told the dealer she wasn’t a good fit. On the long drive home I was ticking off what I liked about her and halfway home decided she was the right horse. She hasn’t been easy and the parts I didn’t like are still there but she has taken hold of my heart and isn’t letting go

 

[eahotson]

Just to add, don't fall for the "You must make up your mind quickly, there are a lot of people after this one" or words similar.If it is meant it will happen.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Another who'd say gut instinct/ go with your heat (as long as it passes a vetting!!)
The one i got very right I arrived, looked at him in the field and knew he was coming home with me. Ziggy, I was really unsure about and let myself be talked into it and it was not really the right decision.

 

[Widgeon]

Ditto this.

I had no gut feeling, instant connection or anything like that vibes from my pony.

But he ticked most of the boxes, had potential and was sound.

Yes same here - I didn't get that initial feeling "this is the one" but he was well mannered, I felt safe on him, and I was as sure as I could be that the sellers were trustworthy. I had to be talked into buying him by our YO, who'd come with me, and it's a good thing she did because he's a star. She'd talked me round by the time we arrived home, so I paid for him the next day.

 

[Xmasha]

If in doubt take your trainer with you.

Ive bought based on gut for me and so far have been right. Although i have lost two of them to my daughter, she has a habit of nicking them

 

[millitiger]

Gut feeling is great, ONLY if you do as much homework as possible before viewing

So a list of absolutes Do's and Don'ts that you will not deviate from.
Google the hell out of the seller, their number, their address
Google the horse's registered name, find comp results and sometimes previous sales adverts.
Get videos of the things that are important to you before you travel.
Make sure seller is happy for you to vet (with vet of your choice).
If someone's opinion is important to you, share all of the above with them first and take them to the viewing.

If you do really thorough weeding when looking at adverts and BEFORE viewings, it really should come down to gut feeling and whether you like the horse when you handle and ride it.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

When you go to view a new horse (especially with a dealer) and you only have a relatively short time - how the hell can you tell if it’s the right horse for you?
Do you go on gut instinct? What a mine field it is buying a horse that’s going to be a massive part of your life in just an hour or so?

Gut instinct and if your not sure about what to check for take an instructor with you, if you come across any issues, make sure you know how to deal with them.

 

[Glitter's fun]

I'm emotional when I view, so I do all the 'head' things over the phone or by email. Ask hard questions, have a list of must haves and 'definitely not if' things. I try to be rigid at that stage and say no to a lot.

At the viewing it's all heart & feel. My horse of a lifetime was the one where I forgot it was a viewing & just enjoyed a long hack & didn't want to go home without her.

(I've never bought from a dealer. I think you'd need a hard headed friend with you to buy from a professional salesperson. They'd be just doing a day's work while you're full of emotion. Puts you at a big disadvantage.)

 

[webble]

Instinct and having a list of things you need/ arent willing to compromise on and making sure they tick those boxes. I got off Kiki the first time I rode him and and said he feels really safe and then burst into tears

 

[ester]

Well….
The then new owner just rode frank past our house and I wanted him .

3 months later the wheels had fallen off a bit and she put him up for sale (he was the first of 7 ponies she bought and sold over 8 months, it def wasn’t a ‘him’ problem).

 

[Fransurrey]

I went on gut instinct. It was hard, because I was 'replacing' the horse I'd retired and was planning to pts, so I was feeling guilty and under pressure to get it right (choosing a new 'husband' for my remaining pony!).

I actually tried two in the same day, both dealers and both perfect in different ways. what clinched it, for my boy, was being on a narrow lane with a grass verge and a massive New Holland coming towards us, pulling a low loader with a large digger on it. My boy wasn't even 5 at that point, freshly backed. He stood quietly on the verge, not so much as a foot shuffle. I think that was the point I decided he was right for me at that time. I do still wonder about the other pony, though, who was amazing fun and also fantastic in busy traffic. So, if anybody bought a 13.2 hh coloured (mostly brown) pony called George in 2019, from the Basingstoke area, let me know!! I still want him, ha ha!

 

[planete]

I did not really go from gut instinct. The horse for me needed to be a certain build, size and age and pass a vetting. I needed to see him ridden and to have a sit myself to try and gauge whether it was a potential lunatic and to be the right price for what it was. I always reckoned the rest was up to me once I got him home.

 

[Palindrome]

Ultimately, the horse is an animal and won't be perfect but if you like him and are willing to work with him then it's a good start. Then you can organize a vet check. I try not to decide straight away but to sleep on it before making a decision, but sometimes you won't have a choice as there will be other buyers lined up.

ETA: the character of the horse is unlikely to change drastically so I would take note of what you like, hot or cold blooded, timid or a bit in your face, etc...
I have bought one as an ugly long yearling with a good temperament, she is now a beautiful 4 years old with a good temperament. I have another who was a pig headed beautiful filly, she is now a pig headed beautiful 6 years old .

 

[MagicMelon]

Instinct. You just sort of know. Ive never regretted any of the horses Ive bought over the years, even if some havent turned out the way Id necessarily wanted, Im pretty easy to keep happy - as long as the horse isnt a nutcase then thats all that matters to me so I look at their temperament more than anything else.