Nervous about viewing a horse Thursday. If your the owner.......

L

little_mistress13

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 June 2014
Messages
63
Visit site
If you were the owner and a viewer were coming what would you look out for when "judging" that person?

I have been truthful in my emails that I am a novice rider and currently loaning a horse and do all of the care but I always think negative about myself.

I am now crapping about viewing this horse as I really want her but I am worried the woman will see me and how I am and think "step away from the horse" lol

I am a confident handler and an "OK" beginner as in I am not scared but also I am still very basic at riding, (still need to learn my balance) if that make sense. This woman is competitor and even though I was truthful I can see me ballsing this up through nerves and either come off the horse or tack her up completely wrong because I will feel pressured the woman's judging me to see if I'm suitable. Even though I do this stuff every day with my current horse.


Any tips? If you were her and your horse suits any level of rider, you know I am just starting to ride and are happy your horse would be great for me.... what else would you be looking at when meeting me?
 
Sorry but unless this horse has been advertised as suitable for a beginner then I think you're best off waiting until such a horse comes along. However, if you've told the woman all about your abilities then she should know what to expect.
 
Be yourself and be honest about your abilities and by honest I mean don't sit and tell her you are worse than you are! (The great british affliction)

She will pick up on your vibe and decide so try and ooze confidence in yourself.
 
Tern said:
What has the horse been described as?
Click to expand...

She said the horse is bomb proof and when I told her I was novice. Her reply was she suits any level of rider and when I explained my loaner is too much for me as she needs an experienced rider because of different reasons and so she is killing off my confidence before I even start and again she said her horse would be great for me as she is very well mannered and her 7 year old son has ridden her.
 
Be honest about your abilities. Tell her about what back up you have - experienced yard, good instructor (who would be good to take with you..) etc. Stop worrying!
 
If you've already been honest about your abilities I doubt she'll be surprised by your nerves or ability. Even after 22years of riding I still get nervous when viewing new horses.

As to your original question I would be expecting you to be able to bring the horse in from the field, tie up, groom and tack up without help. When riding I would expect you to be balanced in walk, trot and canter and not yank on the mouth/kick unnecessarily as for me this is the very least experience I'd expect of someone looking to loan or buy their own horse.
 
Okay.. Sounds like it could work or it could go horribly wrong, try the horse - The owner knows your abilities and if you feel the horse is too much before you have gotten on her then politely walk away - don't feel pressured into getting on the horse if you don't like what you see. Make sure you are happy before you agree anything and ASK the owner if you are unsure - I am sure she'd be glad to help and it saves you getting embarrassed if you do it wrong! :)
 
Agree with equi - you dont need to overplay your novice-ness.

If i were selling a horse, first of all I would only allow someone who describes themselves as a beginner to come and view if I felt the horse was suitable for a beginner - so hopefully that is already the case with this woman.

I would want to know how serious the person was about putting in the effort that is required to own and look after a horse, if it is their first one. What kind of support they have, where they will be keeping the horse and what the facilities will be like. IF they are a beginner are they going to have lessons. What are their ambitions for themselves and the horse.

I would watch and listen to the person and I'd expect someone buying their own horse to be able to groom, tack up and pick out feet and I am afraid if they can't do that I'd send them away to learn before buying their own horse.

I would be perfectly happy to have the person ask me for tips on how to ride the horse (all horses respond differently) and then would watch to see if they were able to follow the advice. I'd understand that people are nervous when trying out a horse to buy and try and put them at their ease.

Finally I would be honest if for any reason I felt they weren't right for my horse, I'd say so.

Good luck on Thursday - I am sure you willl be fine - it is a fun experience and dont worry too much about being judged - if you are being assessed as to whether you and the horse will get on ok together, then that is fine and good for you both - if for any other reason then that's someone else's problem and dont worry about it! :)
 
So far I am feeling better. I can bring in from the field, groom, pick hooves, tack.. I do all this at the moment that I am fine about. It's being watched over I can imagine myself putting on the saddle backwards!! (maybe not that extreme lol)

This is the tricky part. I was having lessons when my friend offered me loaning her horse. Lessons were going well and my balance was feeling good but my friends horse is way out of my depth.

She is an ex cart horse and I am pretty sure her trot isn't a standard trot as on lessons I was trotting great. With this horse I am bouncing every where and holding on for dear life which has made me feel worse about my abilities and stopped riding her.

Plan on having lessons again and hopefully with this new horse. Before loaning I would of said I can walk and trot since loaning I would say I can just walk! lol this is the pickle I am in.

general horse care I am brilliant with. I do everything for my loan horse and have fell in love with her. I just can't ride her. I bit off way more than I could chew.
 
do you have a riding instructor? If so consider asking them to come with as a second opinion.
Also consider having a lesson that morning or day before (if poss). Ask them to help you on a little routine as it were, ie some transitions, some figures. That way you'll have a go to rather than aimless circles in the school.
Best of luck.
 
