Looking for the impossible???

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Kelly1982

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A 13yo girl at the yard has just sold her 16hh tb mare as even tho the mare is pretty much a saint, she can get really strong jumping and in open spaces. Girl is a nice little rider but is still pretty novicey and this behaviour started to scare her. As she is only young she just wants to get on and go like most kids do and have fun on something sane and sensible like all the other kids on the yard.

She would prefer a gelding, wants something between 15hh and 16hh. Doesn't want a cob but does want something with a bit of bone as she said she would feel safer on something a bit more sturdier. Just basically a safe and sensible all rounder.

But here is the issue, is this type if horse available for under £2000??? I've been looking for over an hour and I can't find anything!! Are we looking for the impossible??

Mum and dad are not horsey either so aren't willing to travel too far and would prefer a loan.
 
Kelly1982 said:
A 13yo girl at the yard has just sold her 16hh tb mare as even tho the mare is pretty much a saint, she can get really strong jumping and in open spaces. Girl is a nice little rider but is still pretty novicey and this behaviour started to scare her. As she is only young she just wants to get on and go like most kids do and have fun on something sane and sensible like all the other kids on the yard.

She would prefer a gelding, wants something between 15hh and 16hh. Doesn't want a cob but does want something with a bit of bone as she said she would feel safer on something a bit more sturdier. Just basically a safe and sensible all rounder.

But here is the issue, is this type if horse available for under £2000??? I've been looking for over an hour and I can't find anything!! Are we looking for the impossible??

Mum and dad are not horsey either so aren't willing to travel too far and would prefer a loan.
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To be honest you may be lucky but you are more likely to find something pretending to be what you need with that budget. I.e something with a 'quirk' or six. Or aged, or with sarcoids.. Etc Many many people want safe sane all rounders and if you have a genuine one its worth a lot more than 2k in my experience. An aged one is maybe the best bet for a low budget or be prepared to spend money on training.

There will be people coming along who have all bought saints for 50p but the parents of a novice 13 year old would be better advised to be very cautious. IMO
 
I think it could be done if she's prepared to compromise on the cob thing. There's loads of lovely cobs for sale that would fit the budget. I think if she wants something finer/"better bred" then the price tag does go up unfortunately.

A loan would probably be the best option, although they can be hard to come by. Would be worth putting the word around local PC/RC to see if anyone is looking to loan one out. :)
 
That's my thoughts exactly!! But when the patents aren't horsey it's so hard to get them to understand this although they have been really good and taken all advise on board so far but obviously £2000 for a horse in most people's eyes is still a lot of money
 
you are definitely more likely to be more successful looking for a loan, as often there are 'been there, done that' type horses, a bit older, available on loan, who if they were for sale would be worth more than £2000 even in this market.
 
Slightly off topic but as the parent of an 18 YO girl I would just question whether a 15 - 16hh is the right answer if keenness when jumping puts off the girl. We bought Harry, 16hh, when Polly was 13 and he was gorgeous in the school but very strong over jumps and scared her so she only really wants to ride him in the school. He was diagnosed with spavins a year or so after we got him so we couldnt sell him. Many, many times I have wished I had got Polly something smaller which she would have felt a lot safer on, and could have enjoyed bombing around even though now, her feet would be a foot or so below its belly.

Back on topic, but not very helpfully, I think it is probably a matter of luck whether your young friend will find the horse she is looking for. The one thing that WILL help - A LOT! - is not being in a hurry. Also have you / she thought about having a rescue horse on loan, if it fits the bill?
 
I'd be looking for a loan ideally, your looking at double that for a sound, safe, reliable but not 'dope-on-a-rope' horse IMO. I loaned my horse for 6 months before I bought her and paid £1500 less than the original asking price, you never know what may come out of a loan.
 
What about a Welsh C or D? I've known some super, confidence givers that will turn their hooves to anything. I also agree that she should look for something shorter. The right native might suit her well.
 
Tobiano, unfortunately even tho the girl is only 13yo she is about 5'7. She has ridden various size horses on the yard but say she feels most comfortable on something about 15hh.

I'm thinking now that maybe the loan of an older horse would be her best option now
 
Faracat I did think of a nice sec D but haven't seen many advertised. Only started looking tonight tho so still early days.

Problem with kids is they want something now and I do feel for her as its the summer holidays and all her mates are out riding but have explained it could take a while
 
There will be a million and one ex race bred thoroughbreds for considerably less money some make super horses others are a nightmare. I would say that at 13 she needs a chunky under 14.2 to take up her leg and still allow her to do the childrens jumping classes big horses are a pain they get sick more often and cost considerably more money to keep well
 
Kelly, I'm still going to push for the smaller option... When the girl says she feels more comfortable riding a bigger horse, what is she doing? Is she riding safely in the school with other people about, or is she hacking out on the roads / jumping / cantering across a stubble field? I do think its worth thinking about.

