Just for fun - Needs, wants and preferences!

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SaddleUpSin

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In the instance you (personally) are buying a first horse, what would your list of Needs, Wants and Preferences be?
Mainly just so I can see what people’s priorities are! E.g. needs to be over 5, want a gelding, and prefer a solid coloured horse instead of a coloured. As detailed or as brief as you like! Just curious as ever!

Feel free to add pictures of your first horses and how they measured up to what you initially desired :)
 
If I were in the market for a first horse, for me now I would want the horse I've got. 16.2 ISH ten years old. Good in all ways, sane and sensible to ride in all situations, in fact pretty perfect in every way. My dream horse would look like this all the time .....
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But my reality is that he looks like this most of the time .....
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But I wouldnt swap him for the world :)
 
Well my first horse was an ex-racer straight off the track, 16.2hh chestnut gelding with a tendency to buck and rear. I bought him on the spot after seeing him (lying down) in his stable and being walked around a lunge ring in hand once.

He moved very well and did ok at dressage (elementary/medium level) but was a nightmare at shows, frequently rearing and always came off the horsebox at great speed rearing and spinning. He was also an incredible jumper but so cautious that he had a horrible dirty stop on him too. He retired at 11 due to kissing spine, so that explains it! I still have him, and have now acquired another 3yo chestnut gelding off the track :)

A more sensible first horse would probably have been something between 7-11 years old, 16-16.2hh, gelding with good all-round basics already established. Easy at shows and to hack. Preferably a dark bay ;)
 
My needs were:

Pony, 7-16 years old must be chunky to carry husband, but well behaved enough to do what a six year old tells them. Gelding. Been there, done that type. No preference on colour etc, but prefer barefoot.

Both my ponies? Green as very green grass! 6 years old both, both fresh backed. But meet the chunky and do what my daughter tells them criteria!
 
I never went shopping for my first horse, he just sort of fell into my lap. After he died and I went looking for my second this is what my criteria was:

Needs: 15.2+, gelding (my yard is geldings only and I don't ever want to leave there) riding club all rounder, 100% on roads.
Preferences:- not a grey or a chestnut, sensible but nice forward ride with a willing jump about 16hh
Wants: a black section D (if I could find one big enough)

I nearly got there. I ended up with a grey 16.3 ID x something :D He is however a sensible but forward ride, fab in traffic and was a decent all rounder until he had to stop jumping. He started off as a willing jumper but deteriorated due to foot problems so not his fault. I ended up with all my needs but none of my preferences / wants. I still hanker after that black Section D....maybe next time.
 
After years of doing the wrong things, I'm going back to where I started. I'm going to be on the look out for one of these.

My ole girl Asha, IDxTB ( only 1/4TB) chestnut mare, fun, forward, loving, kind and forgiving, and not too big. about 15.2. We found one for my daughter, Finn, grey full ID, fun, loving, kind, forgiving and not too big, at 16hds. nice pop on him too.

Is it possible to really come across my 3rd super star ? Will I ever be that lucky, my search starts soon.....


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My first horse has so many characteristics that I wanted and love - 15hh, gelding, 12+ years old, 100% in traffic, 100% to hack alone and in company, good schoolmaster for the more nervous rider. I also got some characteristics I wasn't expecting, but am reaping the benefits of - an untapped aptitude for dressage and a fab jump! He is also very tolerant of fancy dress and all sorts of ridiculousness...



That said, he isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. We have *touch wood* sorted the loading issue, but he still suffers from separation anxiety when turned out, which is a constant battle to manage. He also gets very anxious and wired whenever we travel anywhere new, which I find difficult to manage. I am jealous of all those whose ponies potter off the lorry at the show or sponsored ride, shrug their shoulders and get stuck into their haynet! If I was looking again I'd probably ask a few more questions about those types of issues, but I'm really lucky really and I know it!

(Also, he is grey and that is a constant challenge for someone who likes things clean!!)
 
I bought my first horse a year ago so actually had a list!