Sorry but from what you've said I'd strongly suggest sending back your loan horse, spending the money that you're currently spending on livery half on havng lessons at a decent yard and half for saving towards any future horsey disasters and then when it's spring having another look. Having a new horse in winter is going to be more tricky than having on in summer and you sound to me as though you'd really benefit from a few more months where you only really have to worry about the riding.

IMHO anyone who tells you that their horse is suitable for you when you're not really confident at more than a walk is taking the mickey and I would strongly suspect their motives.
 
if you came to see my horse on your own I would worry that you would not cope if you are very novice...therefore I think it is important to take a knowledgable person with you so the seller can feel you have experienced help available and therefore would feel happier about letting you take the horse. good luck
 
As a seller I would be very concerned if you turned up, as a novice/beginner, to view a horse alone.

I would sell to a beginner but would want to be confident they had good support at home and that the support had also viewed the horse and deemed it suitable.
 
Take a friend, a horsey friend.

If the owner is that good, then once she see's how you handle her horse, she may well let you ride - she may not.
I have stopped someone getting on in the past, when they were too novice (in my opinion) on the ground.

OP, you have a lot of good advice above. Go and see the horse but do NOT go on your own.
Do not agree to anything on the day that you dont want to do, do not fall in love anyway - go home to think about it, even if you were totally blown away in how wonderful horse is :)

Good luck :)
 
little_mistress13 said:
She is an ex cart horse and I am pretty sure her trot isn't a standard trot as on lessons I was trotting great. With this horse I am bouncing every where and holding on for dear life which has made me feel worse about my abilities and stopped riding her.

Plan on having lessons again and hopefully with this new horse. Before loaning I would of said I can walk and trot since loaning I would say I can just walk! lol this is the pickle I am in.
Click to expand...
Before you wrote the above, I would have said I wouldn't have had any worries if you were coming to view one of my beginner-ride horses, but having read the above I'd say you sound more beginnery than it came across in your first couple of posts. I have still sold some of my beginner-ride horses to people of your ability however they have boarded their horses here on my farm so I've been able to help them progress together. I wouldn't sell any of my horses to someone who can't post to the trot if they were not going to be staying on my yard. The horse you are going to view may be suitable, it may not, you'll just have to go and see. You have been honest with the seller and that counts for a lot, however I've found that most buyers over-estimate their capabilities so I always expect buyers to be less competent than they tell me and I weigh that up when deciding whether to allow the viewer to come or not.
 
It is very normal to feel nervous in this situation. I went to view a horse in the summer and I was feeling like an idiot and I have had horses for forty years. We all have to start somewhere and there will always be the first horse. If we all waited until we are "ready " no one would have a horse!!!! The fact that you are thinking this through and asking advice shows you have the right attitude. Stop putting yourself down.
My advice is do NOT go on your own . Take an experience friend or your instructor, someone to help you think things through. I did and I have been riding for years.
Go, see and try....this could be your dream horse, if not, well that horse will come along in the end.
Good luck and when that horse arrives ......pictures please!!!
 
What breed is the horse you're going to view? Did the seller mention what she currently does with the horse, and what experience the horse has?

As a rider do you feel happy walking, trotting and cantering a new horse? How long have you been riding for and what were you doing with the horses you rode in your lessons before loaning the horse you currently have?

Sorry if it seems invasive what I'm asking, it's just knowing a bit more about you might help us to come up with some suggestions for your viewing on Thursday :)
 
Please take someone who knows your abilities honestly. However, I would say that when we went to look at a horse for my daughter we took a highly qualified expert rider with us, funnily enough my daughter got more out of the horse than the expert. Sometimes it just depends on the horse on the day.
 
Spring Feather said:
Before you wrote the above, I would have said I wouldn't have had any worries if you were coming to view one of my beginner-ride horses, but having read the above I'd say you sound more beginnery than it came across in your first couple of posts. I have still sold some of my beginner-ride horses to people of your ability however they have boarded their horses here on my farm so I've been able to help them progress together. I wouldn't sell any of my horses to someone who can't post to the trot if they were not going to be staying on my yard. The horse you are going to view may be suitable, it may not, you'll just have to go and see. You have been honest with the seller and that counts for a lot, however I've found that most buyers over-estimate their capabilities so I always expect buyers to be less competent than they tell me and I weigh that up when deciding whether to allow the viewer to come or not.
Click to expand...

That's the problem I have. Before this loan horse I could trot. I can't on this horse. She paces instead of trots. I am planning on giving up the loan soon. I just enjoy looking after her and it is giving me great experience dealing with horses. I just don't feel I can have lessons on her to further my abilities. That is why I was hoping to find my own horse. Suitable for beginners I could carry on having lessons on.
 
Short notice so might not get a yes but I have text the person I rent the field from.