And by the way, kudos to you for being so interested and helping a 13 YO. Hopefully when she is the next Charlotte Dujardin you will get plenty of credit ;)
 
Glad I asked on here now as you lovely peeps have offered some really good advise.

Never thought of something smaller as she is so tall but think this is def something to consider now
 
Tobiano now I've thought about it I actually think you and the other posters that have suggested something smaller may be right.

She has been riding in the school under supervision so yes completely different to galloping across fields etc. she will probably feel safer on something that she can wrap her legs around.

I just feel sorry for her as she is such a lovely girl, no malice in her whatsoever and coming from a non horsey background I know how hard it is sometimes
 
TBH, I think you are looking for the near impossible. Why do people think that they will get the temperament of a super sensible, safe-in-all-situations, been there/done that confidence giver in the body of a young , flashy, TB/WB-type? And all for less than £2000?
Those few owners who have such a paragon are going to hang on to them if at all possible and if for some reason they can't, they will want far more than £2000 for them.
TBH, I'd tell the girl that there is very little chance and she will have to be more realistic in what she is looking for. Start with the web-sites that allow you to search by price and show her what is available, within her budget.
Good luck in your search!
 
Hey.. you are doing brilliantly for her. And yes it is tough - great that she is a lovely girl - but worth gently pointing out to her that she actually is also pretty fortunate - parents who will buy her a horse and pay for its keep - that doesnt happen to everyone. Am sure with your help, things will work out great. Wish I had one (of my 4!) that would be suitable just to lend her for the summer! - but sadly I didnt have the advantage of a Kelly to help me in buying :)
 
I would certainly try and convince her to get a 14.2. She can then enter the junior/pony classes at the shows while she is still young enough not to have to compete against adults.
 
Better still a papered native so she can do everything including workers and flat classes up to county level even as an adult so a kind Section D or a 14.2 connemara or highland dales etc depending on the type she likes and if she is like me a sucker for a pretty face All could be in the price range and all will be suitable for a child and an adult which means if she is madly in love she wont have to part with it. I have a 13.1 highland that is regularly ridden by a rider that is 5ft 10 and she doesnt look silly on her so they do take up a lot of leg
 
Faracat that mare looks ideal!!! And within budget so think she is def gonna have to go smaller.

Wind and rain she is def a sucker for a pretty face, she told me earlier that she wants a dapple grey as they are so pretty but doesn't want a pure grey. When I explained that they grey out as they get older she looked very disappointed lol. I think she will be happy with any colour as long as she has fun. She has also expressed interest in working hunter classes as one of the other girls down the yard does it so I'm now convinced this is the direction to steer her in.

And thank u tobiano you are very kind :)
 
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I have one! 15.2 gelding, total all rounder pc/ riding club horse, novices ride, he is advertised for over £2k but would take less 😁

Hope I don't get told off for saying this!!
 
My friend has a 13.2 haflinger that I ride sometimes... I am 5'10! I also had a 14.1 native until I was 18. I would also advise on a smaller loan. Teenagers are usually very lightweight so I'm sure it would be fine. Good luck to all!
 
I'm 5"7 and ride a 14.2hh connie who's reasonably fine but he still takes up my leg well, but connies tend to be expensive. I would definitely consider 14.2 for her though. I feel so safe on my little guy despite the fact that before I got him I was really nervous. It's odd really as he's much greener than my tb, yet I'm jumping already despite not having done it in a decade.

Whereabouts in the country are you looking?
 
On the size front I am 5 ft 9 with a 32" inside leg and my little mare is only 15.1hh. She is a WB x TB but does have a good width of body, has a wide fit in saddles so takes up my leg and although my previous horses were all over 16hh I wouldnt hesitate to get another 15hh or even smaller was considering a welsh / dales / highland for my next one!
Something like a welsh x TB around 15hh would be worth considering, you might maybe get one thats done all PC etc and the owner is going off to Uni on loan?
 
Gloi said:
I would certainly try and convince her to get a 14.2. She can then enter the junior/pony classes at the shows while she is still young enough not to have to compete against adults.
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My daughter was 5'8" and still on a 14.2 at 16. she had an absolute ball with him. IMO kids move onto horses too quickly when they could be gaining loads of confidence on a good pony that is perhaps a bit small, they completely over horse themselves and struggle. I'd definitely go for a 14.2 pony but good ones don't come cheap so the loan of an older much loved friend from a PC home could be an option but she'd need to get in the queue!
 
I think a Welsh D is where to look but make sure you buy carefully some of them are very very hot.
I would also look at loaning an older horse as a stepping stone if you don't buy.
£2000 is as other have said not enough I have on paper the exact horse for this girl and a trainer walked up to me at a show and asked if he was for sale and they where expecting to pay £12000 for him.
You always have to allocate more money if you can't make a horse the parents need to understand .
Good for you for helping them and I hope you find one soon.
 
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