Needs: 15hh+ gelding, as much as I like ponies i'm 5'10" so really need something bigger! Must be safe, don't mind a few quirks but no bolters or rearers as want my novice mum to ride. All basics start, walk/trot/canter.
Preferences: Age 5-12. Good to clip, shoe, load etc. Something that likes to jump. Ready to go type thing (with my budget I knew i wouldnt get everything but didn't mind something a bit green!

Not bothered about breed or colour. Basically something forgiving that mum could ride and something I could have a bit of fun on and do some local shows for fun.

J *almost* matches this description. What I actually ended up with was a 14 year old, warmblood 16.2 gelding. VERY VERY unfit and been passed about. Only been in last home 6 months and was used as a hacker (I can assume now i know more only in company), only been in the school a handful of times in the last 6 months (though they had taken some pics of him jumping so he could do it). Could barely hold a canter as he was so unfit. Now he's fitter he's nappy when hacking alone, but not to the extent that it's undoable (and he has got better), he's a lazy bum in the school, but has moments where he can do it! He's a sweetie on the ground and is a lovable idiot really.

Not completely what I was going for, bit older, fatter, lazier, but he's still safe enough for mum to ride and my boyfriend has learnt to ride on him as he's so safe in company out hacking and lazy in the school so no worries about him bombing off anywhere!

He was also a terrible loader when I got him, this is somewhat sorted but he can still be ignorant and refuse to load sometimes!

Some pics of him being lovely and not a lazy idiot:







My boyfriend out for a hack on him:
 
Mine would be my horse if he was black and would behave and be reliable! And preferably a mare but I do like the non in heat thing too although he acts like a stallion in spring.

Want: 16+hh mare or gelding
Need: dressage potential, manners and ability to behave
Prefer: not grey! Anything but grey!

So yeah my horse is a 16.2 grey gelding with almost no manners or ability to behave but he does make up for that in great potential for dressage. I just have to keep reminding myself that I can put up with the stubbornness, the mood swings, and the almost adhd nature of his personality because he moves beautifully. I can.. honestly..
 
I got my first as a child,at that point alive and real was the only stipulation, I just wanted a pony, I didn't care about colour , breed, anything just a pony. I ended up with a TB/ NFx , a small horse really, 14.2hh and just as his name said , a Star !! He was mine from nine years old until his death at 31. He taught me all the lessons you need to be taught as a child. He was fun, fast, exciting but overall sane. He is pictured below with my second horse Mapleleaf Rag ( Red) , she was my 18 th birthday present from my family , so again I didn't choose her. I lost her a few years ago aged 32.



Red is on the left( ridden by a friend) and Star and me on the right :)
 
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I don't (yet) own a horse as I am an RS rider; have not loaned or shared yet, am still learning the relevant skills so,would not be fair on the horse! I do have an idealised list though and enjoy window shopping!

My needs all relate to skills and temperament, kind, nice person, schoolmaster, confidence giver, easy to do, not spooky.
My wants are more flexible. I want the horse to enjoy flatwork because that is what I enjoy. Realistically however I don't think I would keep a horse in enough work, so it would have to be ridden by my daughter too who is 12 and enjoys a bit of everything and is a better rider than me (I began riding shortly after she did). So it would be a small horse, say 15 hands ish, maybe 15.2, not wide though...hips!
Preferences are for a solid coloured horse with a definite star. The more beautiful the better. Temperament tops all though.
I have read this back and the phrase "hens teeth" popped into mind....but you did ask for an idealised list!
 
If there was the slightest chance the horse was in the risk category for PSSM then I'd pass it up (or test) even if it met everything else I wanted. I love my horses, but I'd also love to relax and enjoy them and that ****** disease is too stressful.
 
I went out looking for my last horse, this was my list;
15hh +
Preferably gelding, 12 years +
Sane and sensible been there done it type for happy hacking
Didn't mind colour

What I came back with;
13.3hh
2yr old coloured mare just broken

She is now 15hh and everything I could wish for :)
 
My first two ponies fell into my lap as I knew their owners and therefore what I was getting into. I'd never had to actively search for a ride until it came to Chilli!