She said before if I get a horse I am comfortable on she will happily take me out hacking and help me. I'm asking her if she minds coming along with me. I didn't think of showing I have support. Thank you for mentioning it I just hope she is free that day and don't mind now!
 
little_mistress13 said:
That's the problem I have. Before this loan horse I could trot. I can't on this horse. She paces instead of trots. I am planning on giving up the loan soon. I just enjoy looking after her and it is giving me great experience dealing with horses. I just don't feel I can have lessons on her to further my abilities. That is why I was hoping to find my own horse. Suitable for beginners I could carry on having lessons on.
Click to expand...

So, have you cantered or popped a pole yet?

If not, then really I would advise lessons till you have a secure seat at 3 paces.
Looking to purchase is not really a sensible idea until the basics have been mastered. (unless I have mis-read something?)
 
Take an instructor or another knowledgeable horsey person with you, and if you are very nervous you could ask the owner if they would be able to ride the horse before you.

It sounds like you have just lost your confidence with your loan horse and been over-horsed too early, is there a riding school near you you could take a few lessons at just to work on your confidence and going over the basics?

I would say don't rush into buying another horse, if you can't get lessons at a riding school then look for another loan or a share/part loan of another horse who is a beginner safe horse. If you buy a horse, and a few months later find they don't suit you can't just send her back to the owner. And what if in 6 months, you're no longer a beginner and ready to move on and your horse isn't capable of that?

There's nothing wrong with going and trying this horse, but definitely talk to the owner, bring along an instructor or knowledgeable horsey friend who knows your abilities and have a long think about if this horse is right for you. Being overhorsed when you're still learning can lead to some nasty falls and it could destroy your confidence completely.
 
Whether or not this horse is right/ you have a good viewing/ you swap horses. You, your confidence and your horse would greatly benefit from you getting regular instruction. Ideally on a variety of horses (say at a riding school). Having a hacking buddy is great but no substitute for experienced instruction.

Horses can be deadly to themselves and humans if something goes wrong. We all owe it to our horses to be the best we can for them.

Honestly I'd consider a riding holiday at somewhere like Talland. A bit of a treat for you and will bring you on in leaps and bounds.

You will learn from your mistakes in owning a horse, but your horse also has to put up with that. Better to get some of them out of the way first and start a new relationship on a really positive basis.
 
From reading this thread I would also say spend the money on lessons for a good bit longer yet.
The best of horses will soon learn that you are not experienced and then take advantage of that and your riding experiences will get worse as they learn to get the better of you. Learning to get your balance is the first thing but before you have your own horse you have to be sure you can make him do what you want, even if he would rather do something else.
At best you will lose money and get disheartened, at worst you could be badly hurt.
 
little_mistress13 said:
That's the problem I have. Before this loan horse I could trot. I can't on this horse. She paces instead of trots. I am planning on giving up the loan soon. I just enjoy looking after her and it is giving me great experience dealing with horses. I just don't feel I can have lessons on her to further my abilities. That is why I was hoping to find my own horse. Suitable for beginners I could carry on having lessons on.
Click to expand...


So, you can't ride and don't realise when a horse will be too much for you. Attempting to reschool a pacer at your level of training is a crazy idea.

You can buy a quiet horse then learn to ride after, you dont have to learn at a riding school first. But you need the right horse. It should be well schooled in the basics but not so well schooled that it responds to every wobble in your balance as a weight aid or an accidental bump with your legs as a leg aid. It needs to be of a quiet temperament. To assess the temperament the horse needs as a minimum to be currently in work and a good weight. Horses who are unfit, under/over weight can seem quiet.The chances of you buying the wrong horse are high.

If you are going to do this, take your riding instructor with you to every viewing (expect to pay for this). See the horse ridden by seller, then if seems suitable ride yourself on the lunge with assistance from your instructor and possibly off the lunge too. If you do buy a horse expect to do nothing except have lessons on it for at least the first few months. This is because a novice rider can easily mess up a horses schooling fairly quickly. If you mess up the horse you will likely lose confidence again and also have to pay someone to reschool it for you.
 
If someone was coming to view my horse who didn't have their balance sorted yet, and couldn't trot, then no way would I be selling to them. Sorry.
 
Just to make you feel a little better I'll tell you about the first time I rode my current horse.
I've been riding for 20 years, horse owner for over 14 years so classed as a confident novice (novice dressage, 3ft jumping). Last year I took the plunge to sell my horse and buy a young eventer.
Sat on this 5 year old 17hh ISH, he was lovely on the flat in a field. Went in to the school to jump, took me 4 attempts to get the correct line! Then when he did jump I sat like a sack of s***t and he nearly jumped out of the school because I forgot to turn/stop/ride him!
So don't panic at all! I had to suck it up so I could do the important 2nd viewing!!
Hopefully next time I look at a bigger horse I'll be ready!!
Good luck!
 
I would not recomend you buying a horse yet. I would not let someone ride one of mine if they were not balanced in trot. Use the money to pay for lessons over the winter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top