What I was looking for: 16.2hh or over, preferably a gelding, no full TBs, colour no bother but preferably not a grey (as I am a clean freak!), been there done that, evented to a low level or with the potential to. Oh, and no older than 12 if I could help it. On top of all this I was only looking to full loan, so was aware I was looking for a needle in a haystack!!

What I got: Chilli's owner saw my 'In search of' ad and sent me a message inviting me to come and view. I ended up with an only just 16hh mare, who is a full TB, is grey but ultimately has been there and done that-through riding club, pony club and BE. She's also 15, but acts about 6 :D

So not at all really what I was looking for, but she fell into my hands at just the right time and after viewing her I was in love. So home she came.
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1. Polite and friendly and gentle, both to handle and to ride.
2. Sound and healthy.
3. Physically and mentally suited to what I would like to do.

I think those would be my priorities!

First non-share/loan horse: nervous, suspicious, spooky, prone to laminitis, and my expectations always need to adjust to him, rather than the other way around... :D :p

Still, he is quintessentially gentle, and actually remarkably sound, and I've discovered another discipline through him, at which he's done very well (Endurance).

Still, I'm very happy that both my horses and their companion are polite and sweet. Makes life so much more pleasant. :)
 
My ideal horse is an older weight carrier who has a generally lovely temperament, can take a bit of spoiling without becoming a monster and knows its job well enough not to adversely affected by my wobbly riding and happy for the mostly quiet life. I have been fortunate to have 2 of these ideal horses fall into my lap- they are/were ideal for me, but perhaps not everyone because they both had/have wear and tear which meant they could only do hacking and very low key dressage/low jumping on a good day- all very much led by their ability and appetite, but I'd not trade them for anything!
 
My horse wasn't my first but hopefully will be my last I buy for a long time.

I needed 15-15.3hh, safe sane and established with jumping not necessarily been in competition just to know it's job and be confident.

Preferred over 7yrs old and a gelding.

Wanted a nice low maintenance Connie type..

I got.. a 16.2hh, over budget KWPN WB gelding just backed 5 year old. Dressage bred and never seen a jump in his life.. high maintenance and sensitive with large dose of separation anxiety from any horse he's got to know for longer than 3 mins..

However he is a gelding.. so I got that bit right haha I wouldn't swap him now though and he's actually pretty talented over a jump so it didn't turn out all bad we are just missing the sane bit :)
 
Sukistokes2 said:
I got my first as a child,at that point alive and real was the only stipulation, I just wanted a pony, I didn't care about colour , breed, anything just a pony. I ended up with a TB/ NFx , a small horse really, 14.2hh and just as his name said , a Star !! He was mine from nine years old until his death at 31. He taught me all the lessons you need to be taught as a child. He was fun, fast, exciting but overall sane. He is pictured below with my second horse Mapleleaf Rag ( Red) , she was my 18 th birthday present from my family , so again I didn't choose her. I lost her a few years ago aged 32.



Red is on the left( ridden by a friend) and Star and me on the right :)
Click to expand...

This made me smile so much, gorgeous ponies!!!
 
I've enjoyed seeing what everyone likes! My shopping list would be...

Needs (won't compromise on)
14.1-14.3, native type (medium weight, not too light or too heavy), hacks out alone, excellent in all types of traffic, mare, looks ok (ie is put together 'ok' doesn't need to be perfect and has a pretty/attractive face, wall eyes are a no), has to have the ok from my farrier.

Prefer (if perfect in every other way may consider)
Aged 6-9, dark solid colour with as little white as possible.

Bonus (be nice but not a deal breaker)
Has had some schooling and will pop a small fence. Has seen cows and not freaked out (although living with them usually fixes that!). Stands still to mount without having to teach them.
 
Needs:
At least 15hh (current isn't that but realistically if I were to purchase I'd have something bigger), experienced, good to hack but can be an allrounder (I'd like to have a crack at everything possible!), well behaved.

Wants:
Character- I love it when they have a bit of something about them (that probably makes no sense outside of my head!), good for farrier/vet

Preferences:
Gelding, dark (I don't think I'd stay sane with a grey- they dirt would drive me around the bend!).

Other than that, my list is pretty short (also, I pretty much just described a horse for sale at our yard- spare the gelding part... hmmm...)
 
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